This week on the 77 percent street debate. We can see that Human Rights Violations are still occurring. Children are still being forced into these sites. Do we give or who do we sit down more should be left untouched. We often minded them on the government ages that are supposed to be protect, restricting supposed to be challenging companies to deliver the arc lighting, and couldnt introduce or brochure hello and welcome back to the 77 percent. The show for africas youth. This week we are in coy do this is sarah leons, rich mining district. And in this country you will find literally anything from colton to ion or, and dian was, but it is extracted and very quickly exported. And so today we want to find out, are those experts translating to world for the young people who live here, who better to answer this question for me than fellow thoroughly onions. And were going to begin with abraham, and i just want to get an overview from you because ive often heard it say that, you know, had it said that minerals and riches, natural riches, particularly for africa, can be occurs. What do you think of this as it occurs . Well, i think very contrary. Ah middle cannot be a course. And domains are meant for beneficial. Amen for development propose. Its all depend on the type of talent people have in the given sovereignty. Let me hear from here, hes a student, but he was also mining and in the mines from a very young age. At 14, from on story. When i was 14 years old, i was going to school. I was on a, a genius icon. I school in se leon, i was giving this kind of support from a really, hes almost been, weve been in order for us to see how we can get our livelihood. It was very difficult, very challenging because as a younger adult skip school by didnt go to the mines to give support because that was the only source of live you we had in even on. So thats i be alex kept up at gl, appealed not a falling out of school because a lot of colleagues whom we, we in that spirit with whom i started schooling with because of mine in activities. And because of, you know, the fact of men in activities the reality before education to day a good number of them are dropouts. So if you look at the impacts of them, of mine in to use, you know, in the wider population, say, gillian, for me it is much of a cost because we are not getting the cannot deviate him. Were not getting the kind of profits. Okay. And by the way, we should mention that where we are right now is a big mine that operates just beyond this mound. And what were seeing is a byproduct of that blasting rocks which are then crushed into smaller pieces by the women were seeing in the background to then be sold to construction workers. So id like to hear from the mayor because weve heard that this region, despite its riches, is not reflective of add the diamonds and the gold thats coming out of this region. So im wondering why you are right on the reflexion offered electro resources we have, you cannot actually tell whether they deimos the goals or im in iraq extracting from corner where the actually, this is a place we are, those me near us are both on the contrary to say, nearer all deimos or whatever, i mean or are given. So all he said calls is still to cause the availability of the Natural Resources has into the is not a problem. It is improper utilization of immuno resources that are the problem. Policies around a structure of minerals disorder problem is if we have a google on our system will system put in place how to extract on, even if they say we policies go, well to bring those a machines, those technologies, how to transform those Raw Materials here into a finished product and let me, let me, let me just bring in slime on here because you spoke of policy and he is from the National Mining agency, the body that is supposed to enforce policy and also created around the extractive industry. So is it right . What the me a saying that we just have a lack of that leadership from National Level that she, i can show you our form now from 2018 that the willingness is, thea. Now whats the is, is, is it is, is focusing on mili is to see the committees weird. Yeah. Well, this is where these mirrors are coming from. The benefit from the so given sure that the committees to sign the Committee Room argument with the communities. So the end of every year, the gross and revenues, some positive Competition Committee to have the committees that these with this wants to us and showed us who jacks are been a implemented in hold on a is already disagreeing with you. Yes. And if you look at what Mining Companies are getting from cannot dissipate from the maintenance that they are doing. And we compare it to the impact in the community. It is not common. Sure. Its even a Community Developments agreement to say the sign widows communities, the amount that it gets him back to this community is it can only take no tangible Development Projects look at the community. For example, we have a close one community, which is a look at a community we to say a settlement. This community lacks water. They are not even access electricity and their vehicles that is Mining Company. So what are we talking about and sense of