By Fatima Kpaka
The Parliamentary Committee on Works and Public Assets, chaired by Hon. Bashiru Silikie, Deputy Leader of Government Business, has taken decisive action against unauthorized quarry operations in Port Loko and Tonkolili districts. During an oversight visit, the Committee uncovered widespread irregularities in the operations of several quarries.
Hon. Silikie expressed mixed feelings about the situation, acknowledging the positive impact of quarry establishments while condemning their lack of compliance with legal requirements. He highlighted that many quarries were operating without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licenses, which he described as unprecedented negligence. Consequently, the Committee has ordered the suspension of operations for quarries that failed to adhere to due process.
The oversight tour revealed that some quarries lacked work permits from the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, while others were owned by foreigners whose activities violated the Local Content Policy. Additionally, conflicts over concessionary areas and collusion between host community members and foreign operators were noted. Alarmingly, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had no records of certain quarries, rendering their operations illegal.
Hon. Silikie and his Committee have vowed to ensure that all quarry operations comply with established regulations to safeguard the environment and uphold the rights of local communities. The investigation continues as authorities work to address these violations.