Monrovia – In a bold statement issued by Martin K. N. Kollie, a staunch supporter of President Joseph Boakai has criticized President Boakai for the restoration of Western Cluster’s mining permit, which operates under a dubious Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) rather than a legally required Mineral Development Agreement (MDA).
Kollie’s statement outlines the discontent of the people of Bomi County, who had high hopes for President Boakai to fulfill his promises made during the 2023 election campaign to end the exploitative practices of the Western Cluster concession. The President had previously vowed to shut down Western Cluster unless they built a railway as part of their operations.
Despite initial actions to revoke Western Cluster’s road permit following public outrage, the permit has now been fully restored, raising questions about the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the people and protecting the country’s natural resources. This decision has been criticized as a betrayal of the trust placed in President Boakai by the voters, especially those in Bomi County.
Martin Kollie, said “Restoring Western Cluster’s Permit When Nothing Has Changed Is A Promise Betrayed.”
Kollie highlights the President’s failure to fulfill his promise to end the dubious Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which Western Cluster operates.
Kollie reminds the President that Bomi County played a significant role in his election, delivering over half of the valid votes in the 2023 presidential election. The people of Bomi voted for President Boakai because they wanted an end to the shady Western Cluster Concession, which neglects their social, economic, health, and environmental interests.
The memo questions why Western Cluster continues to operate under a shady MOU instead of signing a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) as required by the 2006 Minerals and Mining Law of Liberia. Kollie calls on the President to honor his promise to shut down Western Cluster if they fail to build a railway as an iron ore company.
Kollie criticizes the recent restoration of Western Cluster’s permit, just three weeks after it was revoked by the Ministry of Public Works. He argues that this decision makes President Boakai appear weak and undermines his credibility in front of exploitative foreign companies and concessionaires.
Furthermore, Kollie questions the rationale behind restoring the permit for a mere US$200k, considering that Western Cluster generates millions of USD annually from exploiting and exporting iron ores.
He highlights the stark contrast between the revenue generated by Western Cluster and the meager amount allocated for repairing the Bomi Highway. Kollie argues that this is not the change the people were promised and calls for structural reforms to protect public interests.
The memo also raises concerns about the environmental and health hazards caused by Western Cluster’s operations, including air pollution and the lack of access to safe drinking water. Kollie urges President Boakai to take action to protect the interests of the people and calls for the revocation of Western Cluster’s permit, advocating for a shift from MOU to MDA.
In conclusion, Martin Kollie’s memo serves as a strong reminder to President Boakai of the discontent and disappointment felt by the people of Bomi. It calls for immediate action to address the concerns surrounding the Western Cluster Concession and urges the President to fulfill his promise of genuine change in Liberia.
