September 6, 2021
BY PROBLYN JOHN ALPHA
The Paramount Chief of Sandor Chiefdom, Kono District P.C. Sonsiama Fasuluku has said that some people in the District are experts in the dissemination of misinformation.
P.C Fasuluku made the pronouncement when making a statement during the payment of a surface rent to at least three chiefdoms in Kono District at a ceremony held at the Kono District Council Hall, D.O. Barracks in Koidu city Kono District.
He therefore prevailed on both the media and others present at the payment of the said surface rent to help him relay the information.
He noted that the payment received was not the usual Community Development Committee Fund (CDCF) but rather it was the surface rent which he described as a house rent to certain land owners and the authorities of the beneficiary chiefdoms Nimikoro, Nimiyama and Sandor.
Delivering the keynote address at the payment ceremony, the mines and project manager of the Pan African Rare Metala Mining Company Sierra Leone Limited engineer Dr. David Kanume Koroma maintained that as a company they were delighted to operate in the country especially in Kono District, adding that there are so many mining companies that operate in the country and Kono District in particular but their company is very unique in its operations and implored the local authorities to support the company so that the lined up developments the company has will be effected.
Dr. Koroma intimated the audience that Pan African Rare Metals Mining Company Sierra Leone Limited operates in different districts in the country and that they are in Kono District to mine coal tar in the beneficiary chiefdoms. He noted that the payment of the said surface rent is in fulfilment of the mines and minerals act 2009 which mandates mining companies to pay surface rent for the use of the land.
Meanwhile, the total amount of surface rent paid to the three chiefdoms is One Billon Leones which he said is going to be shared by percentages owing to their operations in the said beneficiary chiefdomzzzs.
Sandor Chiefdom is to benefit eighty percent, Nimikoro Chiefdom ten percent and Nimiyama Chiefdom ten percent.
On their parts, the three beneficiary paramount chiefs of Nimiyama, Nimikoro and Sandor Chiefdoms respectively P.C George Bockarie Torto the third, P.C Aiah Denton Bona Foamansa the third and P.C Sonsiama Fasuluku expressed thanks and appreciation for the payment of the said surface rent and further welcomed the company to Kono District noting that they will support the operations of the company in their chiefdoms and Kono District as a whole.
The beneficiary paramount chiefs pleaded with the company to make provision for the employment of youths in the beneficiary chiefdoms. Representatives of the National Minerals Agency (NMA) and members of Parliament for constituencies 022, 027 and 030 admonished the land owners, local authorities, the beneficiary chiefdoms and the management of the mining company to work as one in order to maximise and sustain such development.
The Member of Parliament constituency 030 Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina who also triples as chairman mines and minerals resources committee and the caucus leader of the C4C party in the well of parliament who chaired the surface rent payment ceremony described President Bio’s new direction government as good for the development of the country.
He noted that since President Julius Maada Bio assumed office in 2018, the mines and minerals sector has tremendously impacted the mining communities and the country as a whole through the payment of surface rents, mining licenses among many other payments.