Community Benefits and from the mining, what does the Sierra Leonean government see about who minds where theyre allowed to mind . How much comes back into the community . Water. Thats a problem every i know what it, what this these settlements. Yes, yes, yes, that will have water. Where every day, every now and then this will be his gums. We will tell the people, this is the problem of the people is any problem people. So its ongoing, its going to address most of the seizures. We know the, the issues the, the mays raising his hand on that side. But i want to hear from mary for a 2nd because you grew up in a place that has been mining for a really long time. In fact, some of the earliest dime was discovered where you grew up. Did you see this reflected as you were growing up . You know, thats yes. We have good agreements with oh, youre really shaking your head. No. Okay, go ahead. Tell me. Before this time i think there was a better system in place. Many people benefited from me before even we, we are born. I think we had of the benefits that our home parents, while grandparents we are benefiting. So for the fact that m. M. Miami or diamond as a resources, i mean as a resource, been a cost to us. I personally disagreed with that and foster fall because god cannot bless you. And in tom ca see again, it is sweeter individuals. It is where the leaders are lead us, our beer. What actually i did doing in our thats will see that the, the i to bill are yet on barn bit, are benefiting or there will be benefited from these. My main accompanies awed from these resources. All right, i want to come to patrick here because hes actually wearing a shirt that says, ethical minerals. And what a mary has touched on is really important that previously there was a system that worked for everyone. But of course the war came. And so the term blood dam one and conflict diamond arose, to what extent did the, what change and shift the way people think about extractive in this country. Before the war came . I believe i, we, honest nadia. Well, now you have the awareness read the you are coming up to, we are went to school. We really, we are going to go to school. So now theyre trying to go to school. You want to see that, that the translates if he calmly comes to do this, necessary needs for the community. Okay, for them to all right, let me speak to isa here for a 2nd because we are hearing that look, the policies are amazing. Is this the implementation that sucks, and ive had Big Companies being named here, but you as a small scale minor, are you one of the people who is deterring development from happening perhaps because of bad Employment Practices . You know, i deal with a lot of people are almost 50 minus people working for me under daily circumstances. Theyve got kids that cannot even feed. Theyve got kids, they cannot even take sort of hospitals. They sleep in houses where they cramps and crowded with no mattresses, whatsoever they sleep on the floors and showing alyssa is not because youre not paying the mila. Now we pay ram. When i got her as an example, im not sure if im supposed to say we were paying the minus 70 st pathway. I thought i wasnt enough. We pay room a dollar. And when did arm one comes out, its the phase. They tell us how much they want for it and we negotiate. So we actually support them. So make sure they can get on the field and what i want to come back to a for a 2nd, because i want to understand, you know, i think for people who dont leave will come from places where their minds, the imagination is that you come in you mind for 2 days, you get a dime one thats about 50 carrot and then your life is set. But whats the reality . Well, the reality it is on to spears. For example, if youre doing that to sort of mine in previously, like a about to a p decayed signal, some people will say, but in elsewhere young in b b, i was not even born syndicate baby kid sickle, theyll say like to leave the house by the olivia, the opinions or wives or mency. Let me go to the mines in grants, examining calm, but looking at a train now for the past, they are one decade now that us change eventually, on average, how long would a notice know, might not be at the mines before theyre able to extract something meaningful to the awesome people, if you box them from stories to tell you that ive been mine in for the past for years, and ive not gotten a single dowman. Some people to love mine for about 3 years. The dom on some gotten from the minds. It is only was about 50. 