Edwood Dennis
1 August 2008
One of the Liberia's leading post-war investors in the mining sector, Mano River Resources Incorporated has promised to construct a modern seaport in the South-eastern part of the country when giving the license.
Speaking to journalists in Weasua Town, Gbarpulo County where the company is currently engaged in mining exploration, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karl Smithson said the company has informed the government of its interest to mine iron ore in the Putu Mountains in Grand Gedeh County, South-eastern Liberia.
He said when their request is approved by the Liberian government, the company would expand its development plans, not limiting it to improving the lives of the people on a community level, but would go beyond to construct a modern deep seaport and railroads in the South-eastern region of Liberia to provide thousands of job opportunities to Liberians and increase government's revenue generation potential.
According to Mr. Smithson, besides constructing a modern seaport and railroads, Mano River Resources, Inc. intends to partner with local communities in the county and other adjacent counties to execute development initiatives.
Stressing the company's desire to bring development to the people on the community level, Smithson said the construction and decoration of the Weasua Town Community School in Weasua Town, Gbarpolu County was a clear demonstration of the company's preparedness to work with government, and a manifestation that it is not only seeking for huge profit, but positioned to work with locals.
Weasua Town is a mining town in Gbarpolu County where mining activities began in the early 1950s to date. Speaking at the program, Gbarpolu County Superintendent,. Madam Gertrude Lamine hailed the company for the construction of the eleven-room school building which is valued at US$80,000.
She said the construction of the school was in line with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's desire for pluralistic education for all Liberians. She said it is also in keeping with Government's education policy, whose overall purpose is to reduce the high rate of illiteracy.
Madam Lamine said her administration and the people of Weasua will remember Mano River Resources, Inc, for being the first company in the history of the county to construct a school building, in spite of numerous difficulties and challenges it is faced with.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Acting County Education Officer for Gbarpolu County, Boima Quaye Taweh said the construction of the school was a complete rescue opportunity provided for parents and children of Weasua Town, to put on par with others in the strive for better education for Liberian children.
The education ministry local official said since the destruction of the Warranty Public School several decades ago, children of Weasua Town have been denied education, and as such the construction of the school will rekindle the hopes and desire of both parents and children of the town to seek quality education.
He pledged the ministry to doing everything in supporting the school, and challenged parents to encourage their children to take advantage of the opportunity provided them by Mano River Resources, Inc.
He said government will assign qualified teachers to the Weasua Community School to ensure that children would be afforded the opportunity to attend the school get quality education.
The occasion, which was graced by chiefs, youths, and women groups, was characterized by hilarity as residents rained praises on the company. Apart from that, they called on the company to continue its good work in the area.
The company has reconditioned bridges and highways in Weasua, Gbarpolu County and Tubmanburg, Bomi County.
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I hope this country can move past the mining sector and our leaders put effort in preservation. Liberia by land mass, have less national reseves than all her neighbors, and to African standers, the second to last country to have national reserves. Apart from Sapo National Park, Puto ganges , Wologizi ranges, The insulburgs Mountains of Voinjama, Mangrove Swarmps, The Belle and Gola Rain Forest are all potential reserves Liberia can leave for the next two generation. Why will we even be thinking abount giving Puto and Wologizi to any Investor? Do you want to tell me that in another… [Read Full Text]