By Lewis S. Teh
Some aggrieved residents of Bomi County have expressed sadness and regret in a decision taken by Associate Justice Yamie Gbeisay, in which he allegedly denied their petition.
The lead campaigner group named Klay Development Association (Operation Safe Bomi), Mr. Clifton B. Hilton, told a press conference on 4 April 2023 in Monrovia that Justice Gbeisay allegedly turned down their petition and rendered it unconstitutional.
He said the case in question concerns Western Cluster Limited, an iron ore company operating in the western region of Liberia.
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, we the citizens of Bomi County like to use this medium to inform Justice Gbeisay that we are disgusted by his actions, and we feel grossly injured by his interpretation of this case,” said Mr. Hilton.
He alleged that four officials of government unlawfully nullified a Mineral Development Agreement of Western Cluster Liberia Limited on 12 April 2022.
Hilton named the officials as Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, National Investment Commission (NIC) Chairman Mole B. Gray, and Mines and Energy Minister Gesler E. Murray.
He recalled that on 30 January 2023, a huge number of citizens from Bomi County sought a recourse of the law against the alleged actions of the officials.
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According to him, they filed a petition with the Supreme Court for a writ of prohibition against the Government of Liberia and Western Cluster Liberia Limited.
“Our action to pray for to the Honorable Supreme Court for a Writ of Prohibition against the Government of Liberia and Western Cluster Liberia Limited, was predicated, established, and grounded on constitutional issues,” said Hilton.
He alleged that the action of the Chamber Justice denying their petition seeks to celebrate and promote the selfish interest of some Indians and a few desperate officials of government far above the interest of the people.
“We encourage the government to work along with the people of the Western Region to an amicable resolution [of] this crisis,” said Hilton.
He warned that they do not hope to witness a replica of the horrible occurrences between ArcelorMittal and the people of Nimba County in 2010.
