Monrovia – City-Builders, a leading provider of building materials including construction, plumbing, electrical materials, in Liberia is expressing dismay over what it describes as a glaring case of criminal coercion by a group of disgruntled residents of the Freeport Community making unreasonable demands from the company.
The aggrieved residents on staged a violent protest Monday demanding that the management of City Builders provide scholarship for over 300 community youths, provides at least 50 jobs for qualify youths of the community and 300 microloans for 300 deserving students.
The company in a statement Tuesday said it is simply a victim of criminal coercion.
City Builders, owned by popular Lebanese businessman Ezzat Eid, described the action from the so-called Freeport Community residents under the disguise of “Peaceful Protest Action” and headed by John S. Ellis, Ester Ballah and George P. Wulue as very unrealistic and violent which led to the damaging of a vehicle attempting to park in the parking area at the company’s Freeport branch.
City Builders acknowedged receipt of a letter dated August 2, 2018 in which the residents made demands for monthly payments, scholarships, employment, etc., also, under the disguise of Corporate Social Responsibilities.
Mr. Eric Flor Nagbe told FrontPageAfrica Monday that the disruptive residents caused embarrassment for the company and its customers. Nagbe said though City Builders is a business entity and not a concession company, it has contributed to the Liberian economy.
The company, in a statement added: “The fact is that, City Builders, Inc., just as any other store in the same vicinity, is a TRADER and not a CONCESSIONAIRE. City Builders is a Compliant Regular Taxpayer to the Government of Liberia and a lessor from the same Government of Liberia through the Freeport of Monrovia. Although City Builders is a Trading Company, it still engages in Voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility in Liberia and will not allow any individual or group of individuals to depict where to direct same.”
Among the many gestures it has been involved with as part of its Voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility to Liberia, Citibuilder lists 80 Recurring Scholarships to Liberians; armed chairs and desks donation to the Marshall High School; cleanup campaign and donation of assorted cleaning supplies and tools to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center; construction of classrooms at the A. M. Dogliotti College of Medicine at the University of Liberia; the construction of a computer laboratory at the African Methodist Episcopal University; Yearly Community Outreach Program that includes food Packages and Feeding Program for more than 200 families during the Christmas holidays; renovation of a drug Rehabilitation Center a the Oum El Nour Liberia, Inc, the building of a Community Center at Hotel Africa; and the construction of Marshall City High School Building; amongst others.
Citi Builders say it has informed the Liberian the Liberian National Police about threats made against its Freeport branch on August 3, 2018. “We were informed that the Police called them in and educated them that City Builders does not have any obligation that it is not honoring. Yet, they resulted to this action today. We are calling on the Government of Liberia, through the Liberia National Police to arrest the culprits and have them prosecuted for the actions. If this is not done, the confidence of businesses will now get eroded and affect the already shaking economy.”
The action by a select group of residents did not go down well with other residents in the community. “How can few belly-driven individuals go and stage protest on the entire community’s behalf when the group being protested against is not a concession company to provide corporate social responsibility,” Jerry Moses, a resident in the area told FrontPageAfrica Monday.
Another resident, Perry Weah, frowned on the protesters. “What sorts of embarrassment is this, how can people from our community embarrass us like this, I am disappointed and calling on the City Builders authority to not do anything forcibly as being demanded by our hungry brother in the community,” he said.