WEALA, Margibi County – The Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) has begun demolishing aging mud housing units to make way for durable two-bedroom concrete homes for its workforce.

By Augustus D.R. Bortue

The initiative, according to Jeety Rubber, the new owner of SRC, is part of a broader commitment to workers to construct and renovate more than 500 homes within 24 months to improve living conditions.

The project comes as Jeety Rubber has made it a priority to address the Earthworm Foundation report, which documented a myriad of unresolved social challenges, including poor living conditions under Socfin, a Luxembourg multinational group that owned and operated SRC for more than a decade until August 2024.

“As a company, our goal is to address whatever structural issues the Earthworm report identified during the time of Socfin through a phased and systematic approach,” said business tycoon Upjit Singh Sachdeva, CEO of Jeety Conglomerate. “Today, the demolition exercise is in that direction. We are going to replace these mud houses that have been here for ages with durable two-bedroom concrete homes that are spacious enough.”

Housing at SRC has been the main source of workers’ long-standing grievances against the company. In June 2024, amid heightened tensions, a violent protest broke out, resulting in the burning and ransacking of company properties, forcing Socfin to eventually shut down operations and divest.

In the purchase agreement, Jeety Rubber committed to addressing years of unresolved social and infrastructural problems left behind by Socfin, including poor housing units and social services. As part of this commitment, the company has moved several hundred workers from Camp 1 and Camp 2 to 121 newly built and renovated housing units. Some of the relocated workers had been living in the dilapidated mud houses. The renovated and newly built two-bedroom concrete units are designed with durability and weather resistance in mind, with each home providing a more secure and comfortable living space.

“The most important asset we have as a company is our workers, so their well-being, especially where they live, has always been our priority,” Sachdeva said. “We remain committed to ensuring that all workers in the nine camps have access to durable housing units in the 24-month time frame we have promised and we are working hard to get there without any excuse when the period we have set comes.”

Jeety Rubber’s vision for SRC has seen the company announce and undertake a series of projects aimed at improving the overall quality of life for workers. These include the donation of a top-tier ambulance, completed renovations of the SRC school system and health center which were among the many poorly run facilities inherited and announcement of $10,000 for scholarships.

The clinic can now boast of qualified doctors and staff, and well-furnished labs while the various schools, including the high school, have access to 24/7 electricity, running water and an upgraded science lab, creating a conducive learning environment that led to the remarkable achievement of all 12th graders passing the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, a feat never before achieved in the company’s history.

Other pending projects include cost-free Starlink internet service, electricity and borehole water systems. These projects are part of a broader plan by Jeety Rubber’s to modernize social services across all nine worker camps. The Starlink service will provide high-speed internet access to workers and their families, while the electricity will improve living conditions and enable access to modern amenities previously unavailable in the camps, and the borehole water system will ensure all camps have access to clean and safe drinking water/

“We inherited a company that left behind years of unresolved social and infrastructural problems, and so our main goal is to solve these problems,” Sachdeva said. “While we aim for profitability, we at the same time work to improve social services for workers, and that includes improving their living conditions.”

Meanwhile, SRC workers are commending the company for its commitment to solving legacy issues that existed under the previous regime, though they hope the problems can be resolved quickly.  They note that the pace at which SRC’s new management is renovating and constructing new homes gives hope for better days ahead, reflecting their belief that employee well-being is a priority.

However, workers hope the housing projects and all other pending initiatives can be fast-tracked so that every worker can have a home with better access to social services.

“For years, we lived in fear of the rainy season, worrying about the roof collapsing. Now, we have a safe and comfortable place to live, but it is our hope that these projects can be fast-tracked. A lot of workers are in need of housing,” the workers said. “Still, what we are seeing from the new SRC management is a genuine commitment to solving all the legacy issues that existed under the previous management. We applaud them for the work being done as we look forward to seeing all the legacy issues solved.”   

The Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) and its subsidiary, Jeety Rubber LLC jointly organized an important Independence Day celebration that brought joy and relief to over 7,145 Liberians on Liberia’s Independence in Monrovia and Weala, Margibi County.  
The initiative, marked by kindness and community engagement, provided tangible support to 1,600 inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach), 500 Disadvantage Youths (Zogoes), 45 motorbike riders facing economic hardship, and 5,000 children who received 26 gifts in Weala, Margibi County.

The core of the initiative which commemorated Liberia’s 178 Independence Day, over the Weekend,   involved the providing of a hot meal to the 1,600 inmates housed at the overcrowded South Beach Prison.

The meal, including rice, chicken, beans, cake, water, and soft drinks, was a significant upgrade from the prison’s standard food, offering a much-needed nutritional boost and a sense of communal celebration on the country’s historical day.

Beyond the prison bars, the companies also extended their generosity to the over 500 disadvantaged youths (Zogoes) residing on Center Street in Monrovia and its environs, after being neglected by society due to their involvement in drugs and other narcotic substances.
As it is commonly said that Liberia is not Monrovia, the Companies’, through its CEO, Upjit Singh Sachdeva, commonly known as Jeety, and team also identified with motorbike riders in Weala, Margibi, a crucial part of Liberia’s transportation system and economy, but often faced significant economic challenges and neglect.

Each motorbike rider, who was present, received a 25kg bag of rice, a substantial contribution that provided much-needed sustenance for many families dependent on these riders’ daily income for survivability.

The distribution process, carefully organized to avoid chaos and ensure fair allocation, took place at one of the companies facilities, with several riders expressing their deep gratitude, stating that the rice would significantly help their families, particularly considering the current high cost of living.

The impact of SRC and Jeety Rubber initiative was not restricted to adults alone, as 5,000 children in Weala, across SRC five camps received gifts, reflecting the companies’ commitment to fostering a brighter future for Liberia’s younger generation.  
The gifts were carefully chosen to put smiles on the faces of these children being dressed up by their parents to form part of the country’s Independence Day celebration, thereby reinforcing the spirit of national unity.

At the same time, Jeety also promised to give the winner of a tournament organized by his companies’ L$25,000; second runners up, L$15,000; third runners up, LS$10,000, and fourth runners up, L$5,000 even though there is cash price already available for the tournament.
However, the gesture followed days after the companies on July 23, 2025, donated a fully equipped ambulance and school bus, and a renovated Town Hall to workers and the people of

Weala, Margibi County, as part of the companies’ corporate social responsibility.
The initiative is intended to provide critical emergency medical services for the region, as the nearest hospital or companies clinic is often hours away by road during the rainy season, as well as transport students to school and give community dwellers a decent place for meetings and other events.

SRC, one of Liberia’s oldest rubber plantations, was years ago, acquired by  Jeety after suffering years of aging facilities, losses and internal conflicts between the company’s management and employees, while Jeety Rubber LLC, also based in Weala buys and processed rubber into finished and semi-finished products, including TSR10, for shipment.
Since taking over the SRC, the company has witnessed significant changes, including the ongoing of the company’s five camps, school, renovation and expansion of management camp, employment of more Liberians with a better pay structure and the lighting of various communities with solar lights among others.

In remarks, Jeety said his decision was not just about providing food or gifts, but extending a hand of compassion and demonstrating that even those behind bars, the neglected, motorcyclists’, and children are not forgotten on a special day, like the July 26 celebration.
He further elaborated on the companies’ commitment to community development and social responsibility, highlighting the importance of remembering and supporting all members of the Liberian society.

Jeety also emphasized the importance of corporate citizenship and investing in the well-being of the community, adding that he believes businesses have a responsibility to contribute positively to the societies in which they operate and serve.

Meanwhile, the initiative garnered widespread praise from several residents of Weala, including the motorcyclists’, local community leaders, parents, expressing deep appreciation for the Jeety’s continuous support to Liberians.