IPNEWS-Bomi: Despite his clarity and pronouncement of innocence of any clandestine activity against the welfare of the people of Bomi County and Liberia, Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe continues to receive a barrage of criticism from Liberians both at home and in the Diaspora.
Senator Snowe says he could no longer take it at a Town Hall meeting with citizens of Bomi County on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 when he symbolically washed his hands of anything concerning Western Cluster. He told the audience that his reputation is being damaged by citizens of the county and other members of the public for his role in the renegotiation of the deal.
Senator Snowe told the Bomi County Legislative Caucus, through its chairman, Senator Morris Saytumah, that he no longer wants anything to do with the Western Cluster Deal, resigning his post as the Bomi Legislative Caucus’ Chief Negotiator.
The Bomi lawmaker averred what he is experiencing is unjustified damage to his character and reputation, all because he decided to work in the interest of his constituency, for the citizens to get a better livelihood through the resumption of the Western Cluster iron ore mining operations.
“When we started this Western Cluster thing, you asked me to represent the Caucus in ensuring that company comes back and does its best for our people. From all indications, our people are not happy. I am advising you, Mr. Chairman, let the caucus meet, let’s take the necessary action for our people to be protected. But going forward, the assignment that you gave me, as member of the Caucus, to represent the Caucus in these discussions, I hereby resign or relinquish that assignment as from today. I don’t want to have anything to do with Western Cluster. Find somebody from the Caucus and the County to move forward with the Western Cluster situation.
“Moving forward, anything in the past, clarification, explanation that you want, I am prepared to give. But as of today’s date, I don’t want to have anything that has to do with Western Cluster. I have been called a criminal. My family is crying; my children are calling me. I am a human being. I am somebody’s son too. If what I did was wrong, I apologize to the people of Bomi County. But God is my judge, and I know my heart. Thank you. I am out of this whole process,” Snowe said as he relinquished his assignment to Senator Morris Saytumah of Bomi County.
Bomi County Senator Morris Saytumah – His colleague Senator Edwin Snowe has resigned his role a ‘Chief Negotiation’ over Western Cluster deal and relinquished said role to him
The Senator, who was positioned as the ‘Chief Negotiator’ for the County, steps aside from negotiation with the company following immense public pressure which has since led to the Company’s fate hanging in the balance.
The citizens complained that the deal is not in the interest of the county, having brought no benefits – be it jobs or development projects. They have expressed disappointment that Senator Snowe could not prioritize their interest despite being top ranking member of the Liberian government negotiation team that has been engaging the company to resume operations in Bomi, Grand Cape, and Gbarpolu counties respectively.
Snowe has been accused and publicly condemned for his role(s) in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that rearranged the financial obligations Western Cluster Mining Company had with the government and people of Liberia under a Mineral Development Agreement signed in 2011. Many, including the former Deputy Minister of Information, Eugene Fahngon, have also accused the lawmaker of profiteering from the process.
But the enraged Bomi County Lawmaker has maintained that he has done no wrong and that his only crime is to ensure that the Company resumes operations and provides jobs for citizens of Bomi or relinquish the MDA signed with the Government for 25 years for the purpose of mining iron ore.
It can be recalled Senator Snowe traveled to India for several days, where he said he did all he could to persuade the hierarchy of the company to return to Liberia after it folded up during heat of the Ebola pandemic.
Many believe Senator Snowe’s resignation could bring a sigh of relief to citizens and residents of the Western Region of the Country who have demanded the cancellation of the MOU as it does not benefit them.
The citizens said at the Town Hall meeting that the Western Cluster deal was ‘plastered with deceit’ by their Representatives and Senators and presented to them.
It can be recalled that on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, Western Cluster broke ground to recommence its operations in Bomi. The ground breaking ceremony came barely a few days after the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the company in Nimba County, instead of the counties that are affected by the company’s operations.
The MOU was signed following the failure of the 2010 MDA the company signed with the government to operate at three iron ore deposits, including the Bomi Hills Mines, in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu Counties.
In a resolution under the banner of the Bomi County United Concerned Citizens, constituents claimed that authorities at Western Cluster and the County Legislative Caucus had miserably failed to provide the necessary information on the operations of the company and what they stood to benefit as a county and people.
