EPO Assures District#4 Citizens
Mr. Sashi
Naingair, EPO Head of Operations Speaking at the Meeting
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Buchanan, Liberia
The Equatorial Palm Oil commonly called Palm Bay in Grand
Bassa County has assured citizens of the 19 affected communities that come within
their concessional area that they will execute everything to match up with the
demands of the masses.
In a one day meeting organized by the Government of Liberia
to know the status of EPO’s after the recent survey undertaken by the company,
National Bureau of Concessions Boss, Siato Bishop urged the Management of EPO
to provide Government with their work plan.
With this, she says the Government will know when, how and
where EPO will work, adding that they will go with the company.
She revealed that Sime Darby will use the oil processing
machine of EPO to process its Palm Oil, and noted that it will help make more
business and job opportunities for locals.
Giving a statement to the Government, Spokesman of the
Affected Communities, Rev. Otis Guah lamenting, named the connections of roads,
construction of a High School, among others, as the key issues they want from
the troupe.
Mr. Guah added that they want 75% of the company employees in
key positions and to be small farm holders, furthering that the matter of safe
drinking water should be directed.
In response, the Company head of Operations Sashi Naingair
assured citizens of more employment and job training opportunities, most
especially people of the affected 19 communities.
He assured citizens that they will stand chances of winning
contracts from them. According to Mr. Naingair, citizens will receive descent
housing facilities, and guaranteed that under a four pillar arrangement, they
ought to receive free health care, free education, infrastructure (improving
access to road by connecting bridges) and employment.
He promised by March 15th of next month, some of these
modifications will begin taking issue.
Meanwhile, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Etweda Cooper in
closing remark says as Government, their main purpose is to protect citizens
and concessions, thus that everybody can profit.
She said citizens as the #1 resources of the county, she
cannot allow the company to take advantage of them, and cannot allow them
(citizens) to take advantage of the company as well.
Sen. Findley Visits District
#4 Citizens
-Promises to help fight their
cause
Senate Pro-Temp in a Welcome Remark
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Buchanan, Liberia
For
the first time since the eruption of Palm Bay versus the citizens of District
#4 land crises in Grand Bassa County,
Senate Pro-Temp Gbehzohngar Milton
Findley has paid a one day visit to meet with citizens of the most affected
communities.
In
a welcome ceremony, District women representative
Dehyeatee Kardor told
Senator Findley that they do not have drinking water.
She averred that the Management of the EPO Concession has
taken their land, thereby saying the Company should remain where it is and no
further expansion to where they have reviewed.
She described EPO as a Company that does not improve human
lives, and respects the dignity of man.
She further told Senator Findley that the company had told
the men to maltreat and brutalize citizens that were sticking out against the
society.
She also complained to Senator Findley that the Liberian
Government always says “Peace has returned to Liberia” but according to her,
there is no peace in Liberia, because her district since the origin of the
Madam Sirleaf led Admin, they have not felt it.
At the same time, Senior Elder Cheo Johnson in a remark
described Senator Findley visit as the defeat of the devil, saying that it will
get relieved for his people. “Once you are here, we believed we are saved”, he
added.
Elder Cheo said that they want the company to block up and
continued where they currently are, thus, supposing that he believed that with
Senator Findley as a true who he alleges does not respond to gossips can help
them.
Keying out the Land Matter as a thing in two powers, “political
and legal”, Senator Findley says that he has learned all of the outcries of his
people, but for him to make decisions alone, it was not possible.
Senator Findley furthered that they have not understood him
because complaints were not conveyed to him, but other lawmakers of the county,
adding that for the creeks damaged by the company, he will guarantee that the
company construct hand-pumps to replace those damaged creeks.
In order to peacefully address the subject, Senate Pro-Temp
Findley promised that in concert with citizens of the 19 affected communities
that in 10 working days, leaders of the aggrieved citizens will encounter and
have a chat with President Sirleaf in finding results on how the matter can be
solved.
