Africa-Press – Liberia. Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County has denied claims and allegations that he signed the Memorandum of Understanding that rearranged the financial obligations Western Cluster had with the government and people of Liberia under a Mineral Development Agreement.
Senator Snowe was recently accused of receiving personal benefits for his role in the rearrangement of the concession agreement.
In his response, he claimed that he has done nothing wrong, noting that all he did was to ensure that the company resumed operations and provide jobs for citizens of Bomi or they relinquished the deal that they had acquired for 25 years for the purpose of mining iron ore.
“Nowhere on the Western Cluster MOU IS my name written. Somebody is feeding people with information but doesn’t have the right information. The MDA for Western Cluster was signed in Bomi County, it was the first concession signed outside of Montserrado County under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The Bomi lawmaker confirmed his involvement in getting the company to resume operations after it shut down due to outbreak of the Ebola in 2014 and that his only interest was that the company pay the county US$ 10 million under the social development fund they owed over the years.
According to him, with the support of other members of the county Legislative Caucus, he was sent to join other officials of the Executive Branch of government to travel to India on a 10-hour trip to discuss how the government of Liberia could waive US$20 million the company had accumulated in taxes.
Snowe: “Allegations that Snowe is taking money from Western Cluster is garbage, I will not be carried away by sentiments. Is Western Cluster the best deal for Bomi? No. Has the company performed satisfactorily? My wish is for that company to provide more jobs for the people of Bomi County.
“What is the verdict? What wrong have I done? All I did was to represent this county in my conscious.”
I don’t owe Samuel Jackson US10K
Another allegation against the Bomi Senator was a claim from Mr. Samuel Jackson, a Liberian economist, who claimed that the Senator owes him US$10,000 for consultancy. In response, Snowe denied the claims noting that Mr. Jackson had asked for a consultancy contract with the company but it wasn’t given and his charge was US$10,000.
“I did not promise Samuel Jackson US$10,000. He asked to provide consultancy and asked to be paid US$10k, but the company did not hire his consultancy. I am not offended by what Mr. Jackson posted. I am not defending Western Cluster; nobody in this county has had this company feet to the fire than me,” he added.
Samuel Jackson open letter to Senator Snowe (Verbatim)
My friendly advice to you. You are on the defensive on the Western Cluster. This could destroy you politically and expose you to criminal liabilities even if as you claim did nothing wrong. Trucking iron ore through populated areas is a grave risk. Environmentally. Socially. The long term consequences are mostly unknown. You could be 70 years old and be exposed since you were in the fire front.
Go back to the memo I sent you on May 27. My education is my biggest asset, I was trying to help you all but you as always want a quick deal. Your people don’t need a Bassa man like me to tell them about the dangers and associated risks. That young man held his own. I know Bomi citizens are gearing to take this to higher levels. Global Witness. The US Embassy is watching.
If you think I am your enemy you are dead wrong. This trucking of ore if not fixed with the appropriate mitigation measures could cost us Bomi, Cape Mount and Gbarpolu in the elections.
God bless. You now know I didn’t give Stanton any questions as you claim on December 30. I saw him trying to help you last night. He is a good guy in a difficult space.
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