By Bampia James Bundu
The Manor River Union (MRU) Secretariat has suspended its programme officer, Ayesha Gueye-Massa with a deduction of her salary by a third.
Speaking at a news conference at the MRU Secretariat last week, the union's Deputy Secretary General, Linda Koroma said the secretariat took the action because of a joint letter of complaint written by the three main border units in Koindu, Foya and Nongowa against Madam Gueye-Massa.
"We don't consider this an internal discord because the issue came from our Joint Border Security Committee Union (JBSCU), which comprises the aforementioned villages and towns", Madam Koroma said. She would not comment on the specific reasons for the suspension of their programme officer, neither would she explain the reason for slashing her salary. She noted however that the decision was taken in accordance with the country's labour laws, adding that the secretariat "did not contravene normal human resource policy."
Mrs Koroma said investigations into the allegations would be concluded soon and the report published after the return of the MRU Secretary General, Ambassador Hadja Dr. Saran Daraba Kabba to Sierra Leone.
However, a letter written in French and received by Politico indicates that officials of the joint security team from Nongowa have disassociated themselves from the "unsigned letter" on the grounds that it did not reflect their views. The security team, which comprises the Guinean police inspector, military commander, customs commissioner, and the youth leader, said the allegations on which the MRU secretariat acted to suspend its programme officer were not true.
A source in Koindu who preferred anonymity told Politico the four-page unsigned letter of complaint, dated 20 May 2013 was written by a police officer stationed in Koindu but made to create the impression that it was written by the MRU Joint Border Security Committee Union of the three countries.
Other stakeholders of the joint security unit, including Rugiatu Ngegbai a resident of Koindu also expressed concern over the origin of the letter, pointing out that they were unaware of its content. Madam Ngegbai said she would advise the secretariat to send another team of investigators to look into the matter because "the team sent to investigate the matter have been compromised."
(C) Politico 04/07/13
