9 July 2008
Belgium government has reportedly made an extraordinary offer to members of the Liberian Diamond Dealers Association (LDDA), accepting to issue one-year visas to Liberian diamond dealers to buttress their determination to transact between Brussels and Monrovia.
Brussels is reportedly awaiting the roster of the names of Liberian diamond dealers for the prompt issuance of the renewable ordinary visas.
The intention of the Belgium government to help the LDDA was revealed by Mr. A. Kpandel Fayiah, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy when he spoke recently at the induction ceremony of the first corps of officers LDDA. The program was held at the Royal Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia.
Minister Fayiah, who is also the focus point for Kimberley Process in Liberia, said the LDDA only needs to submit its rosters of members to his office for onward submission to the Belgium government.
According to minister Fayiah, the Belgium government made the offer through its Foreign Minister as a means of helping to expose Liberia diamond dealers.
"On the issue of the visa, during our visit to India , the Foreign Minister of Belgium said if we give them the listing of our diamond dealers , then they will issue them visa for one year. So that is for you (LDDA) to give us (mine officials) your listing and we will send your names to Belgium for the visas", he said.
Minister Fayiah, a Liberian geologist, was responding to the new LDDA president induction statement when he said, "We shall advocate for foreign embassies accredited near Monrovia to see reasons to issue any necessary traveling documents to our bonifide members".
In the statement read by Assistant Secretary General George Quaweay, the new president said most embassies accredited near Monrovia were reneging on issuing visas to members of the diamond dealers.
According to him, the refusal of embassies to issue visas pose impediments in their way of traveling out of Liberia to transact diamond business, because as he said, "We want to compete with other dealers on the world markets ".
Deputy Minister Fayiah told the gathering that Liberia has been invited to attend and participate in an international diamond exhibition scheduled to take place in the United States.
Apparently to ensure Liberia's participation in the exhibition, he said the Liberian government through the Lands, Mines and Energy Ministry was working out modalities to have Liberian diamond dealers represented in the US.
He told the well attended audience that Liberia as a nation and people has come a long way apparently in suffering and now has been recognized.
Minister Fayiah joined Liberia's chief diamond appraiser, Mr. Corvah Baysah, among others to assure LDDA members of government readiness to work with them in making the mineral sector peaceful, productive and rewarding.
The Executive Director of the National Investment Commission (NIC) graced the induction ceremonies officiated by Mr. T. Negbalee Warner, Head of the Secretariat of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (LEITI).
Those installed are Mr. Mustapha Tounkara, President; Mr. Noah H. Pardmore vice President for Administration; Mr. Isiaka Bakue Konneh Vice President for Operations and Mr. Senes Kamara, Secretary General.
Others are George Quaweay Sr, Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Amando Tounkara as Treasurer, and Geoffrey I.N. Daniel as Chaplains, among others.
LDDA members are Liberians and residents possessing valid license to buy and export diamonds in the country. As a non-for profit organ, the LDDA wants to partnership with the Liberian government, the civil society groups, the private sector, and Liberia's development partners.
LDDA, which is governed y board of directors and management headed by Mustapha Tounkara, is aimed at becoming part of transparency initiative that reflects the realities of Global market in the mineral .
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