“If we take decisions as politicians, it must be for the
improvement of the people lives”, he goes on.
“My Children are dying of Hunger”
-Widow Cries over hungry Kids
Despite, her many calls to the County Education Board, the Ministry of Education, and other donors, not anyone even the local authority coming to her aid, but Widow Mawa Karr says she will continue until her last breath runs out.
“Just imagine I was already 9 months pregnant before they killed my husband, look at all the children, how am I going to feed them, and even pay our rent and I am only a housewife”, these were the pitiful words of a 29 year old widow Mawa Karr who husband was recently killed by arm robbers.
Quietly, sitting under their one room cabin and still mourning her late husband, the Mawa Karr, the late wife of James Karr, a Security employee of the Ministry of Education who was viciously killed while on duty, on December 8, 2011, as she edgily cried out for help.
“President Sirleaf, please help us, before something happen to us, because our condition is getting worse every day, I will soon be thrown out for the people rent, where will I turn with all these children.” She cried out.
As the sound of cracking palm kernel echoed from the deceased children who were at the back, Mawa since the death and burial of her late husband she has been finding it complicated to sustain her and their seven children, thus causing them to languish in hunger and poverty.
The 29 year old widow alleged that Education Officer Chapman Adams told her that the late James is only entitled to his December 2011 check, including January, February, and March 2012 Salaries, and thereafter the Ministry will stop paying the deceased something from which his dependents suppose to be surviving on.
She further told Insight that CEO individually promised to help pay the children School fees, from elementary until high School graduation, especially those of them who will be serious to learn.
Madam Mawa says she doubts the promises of the CEO simply because how they handled her husband burial activities without fully satisfying the promises made to the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, the lives of these innocent children continue to become appalling every day, as up until they still feel that their dead father is still at work.
The Grass Root Agency for Social Services (GRASS) is expected to organize two village education programs for more than 400 kids of Timbo and Whehkpee towns, Dorwein Clan, Bleezee Administrative District #3B in Grand Bassa County. According to GRASS District Coordinator, Abraham Williams, the program will be organized to complement Government effort in addressing some of the gaps within the County Development Agenda, which include citizens contribution that he said is not mentioned within the County Development Agenda (CDA).Mr. Williams added that GRASS as a committed institution working with urban and rural communities through the holding of round table discussion on developmental, social and human rights issues affecting communities will provide blackboards and other educational material for the kids.He disclosed that in order to help needy children of school going age to start their primary education, ten Satellite Schools have been established in ten Camps within the plantation of the Liberia Agriculture Corporation (LAC) that is been sponsored by its (GRASS) Board members.As part of their objective to economically empower the rural communities, GRASS is currently building the capacity of farmers in food production, processing and marketing in the two Communities by undergoing a large farming project that Cassava will be planted.
BY: HAMILTON B.SMITH-BON STAFF WRITEREMAIL:hamilton.smith2@yahoo.com
Teacher Nancy M. Roberts and kids
This is one of the oldest government elementary schools in the port city of Buchanan that is faced with numerous challenges such as lack of land space for the pupils to play, narrow school building to meet up government policy on compulsory primary education as such most of the kids are outside in the open air learning at the Lower Harlandsville Public School which is located along the Tubman Street area in the facilities Before town Community. The million dollars question is how the kids will manage during the rainy season since there is no shelter to house them. When asked Teacher Nancy M. Roberts about this terrible situation she and the children are going through, she told BON that since the makeshift that was used last year broke down there no building to accommodate the beginners since the school year started.
Many parents have been raising concerns about their children sitting under the sun to learn; government knowing pretty well that the facilities to enhance the smooth conduct and implementation of the compulsory primary education are not available.
Many people believe that if government schools in the rural parts of the country are encountering more difficult problems as being evident by the ones in the cities where the relevant government officials are present when the issue of structure for ideal learning is still a challenge for government.
|
