Two Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs and 22 of their staffs have been unceremoniously put out of business by an alleged hired thugs and OSD officers who demolished the Q Bar Entertainment center resulting in the destruction of properties worth USD$25000.
The demolition of the entertainment center was reportedly carried out on the orders of one Fatmata Kamara who is in rivalry with the Q Bar entity.
Several properties including electronic appliances, furniture, kitchen utensils and food and drinks were reportedly completely destroyed yesterday morning at the Q Bar situated on the Lumley Beach apparently without any prior notice even though the matter between the lessee and the tenant is in court.
The scene was chaotic as both managers and staffs of the bar looked on in disbelief and despair as the bar was ransacked by the thugs whilst the hired OSD personnel provided security.
Teddy Martin one of the Managers of the entertainment center angrily stated thereof, “this country is hopeless and useless. There is no regard for law and the rights of people.”
According to him, the marauders allegedly robbed him in the process by destroying his source of livelihood and that of his staff and their families.
Teddy retorted angrily as he panted under the scorching sun sweating profusely, “I have lost confidence in the rule of law in Sierra Leone because the human rights of people can be violated with impunity.”
He went on to explain that he returned to Sierra Leone to invest in the country and create jobs thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of the tourism sector.
Some of the workers were in tears as they gathered the bits and pieces that was left of the bar and charged that their jobs have been abruptly taken away from them for no just reason.
“This will cause serious consequences for us and our families,” commented one of the female staffs.
The workers told Awoko that the said Fatmata Kamara was using her political influence in high circles to destroy her competitor on the beach.
Awoko learnt that there is a dispute over the said piece of land. It came out that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture had leased the piece of land along Lumley Beach on the front of the Aberdeen Creek to two entrepreneurs. One of these entrepreneurs had gone ahead to sublet his own portion of the land to an Isrelei business man, Airie Graviel. This had caused dispute and the matter was taken to court for arbitration. What could not be confirmed as we went to press was whether the demolition was a court order or not.
Some of the customers in the bar at the time of the demolition described the complex as “unique” in terms of the facilities it provided for its guests which included a gym.
Frantic efforts to get the side of Fatmata Kamara on the charge levied against her proved futile.
Some of the workers were in tears as they gathered the bits and pieces that was left of the bar and charged that their jobs have been abruptly taken away from them for no just reason.
“This will cause serious consequences for us and our families,” commented one of the female staffs.
The workers told Awoko that the said Fatmata Kamara was using her political influence in high circles to destroy her competitor on the beach.
Awoko learnt that there is a dispute over the said piece of land. It came out that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture had leased the piece of land along Lumley Beach on the front of the Aberdeen Creek to two entrepreneurs. One of these entrepreneurs had gone ahead to sublet his own portion of the land to an Isrelei business man, Airie Graviel. This had caused dispute and the matter was taken to court for arbitration. What could not be confirmed as we went to press was whether the demolition was a court order or not.
Some of the customers in the bar at the time of the demolition described the complex as “unique” in terms of the facilities it provided for its guests which included a gym.
Frantic efforts to get the side of Fatmata Kamara on the charge levied against her proved futile.
By Saidu Bah
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