As the result of “rampant illegal mining” in Grand Kru County, Senate ProTempore Emeritus Albert T. Chie has mandated local authorities of the County to crackdown on illicit mining activities.
According to Senator Chie, it is no secret that foreigners and citizens, including sons of Grand Kru, are involved in unauthorized mining activities, hereby stressing an urgent need for comprehensive security and regulatory measures to curb exploitation and safeguard the County’s minerals.
Speaking Thursday April 10, 2025 during an official program held in Barclayville City for his arrival and appreciation tour in the County, Senator Chie cautioned citizens of Grand Kru to desist from harboring illicit miners in their respective communities, at the same time citing concerns about their negative impacts on the environment.
The Grand Kru County Senator who is also a trained Geologist emphasized that these unauthorized mining activities bring no tangible benefits to the County and central government at large, adding, all miners in the County are involved into illicit mining.
“In this County, your children have brought in 35 yellow machines to mine without the appropriate licenses; We have been told by the mining agent and mineral inspector that only few Chinese are here; but your own children mine illegally; they use the yellow machines to damage the land without reclamation and damage the roads. They refuse to help the county authority to help fix some of the roads.
Senator Chie: “The miners have polluted all the rivers with dredge equipment which are prohibited by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The traditional leaders and other community leaders sit idly and watch the destruction of their lands and rivers by mines in exchange for pittance. Madam Superintendent: as Senior Senator of the County you are authorize to seize any dredge machine in our rivers; you have my full backing”.
The Lawmaker who also serve as Chairman on the Senate’s Statutory Committee on Public Works told citizens who had assembled in the Barclayville City Hall along with County Superintendent and Development officer, Madam Antoinette Worwlee Nimely and Joe M. Sekpeh, respectively, along with other County officials, that the rampant illegal mining activities are also a contributing factor to the deplorable roads in the county, as miners bring their heavy duty equipment via the roads.
“The continuous cry about the roads: it is not the bikes that are spoiling the roads; it is the trucks and yellow machines that are being brought by the miners spoiling the roads” Senator Chie stressed.
As he climaxed his appreciation tour in electoral District # 2, Senator Chie used the occasion to commend Citizens of Grand Kru County for overwhelmingly electing him during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections.
