Grand Cape Mount County – The Management of Bea Mountain Mining Company (BMMC) has donated 740 bags of rice to its project-affected communities with approximately 8,786 persons expected to benefit from the gesture.
The rice distribution, according to the mine, was intended to ease the financial constrains on families during this holiday season amid the hardship already created by the coronavirus pandemic, the company said.
Other communities and institutions that benefited are Lofa Bridge, Lofa Congo, Jawajei Dandah, Harris Field, Bomboh, Mambon Ginda, B-52, Mambon Dorley, Gogoima, Bangorma, Ducor-Gbonguma, Sannor, Goor, BoMafa, Togar, Jenema, Gonelor, Gbonjama, Augustine Village, Jenewonde, Klay checkpoint, Gbah checkpoint, Sinje health center, Sinje town central mosque, Kinjor and Grand Cape Mount County joint security forces.
Hon. Sando Lassana said supporting the community in the wake of the global pandemic in Liberia was a thoughtful move by the mining company.
He also informed BMMC that his office will ensure that the rice reached every targeted household, adding that the food will enable communities celebrate festive season.
Hon. Lassana also thanked the mining company “for bringing back the African Kitchen to the community”, which will help provide livelihood opportunities for scores of women. He then promised to keep his eyes on the day-day activity of the kitchen to avoid mismanagement of the resources.
For his part, Mr. Bahri Cambazgil, Administrative Manager of BMMC, said the support to the various communities was made possible through the General Manager Mr. Ozkan Umurhan of BMMC.
He also informed residents to “see the mine as their owned”, while promising to provide more support to the communities.
Meanwhile, the Superintendent of the Community Relations Department has assured that the rice distribution will continue in all affected communities including communities in Bomi County.
Mr. Henry Vincent, who did the presentation on behalf of the company, thanked the community for being peaceful and supportive of the company’s operations over the years.
He urged citizens to work closely with the company to achieve development projects instead of resulting to violence as a means of expressing concerns, warning that “violence will drive away development partners form Liberia, which will put huge burden on the government”.
He encouraged citizens to always follow all health protocols put in place by the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) in order to keep safe, “because the virus is not yet over”.
Meanwhile, a sport for peace tournament organized by the Community Relations Department of the BMMC brought together four towns within the company’s operational areas of Kinjor, Matambo and Ndablama.
The tournament, organized under the theme Strengthen Community Unity through sport, was held from December 30 -31, 2020 in Gold Camp in honor of BMMC manager, Mr. Ozkan Umurhan.
Beh Gondor, Gold Camp, Tahn and Weaju communities participated in the first edition of the tournament.
Mr. Vincent, BMMC’s Community relations superintendent, said the tournament seeks to “build strong relationships with project-affected communities to foster coordination and support for the implementation of the company’s programs for the communities”.
He assured that the tournament will be a continued event, which the company has agreed to support in solidifying relationship with local communities.
Madam Konah Yoko, town chief of Gold Camp, thanked the mining company for leading the activities, and encouraged participating communities to see the tournament as a means of forming a strong bond with the company.
“Sport is the best tools to unite communities or people, which everyone should take it seriously and avoid violence, which will undermine our development,” she said.
Chiefs from the participating communities thanked BMMC for the sport for peace tournament and promised their support to ensure the project-affected communities are peaceful at all time.
Meanwhile the tournament is expected to continue in January with two versions taking place in Matambo and Kinjor towns.
Participating communities under Matambo will include Bangorma,Saarnor, Genelor and Bo-Maffa communities. That tournament is expected to be held from January 15-16, 2021.
For participating communities under Kinjor – they will include Jenneh Brown, Silent Hill/Vai town/Jekindor, Jewajeh town and Kinjor town, their version of the tournament will start January 28-29, 2021.