SOCFIN et de nombreuses autres entreprises d’investissement étrangères sont constamment critiqués pour leurs mauvaises relations avec les communautés dans le pays.

Cette entreprise opère dans le district de Pujehun (sud du pays), où elle met en valeur de vastes terres de plantations d’huile de palme. Mais les communautés locales de la chefferie de Malen où elle est implantée l’ont accusé d’empiéter sur leurs terres et de ne pas respecter les nombreuses promesses faites aux communautés.

Dans un communiqué publié lundi, SOCFIN a déclaré que des membres du Comité de surveillance agricole au parlement l’ont ‘exonérée’ et fait des éloges sur elle pour avoir pleinement rempli ses responsabilités sociales.

La compagnie estime qu’elle a réussi cette œuvre en investissant dans les secteurs de la santé et de l’éducation ainsi que dans l’amélioration de la durabilité de la nourriture et du réseau routier dans les villages qui relevaient de sa concession, ce que les législateurs ont pu vérifier lors des visites de la semaine dernière.

Le président de la commission parlementaire Alimamy Kargbo, a mis au défi les sceptiques de venir sur place et de voir par eux-mêmes, et ensuite de faire leur propre jugement en toute connaissance de cause sur la situation sur le terrain.

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Making various commendations marking September 30th 2015 tour of the facilities of Socfin alongside Local Chiefs and other stakeholders, each Parliamentarian after the other praised the company for favorably living up to its social functions carried out starting from April 2011 precisely when Socfin working in collaboration with the Government and local authorities started the establishment of the plantation which has now been accompanied by the completion of the largest oil mill in this part of Africa and now fully operational.

Expressing his impression during and after the tour which took the team to the mill while in operations, to the Socfin Community boli land rice farm cultivation sites, the Management quarters, Hill Station housing the fuel station, Garage/ ware house and other offices, newly handed over workers canteen, the Chairman Parliamentary Committee of Agriculture Hon: Alimamy G Kargbo, was quick to roundly dismiss and lashed out at skeptics and those he described as wicked and dishonest detractors for maliciously criticizing and lying on Socfin, referring to the act as empty and mere political propaganda ploy which has no basis.

Particularly Hon Kargbo challenged those detractors to now take the opportunity to join the bus services to Sahn and see things for themselves.

Hon Kargbo warned detractors to either put up or shut up.

Concluding Hon Kargbo thanks Socfin for hugely complementing the services of Govt. Repeatedly the Committee Chairman and team leader, referred to the work done as massive development projects including the strengthening of food sufficiency as demonstrated by the boli land and IVS rice projects for the people.

Similar expressions were made by various members of the committee all of whom abundantly lavished praise adjectives for the work of Socfin Agricultural Company Sierra Limited.

Again Hon Mohamed K Tholly of the SLPP, constituency 70 of Kakua Chiefdom categorically dismissed lies made against Socfin adding that any politician not in recognition of such a massive investment need to be dismissed for being blind to the need of the people if not their sustainability as Socfin he went on will provide for generations yet unborn.

Welcoming colleague Parliamentarians in his compound, Hon PC BVS Kebbie thanks all for coming and started off by singing the praise of Socfin referring to it as a baby born to his native Malen Chiefdom

For which the Chief showers blessings to the Govt. of President Koroma and further reassured all of Malen Chiefdoms’ continues commitment to the good work of Socfin.

Speaking further Chief Kebbie catalogued the good work of Socfin sighting the company’s positive contributions to the protracted fight against the dreadful Ebola, constructions of community roads and continues repairs of the highways linking Sahn to Pujehun and Koribondo.

Other areas made mention of were constructions and rehabilitation of schools, the payment of community teachers whose names are not on the pay roll, Constructions of water facilities and community barriers, Boli land and IVS rice cultivations for Upper and Lower Malen respectively.

Equally so the Chief thanks Govt. for providing Sahn town with a Govt. bus services plying to and from Freetown for the sum of thirty thousand Leones. Another development he attributed to the Presence of Socfin . Sahn , he went on can also boast of the presence of GT Bank while a technical centre is under construction.

Recounting the advent of Socfin Hon PC BVS Kebbie paid enormous tribute and commendation to the patient and rewarding contributions made by the energetic Country Director Mr. Gerben Haringsma and his closed working partner in the person of Mr. Lewis Shilling who is the Administrative Secretary of Socfin. Sierra Leone

Briefing the Committee shortly before the commencement of the tour, General Manager Mr. Philip Tonks reassured all of Socfin’s ever growing commitment to revamp the country’s’ economy as socfin continues to invest and work with the Govt. and the people of Malen Chiefdom.

