While residents of Kono are thinking of a once and for all settlement of the indifference that created absolute misunderstanding between the affected people and the company, Koidu Holdings in a desperate mood had struck again for the second time by downscaling its operation and staff retrenchments.
This move came exactly at a time after the publication of the government’s White Paper, followed by the Jenkins Johnston Commission report outlining government’s intentions to review the country’s mining legislation and all mining leases, as well as the new constraints on blasting.
Speaking on behalf of the company the public relations officer said the company’s hands were already tied and until something was done about it, not much the company could do to put a stop to the ugly situation.
Mr Ibrahim Sorie Kamara urged workers to carefully read the commission’s report and analyze it so that they could see the clear picture in relation to the company’s position.
He further reiterated that what was happening was not man’s making but God’s, and appealed to the retrenched staff not to see the company as an enemy to their survival.
The national president for the United Mines Workers’ Union said workers needed not to lose hope. Mr Abioseh Morrison said there was every possibility for them to be reemployed if a better deal was reached between the government and the company.
He also assured them of getting all benefits that were due each retrenched person.
Mr Morrison however advised them to be wise in their spending as there was no possibility for any of them to gain any lucrative employment at the moment.
He also warned them to stay away from the company’s site and property.
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