CSOs train on petroleum Legislation

Business

Representatives from different Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone are taking part in a three days training on Petroleum Legislations, policy and management. The objective is to strengthen civil society to analyze and engage stakeholders in the extractive sector through evidence based coordinated advocacy and public awareness. The training is also to enhance compliance with Mining and Petroleum Laws, Policies and Agreements. The opening ceremony of the training organized by National Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) took place at Grassroots Gender and Empowerment Movement on December 1 2011. Speaking at the training, Abu A. Brima Executive Director NMJD said Sierra Leone’s vast natural resources wealth has for long been the object of intense international and domestic interest and has generated a lot of public debate. The resources have not been beneficial for the countries’ long-term development and the promotion of the welfare of the generality of the people. He said the natural resources exploitation continues to cause huge environmental damage in many distinct ways such as water and air pollution, livelihoods insecurity and depletion of forests and water watersheds as well as the displacement of affected communities. According to the NMJD Report, Oil in commercially viable quantum has been identified in the Southern part of Sierra Leone without the proper framework, companies are being given contracts for oil exploitation. The Report further states that Civil Society Organizations working on natural resources have been following with keen interest the processes and procedures that culminated in the identification of oil in the South, the enactment of the New Petroleum Bill and the ratification of oil agreements. The Report added that NMJD is concerned with the poor due diligence and secrecy that is associated with the operations of the structures responsible for the Petroleum Resources Sector within the office of the President. The Report also cited the speed, with which the Bill was passed in Parliament with little or no input from the general populace or knowledge of the Bill, draws attention to the fact that the CSO capacity on oil legislation, policies and management needs to be built if they are to effectively and efficiently lobby and advocate on the process as it unfolds. It is against this backdrop that NMJD and its partner Ibis as well as its associated platforms Campaign for Just Mining, Women’s Forum on Mining and the Association of Journalists on Mining and Extractives thought it fit and timely to organize the training. By Emmanuella Kallon

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