The aggrieved citizens, including Paramount, Clan, and Town Chiefs, as well as Youth Leaders, affixed their signatures to the resolution following the climax of a mass meeting held in Klay Town on January 7.
Sen. Snowe, in an Okay FM interview on Thursday, January 12, 2023 said that he accepted to represent the County’s Legislative Caucus to negotiate for the company’s return due to the need for the county to work along with the Government in a bid to activate something that will boom economic activities and “provide employment opportunities for hundreds of citizens of Bomi.”
“After my nomination by the Caucus, I started to engage the Executive to ensure that the company either relinquished or resumed its operations. And the Executive was extremely magnanimous to ensure that citizens of the county benefit from the deal.”
According to him, authorities of the company during the meeting expressed concerns over their inability to settle the US$23 million owed the Liberian government in taxes prior to the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease.
He noted that the company justified that it had previously notified the Government about the shutting down of its operations due to the epidemic and wondered why the Liberian government was still billing it (company) even though it was not engaged in mining activities.
Senator Snowe disclosed that he informed the Government and authorities of Western Cluster that though the company shut down its operations and notified the Government, it still has a “social contract with the three counties” in keeping with the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) signed with the government in 2011.
He added that the company was requested to fulfill the Social Agreement with citizens of its operational areas in the amount of US$10 million.
After a long conversation, according to Snowe, Western Cluster said: “We can pay US$5 million now, and when we begin our operation after the first shipment, we will pay the balance of US$5 million.”
“When the MOU was signed,” Snowe said, “my interest and only interest was to make sure my region and my county was taken care of. So, of course, they paid the US$5M to the government of Liberia about four months ago, and the Government has acknowledged receipt of the money.
“The government has said to the Counties that the Ministry of Internal Affairs should make the request as per the law, and this money will be paid to the three counties.”
IPNEWS Reported In June 2022:
Western Cluster to Resume Operations in Liberia – Senator Snowe Discloses; Lauds Pres. Weah
IPNEWS-Monrovia: In can be recalled in June 2022, Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe disclosed that Western Cluster Ltd was set to resume operations in Western Liberia following the Ebola and Coronavirus pandemics respectively that struck Liberia and other parts of the world.
Western Cluster Liberia is one of the biggest concessions in that region. Western Liberia is considered one of the most impoverished regions in Liberia. Therefore, concessions in the area go a long way in providing jobs and improving the standard of living in the area.
President George Weah and Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe
The company signed a 25-year Mineral Development Agreement with the Government of Liberia in August 2011.
Under the agreement, the company is expected to mine up to 30 million tons of iron ore annually, comprised primarily of quartz, hematite, and magnetite, such weathering and replacement products as martite and limonite.
Western Cluster Limited, until the Ebola pandemic, reportedly made annual contributions of US$ 2.8 million for social and educational projects and launched a project to provide free medical services to residents in hard-to-reach villages in Bomi County.
However, the company pullout in 2014 due to Ebola pandemic and subsequently, the coronavirus pandemic.
However, having held several negotiations with the company, Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe lauded President George Weah and his administration for providing an enabling environment for the resumption of Western Cluster operations in Bomi. “The Government has been very instrumental and magnanimous in making sure that the company resumes operation.”
The Bomi County Senator further noted: “On many occasions, an array of government officials to include but not limited to Senate Pro-Temp Albert Chie, former Minister Nathaniel McGill, Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, Mines and Energy Minister Gesler Murray, LRA Commissioner-General Thomas Doe-Nah, NPA Managing Director Bill Twehway, NIC Chairman Molewuleh Gray and many others left their busy schedules to join us in meetings as well as to visit the Freeport of Monrovia in making sure Western Cluster was accommodated to commence active and effective operation. Mr. President, your efforts towards Bomi truly commensurate with the cliché; “If you make Bomi happy, Bomi will make you happy 2023”.
According to Senator Snowe, “Western Cluster announced groundbreaking to commence mining operations on Wednesday June 8th. This will provide jobs for our people thus easing their dependency and making them independent. Thanks again Mr. President and to all your officials who worked around the clock in making this dream a reality. Thanks to the Bomi County Legislative Caucus current and former as well as Bomi stakeholders for the unity in the realization of this milestone achievement. Indeed, “TOGETHER WE BUILD”.
