By Saykpepo W.C.C Innis
Grand Bassa County – Representative Matthew Joe of Electoral District #3 Grand Bassa County has threatened to drag Arcelor Mittal Liberia to Plenary if the Company refuses to give concrete reasons for the demolition of buildings in the Loop of Arcelor Mittal in Buchanan.
According to Representative Joe, he was informed that the Mittal is demolishing buildings constructed by LAMCO in the Loop to replace them with containers as dwelling areas for workers.
At the end of a meeting held recently between the representative of Mittal Steel and Mr. Joe at his Buchanan Office, the District #3 lawmaker said he will not allow such under his watch.
Joe said the Company representatives sent to his office for the meeting said that they are not charged with the responsibility to explain more about the demolition process.
Representative Joe stated that he has written the Company again for a meeting at his Capital Building office to hear from Management concerning their decision to demolish buildings in the Loop, threatening that if Arcelor Mittal failed to honor his invitation, he will drag them to Plenary.
Meanwhile, Arcelor Mittal through its communications department issued a press release yesterday concerning what led to the demolition exercise.
In the release, the Company clarified that in preparation for its Phase 2 expansion project, and consistent with the company’s health and safety values, three derelict, unsafe and uninhabited structures in the Loop that were beyond repairs have been removed, noting further that the site will be used by Phase 2 project contractors.
According to Arcelor Mittal, the Phase 2 expansion project will generate more revenue and taxes for the country, more direct and indirect jobs during the peak construction, and provide opportunities for small and medium scale Liberian enterprises to support operations.
As well as stimulating the economy, the expansion project will create a world-class operation, as well as a highly skilled and trained local people, all of which are highly complementary to the Liberian government’s ‘Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development’ (PAPD), the Arcelor Mittal release noted.
“ArcelorMittal Liberia acknowledges the strong public interest in its operations and encourages all stakeholders and the media seeking information not to hesitate to reach out to the Company,” the global steel giant stated.
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Saykpepo W.C.C Innis currently doubles as Grand Bassa County correspondent for OK FM and Punch FM/TV Online News Service. Innis also served as Program Director for Radio Gbehzohn 107.3 and Acting Manager of Light FM in District #2, Grand Bassa County. He holds an Associate Degree in Agriculture and a Certificate of Participation in USAID Future Farmers Association Training, as well as a Certificate of Participation in Advancing Media Land Covering, Liberia Land Authority.
