SEVERAL PHOTOS WERE TAKEN DURING THE CEREMONY; MANY WERE HAPPY AS THEY DANCED TO THE TONE OF TRADITIONAL SONGSFollowing the lifting of Sanctions on Mining activities in the Country by the United Nations Security Council, the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy Friday officially commissioned a modern diamond sampling plant in the mining town of Weasua, Gbarpolu County.
Prior to the Commissioning of the sampling plant by the acting Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Hon. E.C.B. Jones also urged the citizens to tell their legislators to get involve in the process, saying, “you need to take control of the project and make it yours,” Minister Jones told the Weasua citizens.
During the ceremony hundreds of citizens, including chiefs, elders and local County officials in separate remarks praised the management of both the Mano River Resources, a London based Company and Transhex Group of South Africa for bringing life into their county.
The citizens in their jubilant mood, dancing to the tone of their traditional songs and cultural performances during the occasion, said they were happy for the reactivation of the mining town of Weasua to resume mining activities.
Expressing her feelings during the ceremony, Ms. Massa Gbono one of the daughters of the founder of Weasua, the late Old Man Gbono, called on the people of Gbarpolu to join hands with the investors for the growth and development of their county, adding, “we say big think you to the company ( Mano River Resources and Transhex ) for coming to our rescue. Our children and husband will now have jobs to feel us”, Ms. Gbono in her late 40s speaking to the GNN said.
Also expressing gratitude to both companies, the Clan Chief of the area, Momo Geba said he was happy to grace the occasion and urged the Gbarpolu County Legislative Caucus to lend their moral support to the company.
“We want to call on our people in Monrovia to also give their support to this company; we have suffered too long for jobs. The coming of this company in Weasua, I believe will help our children to find job”, Claim Chief with a serious look told the company.
Also speaking at the ceremony, former Deputy Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Mulbah Willie thanked both the management of Mano River Resources, Transhex and the people of Weasua for haven worked hard for the progress made thus far.
Former Minister Willie informed the gathering how in 1998 he was very instrumental to for an agreement to be signed for Mano River Resources to venture into Weasua for the sole purpose of looking for diamond, adding, “I am very proud today that I did something very good which made us to reach this far”, Mr. Willie who is the Chief Executive Office of a local engineering company stressed.
He urged the citizens of Weasua to pray hard so that the establishment of this company in their area would yell what he called “a fruitful result” for all of them to enjoy.
For his part the Deputy Minister for Mines at the Ministry, and also responsible for Kimberlite, Hon. A. Kpadell Fayah addressing the gathering warned those involve in illicy mining to desist, stressing, “if you are caught you will face the full weight of the law”.
Given an overview of the project the Company, the Project Manager, Mr. Philip Le Roux
Said the company which currently has in its employ 75 Liberians and 10 expatriates has spent over US$5.7 Million since its commencement.
He said up to date the company has not reap any source of income, adding, “our mission is to explore for diamonds using state of the art tools and principles for the benefit of the company’s shareholders, the employees, the nation and the local community in which we operate. Operating in an environmental friendly manner,” Mr. Roux stressed.
Despite the absence of the County’s Superintendent and members of the legislative caucus, citizens and elders during the program were excited happy of the step taken by both Mano River Resources and Transhex to commission its sampling plant.
The Commissioned Plant Being Viewed
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