By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Reliable sources close to the local village development leadership have revealed that six Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairmen from coastal communities in Kombo South are set to meet to discuss proposed sea dredging operations by Sino Majilac Jalbak (SMJ) Company along their coastline. The communities involved include Sambuya, Tujereng, Gunjur, Sanyang, Batokunku, and Kartong.
According to a source familiar with the tightly guarded discussions, a preliminary meeting held last Sunday between the VDC Chairmen and SMJ officials ended without a consensus on whether to greenlight the dredging project. Despite SMJ securing an operational license from the Geology Department, the VDC leaders have yet to unify on a position that would permit the company to begin work.
The source explained that the Chairmen have been negotiating with SMJ officials to secure financial returns from the sale of dredged sand and assurances that the company will reclaim and restore land lost to prior sand mining activities along the 16-kilometer coastline. “SMJ has agreed in principle to restore the degraded areas, but the details are still under discussion,” the source noted.
Another insider, who attended a closed-door meeting between the parties, confirmed that no start date for dredging had been set. SMJ has already positioned its dredging ship off Sambuya village, though operations remain on hold due to unresolved issues. These include disagreements over establishing monitoring units and offices in all six affected villages to oversee the process. “The talks are ongoing, and a final meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Kartong. If an agreement is reached, dredging could begin immediately,” the source said.
The VDC Chairmen face mounting concerns from their communities about the environmental impact of the proposed dredging. Key questions remain unanswered, including whether SMJ has conducted an environmental impact assessment and how the communities will benefit from sand sales. Transparency in monitoring the operation is also a sticking point. “The biggest hurdle is convincing community members to support the project given its potential ecological consequences,” the source added.
TAT contacted SMJ officials and other stakeholders for comment but received no response. TAT will continue tracking the story and provide updates as developments unfold.
This is not the first time SMJ has outlined its regional ambitions. In November 2023, company officials toured the proposed project sites with journalists, announcing plans to dredge sand for construction and reclaim degraded coastal land along a 17-kilometer stretch from Tujereng to Kartong. At the time, SMJ emphasized its dual goals of supplying construction materials and restoring quarry-damaged areas in Batokunku, Tujereng, Sanyang, Gunjur, and Kartong, aiming to enhance land usability in these communities.
As the March 30 meeting approaches, all eyes are on the VDC Chairmen and SMJ to see if they can strike a deal that balances economic opportunity with environmental and community concerns.
