Beijing, China – Liberia’s Assistant Minister for Mines, Hon. Carlos E. Tingban, Sr., has referred to as on nations taking part in China’s Belt and Street Initiative (BRI) to prioritize mine employee security above financial pursuits, urging a worldwide shift towards extra humane and accountable mining practices.
Talking on the opening of the Technical Coaching Course on Mine Rescue for Belt and Street Nations, Hon. Tingban emphasised that no degree of financial improvement ought to come at the price of a employee’s life. He delivered the highly effective tackle on behalf of President Joseph N. Boakai and Mines and Vitality Minister Wilmot J.M. Paye, expressing Liberia’s deep gratitude to China for its continued partnership in improvement.
“A mine that can’t shield its staff is a mine that should be remodeled or closed,” Minister Tingban acknowledged. “This coaching course isn’t solely well timed however morally important. We won’t construct wealth on the backs of the exploited. We are going to rise, and we’ll rescue.”
Coaching for Security and Solidarity
The coaching course, organized by the Ministry of Emergency Administration of the Folks’s Republic of China and its Worldwide Change and Cooperation Middle, brings collectively mining sector stakeholders, emergency responders, and authorities officers from Belt and Street nations. It focuses on enhancing technical capability for mine rescue, security requirements, and emergency response—particularly in creating nations the place mining is central to financial progress however usually fraught with dangers.
Tingban described the course as a milestone in advancing multilateralism and internationalism, noting that it embodies “data switch” that prioritizes lives over income.
“That is about putting premier on the protection of mine staff by human capital improvement,” he added. “It’s a image of principled bilateralism and shared prosperity between nations.”
Liberia’s Security Challenges and Authorities Response
In his remarks, Minister Tingban painted a sobering image of mine security challenges in Liberia. Hundreds of staff, notably in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), proceed to function in unsafe situations on account of poor coaching, weak oversight, and an absence of protecting gear. He highlighted the widespread use of hazardous supplies like mercury and cyanide, the prevalence of kid labor, and minimal entry to emergency providers in distant mining areas.
“Too many mine staff in Liberia are uncovered to unacceptable dangers,” he stated. “These embrace environmental hazards, lack of PPE, unethical practices, and in some instances, fatalities as a result of absence of rescue mechanisms.”
Nevertheless, the Minister praised President Boakai’s administration and Mines Minister Wilmot Paye for initiating daring reforms, together with:
• Crackdowns on illicit mining;
• Stricter enforcement of laws;
• Obligatory use of security gear (PPE);
• Enhanced group consciousness campaigns;
• Environmental compliance efforts;
• And the event of emergency response protocols.
But, Tingban acknowledged that native reforms alone aren’t sufficient.
“These steps, whereas essential, are inadequate with out worldwide cooperation and coaching just like the one we start immediately,” he asserted.
China-Liberia Partnership: A Mannequin of Mutual Growth
Hon. Tingban celebrated the enduring Liberia-China relationship, describing it as a “sovereign partnership” rooted in solidarity quite than dependency. He cited China’s latest assist for a nationwide mineral useful resource survey in Liberia, which has revealed promising new mineral discoveries.
“From infrastructure to healthcare, agriculture to schooling, and now to mine rescue, China has remained a real ally to the Liberian folks,” he famous.
He added that Liberia is proud to align this partnership with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Growth (AAID), which seeks to advertise fairness, accountability, and sustainability throughout key sectors.
A Name to Motion: Shield, Put together, and Forestall
Tingban’s tackle closed with a rousing name to motion for all Belt and Street nations:
“To the employees, rescuers, and trainers right here immediately: you might be heroes of the working class. Could this coaching be rewarding. The data you achieve right here should translate into lives saved and disasters prevented.”
He careworn that mine rescue shouldn’t be handled as an afterthought however as “the beating coronary heart of a really humane mining trade.”
“We won’t enable our miners to be buried beneath the load of negligence. This gathering is our declaration—we’ll rise, and we’ll rescue.”
Wanting Forward
As nations below the Belt and Street Initiative proceed to profit from China-led investments in infrastructure and useful resource improvement, Liberia is urging its fellow companions to align these positive factors with strong security requirements and human dignity.
The Technical Coaching Course on Mine Rescue is anticipated to run for a number of weeks, providing sensible simulations, strategic planning, and cross-country knowledge-sharing in mine catastrophe response.
For Liberia, the course isn’t just a coaching—it’s a turning level in its quest to make mining safer, extra simply, and extra sustainable.
