MONROVIA – The Office of Gbarpolu County District 2 Representative Rep. A. Kanie Wesso has with heavy heart sends out condolences to the families of the 40 miners who were trapped underground at Kartee Gold Mine in Nimba County.
This sad incident took place on February 10, 2018 in the Gboanipea, about 10 kilometers away from Tappita, in District Number 6, Nimba County.
Rep. Wesso wants to commend the National Technical Committee and the National Disaster Management Agency, the Armed Forces of Liberia, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others, for their efforts exerted so far to retrieve bodies.
Also Rep. Wesso commends well-meaning institutions including ArcelorMittal, Abi Joudi Super Market, Bea Mountain Gold Mining Company, Fouta Corporation for donating relief materials for residents of the area and the bereaved families who cannot access their farm lands due to contamination and pollution in the area as a result of the decomposing bodies.
The Gbarpolu District 2 Representative finds it prudent that the Government of Liberia declares illicit/illegal mining a National Emergency.
Hon. Cllr. Wesso is quoted in a release as saying that this action be followed by the immediate closure of all illicit mining sites in the country, especially in the area where the disaster took place as well as the Tuma River belt in Gbarpolu county where not only is illegal mining going on a large scale, but such activity is also keeping hundreds of children and youth of school-going age out of school. We have also observed that there are indiscriminate illicit mining activities along the Vai River between Lofa and Gbarpolu where dredges are lined up along the river”. Rep. Wesso reminds the national government that not only is this act posing serious threat to the lives of citizens who are involved, but it is also depriving the government of thousands of dollars of much-needed revenue. “We must not wait for another tragedy before taking decisive action in this regard”.