Thursday, December 6, 1984/The Battalion/Page 13
African country
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United Press International
DALLAS — The tiny West Afri
can republic of Sierra Leone wants a
rade link with Texas and is dan-
ling two tempting baits — di-
monds and oil — to seduce its prey.
Augustine K. Stevens, the Atlantic
oastal country’s foreign minister
nd ambassador to the United Na-
:ions, has researched the possibility
3! Sierra Leone beginning trade
with Texas. Stevens is seeking con
nections in Dallas or Houston where
: knows the money and the pan-
he for finding and marketing such
atural resources are available in
Abundance.
I “We have looked (at Dallas and
Houston) and we find it very en-
fcouraging,” the American-educated
diplomat said. “There is a vibrant
community and a lot of trade poten-
il.”
He said Texans know what is in
volved in mining and exploration.
‘We realize Dallas is as new to
Sierra Leone as Sierra Leone is to
)allas,” Stevens said. “But I hope my
jresence here will bridge that un
mown quantity. Businessmen from
here have been quietly coming and
'going out of my couptry. They don’t
‘■publicize their visits.”
each
Gem-quality diamonds, as op-
losed to the industrial variety, are
terra Leone’s major export and
burce of foreign exchange, Stevens
laid. Gem exports account for 40
prcent of the country’s trade, how-
Jver, much of it is eaten away by oil
\ imports, he said.
I Sierra Leone claims 60 percent of
its diamonds are of gem quality com
pared with its neighboring country
Zaire’s claim of only 10 percent gem-
guality diamonds.
In 1972, the country claimed to
have discovered “the Star of Sierra
eone,” which at 969.8 carats is sup-
psed to be the third largest di-
mond ever found.
“In the past, we always had to turn
to London for our gem export,” Ste-
Bens said. “We found ourselves in a
ient store
tmmmv
liartel system. We have gotten away
from it and are keen to develop ties
Birectly with private investors.”
H Jean-Raymond Boulle, president
of European Diamond Importers
and Cutters, Inc. of Dallas, spon-
! sored Stevens’ visit to Texas. He said
Ijis firm is the only diamond im
porter in Texas with a direct link to
West Africa.
Boulle said wealthy Texans deem
large gem diamonds a must.
“When you go to a charity ball,
you would think all diamonds are 10
to 15 carats,” he said.
Stevens said two other possible
trade links with Texas are iron ore
and bauxite.
“There is also gold and potential
for oil,” he said. “We are attempting
to secure concessions for explora
tion. Texas has a record of success
ful explorations and we need their
expertise.”
One Houston firm has secured
such a concession and the Dallas
firm of Hanvey Production Com
pany is also conducting extensive ex
ploration.
Company president Don Hanvey
said he has invested heavily in Sierra
Leone and thinks on-shore oil can be
found as low as 5,000 feet. He said
the country has geology similar to its
West African neighbors that have
large oil reserves.
Hanvey said West Africa will be
come the next major oil producer af
ter the Middle East. Nigeria ranks
only behind Saudi Arabia as an
OPEC exporter to the United States.
“The United Nations has declared
Sierra Leone one of the least devel
oped countries and this is not a re
cord we are proud of,” Stevens said.
He said he wants people from
Texas in Sierre Leone because the
country does not have the facilities
to develop its energy resources.
“The best inducement we have to
offer is stability,” he said. “The gov
ernment is extremely stable. Sierra
Leone has no history of freezing as
sets of foreign investors. We have, of
course, terminated some contracts
with foreign partners, but in every
case we negotiated peacefully and
offered the best settlement. That
cannot be said of other parts of the
continent. Hostility is not in our
character. Another attraction is En
glish, our main lanaguage.”
Stevens said his country, which
has been described as the “Athens of
West Africa,” maintains cordial rela
tions with its neighbors, Liberia and
Guinea. He said Sierra Leone also
has an oversupply of educated and
skilled manpower, a growing econ
omy, and offers attractive terms to
foreign investors.
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j United Press International
I MATAMOROS — Mayor Jesus
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now he wants to change Matamoros’
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