Thank you Mr. Martin for the amicus. We appreciate your efforts to inform
us, the citizens of Gambia, of the circumstances around soured relations between
Carnegie/Astron and Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. I will use your notes to
yield understandings:
[1) CMG had a license to mine for Zirconium, Rutile and Ilmenite and not a
license to mine for Zircon, Silicon and Ilmenite as stated.] Mr. Martin.
This is understood. Thank you for the clarification. Indeed Astron informed
its shareholders in 2006 that such a license was received. It will have been
an upgraded permit from the original mining/exploration lease.
[2) Ilmenite is Iron Ore; Rutile is Titanium Ore so yes CMG was exporting
Titanium and Iron Ore quite legally and within its license.] Mr. Martin.
This is also agreeable if the mining license Rutile, Zirconium, and
Ilmenite. Yahya Jammeh's or Crispin Johnson's shortcoming in understanding
metal-chemistry should not be excuse enough to fabricate a breach of contract. This
explanation however does not obviate our request for CMG to share its mining
license here with us. Keeping public information close to the vest is
effectively what led to the misunderstanding. If the matter is headed for court, the
case will not have been maligned by the sharing of the license with the
citizens of Gambia. We do not ask for the license because we think CMG was engaged
in extra-license activity. We seek it for our own understanding and as good
corporate citizens, I am confident you will be more than happy to share it with
the Gambian citizenry. The same onus goes to Yahya Jammeh.
[[3) There were traces of Uranium in the material that CMG exported, but it
was less than 0.01%, a tiny amount that would be expected in any soil
sample taken from anywhere in the world and could not be separated from the
exported material.] Mr. Martin.
We would like to think that if CMG had license to mine for Zirconium,
Rutile, and Ilmenite, that it may be difficult to separate trace amounts of Uranium
from the beach sand unless an in-situ process is undertaken to do so. Such
processes are used by some mining companies. However, if such process is not
specified in CMG's license, then you are under no obligation to undertake it.
I think Yahya's contention lies in that the lab-assay you provided of the
samples was less than forthcoming regarding the constituents and their
representative quantities. Therefore he felt your earlier shipments to China were
enormously more valuable than represented. Obviously that is a matter to be
referred to the arbitre, were such clause part of the agreement between Yahya
Jammeh and Carnegie/Astron. This does not affect our request for a copy of the
your mining license however. God knows we hold no brief for Yahya, but neither
do we wish to overlook the shortcomings of Carnegie/Astron. I do not think
Charlie ought to be detained much less imprisoned. His imprisonment and the
circumstances surrounding it, amounted to kidnap and abduction by coercion.
[4) Charlie Northfield, who was jailed, is not the Managing Director of CMG,
but only the General Manager. The Managing Director is Alan Hopkins (Father
of Sanyang)] Mr. Martin.
We tend to take the view that it did not matter what Charlie's title was. He
could have been the Managing Director. He still should not have been lured
back to Gambia under false pretenses and detained or imprisoned. If anything
were to be seized, it should have been Carnegie/Astron's real assets. And even
that will have been extreme reaction in this situation.
[5) Charlie Northfield was tricked into returning to Gambia, when the
Secretary of State, meeting with Alan Hopkins, in London said that the mine could
re-open on the week ending 16th Feb 2008.
Charlie returned to Gambia to supervise the re-opening and was arrested two
days later.] Mr. Martin.
We agree with you and it is unfortunate for Charlie to be imprisoned.
Charlie does have a valid case were he to seek relief from any court anywhere. And
given the duration of his involvement with CMG, it behooves me that Charlie
was specifically requested to re-start your operations in Gambia. It must have
struck you as peculiar when the Secretary of State personally pleaded for
restarting your operations as opposed to the Gambia Ambassador in the UK. That
is how normal governments handle such matters.
[6) Until its closure in mid January CMG had been a good corporate citizen
and the largest private employer in Gambia.] Mr. Martin.
Indeed. That is why we were shocked and disappointed. It appears however
that the agreement was between Carnegie/Astron and Yahya Jammeh. We, the Gambian
citizens wish to be indemnified in a fracas of this nature that is replete
with such dishonour on both sides. We request again, a copy of CMG's mining
license.
[In the action it has taken the Gambia government of Gambia has violated
its own law, which is incorporated in the Mining License granted to CMG,
which had provision for arbitration in case of disputes.] Mr. Martin.
As shocking as it may seem Mr. Martin, you may be relieved to know that the
Gambia Government, to the extent there is one, is not party to the
misunderstanding.
[The arbitration procedure was not used in anyway and the closure of the
mine in January was an illegal action.] Mr. Martin.
Indeed. It was an acute breach of due-diligence and contract if the
arbitration clause were in the agreement. We agree with you. I suppose I only share
that the citizens or government of Gambia has very little if any part to play
in aggrieving you or Yahya. We renew our request for the copy of the mining
license.
["The Gambia, the motives for closing Carnegie can't be taken at face value
- further investigations are definitely needed.] Mr. Martin.
We will let the investigations continue. Meanwhile however, we demand for
the release of Charlie Northfield without prejudice, and we renew our request
for the copy of the mining license. We sympathise with you and CMG for the
anxiety and chagrin Charlie's detention and imprisonment has caused. We hope
President Yahya Jammeh will come to understand that there is no value in holding
Charlie and that it does not augur well for the amicable and more benign
resolution of your differences.
[I am / was the mining and planning engineer for CMG and Charlie
Northfields' deputy so I know this information is accurate. Neil Martin MSc, BSc. DIC,
ARSM]
We have no reason to doubt this Mr. Martin and in any event, Charlie's
imprisonment is unwarranted. We plead again to share a copy of your mining license
with us. We appreciate this effort on your part to clarify some of the
issues here.
Most Sincerely,
Haruna.
**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい
|