Dear Editor,
A very successful stakeholders forum was executed at the Matthews Ridge location of Reunion Manganese Inc on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, for members of the Regional Democratic Council, Neighbourhood Democratic Council-Interim Management Committee and leaders in the communities of Matthews Ridge, Arakaka and Port Kaituma. Some thirty persons attended, led by Mr Richard Allen, Member of Parliament; Mr Paul Pierre, Regional Chairman; Mr Dion Seecharran, Assistant Regional Executive Officer; Mr Shawn James, Vice Chairman of the Interim Management Committee; and Mr Burchell Flatts, former Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council.
After a tour of the operations, presentations were made by Dr Grantley Walrond on Geology, myself on the Benefits of the Project to the Community, Mr Abdellah Benkhalti on the work being done on the Safety, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments as well as Ms Latoya Jack and Mr Jo Bayah, Chief Operating Officer, who rounded off the presentations on behalf of the company. Messrs Paul Pierre, Burchell Flatts and Richard Allen, MP, as well as Shawn James and Wesley Alberts made presentations on behalf of the region. There were very extensive interactions and open discussions on the work being done by RMI. There was a lively question and answer period in which very constructive recommendations and suggestions were put forward by Mr Troy Phillips on the road; Ms Doreen Roberts, District Education Officer, and Ms Sheila Crawford, Dorm Mother, at the Port Kaituma Secondary School on youth, training and entrepreneurship. Other contributions were made by Ms Andrea Bazillo, Regional Environmental Health Officer on water sampling; Ms Bernadine Lara, Community Development Officer; Ms Leota Barnes, Medex at the Pakera District Hospital on health support and a historical perspective on company-community interactions. The closure statement was given by Mr Michael Matthias, businessman. The question and answer session continued after lunch which was held in the Recreation Hall, RMI. I concluded by thanking the community members for their contributions and pledged to continue the company’s corporate social responsibility to help the community. I warned, however, that the company was still in the exploration phase and therefore still had to establish a positive feasibility study before moving forward. They were nevertheless very upbeat and ready to capitalize on good results from their trenching, drilling as well as the support from the community and the enthusiasm of its workforce (over 45% of whom come from the community). I further pledged assistance for training and development of the young people in the area and assistance to promote agricultural and other undertakings to supply food and products for the company’s use.
Yours faithfully,
Norman G McLean
Major-General (rtd)