Grand Cape Mount County Senator,  Simeon B. Taylor condemns BMMC Protest

The Senator of Grand Cape Mount County Senator,  Simeon B. Taylor has condemned the protest that took place last week in his county. He told journalists on Sunday.

“I condemned  the protest in the first place. It was not timely, it should have been  handled more better than that,” Senator Simeon Taylor told journalists on Sunday.

Last week, protest took place at Bea Mountain Mining Company, which led to the death of one person, according to police report.

According to the protestors, the company refused to adhere to their 31-point petition. In it, they called for the removal of a Liberian to be replaced with a citizen from Cape Mount County, reinstatement of the Community Relations manager, the reinstatement of the Government Relations, Sando Whyne, the construction of vocational Center among others.

But according to the company, Mr. Henry Vincent (former community Relations officer) was fired because he incited citizens against the company. Due to his action, he apologized.  For Mr. Whyne, he was dismissed for alleged criminal activities.

Senator Taylor said, “they were targeting private citizens homes. Some of those people they attacked their homes are not working for the company; they are private citizens. This was my problem.

He added; “this was not realistic. Yes, there were some concerns that needed to be addressed by the company, but the protestors were targeting one another, ordinary people, which was very bad.”

Last week’s protest, led to the destruction of company’s properties and the burring of peaceful citizens homes as well as  the death of one person.

Mr.  Boakai Lansannah Terafero, who contested against Representative Dosi in the just-ended 2023 presidential and legislative elections, home was set on fire by the protestors.

One of the demands of the protestors is the withdrawal of armed men from the mines.

But according to   Section 11.2 .a  of the MDA-Mineral Development Agreement  signed between the Liberian government   and  Bea Mountain states that; “The Company may, directly or by contract with a responsible provider of security services, establish, manage and maintain its own asset and employee security and protection service for the purpose of protecting assets in the Production Area and in the immediate vicinity of other locations at which Company has or maintains property and assets through its own security force and to do so always in accordance with Law and rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Justice relating to security forces. Such security force shall not bear arms and shall at all times operate subject to the authority of, and coordination with the Liberia National Police.”

Not only that, but also in section (b) of the same MDA said: “In the event the Company deems it absolutely necessary to have armed guards for the purpose of protecting assets in the Production Area and in the immediate vicinity of other locations at which Company has or maintains property and assets, the Company shall make a written request to the Government. The Government shall provide armed guards as needed, which expense shall be borne by the Company.”

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