The management of Bea Mountain Mining Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with three clans in the Gola Konneh District in Grand Cape Mount County.
The agreement’s objective is to give each clan an amount of US$ 150,000 annually and this bargain is expected to last up to 20 years while the amount is geared towards company’s continuous support to the county’s operations aside from the its constitutional obligation which goes to the County Development Fund (CDF) as stipulated in the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) signed with the Government of Liberia.
The three benefiting clans which include, Laar, Darblo and Manno were represented by their respective clan chiefs while the government was represented by the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Labor along with the Company’s General manager as well as Senator Simeon Taylor and the former Justice Minister, Benedict Sannoh served as the lawyer for the district.
The three clans received three cheques accumulating to U$450,000 to be used for promotional initiatives and projects that will develop their respective clans and make Gola Konneh a place of attraction to others only for its connection to the company.
Speaking Friday at the signing ceremony, Bea Mountain Mining Company General Manager, Raza Karimiyan expressed delight in being with the people of the district as he promised his Company’s continual developmental plan for Cape Mount ranging from more employment to the provision of basic social immunities for them.
He said the newly signed MOU is a big boost to the company and that of the community because they will now take cash available to them every year to identify and underwrite the costs for projects of significance to them.
“We are very proud to be among the Gola Konneh people to be able to do something for the people here, investing a lot in the region that could affect you in the future and hopefully, it is going to go for the next 20 years,” he intimated.
Manager Raza Karimiyan then outlined considerable training plans to have youths gather the relevant skills to be able to work with the company to add to the already over 4,000 persons employed and to make appreciative salaries to grow their own living standards.
Internal Affairs Minister, Varney Sirleaf lauded the company for the decision to halt the growing tensions that mounted the company operations in February of this year.
According to him, it was because of some disenchantment along the way that caused the people to call the government’s attention and put BMMC’s feet to the fire.
Minister Sirleaf assured the people of Cape Mount that the government has gone into negotiations with the company on their behalf and will continue to make that every agreement signed between the parties reach it purpose and yield the best results.
He added that the US$150,000 memorandum will be used as a new beginning for the people to unite and help themselves build the county.
According to the agreement in the MoU, the fund will be deposited in a bank to be used to implement projects agreed by the fund development committee that will consist of five persons; both men and women.
The Minister used the occasion to call on every citizen to desist from ploys that will disrupt the operation of Bea Mountain and encourage all persons to guide major investments across the country.