Edith kimani had still quite a town in the down one which corner district to find out this week on the 77 percent st 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 sit down more should be left untouched. We have to reminded them on the government agents that are supposed to be protect, restricting supposed to be challenging the companies to deliver the arc lighting and who didnt introduce all pressure. 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 wilt 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 riches, 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 dominance are meant for beneficial. Amen for development propos, its all depend on the type of talent people have in the given sovereignty. Let me hear from a, i hear hes 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 on a, a genius Economy School in se leon. Also giving this kind of support from a real its, hes almost been, weve been in love horses here. We can get our livelihood. It was very difficult, very challenging because as a younger adult skip school by then to go to the mines, the give support because those roles of live you, we had in even on. So thats, i be, alex kept up article appealed, not a falling out of school because a lot of colleagues whom we, we and thats filled with whom i spoke to schooling with because of mining activities. And because of, you know, the defects of men in activities the reality before i did occasion to be a good number of them are dropouts. So if we look at the impacts of them of mine and to use your in the wider population, sagel you for me, it is much of course because we are not gets in the cannot deviate him, we are not getting the kind of profits. Okay. And by the way, we should mention that where we are right now is a big mine that operates just beyond this mound. And what were seeing is 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 coming out of this region. So im wondering why you are right there. Lecture last, electro resources we have, you cannot actually tell whether they deimos the goals or, i mean, eros extracting from gone all. What actually, this is a place we are. Those me near us are both on the contrary to say, mineral deimos or whatever. I mean, or are given or is it cause its not a cause the availability of the Natural Resources has it is not a problem. It is a proper utilization of immune or resources that are the problem. Policies around a struction of mirrors. 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 policy got wind to bring those machines, those technologies, how to transform those Raw Materials here into a finished product of so 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 isnt right, but the me a saying 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 didnt. Where does many of those 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 specific comp actually committed to have the committees that these with this wants to see and show that projects are been implemented in hold on a is the ready disagreeing with you . Yes. And if you look at what Mining Companies are getting from, cannot dispute from the meanings that we are doing . And we compare it to the impacts in the community. It is not common. Sure. Its even a Community Development agreement, id say to sign with those communities, the amount that is getting back to this community is it can only take more tangible development projects. Look at the community. For example, we have a close to one community which is a located community, which is say, a settlement this community locks water. They are not even access. We like the city and their vehicles, that is Mining Company. So what are we talking about and sense of Community Benefit 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 from them every year. Know what it, what this, these settlements the idea of is you have a years that little have water where every day we learned in this were was groups. 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 dime ones were discovered where you grew up. Did you see this reflected as you were growing up . You know that . Yes, we have good agreements with that. 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. Miami or diamond as a resources, i mean as a resource, been a cost to us. I personally disagree with that and foster fall because god cannot bless you. And in tom ca see again, it is sweeter individuals. It is weird, a lead us our lead us, our beer. What actually i did doing in our thats will see that the, the, the actual that are yet on bond bit are benefiting, or there will be it benefited from these. My main accompanies on from the saucy story. I want to come to patch 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 every one. 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 extractive in this country. Before the war came, i believed i, we, honest nor dear one. Now you have the awareness, reduce our community to we are went to school. We really, we, i had cobra to go to school. So now daughtry, i call you to go to school. You want to see that that being translates, 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, are 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 all the hospitals. They sleep in houses where in the cramps and crowded with no mattresses, whatsoever they slip on the floors. And surely, melissa is not because youre not paying them. You know, now we pay ram 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 and enough we pay room a dollar. And when did arman 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 what 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. What was the reality . Well, the reality it is on to spears. For example, if youre doing not on mine in previously, like a about, so if he decayed siegel, some people will see by then i was very young. In b, b, i was leaving bone syndicate, baby kid sickle. Theyll say like to leave the house by the olivia, your parents, or wives or mincie. Let me go to the mines in grants, examining. Com. But looking at a trend now for the past, theyre one decade now that us change eventually on average, how long would a notice know, might not be at the mines before theyre able to extract something meaningful to the awesome people. If you expand from stories to tell you that ive been mine in for the past 3 years, and ive not gotten a single dowman, some people to love a minor for possibly as the dominance ive gotten from the minds, it is only was about 50. 