A Tale Of Squandered Opportunities: Sierra Leone
Published by MAC on 2003-09-15
A tale of squandered opportunities: Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is emerging from a devastating war over ownership of its mineral resoures. The National Movement for Justice and Development (a member of the Mines and Communities network) has been central to new strategies for poverty alleviation, democratic governance, fiduciary transparency and civil equity. At a recent conference on these issues, the Diamond Areas Community Development Fund was expanded into the National Action Coalition on Extractives, to address the challenges of the country's rutile and bauxite mining.
The following report contains a description of recent operations by Sierra Rutile Ltd, now owned by the notorious "diamond czar", Jean-Raymond Boulle and US Titanium LLC, backed by the World Bank and the US Overseas Private Investment Coropration (OPIC). The article graphically describes continued abuses by Sierra Rutile, including intimidation by armed guards, removal of people from their land, and environmental despoliation.