00. Okay. Let me hear from ben. Its here because hes actually a very busy man. I was looking to him earlier, but hes actually embroiled in apes, lawsuits active against big Mining Companies because of various reasons. So is what were hearing from a reflective of what youre seeing in your profession, that its the big Mining Companies. Were raking it big, whereas the communities are basically going with nothing. Our cameras was really a strict, strict to these matters because they are subject to decide proceedings. But i would just refer to the fact that ive been arising out of these. The beauty communities are calling out unseen. Weve been oppressed, weve been abused by Mining Companies, and they are not respecting the laws and policies as articulated by the leadership of this country. What must warren, it is not the calmness behavior that is worrying to the communities. Is their leadership attitude towards the oppression of pressure on unexpressed issue . That is what, what is it where we consult with them in timber does what they always read. And the problem we have also is that if that is the persistent matter darby dick to court, and in the circumstances the communities are seen. Instead, our lead us side, which was the our side with the company. Let me go to the leader that we have here. The mayor uni. I was coming for you that so youre laughing as the were hearing that when people come to you and say, hey, these guys are here, theyre doing one to 3 to us. Youre really not caring about it, your, youre more concerned about the investment rather than the welfare of the people in your community. True or false . Well, when you look at in mind and policies in this country, one a, it is not done at the local level. Our parliament in this country, they formulate those policies are, there are legislative level the leadership i have like the local Council Level of leadership. If he asks me, i think i will start with the people, the v of the people. Because imagine myself as a male, when we meet at some quiet us or people, it the mail for me, man, your reach in our community. And he has a lot of money because a lot of a lot of money by to surprise you too. No doubt am. Since i have became a male 2018, la receive a 10000. 00 cash from any mine in bruises in this particular community. But give me a 2nd. Let me come to solomon. How is that possible given that the act is very, very clear, one percent of proceeds from Mining Companies should come back to the communities where the percentages and of static. It depends on the company. And i would like a quote in kennedy street. We have 5 large killer Mining Companies, but only 2 are productive now. For every stage, every step, one eltic, we have the echoes shortens, the call them they do every matter through gene park assessment to see what were and this affects the committee. If we send them to the company quarterly, we have the last ramirez, the jesse bought the comb in re inspection the see what on what is, is not when rights become new. They give exactly picture we are the are and then we are going to under we are, we are the are from and then we are going to now. Okay, let me hear from bennett its, its, i think in the point in a slow man is blueprints. Now reflects our, our communities who are fighting against oppression, the attitude of government and political leaders. Although the government agents that are supposed to be protect, protecting, supposed to be challenging the companies to deliver to the community. They have been indicted by our communities that they are colliding. I couldnt introduce operation is a serious issue is a security issue. And you look around here. These are the people who own the landscape demos are made. Did me reduce to the, or to level of coverage, milo 00 poverty level. Instead of having their children go to school, go to universities, go to hospitals. You have good infrastructure. Look again, children below 10 years, a smashing stones dog from the robbers of the diamond, meaning of the genario type. One of the best quality demos in the world. And you cannot see, it is not accounted for. No one knows what is sticking there every day. Let me ask you, ask him that course, let me ask, let him declare to the people. So because i know you did say that to be fair, that the percentages are not static, but are you able to track and trace how much is being extract, okay . Now we are seeing an enemy has a mines compliance officers inside there. They work on c shift bases. Whats the mainly the company gets the batteries, everything the same, the seats, the issue that shes been seen. And then kept in into a se yet every day on its own piece of business. So in the last year or so, based on what the me a saying, you want to tell me that what has been exported. One percent of it does not amount of 10000. 00. The enemy calculates whartley, bill davis with it. And then the have the percentage you went to play was in that comes back to the committee for which the city says theyve got the accounts. Theres a dozen one as of they are not given and they are not being sent into the pro much. So i got the of the cdc, the committee company, the committee, im a committee hug. I work out. We insured up before the the start of use of the money the i did you 5 projects for wish they want to implement. Ok. We want to projects have been, i mean im sure that is beyond your scope, but im just trying to put a lot of if you put money into an account and you never see the result, why keep putting money into the account 1. 00 until now . Did this signal is good to to go to schools and the price schools . And then there are 2. 