During the tours personnel of Socfin staring with the Technical Manager ,Georgois Ntrivas , mill manager, Akwasi Adu Boahen led the team to see the segments of the mill as it operates for which he was commended

Similarly Liaison Officer Mr. Dauda Jayah in details explained the activities of the rice farm while Mr. Gbesay Bojon brifed the committee of the newly incorporated fishing pond project while the Human Resource Manager Mr. Abu Amara from time to time explained the work done.

Earlier the PRO Mr. Easmon Moiguah explained about the Green belt which he stated are portions of land previously leased to Socfin but were turned back for social and other functions of each community.

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Rapport

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The legitimate and rightful Youths Development Organization in Sahn Malen Chiefdom made the statement in the wake of the barbaric and criminal act by a few ill-motivated individuals within the chiefdom.

The youths have vehemently condemned the violence perpetrated against the Plantation Manager and Zone A Manager of Socfin Agricultural Company on Thursday 15th January.

The two managers were brutally attacked and put under gun point close to Bamba village, two miles outside Sahn Malen Chiefdom, by a few hoodlums. “Malen Youths Development Organization view with dismay the malicious and vicious attack on peaceful foreign workers as an act of vandalism tantamount to a calculated and deliberate attempt to put fear in the populace and the entire workforce thereby disrupting the smooth operations of the company which has become the major source of employment for over five thousand mostly youths drawn from across the country,” a press release issued by the organization states.

According to the release, the Malen Youths Development Organization further wants the entire public to know that they constitute the only legitimate registered landowners of Malen Chiefdom who are prepare and ready to continue to relate, cooperate and work with Socfin Agricultural Company.

The youths also want the Government and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) to leave no stone unturned but to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of such heinous crime that has the potential to cause greater harm to the chiefdom and the rest of the country.

The passionate youths called on the indigenes of Malen Chiefdom to join force with the view of providing reliable and vital information useful to the ongoing police investigations.

Malen Youths Development Organization also appealed to all peace-loving indigenes to be always prepared to help put out any fire attacks within and outside the plantation.

The organization also entreated indigenes to help contain the deadly Ebola virus by complying with health regulations and refraining from traditional and cultural practices.

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Two expatriate staff members of the company were violently attacked on January 15 in a village close to Bamba. One of the staff members, Gordon Paterson was shot in the arm by some unknown persons. The Police have arrested and detained thirteen suspects in connection with the incident.

The Malen Youths Development Organization condemned the attack on the company describing it as “barbaric and inhuman “. The influential Youth group says its membership was appreciative of the good work Socfin was undertaking in their chiefdom and called on the Government to provide adequate security for the company’s personnel and property. They urged all natives of Malen Chiefdom to join forces together to protect Socfin personnel and property.

The organization’s Chairman, Mustapha Fofana paid glowing tributes to Socfin for creating thousands of jobs for youths in Malen Chiefdom.
Mr. Fofana said his group was one hundred percent supportive of the operations of Socfin in their Chiefdom. He described the management of Socfin as “very understanding and cooperative”.

See press release Below.

Press Release

Malen Youths Development Organization hereby roundly condemn Thursday Jan. 15th 2015 barbaric and inhuman act of violence perpetrated against the Plantation Manager, Mr. Gordon Paterson and the Zone A Manager, Mr. Tanguy Denis, both of Socfin Agricultural Company Sierra Leone Limited, with oil palm plantation located in the Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District. Southern Province.
The two became a subject of gruesome attack when they came under gun firing closed to Bamba village two miles outside Sahn Malen, the Chiefdom Head quarter town on Thursday night between the hours of nine and ten pm while driving onboard company vehicle with registration number AJE 690 shortly after having spearheaded the putting off a fire believed to have been ignited by people yet to be identified by police.
Malen Youths Development Organization view with dismay and shock at the malicious and vicious attack on peaceful workers as an act of vandalism tantamount to calculated and deliberate attempt to put fear into the population and the entire workforce thereby disrupting the smooth operations of the company which has become the major source of employment now put beyond five thousand mostly youths drawn across the country.
The Malen Youths Development Organization further want the entire public to know that they constitutes the only registered true land owners of Malen Chiefdom who are prepare and ready to continue to relate and work together with Socfin Agricultural Company for the benefit of the Chiefdom and its people and Sierra Leone as a whole.
In view of the foregoing Malen Youths Development Organization hereby encourage Government and the Sierra Leone Police to leave no stone unturned but to arrest and bring to book those perpetrators of such a heinous crime which has the potential to cause greater harm to the Chiefdom and the rest of the country.
Having said that Malen Youths Development Organization in turn urges all natives of Malen Chiefdom to join forces with the view of providing reliable and vital information useful to the ongoing police investigations.
Over and above Malen Youths Development Organization want all to know that Socfin Agricultural Company is close to the hearts of peace loving land owners more than ever before and shall continue to live together for the development of all and to help rebuild war torn Pujehun District and Sierra Leone at large.
Lastly Malen Youths Development Organization formerly appeal to all peace loving natives of Malen Chiefdom to be in readiness to help put out fire attacks within and outside the plantation while doing all to help contain the dangerous Ebola outbreak by simply complying with health officers and to observe the protocols in respect of the eradication of the dreadful outbreak.
Long live Socfin Agricultural Company! Long live Malen Youths Development Organization and peace loving natives of Malen Chiefdom!

