MONROVIA – Outstanding Nimba County activist Armstrong Gobac Selekpoh has strongly criticized Senator Nya Twayen’s latest feedback about ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), calling them “dishonest and deceitful.”
Senator Twayen had accused AML of failing to honor its Mineral Improvement Settlement (MDA) with Liberia throughout a information convention on Tuesday.
Selekpoh contends that Senator Twayen, who has turn into more and more unpopular in lower than a 12 months, is utilizing AML as a scapegoat to regain favor with the general public.
He means that the senator perceives the present Nimba County Superintendent as a risk to his senatorial seat, notably because the superintendent has been mobilizing the individuals of Nimba to make sure their views are included within the new MDA. Selekpoh believes this has unsettled Senator Twayen, prompting him to assault AML.
Reflecting on Senator Twayen’s tenure at NASSCORP, Selekpoh states, “In all his years with the federal government, Nya was at NASSCORP by no means attended any assembly regarding concession, and by no means supported any scholar group or neighborhood growth initiatives.”
He additional recollects that in July 2013, Senator Twayen defended the federal government’s choice to grab the Nimba County social growth fund to compensate for destruction attributable to residents, describing this era as when the senator was “milking free cash.”
Selekpoh additionally criticizes Senator Twayen for disregarding the practically 10,000 jobs created by AML. He asserts, “Nya doesn’t care in regards to the practically 10,000 jobs created by AML now however he’s bent on pushing the corporate out of Liberia by his shameful feedback yesterday.”
Highlighting AML’s contributions to the neighborhood, Selekpoh factors out that the corporate just lately administered laboratory exams to about 1,000 youths from the fenceline communities. From the outcomes, some youths shall be going on to vocational coaching facilities, whereas about 80+ are being processed for the Superior Improvement Coaching program, and 150 are being recruited instantly for varied jobs that had been beforehand tough to acquire.
Selekpoh questions what’s going to occur to the Nimba College if AML had been to go away, asking, “Who will give $50,000 to help the Nimba College yearly when ArcelorMittal Liberia leaves?” He additionally notes that AML has despatched staff overseas for medical remedy in international locations like India, as such providers should not accessible domestically. Over the previous 12 months, greater than 10 staff have benefited from this initiative.
Selekpoh describes Senator Twayen as a “failing politician” who goals to distract or disrupt the continued negotiations between the federal government and AML. He commends AML for fulfilling 14 of the 21 commitments underneath the MDA and making substantial progress on six others, similar to common reporting, 58% native procurement, ample medical care, and abroad coaching for 54 workers members.
He added, “We aren’t saying that we’re towards individuals who discuss towards ArcelorMittal, however no severe senator who needs growth in his county will dismiss such an funding as nothing.”
Senator Twayen’s criticisms of AML got here shortly after President Joseph Boakai and ArcelorMittal Govt Chairman Lakshmi Mittal devoted Liberia’s and West Africa’s first iron ore concentrator, part of the corporate’s section two enlargement challenge. This $2 billion challenge is anticipated to create roughly 5,000 native jobs and consists of new investments in rail, port, processing, and coaching.