00 ongoing projects. One i heard was the, the us, the other committee on the software. Those will be to, i want to come to isa here for a 2nd because youve recently returned al, from living abroad. Have you seen any dramatic changes since youve been away . I think her, to be honest. I, syrian is the only place you come back. So you never get lost because everything remains the same. Whether its in free town, its in boss. So there has been no changes whatsoever. You know the question would be, is them on the thing thats going to bring that change for me . Ill say no. Because weve seen over for century, perhaps the about diamond is made very low, it little impacts. We see other countries like the gambia synagogue, theyve got no diamonds whatsoever. As a matter of fact, they got peanuts. So for me, i dont know the answer to syrians problem is minerals and yet youre in the business, im in the business because i see there is a bit of an opportunity that i can make check is in peoples lives. I help communities, i support people. I spend money on a daily basis, our employ people direct employment. As a matter of fact, ive got close contact with people in governance. And what they say is we need people like either the mccain, direct investment, direct employment. So im happy to be back home doing whatever little i can do. I see a lot of experts around me to know whats going on. They know what the problems are. Maybe they need to be engaged a lot more. Maybe theres that sense of responsibility by everyone to make sure we can all make an impact. All right, unfortunately is the has to leave because hes a busy man, hes going to hell, dimas, that his do have the panel here. Let me say to the last comment a, the other gentleman said about them was zenato. Nozer demos is an answer is sorted out before you call me or google demos in saloon. I saw blood diamonds, i saw a diamond. So reckoned lives of people. I did the same demo, supersonic i saw diamonds lifting, tells women botswana. I saw the policy in botswana instead of having octavia meaning a Company Registered in Virgin Islands owning 100 percent of london main in c as in saloon and taking over the means an octave demos of saloon dudley presiding over the welto saloon diamonds. Bizarre, i said, no, we have what we call de swanner. That is the beer and was sworn had he stayed on the Mining Company that mines on pollys demos. It was well and guess what . On the records, 80 percent of the proceeds of the diamonds. It was on a goes to stick or fast, i guess what . All of that goes to schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure. Okay. I want to hear from abraham and air for a 2nd out because, you know, as everybody is speaking, im wondering, youre the people who are living in these communities. Why not take these companies and sue them . Why not protest . Why not demand more from yoga . Honestly, corner will a 100 percent destroyed during the civil war. This was the central verses of the war, probably 40 diamonds. But weve also recovered political since, because of the diamonds, the small mines and other things. And are we are progressing. We are competing with other places like mckinney board milk artists. I cant allow you to continue with your thought knowing full well that this gentleman standing next to you was forced out of school because he was actually a child in the might. Yes, i dont know if you need him of what up when i was shot. So we want to go up and we believe that diamonds are suddenly now a blessing. When we can see that Human Rights Violations are still occurring, children are still being forced into these sites. Yes. Dost makes me my, my work more relevant in as much as i was nearly killed in one of those demonstrations the, like, are test. I have my testimonies and i saw all of the wallison or jesse and a lot of places are. Yeah, you are sharing a demonstration kind of situation. Do we give up . Who do we said that most should be left untouched . We have to mind demos, lets move to other factors. You know, because these direct impact on, in direct impact on mary. I want to hear back from you the women in these communities, most of them displeased because their land is used for mining, and then they find themselves internally displaced because they cant afford to buy land. Theyre not allowed to in some cases. Tell me about that. Really before this time, i am a we men, we are not allowed to own land and had these land abbey regulated by b, im sorry, tis cheese and not us. So i am 40, we men, as you can see, be our software because they cannot have access to lance. And of course, those that big, those that are being settled there we are, have on backyard gardens, india, the previous homes. But now these, these, that cement as thick in place, those areas that they used to do the backyard garden in order to, to sustain that themselves with our children. I know more, you know, in existence. They did the company in of give it to them. And i want to hear from benedict how difficult or easy is it to then take some of these companies to court because, you know, if i say i used to have 2 plots, and now youve given me a half of what i had, whats the procedure . Because re quote and we are litigating these matters on in we new fi business. I mean, we did not have the legal fees to pay, didnt look they cannot afford the cost of lawyers to, to get rid of. And on the contrary was inside the companies, they have tons