By Kemoh Sidibay, KDGO Public Relation Officer. The stage was set Last night for the discussion of Octea Mining press release and KDGO mission statement, which went into depth discussion, agreement, disagreement were made etc. The meeting started with chairman Fanday giving permission to assistant secretary Isatta Sambaya for open Christian prayer and Public Relations Officer Kemoh Sidibay for Muslim prayers, which both of us did effectively to bless the occasion, and the goal of our mission. Opening remarks were made by Chairman Aiah Fanday by him thanking all the willing Kono citizen participants of todays conference, December 6th, 2014, and mentioned our dear KOIDU City MAYOR, who was to join later to discuss Octea Mining and issues, etc, but was currently discussing with UN Personal about the opening of a new ebola treatment center. Therefore, Fanday further went on with his remarks about minings in Kono, and about his view and understanding about the current review of the organization, and that the executive have already been set in place, and that our discussion about Kono issues is in the open. Fanday further thanked everyone for our sacrifices and effort for doing this voluntary and charity and unpaid work for our district, as well as all those that were in the organization before and new members. He talked of Mayor sending letters to all the executives about the Octea Mining lagging behind and not keeping to its agreements and responsibilities because of bad politics and in actions of Kono descendants worldwide. Mr. Komba Wusu as a whip then talked of the rules of the conference. Chairman Fanday went further , with the discussion of his approach, to invite interior minister Diana, which she turned down, and said that she would do it when she is ready. Quote Lady Diana, I thank the organization for making this effort. Earlier he had invited transportation minister Logus Koroma, and assistant minister of presidential affairs Karamoh Kabba, to no avail. Most of them pointed out that Kono diaspora is already taking sides as an excuse. Never the less, KDGO will forward our agenda. The goal is to redeem our people from their current bondage and to see development in Kono. Tamba Gbomoi, who was also a participant in the conference, suggested that the press release and written letters sent to them are already a record for future generations of Kono to reconcile with just in case things continue to deteriorate, and that the blame should be on the leaders refusal to listen to the voices of Kono. Dr. Domina, also a board member of the organization backed up the motion by agreeing with some of the sayings of Gbomoi but deferred just a little on some areas that the last minutes in the press release was enough to convince these people in the press release to join us. Fanday throughout the meeting emphasized the importance of our voice no matter what, with or without money, backed by PRO Kemoh Sidibay, matters a lot and is leading to some actions. He emphasized when Brother Alphohso kept talking of unity among us first, which is not existing because past Kono groups are no more in existence because of disunity and that Kono backwardness is a conspiracy to disunite Kono and keep all descendants out of Kono to promote the agenda of prosperity for the conspirators, and most representatives that were involved in the conspiracy are from the previous government, to the current representatives from Kono who went further to support the previous agreement, and he almost got to the point of saying all hope for Kono is lost, where we all intervened. We further discussed our mission statement about the short term and long term goals of the organization. Short term goals included dealing with current mining issues which can also be a long term goal, and the rebuilding of schools from elementary onto higher education, for which plans have already been set in place for, and raising funds to build up the organization. There were many agreements and disagreements from Balla and Tamba Gbomoi and many others. Tamba Gbomoi said our mouths should be where our pocket is. Isatta Sambaya, assistant secretary, talked of the importance of the immediate fundraising and to the point of presenting our goals and objectives to present to cooperative organizations for fundraising purposes. A long time goal is to continue striving developing infrastructure, roads, electricity, etc., to be our focus. Isatta jumped into say that education can be both a short term goal and a long term goal. Many people talked of the importance of funds, especially Hilton who emphasized the importance of the power of money to keep an organization going forward, and that money can empower an organization to encourage everyone to listen to its goals and objectives, therefore he believes the organization has to build itself up to go further. Gbomoi backed the motion, and agreed with Hilton. Peter Kaingbanjah supported the idea of fundraising immediately. Brother Alphohso throughout was talking of previous organizations and Isatta Sambaya was always responding, backed by Charman