Grand Bassa County District #5 Representative, Thomas Goshua says the legislative report on the incident at Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) violates the constitutional right of the Corporation’s Country Manager, Debar Allen. The Committee submitted its report in session on Tuesday.
Recently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives set up a committee to investigate the protest which took place in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County leaving at least three persons dead and several others wounded.
“Our constitution says that a Liberian can work in any place once he or she is qualified. And by them denying Mr. Allen from not working there is a complete violation of his constitutional right. This is wrong and we should not encourage that,” Rep. Goshua.
Speaking to a team of reporters after the report was read in session, Goshua said Section 14 of the petition recommended that Mr. Allen, serving in his capacity as Country Manager, is a recipe for resistance from the workers.
“The committee crave the indulgence of plenary to invite Mr. Allen to address himself to the issues,” he said.
But contrary to inviting Mr. Allen, he said, the committee went ahead to recommend his removal and transfer to another position.
He said, Mr. Allen should have been invited to address himself to these allegations, but that was not done.
Additionally, Goshua pointed out that there are visual evidence in their possession that show the protestors saying Mr. Allen should leave because he is a ‘Bassa man.’
He considered it as complete xenophobic and does not augur well for the country. “I filed a motion of reconsideration to that report,” the Bassa Lawmaker disclosed
He said if the report is considered, it will set a bad precedent in the country. “This is the first time for people to protest against other county citizens,” he observed.
He recalled that some time ago, they protested against one man from Nimba, Jackson You, to leave because he is from Nimba adding, “This does speak well of our business climate,”
He continued: “what if citizens from Grand Bassa one day come out and say all citizens from Grand Cape Mount should not work in Bassa, what will happen? I think this is wrong.”
