Mining Inspectors from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, currently carrying out operations against illicit and illegal Mining activities in Southeastern Liberia, have reported major progress in Barrobo District, Maryland County.
Team Lead, Adolphus Gleekia, Deputy Inspector-General for Mines, discovered that in order to evade taxes and continue defrauding Government of needed revenue, illicit Miners in Barrobo District buried and submerged essential equipment from Dredges they are illegally operating along the waterways.
According to the Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Richard Manuba, the Mining Inspectors detected the syndicate and destroyed all of the hidden Dredge materials.
The clamp down on illicit mining in Class ‘C’ or Artisanal Small-scale Mining (ASM), is in fulfillment of Mines and Energy Minister, Gesler Murray’s 3-month ultimatum given the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry to clear Liberian rivers and streams of all illegal Dredges and curtail the use of Mercury for Gold Mining.
Like the use of Dredges for mining gold, Mercury which is a dangerous substance that pollutes rivers and causes long lasting negative human and environmental impact, has been banned by the Liberian Government, and Government calls on all local community dwellers to join the fight against illicit and illegal mining by discouraging such harmful practices.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General for Mines, Adolphus Gleekia, is commending Minister Gesler Murray for the support and confidence reposed in the Inspectorate Division, and has assured the Minister that the Division will work tirelessly to stop illicit mining on all watersways in Liberia, and bring the perpetrators before the Law for prosecution.
According to Mr. Gleekia, the ongoing Nationwide operation by Mining Inspectors will continue in the Southeast for an unspecified period of time, and then move over to the rest of the six Mining Regions of the Country.
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