His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has said the mining sector should and can create well paid jobs for thousands of young persons.
He was handing over the staggering amount of twenty billion leones (Le20,000,000,000) to the inhabitants of the host mining communities of Dansogoia, Sambaia and Simiria chiefdoms in the Tonkolili district as Community Development Agreement payment on behalf of a mining company.
He said this supports his government’s poverty reduction initiatives and that; “in addition to the job experience in the sector, we expect that young persons can also benefit from reskilling and upskilling opportunities that will support and enhance their technical skills. This falls within the broader human capital development drive by my government since 2018.”
The payment ceremony took place in Magburaka town, according to sources at NMA (National Minerals Agency).
President Bio said: “First, we have proved that in spite of a very tough global investment climate as a result of COVID-19 and other global crises, it is possible to create and maintain a healthy investment climate that is attractive to and conducive for investors in the mining sector.
“We are, therefore, grateful that investors from the People’s Republic of China have kept faith in our economy. At a broader level, this is a deep manifestation of the close solidarity between our two countries that is based on mutual trust and respect, a shared vision, and a shared interest in our mutual prosperity. That is the basis of over half a century of close friendship and mutual cooperation. I, therefore, wish to express our nation’s deep sense of gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China.
“Since 2018, we have maintained a clear view of the future of a sustainable mining sector in our country that is based on a transparent regulatory regime where everyone — patient investors, the community, workers, and the government — know the rules and play by the rules; and, a clear set of incentives that is good for business, good for the community, and good for the country.
“Secondly, as a government, we have proved that it is possible to forge a close partnership in which investors are guaranteed that their money is secured and that they can make a healthy profit that they can both re-invest or repatriate”.
The president went on saying; “We also believe that beyond the financial books, the mining sector can adopt a comprehensive framework where data and reporting matter; a framework that is environmentally friendly, ethical, socially responsible, and attentive to compliance.
“Furthermore, we believe that mining communities should benefit significantly from mining activities in their areas. Hitherto, there was very little evidence that the paltry 0.001% paid by mining companies was even received by the communities. For ten years of mining in the Tonkolili district, there is no direct community development footprint from community development agreements negotiated before 2018. My government believes that communities can achieve better development outcomes when more resources are directly provided to take care of their stated development needs”. President Bio concluded.
The occasion attracted a galaxy of cabinet ministers, senior government officials, traditional leaders and ruling party officials.
