Monrovia – Residents of the Bassa Town Community in Garwoloh Township on Wednesday, March 7 staged a protest at the main entrance of the Premier Milling Corporation, accusing the company of environmental pollution.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh – [email protected]
The factory is located on the Bushrod Island and it is the sole flour producing company in the country.
According to protesters, the only major drainage extending from the milling plant through the community is damaged, causing the disposal of waste in the community.
The protesters were carrying placards with inscriptions: “Premier milling is polluting our community; we need government attention.”
The Community Chairman, Thomas Gorwoe said during the rainy season waste flows directly from the factory’s drainage into their homes along with feces and others harmful bacteria.
In an interview with FrontPage Africa, the spokesperson of the community, Kabena Kolsah, said the company has failed to live up to its social corporate responsibilities since its establishment in 2007 despite series of engagement by the community leaders.
“It is frustrating that after a decade of existence in the Bassa Town Community, the Premier Milling Corporation, Liberia’s only existing flour factory has been more of a problem to the residents and dwellers of the community than benefit,” he said.
“The entire community is dusted by the milling of the flour.”
“The only major drainage making a possible passage of waste is filled and damaged by waste from the factory.”
“Since the establishment of this Premier Milling company, we signed a social corporate agreement document, a memorandum of understanding which says that when the company shall have started operation in the next course of the two years, we will have a clinic built by this company.”
“They promised us to build a public school for this community, up to now we have not received a pencil,” he said.
He said the management is reneging on paying attention to fixing the damaged drainage system and alleged that the pollution has caused an outbreak of disease and several deaths in the community.
The waste flowing from the factory is also causing skin diseases like, skin Itch, sore foot and other related skin diseases, he said.
“The pollution from the factory enters into the market every day. Whenever it rains, the whole community can be polluted.”
“We are fighting for our lives; this flour mill causes series of sickness in Bassa Town.”
“We have mosquitoes in Monrovia but Bassa Town has the highest, I don’t care what you do because of the flour mill,” said Sampson Weah, Chief Elder, Bassa Town Community on the Bushrod Island.
“Since we been in this community, no good thing we are getting from flour mill only sickness.”
“Our children are getting sick from the pollution, no employment for our children, no scholarship for our children.”
“Nothing we are getting from flour mill, we don’t know why the flour mill is in this community for,” Fanta Dukuly, a resident.
Meanwhile, a source within the company, speaking to FPA on anonymity said the company is also involved in “salary disparity and bad labor practices”.
According to the source, drinking water, food, transport service and fair salary on the job among workers remain a major challenge.
“My brother, we are just here working to keep the day going. No food, even water is not here for workers to quench their thirst while working.”
“Before, the company had a mini-bus to carry us home but now the company has parked the bus and put for sale on it, nobody knows why,” the worker said.
“Salary among Liberian workers is discouraging especially the Liberian daily contractors. Foreigners working here are better paid than Liberian workers even the little salary doesn’t come on time and if you talk about it you get suspended.”
All efforts by FrontPage Africa to get the side of the management of the Premier Milling Corporation did not materialize.
Meanwhile, the communication officer at the EPA told FPA the agency is unaware about the situation but would verify the information and give full details.