A founding member of the Association of Chairpersons of Kombo South Coastal Villages Committees Momodou Sillah also the chairman of Bato Kunku VDC has explained that the pictures circulated on social media about environmental destruction in Kombo South were not taken from GACH mines.
Mr. Sillah, alongside the chairpersons of Sanyang and Tujereng VDCs, appeared on Star Tv this week to talk about issues around the Association of Chairpersons of Kombo South Coastal Villages Committees, mining contracts and germane issues.
It would be recalled that the association recently issued a statement, debunking what, it said, were allegations levelled against it by the Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) that the chairpersons were receiving salary and favours from GACH Mining. But the association, through its PRO Abdoulie Boto Gaye, said in its press statement that none of its members was neither on GACH’s payroll nor receiving any bonus from the company.
Speaking to Star Tv‘s Yusupha Darboe, the Bato Kunku VDC chair hinted that Ginkon mining company’s refusal to rehabilitate its mines in Bato Kunku has caused GACH Mining reputational damage on social media as most of the pictures about environmental destruction attributed to the company were taken from Ginkon’s mines.
Explaining how his association strengthened its environmental impact assessment and vetting process of companies that eye mining prospects in Kombo South, Mr. Gaye said: “MSJ Mining consulted us about the prospect of mining in Kombo South as, according to them, they were advised by the department of geology to move from Denton Bridge, where they were mining. In the letter from the geology [department], they identified Bato Kunku and Kachume and the letter was copied to many Alkalolu in the Kombo coastal communities. We told MSJ to allow us to look at a flood issue because they dredge sand from the sea. And when a flood happens, it can have an impact from Kartong to Bato Kunku. Fish is an essential part of the diet of the people of Kombo South. Our concern is that MSJ specializes in dredging and this can affect fish stock from Bato Kunku to Kartong because the sand dredged is the breeding ground for fish.
“We did not reach an agreement with MSJ. We advised them to bring us documents so that we can vet them as a committee. We told them that we will set up a team and enter into an agreement to monitor their mining activities to ensure compliance with regulations because we have seen many mining companies…I will cite Ginkon as an example. Ginkon has acquired a mine at Bato Kunku and rehabilitation is one of the requirements of their license and others. Go to Bato Kunku and see, it’s still the same.
Those are the pictures widely circulated on social media, accusing GACH. It’s Ginkon that mined those places. GACH never reached those places. In fact, Ginkon is owing the people of Bato Kunku royalties and we wrote to NEA and geology and even the company but no response at all.”
