Bong County District #3 Representative, Josiah Marvin Cole, has strongly condemned the House’s Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment.
Cole expressed said, he criticized his colleagues for ordering Huiren Mining Company to resume operations.
He warned that he will resist the move over “unresolved concerns.”
Rep. Cole, who initiated the investigation into the company’s activities, maintains that key issues raised during both his initial complaint to the Plenary in February, and the Committee’s site inspection have not been addressed.
These include allegations of illegal underground mining under a Class ‘B’ license, as well as concerns about the impact of the company’s operations on surrounding communities in the Wainsue Mining District.
He further said, he has forwarded the matter to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai through the Ministry of State, expressing hope for redress. However, he warned that if no action is taken, he will rally the locals to resist the continued operations.
However, the House Mines and Energy Committee Chair Representative, Jeremiah Sokan said, the Committee’s investigation did not find major non-compliance as alleged by Cole; a finding that contributed to the decision to allow the company to resume operations.
The company was previously ordered shut down after the committee identified compliance failures, including the inability to produce essential documents and inconsistencies in its management structure. However, following its appearance before the Committee, members shifted their position, leading to the decision to lift the suspension and permit operations to continue.
Rep. Cole insists that allowing the company to resume work undermines accountability and leaves serious regulatory and community concerns unresolved, reinforcing his position that he will resist the decision.
The both lawmakers spoke on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from their respective Capitol Building offices.
Source: Wilmot Konah /DN-News Liberia