By Fiona Benson
The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives on Investment and Concessions; Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment; and Judiciary on Monday, January 19, commenced public hearings into the Third Amendment of the ArcelorMittal Mineral Development Agreement (MDA).
Members of the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) were also part of effort to ensure the proper thing is done.
Monday’s hearing brought together key government institutions that form part of the IMCC.
The Ministry of Justice was represented by Counselor Charles D. F. Karmo, II, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy was represented by its Minister, R. Matenokay Tingbah, along with Assistant Minister Williams S. Hines. The National Investment Commission (NIC) was represented by Melvin Sheriff.
Also present, were representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Stanley Banh, and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, represented by Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Anthony Myers.
The hearing was presided over by the Joint Committee Chairman, Representative Foday Fahnbulleh. During the hearing, lawmakers raised several questions and concerns regarding the operations of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML).
The lawmakers also sought clarity on aspects of the company’s performance under previous MDAs, particularly commitments that lawmakers said were made, but not fully implemented in affected communities.
The lawmakers also spoke on the importance of accountability, community impact, and adherence to concession obligations as key considerations in their review of the Third Amendment.
The hearing, which lasted several hours, was subsequently adjourned. Chairman Fahnbulleh informed participants that the Joint Committee would reconvene in committee rooms for further hearings and deliberations before making a determination and reporting to plenary.