Concord Times (Freetown)
8 June 2011
Freetown — Sierra Rutile’s community affairs department on May 20th concluded the first series of a five-day public consultations meeting in the five mining area chiefdoms of Imperri, Mokele, Gbangbatoke, Jong and Bagruwa in the Bonthe and Moyamba districts.
This round of consultative meetings engaged the host communities in an open dialogue and encouraged them to voice their concerns and opinions about the company’s operations and its corporate and social responsibilities. Some five hundred community stakeholders including paramount chiefs, landowners, district councilors, and civil society and youth groups attended the meetings.
SRL’s Public Consultations and Disclosure Plans1 (PDCP) meetings are designed to update mining communities and key stakeholders about the company’s operations, surface rents payments to landowners, rehabilitations and resettlement projects, crop and property compensation schemes and community development plans.
The Paramount Chief of Imperri chiefdom, Madam Hawa Kpanabom, stressed the importance of the discussions and called on all stakeholders to maintain a “measured debate” during the meetings.
Chief Tommy M. Jombla of Banta Mokele called for the revision of the annual surface rents increase of 3% in line with the rising inflation in the country. The Paramount Chief of Banta Gbangbatoke, Chief John Russell Nyaama, questioned the administration and disbursement of SRL’s Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) and appealed to the company and the government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to review the process.
Chief Robert C.S. Papapwe of Bagruwa chiefdom expressed concerns over SRL’s plans to stop the payment of surface rents to his chiefdom and called on the company to reconsider their action. Other views aired during the meetings included employment opportunities for indigenes, provision of water wells, reclamations of minedâ-�out areas and rehabilitation of community roads.
The PDCP meetings were held in Gbangbama (Imperri â-� 16 May), Motinga (Mokele â-� 17 May), Gbaninga (Jong â-� 18 May), SRL Social Hall (Gbangbatoke â-� 19 May), Sembehun (Bagruwa â-� 20 May).
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SRL Concludes Public Consultations Meeting