A prominent citizen of Bomi County, Taweh Johnson expressed gratitude and happiness that the company was resuming operations in Bomi County and Western Liberia at large. “We are profoundly excited by your level of work for the people of Bomi County and the Western region. The resurfacing of Western Cluster is a great economic and social relief to the region. We can safely say with reference to God that “Bomi is rising”. Thanks to you again Hon. Snowe, you continue to demonstrate your love for county by giving your best for the people. You are proving worthy of the trust and confidence reposed in you by our people each day that passes. We appreciate the Government of Liberia for giving you and the Caucus the outmost support to reach this far. God bless you, God bless our leaders, and God bless Bomi County.”
As for former Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson he recalled about the operations of Western Cluster Limited, stating “the company was giving Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties US$950,000 each year in social development funds and at the same time paying taxes to the government without exporting ore from Liberia up to the time Ebola pandemic started.”
He also expressed delight Western Cluster was resuming operations in Bomi County.
It can recalled Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe took the initiative to launch a negotiation for the return of the company to Liberia, looking at the job demands and the underdevelopment of the Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
A Liberian delegation was sent to India and negotiated the return of the company to Liberia. As part of the negotiations, the company was required to pay US$10 million as a complete settlement of its financial obligation for the period it was not operating in Liberia. This negotiated amount is 50 percent of its financial obligation to the Liberian government. However, due to the circumstances surrounding the suspension of its activities, the amount was reportedly slashed by half.
Beyond the agreements reached in the revised MOU, Western Cluster has agreed to provide US$3 million from the Freeport of Monrovia to St. Paul River Bridge and also another US$1.5 million from Bomi to St. Paul River Bridge, as demanded by the government.
According to the company, after reconditioning the road, it will continue to repair and maintain the roads for damages due to the transportation of its ore to the Freeport of Monrovia.
The MDA, states that “The Company has priority use of the NOIC and LMC Iron Ore piers at the Port during exploration and production operating periods and any extensions thereof, subject to all applicable laws, the terms of the port lease, and rights of third parties relating to the Port, including the rights of APM Terminals Liberia, Ltd. ratified September 17, 2010, and APMT’s rights to use the LMC during the “construction phase” as set forth in Section 10.01 and Appendix 4 and 7.06 of the Freeport Concession Agreement…”
It can also be recalled that the Freeport of Monrovia did not want to relinquish the pier to the company, because it was gathered by IPNEWS apparently that the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) wanted to construct an annex close to APM Terminals at the port.
It was others’ belief that the LRA wanted to secure the pier for another company of interest. However, IPNEWS has been unable to independently verify this information.
But Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe told a local daily some time ago that he expressed to the LRA Commissioner General that he was shocked by his alleged decision because the National Investment Commission and the Minister of State had been very supportive of Western Cluster’s resumption of mining activities in the county.
He further disclosed that Western Cluster had been very collaborative to all the demands that have been made by the government so far, despite their existing MDA.
According to Sen. Snowe, he was informed by Mr. Nah that the LRA and a private company had formed a private venture and are about to carry out construction at that LMC pier and that Western Cluster should find somewhere else.
He, however, said that he, the legislative caucus, former Senator Johnson, and other key stakeholders in the county did not give up on the process and that they carried out consultations and engagements that ensured the matter is resolved. He said at the time they were yet to exhaust all of their options.
However with the declaration from Senator Snowe that Western Cluster Ltd is set to resume operations in Bomi County, it indicates that issues surrounding the delay of the company’s resuming operations might have been resolved by all parties concerned.
Senator Snowe once told a local daily that, “from 2011 up to 2014, Western Cluster was paying the NPA US$1.2 million as renter of the pier though it was not shipping.”
Meanwhile pundits lauded Senator Snowe, the government, and everyone who contributed for Western Cluster Ltd to resume operations in Bomi County and western Liberia at large, most especially when unemployment was on the increase in Liberia. “The resumption of operations of the company in Bomi would have come any better than now,” one political pundit asserted.
Bomi County since the end days of the former Liberia Mining Company (LMC), the County has not had the opportunity for mining activities to return until Western Cluster entered an agreement with the Government of Liberia during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The company folded up due to the Ebola pandemic, and it had to take the negotiation skills of Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe for it to return to Liberia and resume mining activities under the George Weah administration.
