The Company announced in the county on Friday, February 17, that it is considering applying for a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) to mine the gold within the next two years.
This disclosure was made by Liberian geologist, Consultant, and head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of AMLIB United Minerals, Mr. J. Carney Johnson.
Mr. Johnson had led a team of reporters to the county for an acquaintance with his company’s operations and to verify reports that some aggrieved citizens wanted AMLIB’s operations halted.
Johnson told our reporter that neither he nor his company is deterred by allegations or threats emanating from some citizens of the county to halt its operations there.
Rivercess citizens residing in the two districts have raised a number of issues with the company, including its alleged failure to fulfill corporate social responsibility to the people; but Mr. Johnson denied the allegation, saying “this allegation is far from the truth.”
Speaking at a well-attended meeting with the people of Kploh and Gorwuzohn Administrative Districts in central Rivercess County, Mr. Johnson told the citizens that his company has and will continue to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, even beyond the requirements of its agreement with the Government of Liberia.
Mr. Johnson’s comments come as citizens of central Rivercess District, where AMLIB United Minerals is exploring minerals, are demanding that the company provide for them safe drinking water, latrines, good roads, schools, a youth guest house, clinics, and other amenities in each community.
Moreover, in their list of grievances, released to our reporter who travelled to the county over the weekend, the citizens accused the company of being tigh-fisted, stating that AMLIB vehicles do not give them lifts in emergencies or when drivers see them walking along distances.
However Mr. Johnson, who is the brother of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, clarified that the company’s insurance policy does not cover non-employees. “The insurance company will hold my company responsible for anything bad that may happen to a non-staff [passenger],” he said.
Johnson also explained that the Mineral Exploration Agreement (MEA), signed between the Government of Liberia and his company, stipulates that the company give UDS$1,000 monthly to all communities within which exploration takes place.
“Contrary to this mandate enshrined in the agreement, the Liberian geologist said, “the company has gone the extra mile to address many issues – including building of roads, provision of medicines to the lone clinic, provision of twenty-four hour electricity to it, and installing of hand pumps in some communities for safe drinking water.”
According to the agreement, the company, in consultation and collaboration with the citizens and county leadership, is obligated to undertake projects that benefit the people instead of giving physical cash to the central government because the government has many other responsibilities.
As part of the company’s goodwill and corporate social responsibility, Johnson said, AMLIB gives US$25 monthly to each teacher in the district’s ten schools to complement their income.
In his intervention, Rivercess County Superintendent, Mr. Wellington Geevon Smith, cautioned the citizens against making threatening statements to the government and other stakeholders, warning that such statements scare investors away.
Smith told the citizens that “development is like a bomb shell that drops in one place and the particles spread.
“As AMLIB has begun undertaking major projects including building of road, citizens must be grateful to the company and avoid making statements that will cause investors to halt their activities,” he added.
On the issue of youth employment, the county superintendent stated that many young people in the county are not technically prepared for the jobs that AMLIB and Sarpo Iron Ore Company will provide.
“Note that Liberia yesterday is not Liberia today; and if you are not prepared for the job market, those from elsewhere who are prepared will be employed,” he said pointedly.
Mr. Smith’s comments prompted the citizens to concede and immediately announced withdrawal of their planned action to halt AMLIB’s operations in the county.
The company is still in the exploration stage in its quest to mine gold in Rivercess. Nonetheless, the company has already made some contributions to the county.
Our reporter confirmed that AMLIB has spent more than US$600,000 in rehabilitating the road leading from Cestos City to Zammi Town in the Central Rivercess District. This includes the construction of all bridges using concrete.
In addition, the company, as admitted by a resident of the county, Mr. Philip Tarwea, during the meeting, has provided 8 bundles of zinc for their school.
AMLIB, according to our reporter, is also preparing to transport several loads of sand and crushed rocks to Zammi Town at the cost of US$16,000 to build a school.
Rivercess is one of the poorest counties in Liberia, if not the poorest.
Meanwhile, Johnson has reminded the citizens of Rivercess County that while his company is prepared to address issues relating to corporate social responsibility, they need to exercise patience and realize that everything cannot be done for all communities at once.
“We are prepared to help communities in providing some of their most pressing needs that include building of latrines hand pumps, and schools; but you communities must also understand the budgetary constraints associated with our operation for now and be patient,” he told the county residents.
Johnson warned that any act of violence by the citizens to obstruct the company’s operation would not only affect the company, but the people of Rivercess as well.
