When the government of Sierra Leone decided to go into agreement with Chinese Mining Company Leone Rock Metal Group, serious concerns were raised about security, and monopoly amongst others.
But the Minister of Mines, Julius Mattai boasted about his close affinity with President Bio and that whatever thing he does will be accepted by the President without a second thought.
The Minister of Mines also took it upon himself and talk down other credible companies that should have been given the ports and rail contract for which the government would have gained a huge amount of money in terms of revenue.
“What is wrong if the government of Sierra Leone would have taken upon themselves to run the Port and Rail and get a huge amount of money from it,” stated a Mining Expert.
Sources close to the Office of National Security (ONS) have intimated this medium that a security notice has been sent to various offices in the country, including the Office of the President, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sierra Leone Police, the Ministry of Labour and the Immigration Office etc, informing them of the level of illegal Chinese nationals that are entering the Tonkolili Mine operated by Chinese Company, Leone Rock Metal Group, using the Pepel ports.
It is not only Chinese nationals that are coming, but also other Africans like Nigerians are being shipped into the Chinese Mines in Sierra Leone for cheap labour.
This was part of the recent cabinet meeting last Wednesday, which the President Chaired and that Cabinet is seriously concerned about such development, which is tantamount to organised human trafficking in Sierra Leone.
When this medium contacted Salim Sillah, Chief Technical Officer at Leone Rock, he said that it is not to their knowledge and cannot comment on it.
