Parliamentary’s Committee blocked…No Parliamentary visit to RUSAL, BOSAI, Bai Shan Lin

Jun 22, 2014 News

---

Minister Persaud responsible – says Opposition
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, Joseph

Harmon, recently said that it is two years now since the Chinese firm, Bai Shan Lin, has been avoiding Parliamentary scrutiny.
The politician has accused the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of aiding and abetting the “disrespectful” behavior of the private company for which it has jurisdiction.
For the past two years, the Ministry has only provided excuses to the Sectoral Committee when it made written requests to visit the Chinese Company among other firms.
In light of the Committee member’s comments, the Ministry of Natural Resources by way of its Permanent Secretary has said that it is not hindering the Committee from visiting the company’s operation.
Joslyn McKenzie said that Bai Shan Lin is a “private company” and that the Ministry has no authority to determine who visits their locations. The Committee, McKenzie said, is free to pursue its request to visit the worksites of the said company.
The Permanent Secretary said that the Ministry was requested to provide vehicular and other logistical support in a letter dated May 30 from the Chairman Mr. Odinga Lumumba.
In its June 3 response, the Ministry said that the request could not be accommodated at the time due to ongoing compliance and enforcement activities by various agencies.
“At no point did it hinder the proposed visit of the Committee.”
He added that the Ministry has always been cooperative with the committee. A comprehensive package detailing the agency’s work programme was submitted on November 5, 2013.
It also said that all information asked for on the said company was provided to the Committee.
However, Harmon at a recent press conference said that the Ministry is only being, “economical with the truth.”
“First of all, the main objective of the visit was to examine the developments in the mining industry, its impact and effects, if any, on the environment and the people who live within the communities.
“As such, the Minister with responsibility for mining and natural resources was asked to provide several things for the Committee. These included; the provision of transportation with drivers who are familiar with the terrain, assistance with the arrangements necessary to facilitate an onsite visit to Bai Shan Lin companies, and also with arrangements to have a meeting with the senior management of the Bai Shan Lin operations.”
“We had even requested to visit the operations of BOSAI Mineral Incorporated and RUSAL but that too was met with a similar excuse.”
The politician added, “The committee does not write to the private company directly and the Minister knows that. It is a standard procedure that we write to the Ministry when it comes to private companies and that’s been going on for years.

“And when he says he is not aiding and abetting he is just being economical with the truth. I wish to remind him that it is his responsibility to ensure that the company meets with the committee.”
Harmon reminded that the Natural Resources Committee has several responsibilities, one of which is ensuring that policies within its ambit are not violated.
He said that the Committee wrote to the Minister of Natural Resources informing him that it wanted to visit the work sites and to have a meeting with Bai Shan Lin. That was on June 13, 2013. The Minister replied on June 17, that due to the current work programme of the company coupled with the Minister being scheduled to leave the country on the proposed date, it would not be possible.
The Parliamentarian said that once again, the Committee wrote the Natural Resources Minister, on May 30 requesting to visit the Chinese firm in Region Ten.
“The Ministry again wrote saying that it would like to acknowledge the letter but due to the agency’s programme, the company is unable to accommodate the request.
“So what has happened is that for two years running, this company has avoided the oversight of the natural resources committee. It is in my view, disrespect to the National Assembly that a company as large as this cannot find it necessary to meet with the committee of the Assembly.”
Harmon added, “I am putting it on record that any company that is requested to appear before the National Assembly, must see it as a part of its obligations.
“I would dare any company in the USA or so to be given a letter by a committee in the congress or senate and then say its work programme is heavy.”
“The Chairman of this committee is Mr. Odinga Lumumba. My understanding is that he has taken a sharp stance on the matter. We will not allow Persaud to block us anymore.”

---

---