By Bill W. Cooper
The long-standing mining conflict in Benben Town has finally reached a resolution, bringing a sense of relief to the beleaguered community.
The conflict, which erupted over mining rights and environmental concerns, had left residents divided and fearful for their future, but the situation was soon resolved following the intervention of Assistant Mines and Energy Minister Carlos Edison Tingban.
Asst. Minister Tingban spearheaded efforts to bring harmony to the divided town, which is not just a solution to a dispute but a testament to the government’s exceptional ability to lead, mediate, and inspire progress within the mining sector.
It can be recalled that the Ministry of Mines and Energy embarked on a comprehensive assessment of the Benben Town situation when the Ministry Deputy Minister for Operations, Director of Mines, and technicians interacted with community members, learning the roots of the dispute.
The two groups had presented licenses claiming ownership of the mining site, thus leading to the escalation of the tension between them over time, resulting in serious tragedy, including the loss of citizen lives.
But Asst. Tingban, accompanied by a team of skilled technicians from the Ministry arrived in Benben Town with a mission to convey and implement a permanent solution and guide the community toward peaceful coexistence.
Interacting with the community dwellers, Tingban set the tone for the discussion surrounding the saga, emphasizing unity and the power of collective action for the improvement of the residents’ lives.
“Today, we have come to find a permanent solution to the long-standing conflict in the Benben Town Mining Site,” he declared.
His words resonated deeply, as the town people gathered to hear the Ministry’s resolution.
He, at the same time, called on the locals to peacefully coexist while addressing the audience and cautioned, “If you cannot agree to live together in peaceful harmony, you as a people cannot solve this problem.”
“Nobody can solve this problem for you; only you, the residents, can solve your own problem. We can talk about everything here today and leave from here, but you people have to live peacefully together,” he asserted.
The Minister also lamented, “The other day, I heard that someone died. This is not a good story about you people. What you have here is supposed to impact your lives positively and benefit this town, and not be in the habit of fighting each other.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry’s solution was carefully crafted to address the core issues of the dispute while promoting fairness and inclusivity, as it was determined that the two licenses showing ownership would remain constant, ensuring that neither group felt disenfranchised.
Asst. Minister Tingban further clarified, “Nobody has or will take it, nor has it been encroached upon because no one man will own that place, and as such, all of you should live and work here in peace and harmony.”
The Asst. Minister at the same time announced that the mining site in question did not belong to any individual or group but was, in fact, government property, and proposed a system that would allow the community to have a say in the site’s management.
However, Mr Richard Kollie, a respected figure who had previously worked in the area, was tasked with suggesting one name of an individual for documentation, while the community was also asked to nominate one representative.
Tingban added, “These names would be sent to the Ministry for proper documentation, ensuring transparency and accountability. We want to help you as community people so that you can be able to improve your lives, even though the place belongs to the Government.”
