Citizens of Golakoneh District in Grand Cape Mount County have issued several conditions that must be met by concession companies that intend to carry out mining in their district.

According to the citizens of La_Joy, Jawejei Marvoh, King Joy and Diablo Clans, which are the major areas with huge deposits of gold and diamond have not benefited from its resources despite their areas being the focus point for miners.

The citizens made the disclosure over the weekend when an Inquirer reporter visited the land of gold and diamond.

“We just see people come here and take our wealth away without them bringing any development to our land. Our eyes are now opened and we won’t sit and allow people to get the riches out of our land and leave it undeveloped,” the citizens noted.

The towns are believed to be the focus point for mining companies but the land is left without major development, no medical infrastructure, no school buildings and no safe drinking water for the locals despite God’s blessings of abundant natural resources in their land.

“We are disappointed that our lawmakers would sit supinely and allow investors to come into our land and exploit it without them setting any standard for these companies to go by,” they asserted.

Making direct reference to the oldest mining company in their area, the Cape Mountainians said they were highly disappointed by the Mano River Resource Company for not living up to its promises made to the citizens.

Mano, as the residents commonly call it, occupied the area since 1998 but the citizens said up to date, the company has not initiated any development program in the areas.

” For the past 11 years, Mano has not done anything for us and as such we can not continue with them as a mining company in our land; we want our lawmakers to listen to our cries; we want Mano out,” they stated in an agitated mood.

During The Inquirer’s visit to the area, it was also discovered that there was not even a public hand pump where Mano River Resource has its base and that the citizens did not use the only hand pump, which was spotted in the compound of Mano River Resource; they were denied access to it.

“We are not allowed to use Mano pump and as a result the entire clan drinks from the creek,” the citizens narrated.

“We drink from where we use as latrines and as a result we always get sick due to the insensitivity of the Mano River Resource to our plights. They are extracting our minerals and denying the very owners of the minerals that are making them rich and denying us access to safe drinking water,” a lady lamented.

According to some elders of the towns whom our reporter spoke to, they have invited the authorities of the Mano Company to discuss the plight of the citizens but till now, the Company has done nothing. “All they tell us is that they are not making profit and that is why they have not responded to our demands,” the elders added. “Our children are not in school and they have been making promises that they would built us schools,” they added.

“If they can not help us let them leave our resources alone for people who are willing to help us and our towns. Just imagine a company which came in less than six months and that company is currently connecting all of our towns with good road network,” they stressed.

They disclosed that another mining company under the banner Texas International, which just signed a minerals development program with the Government of Liberia to work in their area, has embarked on the building of vibrant road network that would link one clan to another.

“This is a good start and we think this company means well for us and we believe that if they stay here longer we would certainly have major developments carried out by them,” they noted.

The 65-kilometer road, which runs from Sinja to the last town in Golakoneh District and other towns and villages is said to be constructed by the ‘Johnny Just Come Company,’ Texas International.

“This was the first condition we set for Texas International and they are successfully accomplishing the demand and we believe any other company could have done the same,” they mentioned.

When this paper contacted the chief geologist for Mano River Resources, Dr. Richard Latiff and asked him why the Mano has not lived up to its promises made to the citizens, he said the company was not making any profit and as such they were unable to meet the demand of the citizens.

Additionally, the Senior Senator of Grand Cape Mount County, Abel M. Massaley said the county’s legislative caucus has received a petition from the citizens against the Mano River Resource and that said petition is being perused.

He said the leadership of the county is aware of the citizens’ plight and that everything is being done to address the situation.

“I am aware about some of the issues raised from my citizens and we are going to look into the matter and if we come out with a finding, absolutely no one will stop us from taking said action, not even the President of Liberia,” the vocal lawmaker stated.