July 6, 2017
(standing)Luke Rogers and AMR Gold senior staff
Stakeholders of Sanda Loko Chiefdom, Bombali District including the Section Chief, Chiefdom Mining Development Secretary, Head Teacher of the Roman Catholic Primary School, Women’s head, youth leaders and five landowning families have given AMR Gold’s management team their full support as the company continues its exploration work.
AMR Gold’s Head of Admin and Finance-Mohamed Sultan Daffae explained how unregulated artisanal mining has a negative environmental and socio-economic impact on the community and encouraged everyone to come together to stop such illegal practices.
As landowners, “you deserve enormous benefits for your land, but with the encouragement of illegal artisanal mining you are exposing yourself to insecurity due to the dug wells and abandoned open pits.”
Thanking the large audience who had come to the event, Daffae assured the crowd that they were in safe-hands with the current AMR Gold team, headed by Luke Rogers. He also restated the company’s goal to address some of the challenges facing the community.
AMR Gold’s Country Manager-Luke Rogers explained his roles in a team of professional staff. He promised his unflinching support to undertake community development programmes that will better the lives of indigenes.
He added that the company is currently operating in Katantha, Siria and Laminaya and highlighted the projects undertaken by AMR Gold in Sanda Loko Chiefdom, promising to do more.
According to Luke, development projects such as construction of concrete schools, water wells, grading of roads, rehabilitation of community and health centers are only made achievable with the full support from the community. He encouraged the landowners to collaborate with his team as they will all benefit from their success.
Chief Alimamy Sesay said they were pleased with the school that was built and furnished by AMR Gold, adding “we are encouraging the company to continue the good work.”
He said AMR Gold’s presence in his community has attracted many people and encouraged the company to continue to provide more jobs for the youth.
Explaining the processes of exploration, the Secretary of the Mining Allocation Committee-Lamin Sesay, noted that they are happy that AMR Gold has decided to focus their exploration work in Laminaya. He said this was a long awaited dream coming true, noting that they were unhappy when the company ceased operation in the Chiefdom.