IPNEWS: Unscrupulous individuals involved with processing minerals in Liberia have been warned to desist from doing so. The Ministry of Mines and Energy says, it has observed that such illegal practice is being done by operators of Jewelry shops, who have not obtained any licenses from the Ministry.

As provided for in the Mineral and Mining Laws of 2000, sections 6.1, and 15, prohibit Any handling of minerals by anyone who has not firstly obtained a license from the Ministry of Mines and Energy. According to Deputy Mines and Energy Minister for Operations, William Hines, and Assistant Minister for Mines, Carlos Edison Tingban, the Ministry will not hesitate to apply penalty (ies) to any violator (s) of the law. Hence, the Ministry (MME) wants all mineral processors (Jewelry Shops owners to regularize their status and become legitimate.

Also from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Assistant Minister for Mines, Carlos Edison Tingban, has given Brokers Association members a two-week ultimatum to organize fresh elections that will usher in a new leadership to put to an end, the longstanding power struggle that has since engulfed that association. Gold and Diamond Broker, Mohammad Baku Konneh, and Fallah Kamara, are locked in a leadership struggle with the two of them claiming to be President. This confusion has held the Brokers Association hostage.

At a recent mass meeting of the Brokers last week, it appeared their stalemate is deep by the bitterness they exhibited in the presence of the Assistant Minister for Mines, after which he issued the ultimatum, and said an alternative decision will be taken if they failed to organize elections. During the period given, Assistant Minister Tingban told the Brokers, the Ministry of Mines and Energy will not recognize any of the disputed groups.