Bea Mountain Mining Company continues to be embroiled with public scrutiny and backlash amidst concerns about working outside of its mineral development agreement signed between it and the government of Liberia.
The latest arose when Senator Saah H. Joseph during their Tuesday’s session disclosed that the company is producing local commodities on the market.
Senator Saah Joseph says it is unfortunate the company is producing cement for it’s use even though cement is already being produced by other local companies.
He mentioned that the company is also producing mineral water thereby depriving local business men and women from accruing financial benefits from the company.
According to the Senator, top officials of the company are using Sierra Lone to travel leaving the Roberts International Airport.
He believes this is creating finical leakage in the Liberia’s economy, calling on his colleagues to put a halt.
The Montserrado County Lawmaker is urging his colleagues to use their oversight in ensuring that such act orchestrated by the company comes to an end.
Bea Mountain Mining Company has been a face of violating concession agreement amid mounting public criticisms.
Just recently, the company was exposed by the Ministry of Labor where it was warned along with another company operating in Liberia, Western Cluster Liberia in Bomi County.
The warning concentrated on continued violations of their concession agreements and poor labor practices.
The ministry’s investigation highlighted disparities and questionable practices that undermine the rights of Liberian workers, sparking widespread concern about the companies’ corporate compliance with national labour laws and their commitment to fostering local employment.
The company operates 60 mine trucks, but only 15 of these are driven by Liberians. In stark contrast, 25 trucks are operated by Turkish nationals and 20 by Zambian drivers.
The wage disparities are equally troubling: while Liberian drivers earn a modest $650 per month, their Zambian counterparts receive $1,650, and Turkish drivers make as much as $2,500 per month for performing the same tasks.
Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah has expressed his dissatisfaction with these conditions, describing them as unjust and unacceptable.
“It is incomprehensible that after a decade of operations, Bea Mountain claims no Liberian is qualified to hold a supervisory position,” Kruah remarked. Despite being in the country for ten years, the company has not appointed a single Liberian to a supervisory role, further marginalizing local workers.
In response, the Ministry of Labor has issued a warning letter to Bea Mountain, mandating a reduction in the number of foreign drivers and an immediate increase in training for Liberians to fill these roles.
The company has been given an eight-month ultimatum to ensure that more Liberians are trained and employed as drivers. Should they fail to comply, the ministry has threatened not to renew the work permits of foreign drivers. “Liberians deserve a fair chance to participate in their economy, and it’s unacceptable for jobs that can be done by locals to be handed to foreigners,” Minister Kruah emphasized.
Another terrifying scene involving Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) occurred, leaving two Liberians dead on the spot.
The two Liberians were struck by a speeding truck owned by the mining company, causing their death, one of which had a completely crushed head.
Little Sayba Selma, age 5, and her uncle, George Bashir, 31, were instantly killed by a speeding truck belonging to Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC), Liberia’s first and largest commercial gold mine.
This tragic incident happened around Jenneh #3, Bomi Highway, amid allegations of attempts by BMCC to cover up.
This media outlet verified that the deceased were riding on a motorcycle from Bomi to Monrovia when the incident happened.
