MONROVIA – The Management of China Union has acknowledged several lapses in compliance with the implementation of the Mineral Development Agreement signed with the Liberian government in 2009.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The mining company’s admittance comes following a communication to the House of Representatives by Bong County District #7 Representative, Foday Fahnbulleh.
In his communication to Plenary, Rep. Fahnbulleh complained the Chinese mining company to the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives over the gross failure to fully implement the MDA at the disadvantage of citizens.
The company operates in Bong Mines, Fuamah District, where Rep. Fahnbulleh serves as a lawmaker.
The company was recently cited to a hearing by the House’s Committee on Lands, Mines, Natural Resources and Environment, headed by Maryland County lawmaker P. Mark Jurry.
Following the hearing, Rep. Jurry mandated the Sergeant-at-Arms at the House of Representatives to detain the Deputy Manager of the company, Shen Yi Hong, who represented the company for his failure to provide detailed explanation about the operations of the company.
Mr. Hong was later released on bond and was instructed to aid the committee with all necessary documents about the operations of the company as requested.
Less than a week after the hearing, the company officially wrote the House of Representatives through the Lands, Mines, Natural Resources and Environment, acknowledging what Rep. Fahnbulleh said in his communication to plenary.
In the communication, a copy of which is in the possession of FPA, China Union recommended several proposals to the House, which are intended to enhance the desired results demanded by the Committee.
Among the proposals are immediate-term intervention which will run for the period of ninety days and medium term intervention which goes for a hundred and eighty days.
Under the immediate term intervention, the company promised to set up a joint working group to identify feasible intervention activities that can be implemented in the immediate and medium terms and to initiate the implementation of immediate term activities.
The medium term intervention will see the regularization of all non-compliances and a joint plan for an early review of the MDA.