Africa-Press – Liberia. Monrovia- Former Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson has blamed some politicians in the county for inciting the recent protest at Mano Palm Oil Plantation in Bomi County.
On Monday May 6, some aggrieved citizens of Bomi staged a mass protest at Mano Palm Oil Plantation in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
The aggrieved protestors, majority of whom are workers of the plantation, blocked all major entries into the plantation.
The protesters are claiming that the company is not living up to its corporate social responsibility. They also accused their management of bad labor practice being meted against them. According to the protesters, their action is to draw government’s attention to their plight.
But addressing the media in Monrovia, former Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson said it is sad that people will be using others to instigate protest in the county when they know the real issue.
Mr. Johnson told the media that the protesters are being used by others for their selfish gain, something he said is not fair to the county and country at large.
Johnson asserted that constant protests at concession companies are becoming the order of the day because there are few people who benefit from such and warned if this behavior is not stopped, it will extend to other counties.
“Sime Derby pay all of what they were to pay before turning over to Mano Palm Oil planation company.”
“Most of the people who are using these people are the same people during Sime Darby’s tenure that dismissed the people because they said the company was not making money and they paid off the people. They are the same people that are coming back and saying Mano should pay them off,” he said.
“Some of the leaders who paid the people off are the ones inciting them and they were also paid and layoff, but we don’t want to call their names now but if they continue, we will call their names. We will not sit for anyone to bring confusion in Bomi and all around the place because they want to undermine this government, and will not sit for anybody to bring instability in Mano in the name of protecting workers and citizens.”
The former lawmaker warned if the Boakia-led government is not careful, these unknown individuals will bring it down through protest. He called on those who have problem with Mano Palm Oil company to seek the legal process.
“All those who are behind this have political interest and they are not in the interest of the country. If they feel Mano is not doing what they should do, let them go to their leaders and the Labor Ministry,” he said.
He said if Mano attempts to do anything that is not in the interest of the county, he will take on the fight legally, but warned against constant protest actions at concession sites.
He vowed to expose all those behind the alleged incitement of the company workers and local dwellers to go on the rampage.
“I want the President to understand this it’s intended to bring this government down. So, I am giving them respect now, but next time I will call names. From Mano, they will go to other companies in other counties and than the entire country will be upside-down,” the former Bomi county Senator said.
He alleged that those behind the protest are doing so because they want the company to leave so they can bring their own company to loot the county. He said if caution is not taken, the protest will go from county to county which will scared away investors from the country.
Meanwhile, following the interventions of the Ministry of Labor, the leadership of the protesting workers are expected to have a conference with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Concessions on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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