By: Saidu Jalloh, Reporter, D.S
The Parliamentary Committee on Works and Public Assets, chaired by Hon. Bashiru Silikie, who also serves as Deputy Leader of Government Business, recently conducted an on-the-spot visit to quarries in the Port Loko and Tonkolili districts.
Following the assessment, Hon. Silikie expressed mixed feelings regarding the operations of these quarries, noting that while the establishment of such companies has potential benefits, operating without proper oversight is unacceptable. “Some of these quarries do not have an Environmental Impact Assessment license,” he stated, indicating a serious lapse in regulatory compliance.
During the oversight tour, the committee revealed that it has halted operations of quarries lacking the necessary approvals. Members observed that several quarries were operating without a work permit from the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, raising concerns about regulatory adherence.
The investigation uncovered that many of these quarries are owned by foreign entities, often lacking requisite work permits and violating the Local Content Policy. Additionally, conflicts between quarries over concessionary areas were noted, with the committee discovering that certain members of host communities were allegedly colluding with foreign operators to establish quarries without proper authentication.
Significantly, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported a lack of information regarding some quarry operations, raising questions about their legality.
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