MONROVIA – The Chief Govt Officer of Hummingbird Sources, Mr. Shiny Richards, is prone to being held in legislative contempt following his repeated failure to look earlier than a joint Home committee investigating the standing of the corporate’s mining concession and its reported monetary obligations to the state.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The Home Joint Committee on Concessions and Funding, chaired by Bong County District 7 Consultant Foday E. Fahnbulleh, has summoned Mr. Richards on three separate events to clarify why Hummingbird Sources —granted a concession in 2019 — stays dormant and to deal with issues over unpaid monetary obligations, together with levies reportedly owed to the Liberia Income Authority (LRA).
Regardless of prior invites, Richards once more failed to look on Monday, July 28, as a substitute sending two employees members to symbolize him — an act the committee deemed unacceptable and disrespectful.
In a letter learn earlier than the committee, the corporate knowledgeable lawmakers: “We need to inform your Honorable workplace that CEO Shiny Richards is just not in nation and has designated somebody from the administration of Hummingbird to return and symbolize him as scheduled.”
Nonetheless, Consultant Fahnbulleh mentioned the committee can’t settle for unspecified representatives instead of the CEO with out correct documentation, particularly on a difficulty of nationwide concern. “Mr. Richards has by no means proven any paperwork to show he’s overseas or unwell. There isn’t any journey or well being report to substantiate his excuse, nor has he formally designated a correct consultant,” Rep. Fahnbulleh mentioned. “As such, we’ll ask for the need and pleasure of the colleagues across the desk to make a willpower.”
Lawmakers in attendance expressed frustration over what they described as an ongoing sample of disrespect and noncompliance by the CEO. Margibi County District 2 Consultant Ivar Okay. Jones, a member of the committee, took the ground with a movement expressing concern over the concession’s failure to ship on its meant financial affect.
“The concession is dormant,” Rep. Jones lamented. “We recalled that in 2019 after we handed this settlement —championed by our late colleague Nagbe Sloh — it was meant to create payroll for residents, particularly in underserved communities. To see that we handed a concession and but there is no such thing as a operation is irritating.”
Rep. Jones then moved {that a} formal communication be despatched to the corporate, compelling CEO Richards to look in individual. “We have now written twice. Our second communication clearly acknowledged that the CEO be current. But, he left the nation and designated folks with out figuring out them correctly. I imagine we should always now not entertain these representatives. Our concern is for the CEO to reply on to this committee.”
He continued, “Mr. Presiding, colleagues, I transfer—if I can receive a second—that we adjourn this assembly, and that the CEO of Hummingbird be written to look in individual inside one week.”
The movement was seconded and subsequently amended by Nimba County District 6 Consultant Dorwohn Twain Gleekia, who proposed that if CEO Richards fails to look on the subsequent listening to, he must be cited beneath legislative contempt.
One other modification was added calling for the Liberia Income Authority (LRA) to submit all related monetary data associated to Hummingbird Sources, enabling lawmakers to totally assess the corporate’s monetary obligations and compliance standing.
All amendments have been accepted, and the movement was handed unanimously, setting a last deadline for CEO Shiny Richards to look in individual earlier than the committee on Monday, August 3, 2025. Failure to take action, lawmakers warned, would end in contempt prices.
In personal conversations inside the corridors of the Capitol Constructing, two lawmakers prompt that CEO Richards may face imminent imprisonment for what they described as gross disrespect to the Legislature.
A member of the Home Concessions Committee, talking on situation of anonymity, hinted that continued noncompliance may result in a advice for the revocation of Hummingbird’s concession settlement. “If the CEO refuses to look subsequent Monday, the committee can have no selection however to suggest applicable actions that might see their concession settlement revoked,” the lawmaker warned.