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The People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) erstwhile Member of Parliament from Pujehun District has been extremely troublesome and obstinately obdurate in his behaviour towards landowners, chiefdom and district authorities, and the Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited since its establishment in the Sahn Malen Chiefdom. Former Hon. Sheka Sama has on many occasions mobilized remnants of PMDC villains to embark on nefarious and riotous activities that would discredit the Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited as well as the chiefdom and district authorities that legitimately endorsed the operation of the company in Sahn Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District. But Sheka Sama has finally been exposed by supporters of the so-called MALOA organization he illegitimately formed to disrupt the operations of Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited in the chiefdom.

The one-million-dollar question on the lips of many concerned Sierra Leoneans is why Sheka Sama, who is ought to know better as former lawmaker, could resort to deliberately damaging the reputation of a company that is not only bringing development to Sahn Malen Chiefdom but also creating job opportunities for the indigenes of Pujehun District in particular and the people of Sierra Leone in general? Something must be fundamentally wrong with the erstwhile legislator whose cohorts have abandoned him midstream, having realized that his devilish intentions were detrimental to the development of Sahn Malen and its people who benefiting tremendously from the operations of Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited).

Apart from misleading the general public that his recent trip to Paris was on the invitation of the Management of the agricultural company, one of his nefarious deeds together with his MALOA supporters has been exposed to the greatest disappointment and dismay of the people of Pujehun District. It is shocking that Sheka Sama had the temerity to order his recalcitrant supporters of MALOA to poison River Malen with DDT on the pretext that it was the Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited that polluted the river which caused the death of thousands of fishes as reported by villages on the bank of the river such as Kortumahun, Massao and Ngumgbuma. This diabolic incident engineered by Sheka Sama caused the intervention of the Environment Protection Agency – Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) which accused the company of polluting the river. But following a thorough investigation by the state agency, it was discovered that the former PMDC parliamentarian was the mastermind of the river pollution after he was exposed by his so-called MALOA supporters who have now seen reason to wholeheartedly back the operations of the company in their chiefdom. One of those who confessed poisoning the river, which serves as a boundary between Sahn Malen Chiefdom and Bum Chiefdom in the Bonthe District, was a PMDC Councillor who had earlier alleged that they would poison the river and blame it on the company.

The incident took place in February this year and after a though investigation, EPA-SL exonerated Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited of any wrongdoing. And contrary to the deliberate lies being traded by Sheka Sama about the company, EPA-SL was also satisfied that the company was in full compliance of conditions set by the state agency such as public disclosure, registration, environmental protection and many others.

These ugly developments that have been taken place in Sahn Malen were the handiwork of Sheka Sama and his recalcitrant PMDC youths whom he had been leading like a herdsman. In the process, he had annoyed not only the company and his people but the rest of Pujehun District. But now that he has failed woefully in all his endeavours to blackmail and discredit Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited, he has finally called for a truce despite the company and the chiefdom authorities have no grouse against him but his behaviour which is unacceptable and incomprehensible.

Sheka Sama also claimed in the media that the agricultural company was not treating its workers fairly, but that also has been proven wrong as the company is among those with better terms and conditions of service for the local workers. He did all of this to blackmail the company so that the people of Sahn Malen would rise against it thereby disrupting its operations in the chiefdom, but it has boomeranged.

What Sheka Sama should know is that his nefarious activities against the operations of Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited are criminal. It is a fully registered company and everything about its operations is legitimate. The landowners of Sahn Malen have expressed their satisfaction with the company which has provided job opportunities for many of their indigenes and people from other parts of Pujehun District and even beyond. Sheka Sama’s untoward behaviour is anathema to development which he failed to take to Sahn Malen when he was a Member of Parliament. He is therefore advised in his best interest to either shape up or ship out.

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