Modern day mineral sector really benefit the people of sierra leone . Edith came on, he head to quito town in the down one which corner district to find out this week on the 77 percent street debate. We can see that Human Rights Violations are still occurring. Children are still being forced into these sites. Do we give up . Who do we said that more should be left untouched. We after minded them on the government ages that are supposed to be protect, restricting supposed to be challenging the companies to deliver the arc lighting and couldnt introduce pressure ah, hello and welcome back to the 77 percent the show for africa youth. This week we are in coy doing this is sarah leons, rich mining district. And in this country you will find literally anything from coulton to ion or, and dian was, but it is extracted and very quickly exported. And so today we want to find out those exports, translating to weld for the young people who live here, who better to answer this question for me than fellow Sierra Leonean. And were going to begin with abraham. And i just want to get an overview from you because of often i did say that, you know, had it said that minerals and rich, his natural riches, particularly for africa, can be occurs. What do you think of this as it occurs . Well, i think very contrary, ah middle cannot be a course, and domains are meant for beneficial. Amen. For development pupils. Its all depend on the type of talent people have in the given sovereignty. Let me hear from e, i here he is a student, but he was also mining and in the mines from a very young age. At 14, from on story. When i was 14 years old, i was going to school. I was, i honor a genius icon. I school in se leon also giving this kind of support from a real its, hes almost been, weve been in our forces here, we can get our livelihood. It was very difficult, very challenging because us a younger adult, skip school by dana to go to the mines to give support because those are eligible for flight youd, we had and even on said that i be, alex kept up article appeared not a falling out of school because a lot of colleagues whom we, we and thats filled with all my studies calling with because of mine and activities. And because of, you know, the defects of mining activities that we only before education to be a good number of them are dropouts. So if we look at the impacts of them of mine in to use your, in the Wider Population sale youll, for me, it is much of a cost because were not gets in the kind of given him, were not getting the kind of forfeits, okay . And by the way, we should mention that where we are right now, theres a big mine that operates just beyond this mound. And what were seeing as a byproduct of that blasting rocks which are then put crushed into smaller pieces by the women were seeing in the background to then be sold to construction workers. So id like to hear from the mayor because weve heard that this region, despite its riches, is not reflective of the diamonds and the gold. Thats me out of this region. So im wondering why youre right there reflects your law firm electro resources we have. You cannot actually tell whether the diamonds, the goals or mirrors extracting from corner where the actually, this is a place we are, those me near us are both on the contrary to say, mineral, or deimos or whatever i mean, or are given or is it cause is not a cause. The availability of the Natural Resources has it is not a problem. It is a proper utilization of immuno resources that are the problem. Policies around instruction of minerals. These are the problem is if we have a good govern, our system will system put in place how to extract on, even if they say we policies go, well to bring those a machines, those technologies, how to transform those Raw Materials here into a finished product. Actually let me, let me, let me just bring in slime on here because you spoke of policy and he is from the National Mining agency, the body that is supposed to enforce policy and also created around the extractive industry. So is it right . But the me a thing that we just have a lack of that leadership from National Level that she, i can show you our form now from 2018 that the willingness is clear. Now whats the is, is, is, is, is focusing on mili, is to see the committees we are the are, isnt where these measures are coming from. The benefit from the. So given sure that the committee is to say in the Committee Room argument with the communities. So the, at the end of every year, the gross revenues, some positive Competitive Committee to have the committees that these with this wants to see and show that projects are been implemented in hold on a is already disagreeing with you. Yes. And if we look at what Mining Companies are getting from, cannot dispute from the meanings that we are doing . And we compare it to the impact in the community. It is not common. Sure. Its even the Community Developments agreement to say the sign widows communities, the amount that it gets him back to this community is it can only take no tangible Development Projects look at the community. For example, we have a close on community which is a located community which is say, a settlement. This community lacks water, they are not even access electricity and their vehicles that is Mining Company. So what are we talking about and sense of Community Benefits and from the mining, what does the Sierra Leonean government see about who mines, where theyre allowed to mind . How much comes back into the community . Water. Thats a problem every, i know what it, what this, these settlements. The idea of is you have a years that we will have water where every day we learned and these were was gumps. We will tell the people, this is the problem of the people is the problem people. So its ongoing, its going to address most of the seizures. We know the, the issues the, the mays raising his hand on that side. But i want to hear from mary for a 2nd because you grew up in a place that has been mining for a really long time. In fact, some of the earliest time was discovered where you grew up. Did you see this reflected as you were growing up . You