Fanday and other listeners, and that Kono interest should be first, not our individual interest. Keep the past behind us. A speaker in the audience talked of the importance of strike for the people to hear our voices, other than that Kono would never be heard. In that moment, Alphohso said that we are facing a hundred pound gorilla that is not easy to defeat and that we are not organized properly, we all agreed that it does not matter, we will stand up for our rights. Secretary Sinah talked of his meeting with Mayor and went to seek advice from a solicitor who would lead him to a corporate lawyer to gather advice on how to go forward with the mining policies and roads. At the end it was decided to suspend any soliciting or lawsuit actions from the diaspora until original signing documents released by the mayor and all parties involved. Secretary Isatta Sambaya said that she will not encourage strike, they are lawless and irresponsible, and further went on to discuss where to find the mining agreement in the ministry of mine files. Abdul Raman Jalloh in Denmark said he recently spoke to an UNNGO to give advice on how to go forward to bring back our rights and the companies to take up the right responsibility. Chairman Fanday said to further all this discussion is very important when we meet the Koidu city Mayor next to encourage him to discuss much, not withstanding the Mayors pursuit of lawsuits. Isatta in conclusion, started with giving a vote of thanks by talking of the importance of the media by thanking me for the media work, and everyone for coming together to keep our dream alive. The press release was read by me to discuss further about mining policies, etc.: KDGO PRESS RELEASE THE OCTEA MINING COMPANY IN KOIDU CITY MUST IMMEDIATELY ADHERE TO ITS COOPERATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES !! ENOUGH IS NOW ENOUGH !!! The Kono District Global Organisation (KDGO), its affiliate groups in the diaspora and in Sierra Leone can no longer sit idly by and see OCTEA Mining Company in Koidu City continue to plunder our land with impunity. Its an undisputed fact that diamonds which are Kono Districts main source of income forms the backbone of the Sierra Leone economy. For decades now, the proceeds derived from the sales of diamonds have never benefited our people nor has the OCTEA Mining Company operating within the jurisdiction of Koidu City adheres to its Cooperate Social Responsibilities since the signing of cooperate documents with the Government of Sierra Leone in 2010. The company is also in blatant breach of Sections 69-72 of the Local Government Act (LGA) 2004 which make provision for Property Tax Payment. The OCTEA Mining Company, according to all legal agreements has to fulfil the following obligations: 1. Exhibition of its Cooperate Social Responsibilities. 2. Compliance with the Profit-Sharing Agreement. 3. Utilization of the Community Development Fund. 4. Compliance with the Underground Mining Agreement. 5. Formation of the Koidu Development Trust. 6. Payment of $100,000.00 for the capacity-building of nationals and non-nationals. We the daughters and sons of Kono have realised that the gross unfairness surrounding the redistribution of the proceeds of our natural wealth, the deliberate attempt of OCTEA not complying with its legal obligations has defined in the 2010 agreement are further compounded by the obsolete mining strategies by OCTEA which are laden by severe human tragedies NOW require immediate ATTENTION & SOLUTION. weve had enough!! On February 21, 2014, explosions rocked certain mining areas which destroyed properties as well as left one person dead. On 18th December 2012, two Kono youths were killed in cold blood by the police over a peaceful protest in relation to the companys poor commitment to their relocation and compensation issues. The OCTEA Mining Company applies non-environmentally friendly mining methods that breach Health & Safety guidelines. In addition to the loss of lives and destruction of valuable properties, severe long term environmental degradation exposes the lack of prudence and sound corporate responsibilities of the company. As law abiding citizens, we are quite aware that lasting PEACE in Kono is possible only if proceeds from our diamonds are distributed more fairly and that OCTEA owns up to its responsibilities. Without that Im afraid, Koidu will witness more mass protests and violence. In view of the foregoing, the KDGO and its affiliate groups including daughters and sons of Kono call for the immediate intervention of the SL Government and the National Mineral Agency to address matters raised herein. LONG LIVE KDGO, LONG LIVE THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MOTHER KONO AND LONG LIVE KONO. THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES UNABATED!!! There were many attendees of Kono descendant all across the globe By Kono Development Global Organisation Public Relation Officer Kemoh Sidibay.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 23:35:57 +0000
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