By Saio Marrah
The Deputy Chief Whip of the governing bench in Parliament, who represents constituency 013 Kenema District, Alusine Kanneh says public offices frustrate intending investors by forcing them to bribe before attending to them.
The Lawmaker, who is also the Chairman and shareholder of the Norwegian small scale gold mining company, Bravura,that is to commence operations in Penguia Chiefdom, Kailahun District, said this to journalists during the unveiling of the company’s newly imported machinery at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown last week.
“I am a politician, but I will say it because I hate corruption. In fact if you are not in a position of trust it is difficult for you to get what you deserve and that is bad,” he stated.
He therefore called on public officials to make things soft so that more investors will come to do business in the country.
He said President Julius Maada Bio should talk to his appointees to create an enabling environment for investors coming into the country. He said more investment in the country will in turn reduce the suffering of the people as it will bring in more goodies.
He assured that the company will not discriminate against anyone in the area of employment, but that the people within the community where the company operates will be given priority. The parliamentarian noted that the landowners will surely benefit from the royalties that will be paid by the mining company.
He assured that apart from generating revenue for government, the company will thoroughly adhere to environmental protection guidelines.
After talking about how they intend to spread their mining activities into other parts of the country, also disclosed about how they plan to buy some coastal areas in the country so that they can invest in fisheries as well.
The Country Manager of Bravura , Umarr Fuad Bawoh, said will now go into operation and spoke of them having had a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the community people that covers employment possibilities for both skilled and unskilled persons.
He said it also include promotion of education in the community by building a school and even paying about eight teachers’ salaries at the school that are not on government payroll. According to him, they will also embark on school feeding programme.
Bawoh noted that they have experts that are ready to even conduct skills training and spoke of plans to construct a hospital for the local people.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Viggo Gundersen, a Norwegian, said they have big investors behind them with respect for values. He said they want Sierra Leoneans to take ownership of the company.
The machines for Bravura are said to cost some four million United States Dollars..
Copyright © Politico Online (09/01/23)
