Properly Regulated, Sustainable Mining can Develop Liberia; Mines, Energy Minster Assures Gold, Diamond Brokers and Dealers

Monrovia, Liberia: The Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has sent out a clarion call on members and officials of the Gold and Diamond Brokers, as well as dealers who export minerals out of Liberia, saying that God cannot condemn any country to poverty and in return endow them with precious minerals.

With Liberia being no exception among countries with some of the world's most needed mineral resources, the Mines and Energy Minister asserts that the country had and still has a big opportunity to account for the development only when proper regulations and sustainability regimes are put in place and followed to the fullest.

According to Minister Paye, when the appropriate measures are put in place, the mining sector has the potential to produce funds needed to solve Liberia's energy problems, pinpointing electricity, while he believes that given the potential and capacity of the mineral sector, it can generate funds needed to ensure a vibrant health sector and also service other cross-cutting national development priorities.

But the Minister noted that to achieve such economic freedom and break away from foreign aid or donor dependency, the Ministry (MME) and Government at large need collaborative efforts from the miners, brokers, dealers, and every Liberian residing in various parts of the country.

In that light, he assured the assembled gathering of brokers and dealers that they should not be worried about political will because, he said, the President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has maintained countless times that he (President Boakai) has no vested interest whatsoever in any mining operations in the country.

Minister Paye said that his administration has the marching order to streamline the sector and make sure those involved with mineral extraction here are in full compliance.

He entreated the miners, brokers, and dealers to come to this business arena with the utmost honesty and willingness to be law-abiding, while also calling on community residents across the country to discourage all forms of illicit and illegal mining.

Minister Wilmot Paye used the intercessory and reconciliation program of the brokers and dealers to inform them of his administration's plan this year to convene a National Mineral Conference expected to be convened in Monrovia to solicit the collective inputs of all mineral sector actors and citizens alike in determining the best way possible moving forward for Liberia's mineral resources to be mined, processed, and produced industrially to better benefit the country and its citizens instead of continuing with the current system of every mineral, leaving the country with no reserve for future prosperity.

The day-long program was graced by religious leaders of various faiths, mostly Imams and Pastors, the national traditional council of Chiefs and Elders, and private citizens who stopped by to grace the program.

Diamond Dealers President Mustapha Tunkara, in brief remarks, called for unity and harmonious coexistence among brokers and dealers.

He stressed the importance of non-political mindsets and approaches in their business activities in the mineral sector if they must be positive contributors to the economy.

Edited: E. Geedahgar Garsuah, Sr.