know, thats yes. We have good agreements with oh, youre really shaking your head. No. Okay, go ahead. Tell me. Before this time i think there was a better system in place. Many people benefited from me before even we, we are born. I think we had of the benefits that our home parents, while grandparents we are benefiting. So for the fact that m m mining or diamond as a resources, i mean as a resource, been a cause to us. I personally disagreed with that foster fall because god cannot bless you. And in tom ca see again, it is sweeter individuals. It is where the leaders are lead us of beer. What actually i did doing in our thats will see that the, the i to bill are yet on bond bit. Are benefiting, or there will be it benefited from these. My mind and comp is odd from these, the saucy sites i want to come to patrick here because hes actually wearing a shirt that says, ethical minerals. And what a mary has touched on is really important that previously there was a system that worked for everyone. But of course, the war came, and so the term blood dam one and conflict diamond arose, to what extent did the, what change and shift the way people think about extracting in this country. Before the war came. I believe awareness is nadia born. Now you have the awareness read, the youth are coming up to we are went to school. We really, we, id call her to go to school. So now that she, i call you to go to school, you want to see that, that the throughout slits, if you calmly comes to do this, necessary needs for the community. Okay, for them to all right, let me speak to isa here for a 2nd because we are hearing that look, the policies are amazing. Is that the implementation that sucks. And ive had Big Companies being named here, but you as a small skill minor, or you one of the people who is deterring development from happening perhaps because of bad employment practices. You know, i deal with a lot of people are almost 50 minus people working for me under daily circumstances. Theyve got kids that cannot even feed. Theyve got kids, they cannot even take sort of hospitals. They sleep in houses where in the cramps and crowded with no mattresses, whatsoever they slip on the floors and showing alyssa is not because youre not paying the miller now we pay rent. When i got her as an example, im not sure if im supposed to say were, were paying the miles 70 percent poverty. I thought i was on enough. We pay room a dollar. And when did arm comes out, its the phase. They tell us how much they want for it and we negotiate. So we actually support them to make sure they can get on the field and work. I want to come back to a for a 2nd because i want to understand, you know, i think for people who dont leave will come from places where their minds, the imagination is that you come in, you mind for 2 days. You get a dime one thats about 50 carrot and then your life is set, but whats the reality will legality . It is on 2 spears. For example, if youre doing that to sort of mine in previously, like a about 12 p decades ago, some people will say, but in as a young in b b, i was not even born medicaid. Phoebe kid sickle, theyll say like to leave the house by the olivia, your parents or wives or mency. Let me go to the mines in grants examining comb, but looking at a train now for the past, theyre one decade now that us change eventually on average. How long would in a to slow might not be at the mines before theyre able to extract something meaningful to the awesome people. If you box them from stories to tell you that ive been mine and for the past 3 years, and ive not gotten a single dowman, some people to love mine for about 3 years. The dumb ones ive gotten from the mines. It is only was about 50. 00. Okay. Let me hear from ben. Its here because hes actually a very busy man. I was looking to him earlier, but he is actually a embroiled in apes, lawsuits active against big Mining Companies because of various reasons. So is what were hearing from a reflective of what youre seeing in your profession, that its a big Mining Companies. Were raking it big, whereas the communities are basically going with nothing. Our cameras was really a strict to stick to these matters because they are subject to decide proceedings, but i would just refer to the fact that ive been, ive been out of these. The beauty communities are calling out unseen. Weve been oppressed. Weve been abused by Mining Companies and they are not respecting the laws and policies as articulated by the leadership of this country. What most warry does not to companies be of your that is worrying to the communities, is their leadership attitude towards the oppression of pressure on alex british or that is what, what is it where we consult with them in jim bud is what they always raise and the problem we have also is that if that is the persistent motto, darby dick to court, and in the circumstances the communities are seen instead, our lead us side, we toss the aside with the company. Let me go to the leader that we have here. The mayor uni, i was coming for you that so youre laughing as the were hearing that when people come to you and say, hey, these guys are here, theyre doing one to 3 to us. Youre really carrying about it your, youre more concerned about the investment rather than the welfare of the people in your community. True or false . Well, when you look at in mind and policies in this country, what it is not done at the local level, our parliament in this country, they formulate those policies are, there are legislative level the leadership i have like the local Council Level of leadership. If he asked me, i think i was done with the people, the v of the people. Because imagine myself as a male, when we meet at some quiet us or the people who say the mirror for me, man, youre rich in a community. And he has a lot of money to capitalize a lot of money by to surprise you to know that to him. Since i have became a male 2018, lo receive a 10000. 