00. Okay. Let me hear from bennett, its here because hes actually a very busy man. I was looking to him earlier, but his actually 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 the big Mining Companies were making it big, whereas the communities are basically going with laughing. Our cameras was really a stick to these matters because they are subject to decide proceedings, but i would just refer to the fact that ive been that i can help reduce 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 us articulated by the leadership of this country. What most warry does not become misbehavior that is worrying to the communities, is the leadership attitude towards the pressure of pressure. And alex british, that is what, what is it where we consult with them in jim bud is what the always read under problem. We have also, hes got if that is the persistent motto, darby dick to court, and in the circumstances the communities are seeing. Instead, our lead us side. We toss the aside with the company. Let me go to the leader that we have here. The mayor of junia was coming for you. Thats why 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 not caring 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 div legislative level. The leadership i have like the local Council Level of leadership. If you asked me, i think i was done with people the v of the people. Because imagine myself as a male when we meet at some quite us or people who say the mail for me, minute reach in a community. And he has a lot of money because he has 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 bruises, in this particular community. But give me a 2nd, let me come to the layman. 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 of static. It depends on the company. And i would like a quote in kennedy street. We have 5 large kidney companies, but only 2 are productive now. For every stage, every step one eltic, they have their consultants, they call them, they do every month regime park assessment to see what were and this affects the committee. If we send them to the company quarterly, we have the most Ramirez Agency bought the comb inspection. They see whats on whats is, is now going writes the company they gave exactly picture we are the are and then we are going to, under we are, we are, the are from and, and we are going to now, okay, let me hear from penndot its, its i think am the point in slow man is through Brent America reflects our, our communities who are fighting our gaze pressure, the attitude government and political leaders so that 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, that they are cool. Lighting occluded into this 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 poverty, milo 00 poverty level. Instead of having their children go to school, go to universities with 2 hospitals. You have good infrastructure. Again, children below 10 years. Yeah. A smashing stones. Dog from the robbers of the diamond, meaning of the generic type. One of the best quality them was in the world, and they cannot see. It is not accounted for. No one knows what is taking there every day. Let me ask him, ask him to go, let me as let him declared 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 complaint officers inside there. They walk on fishing bases. Whats remaining is the company gets the package everything the same, the seats, the issue that has been seen and then kept in into a safe. Yeah, every day 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 whartley, were doing what it and then they have the percentage you went 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 they are not given into. They are not being sent into the pharmacy circles. The of the cdc, the committee company, the committee amaco me to hug i walk out. We insured up before the start of ease of money. The identify projects for wish they want to implement. Ok. What 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 signal is good to to go to schools and Public Schools and then they are ongoing quadratic changes. Shed been away. I think her and to be honest, i syrian is the only place you come back so you never get lost because everything remains the same. Whether its in free town, its in balls, 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 say no, because weve seen over a century perhaps their van dam on is made very little little impacts. 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 either 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. They know what the problems are. Maybe they need to be engaged a lot more. Maybe theres that sense of responsibility by everyone to make sure we can all make an impact. All right, unfortunately is the has to leave because hes a busy man, hes going to hell diamonds. But his do have the panel here. Let me say to the last comment it, the other gentleman said about them was zenato. Nozer demos is an answer, a sort well before you call me or google demos in saloon. I saw blood diamonds. I saw a diamond, sir. Reckon lives of people i did is him demo supersonic. I saw diamonds lifting tel swimming botswana. I saw the policy in botswana instead of having oc domain in a Company Registered in virgin islands, only 100 percent of london main in c, as in sierra leone and taken over him into an oc dear dame was of saloon, dudley pres, heading over the welto saloon. Day moors. Bizarre la said no, we have what we call d swanner. That is the beer and was swanner the state or the Mining Company that mines on police demos in brazil. And guess what . On the record, 80 percent of the proceeds of the diamonds. It was on a goes to state court for us and guess what . All of that goes to schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure. Okay. I want to get from abraham an ear 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, corner was a 100 percent destroyed during the civil war. This was the central yes. As of the war. Probably 40 diamonds. But weve also recovered 80 percent because of the diamonds, the small minds and other things. And are we are progressing. We are competing with other places like mckinney board, the milk artists. I cant allow you to continue with your thought knowing full well that this gentleman standing next