By Bampia James Bundu
It seems the bio-energy company, ADDAX Sierra Leone is in a lock-down. Over 2,000 of its local staff are into the third day of a sit-down strike, while landowners in the communities in which it operates have also threatened to retrieve their land from the company.
In a letter written to the CEO of Addax dated 10 June 2013, the staff said they were “dissatisfied with the negative behavior of the General Manager, Mr. John Moult and his inner circle members who are fully committed to ensuring the execution of his dictatorial philosophy to the letter”.
The aggrieved staff listed a litany of grievances including “disrespect for and violation of our human rights as local staff; disregard for Sierra Leone labour laws; interference into staff union activities; failure to deliver promises; falsification of information, and dispensation of expired drugs under the company clinic medical doctor”.
The workers further explained in detail and with case studies all the allegations leveled against the general manager.
They say that because of his leadership style, “Moult and his inner circle members have succeeded in dampening the morale of the Addax workforce, making it less productive” adding that the recent mass resignations of the expatriate staff were a testament that they too were “totally fed up with Mr. Moult and his administration”.
The aggrieved workers resolved that they “no longer find pleasure in working with Mr John Moult and inner circle members” adding that “we will not enter into any negotiations until we receive irrevocable confirmation of his departure”. They also said that “the number of expatriates be considerably cut down…in order that we minimise cost”.
Meanwhile, land owners in the company’s operational areas havethreatened to take back possession of their land if the company refuse to explain tothem the reasons for the massive resignations of their foreignstaff.
Seven foreign staff reportedly tendered their resignations including the health security, safety and environment manager and the head of environment. Some workers alleged that the practice of discrimination, harassment and intimidation by the company’s general manager was responsible for the resignations. Some even accused Moult of racism.
Speaking during a multi-stakeholders meeting last week at theUniversity of Makeni, the custodian chief ofMalal Mara Chiefdom in Bombali District, Pa Alimamy Korbor Sesay said they were concerned over the manner in which some of the senior foreign experts of the company were resigning without the company providing any explanation to the stakeholders.
Efforts to reach John Moult failed as his phone was apparently switched off.
© Politico 13/06/13