00 cash from any mine in bruces, in this particular community. But give me a 2nd, let me come to solomon. How is that possible given that the act is very, very clear. One percent of proceeds from Mining Companies should come back to the communities where the percentages and static it depends on the company. And i would like a quote in kennedy street. We have 5 large killer Mining Companies, but only 2 are productive now. For every stage, every step, one eltic behalf, your consultants, they call them they do every matter through your employer assessment to see what were and this affects the committee. If we send them to the company quarterly, we have the most ramirez agenda. He bought the comb inspection the see what on what is is not when rights become new. They give exactly picture we are, the are and then we are going to under we are, we are, the are from and then we are going to now, okay, let me hear from ben. Its is, i think erm the point in or slow man is blueprint now. Yeah, the flex or our communities, fighting against oppression, the attitude of government and political leaders. So the, the, the government agents that are supposed to be protect rejecting supposed to be challenging the companies to deliver to the community. They have been indicted by our communities. Daddy are colliding. How could nudin introduce operation . Is a serious issue. Is a security issue. And you look around here, these are the people who own the lands we are, the demos are made. Did we reduce to the or to level of coverage . Milo 00 poverty level. Instead of having their children go to school, go to universities, go to hospitals, you have good infrastructure. Again, the children below 10 years are smashing stones, dog from the robbers of the diamond, meaning of oxygen nearly on type. One of the best quality them was in the world and you cannot see, it is not accounted for. No one knows what is sticking there every day. Let me ask you ask him that course, let me ask, let him declare to the people. So because i know you did say that to be fair, that the percentages are not static, but are you able to track and trace how much is being extract, okay, now we are seeing an enemy has a mines compliance officers inside there. They work on c shift bases. Whats the mainly the company gets the package. Everything the same, the seal, its the issue that has been seen and then kept in into a say, yeah, every on the on, on piece of business. So in the last year or so, based on what the me a saying, you want to tell me that what has been exported. One percent of it does not amount to 10000. 00. The enemy calculates what were, were doing with it. And then they have the percentage youre going to play was in that comes back to the committee for which the city says theyve got the accounts. Theres a dozen one as of theyre not given into donald min sent into the pharmacy circuit. The of the cdc, the committee committee, the committee, im a committee hug, i work out, we insured up before he started ease of money. The identify projects for which the once implements. Okay. We want projects have been, i mean im sure that is beyond your scope, but im just trying to put a lot of if you put money into an account and you never see the result. Why keep the money into the account until now . Did this silly scoop it to the Great Schools and improvised schools and then the arch ongoing projects, one, it has was easy as the article msi on the stuff was i submitted. I want to come to you say here for a 2nd because youve recently returned al, from living abroad. Have you seen any dramatic changes since youve been away . I think her, to be honest. A syrian is the only place you come back, so you never get lost because everything remains the same. Whether its in free tower needs in boss. So there has been no changes whatsoever. You know, the question would be, is them on the fleet thats going to bring that change for me . Ill send now because weve seen over am for century perhaps their van dam on is made very little little impact. We see other countries like the gambia synagogue, theyve got no diamonds whatsoever. As a matter of fact, they got peanuts. So for me, i dont know the answer to syrians problem is minerals and yet youre in the business. Im in the business because i see there is a bit of an opportunity that i can make changes in peoples lives. I help communities, our support people. I spend money on a daily basis. Our employ people direct employment. As a matter of fact, ive got close contact with people in governance and what they say is we need people like, you know, the mccain direct investment, direct employment. So im happy to be back home doing whatever little i can do. I see a lot of experts around me to know whats going on down or what the problems are. Maybe there needs to be engaged a lot more. Maybe theres that sense of responsibility by everyone to make sure we can arm or make an impact. All right. Unfortunately is the has to leave because hes a busy man, hes going to hell. I was like, i do have the panel here. Let me say to the last comment. It the other gentleman said about them was zenato nozer. Damn. What is an answer . I thought, well, before you call me a google demos in saloon, i saw blood diamonds. I saw a diamond sir wreck in lives of people. I did. He seemed almost a persona. I saw diamonds lifting, tell, swimming botswana. I saw the policy in botswana instead of harvey oc domain in a Company Register in virgin islands, only a 100 percent of london men in c as in saloon, and tickle of an inch, an octave, diamonds of saloon, literally presiding over the welto saloon, diamonds. Bizarre said no, we have what we call d swanner. That is the beer and was swanner, the state owned the Mining Company that mines on police demos. It was well, i guess what . On the record, 80 percent of the proceeds of the diamonds. It was on a goes to stick or for us, and guess what . All of that goes to schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure. Okay. I want to get from abraham and h for a 2nd out because, you know, as everybody is speaking, im wondering youre the people who are living in these communities. Why not take these companies and sue them . Why not protest . Why not demand more from your government . Honestly, kona was a 100 percent destroyed during the civil war. This was the central yes, as