of demos, there are tons of money on accounted for. So they can put it on hold. But of layers, we didnt have that relevant does this matters and it is not a heating secret. It is not Rocket Science to look at the people in the corner and say he binding companies. You have not lived up to expectations. So im, i will be challenging the mirrors and disappear jam in a very corner to come out. Until in the apartment youve angelina, just the call that i say, listen, we cannot be put a skip bush. We are presented over debris where youre presided over poverty, yet in the midst of wealth. And another challenge that comes from mining. Of course youre dealing with ethical minerals. I said earlier, what are some of the implications of these extractive practices if you can even call them that . Well i, we see the implications, like if this big company that are coming to the Community Like the now the used to some machine is because extra vito, the adjustment then they lived the whole like that. Then i believe if delivery like thats for the future, generations will house like now you measure culture, they would have some, some yachts would do the i cultural because the, the whole, the bits is left open. Okay. Slam, and i like the fact that youre raising your hand because i wanted to ask, what is it . And i may say about this. So we tell them after many you will clearly land because of so many does their order use of land. So what youre saying is a companys a compelled or theyre supposed to just for poor still opposed to right . Yeah. My experience is that say the enemy and the p. Ollies gonna do enough in sounds of visual and protection of the environment. Because if we look at the piano Protection Agency to be fair, theyve been trying to plant trees, theyre doing their best to recover and reclaim some of the land. We are the trees that the up lansing, the feasible growing. These are the uplands yellow, even looking up like the trees for me, most of institute is that she shows up a money and a half years of the environment. The i just believe her lip service for the people. So weve had quite a myriad of challenges related to both large scale and small skill mining, particularly in this region. And now i want to find out for my panelists, how do we move forward . Do you know as a sunset down . I want to hear what we can do to change the situation because expect listed for decades. Mary, you have something to say to me, all these issues that we are dalbert and we have a we forward how called we the, the top management has to change their attitude, especially in the a, of the smiling companies. We are saying this is them. Im the policies that are already in place should be implemented. We should stop saying them less implementing. And of course, regarding women, we have several structures in place. Even this m. M stone cautious we men, we have them as an association. So these block chas. Im if we want to empower them, there are several other ways maybe in agriculture, we can bring up either catch up broke. I mean programs and we subscribe them so. So thats how we got our program flow. Empower women, creating skills for them to use for their mercy if all goes on or its ever him, any solutions for me . Yes, thats then printed thousands of old bruises coming from the mice will go to the women and children. Okay. For decay, shown for brilliant students and their community supports. Does anybody else have a solution that we havent heard yet . I think the Government Central government must realise and must understand that it is the future of the children that has been put in your body for the from the mains. And the government has a singular responsibility. If you want to do it, they can do it next. To will already gave in due to t the excuses, the, the, the, the, the structural adjustments, the reliance on 40. 00 i live in. I live does not need this, not necessary if the gun really utilized the resources that are coming here. And like i said to the enemy, a gentleman, we dont know what comes there every day. Even if this it is new, they are not publishing it. So how can we clim to one percent or the 2 percent thats agreed into phosphorus . How would you calculate 100 percent of a lot rate . Nothing. So the goldman was be transparent, accountable and Development Must not be particularly political issue once you own government, your government for everybody. Okay, well at the beginning of this debate, i asked if the riches that i found largely under ground in this country present a curse or not to the economy and the people of this region. What ive heard in a resounding way is that no, theyre not. Its simply how theyre handled or mishandled. I dont know what your viewpoint is, but thank you for watching. Thank you indeed for that important conversation. And thank you for watching. Weve come to the end of the show, but not before we give to amuse the call treat enjoy. Ah, ah ah, with a woman with god margaret was 64 when she 1st wrote a motorbike, and she hasnt stops in 18000 kilometers, 18 countries. The adventure of a lifetime no limits. Nuggets incredible jetting a special red 30 minutes on d w. 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