Senator Albert T. Chie has issued a firm directive to local authorities in Grand Kru County to take decisive action against widespread illegal mining activities that he says are degrading the environment and threatening the county’s mineral resources.
During an official visit to Barclayville on April 10 as part of his appreciation tour, Senator Chie, who is also a geologist, described the situation as alarming, stating that both Liberians and foreign nationals, including sons of Grand Kru, are engaged in unauthorized mining. He emphasized that these illicit operations bring no meaningful benefit to the county or the national government.
Chie called for swift security and regulatory interventions to halt what he described as the exploitation of Grand Kru’s natural resources. He warned residents to stop protecting or harboring illegal miners in their communities, saying the environmental consequences are severe. “The miners have polluted all the rivers using dredge machines, which are banned by the Ministry of Mines and Energy,” he said. “Community and traditional leaders must not sit and watch their land and waterways being destroyed for a mere token.”
The Senator also blamed illegal mining for contributing to the county’s deteriorating road conditions, noting that heavy-duty equipment used in the mining operations damages the infrastructure as it is transported through the county.
Speaking to a gathering at Barclayville City Hall, which included Superintendent Antoinette Worwlee Nimely, Development Officer Joe M. Sekpeh, and other officials, Chie reiterated his commitment to protecting Grand Kru’s resources and thanked citizens for reelecting him during the 2023 elections.
