Continental Gold Honors Employees Murdered by FARC ‘Dissidents,’ Hires Top-Flight Security Agency

Canada-based gold miner Continental Gold this month organized memorial masses for four of its employees murdered by FARC “dissident” groups in Antioquia — and then announced the hiring of a top-flight security agency that aims to prevent future such incidents.

Three of the four victims – geologists Camilo Andrés Tirado (31), Laura Alejandra Flóres (27) and Henry Mauricio Martínez (27) — were murdered September 19 near Yarumal, Antioquia, by “dissidents” belonging to the “36th Front” of the narco-terrorist FARC group — several leaders of which have been given seats in the Colombian Congress via a “peace” deal negotiated by former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

The fourth Continental Gold employee victim — Oscar Alarcón Gallo – was murdered in another terrorist attack a week earlier in Buritica, Antioquia.

“Special masses were recently held in both Medellín and Buriticá to honor the lives of Laura, Henry, Camilo and Oscar and were attended by our employees, members of the military and police, and members of the local communities,” according to the company.

“Additionally, on Wednesday, October 3, a memorial ceremony was held at our Buriticá [mining] project site in which trees were planted to commemorate the lives of each of the victims. These trees will continue to grow in honor of their legacy.

“With the goal of strengthening and reshaping our security team and protocols, the company has engaged Control Risks, the world’s foremost security and risk consultancy, to lead efforts in restructuring our security department and reassessing our security risk matrix.

“The company is also pleased to announce our new security manager, Juan Carlos Chacón, who joins us from Control Risks and has an impressive military and private sector background with a strong understanding of international standard best practices.

“In addition, the security manager reporting line has now been elevated directly to our country manager, Luis Germán Meneses, former executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Cerrejón, Colombia’s largest private coal producer and exporter and one of the largest integrated mining companies in the world.

“Together, with our community partners, we will persevere in helping to build a bright future at Buriticá,” the company added.