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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Rapport

A high profile delegation comprising members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and other high ranking officials drawn from the same Ministry led by the Deputy minister, Madam Marie Jalloh has on Saturday 1st August 2015 made a conducted tour of the facilities of Socfin Agricultural Company SL .LTD in what has been popularly described as memorable with Socfin not only adding value to land in the Malen Chiefdom but busy rebuilding the lives of thousands in Pujehun District and further revamping the economy of Sierra Leone as a whole.

Speaking at Sahn Malen marking the visit, the Deputy Minister says herself and Government remains very proud and impressed of the activities of Socfin Agricultural Company, Sierra Leone Limited.

The Deputy Minister further reassured both the local Chefs and the rest of the Management of Socfin of Govt.’s fullest support with the view of encouraging Socfin to continue to do what the minister in her repeated statements referred to as positive initiatives used in carrying out the Corporate Social Responsibility.

Speaking further the minister referred to Socfin as a good example which deserves to be emulated by many other investors, adding that Govt. made no mistake in accepting Socfin to operate and to compliment the efforts of Government as a whole.

She in turn encouraged Socfin to continue to do what Government cannot readily do for now in Malen Chiefdom.

Socfin, the Deputy Minister went on is now a house hold name in Sierra Leone and must be given the enabling environment to help carry out its good work in line with the aspirations of the land owning families.

Also speaking was Hon Dr. Thomas Mark Turay who equally lavished high profile commendations on Socfin as an Agricultural company. He in turn pleaded with the local residents together with the Chiefs to continue to work with Socfin for the development and betterment of their children.

For his part Hon Dauda Fawundu who represents constituency 88 comprising Malen, YKK and Mano Sakrim Chiefdoms in Pujehun District,was quick to inform his colleagues that he is equally very proud of the work of Socfin particularly when one considers the developments done in the space of three years all of which could have posed serious concern had Socfin not taken care.

Particularly Hon Dauda Fawundu raised the alarm that the frequent visits made by other committees and many others which has no official engagement with the work of Socfin needs to be curtailed if not reduced with the view of allowing Socfin to work and above all spend elsewhere and on various developmental activities.

Earlier in his welcome statement the General Manager Mr. Philip Tonks gave a brief background of the work of Socfin before explaining some of the recent Corporate Social Responsibilities done.

Also the General Manager gave a picture of the planting since embarked upon, noting that Socfin has in its operations deliberately given out leased concession land which are vast portion of land handed over back to each and every community for the use of social functions including burial spaces, and for constructions of community structures and related functions.

In his follow up statement the PRO Easmon Moiguah informed the delegation that Socfin takes special keen interest in the education of the youths and has since constructed a community school building for Sinjo and has continue to refurbish other schools.

Also the PRO explained that besides refurbishing the only Junior Secondary school in Sahn town, Socfin has undertaking the payment of various teachers whose names are not on the pay roll otherwise referred to as community teachers.

It must be stated that Socfin has since established a scholarship scheme for successful BECE candidates leaving Sahn for Senior Secondary outside Malen Chiefdom.

Making the conducted tour, the delegation were taken to see the boliland rice cultivation sites, a special project designed to help bring about food security to Malen Chiefdom and beyond.

Details of the rice cultivation process including both the boli land and IVS were explained by Mr. Dauda Jaiah who represented Mr. James Pessima who is still on sick leave.

Furthermore the team was taken to see the planting of trees with the view of protecting the environment and portion of land which were used for the establishment of the nursery outside Kotumahun housing the multimillion dollar oil mill now in operations.

Other member of the delegation includes the Director General MAFFS, Francis A Sankoh, Director of Forestry, Mr. William Bangura amongst many others.

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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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The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) License has been granted to SAC on the 19 January 2012, renewed on the 19 is a very costly but necessary license. This licence is issued according to the compliance of the Company within the “Terms and Conditions on the issuance of an EIA Licence” which describes the requirements needed to achieve compliance with the EIA Licence. Any failure to comply to the certification would attract the necessary penalties and lead to the suspension, cancellation or revocation of Environmental Permit. The conditions of assessments differ in two areas, the theoretical and the implementation. Environmental Management and monitoring reports are sent quarterly and yearly to the EPA describing every activity the company undertakes and the mitigation measures put in place (with timelines and costing) to avoid or reduce the impacts. The reports should include the program and plan on the following topics:

• General and Hazardous Waste Management
• Occupational Health and Safety Management
• Community Benefits and Development Action Plan
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Legal and International Regulatory Requirements
• Water, Soil, Air and Noise Monitoring Report
• Soil Erosion Management
• Water Resource Management
• Oil and Hydrocarbon Management
• Energy Management
• Environmental Incident Management

According to the residents, a town which was considered as an eerie chiefdom has metamorphosed into a works yard due to the timely intervention of the company and that of their diligent and hard working Paramount Chief. Chiefdom Speaker of Sahn-Malen Chiefdom explained to this medium that the people of Malen chiefdom are wholeheartedly please with the presence of the company and the developmental projects the company is doing in the chiefdom. “We are actually thrilled by the developmental projects we are seeing in Sahn-Malen chiefdom”, he said.
“We are appealing to all detractors to stop carrying negative stories about the company, we the stakeholders and people of Malen Chiefdom are elated with the company operations.

Chief Moiguah was also cheerful to make known to the public that the so-called Malen Affected Land Owners Association (MALOA) does not have any recognition in the chiefdom, and the public should give them deaf ears. “80% of this individuals posing to be land owners are not, they are doing monkey business in the chiefdom”. He said. The Chiefdom Speaker ended up by appealing to the storytellers to think Sierra Leone and not their individual beliefs.

General Manager of Socfin Agricultural Company Philip Tonks, continues to reiterates the company corporate social responsibility in Pujehun District as massive to the people of Sahn-Malen Chiefdom and the district as a whole. He also assured the chiefdom authority of their continued supports to the chiefdom whenever the need arises. Philip also appreciate the local authorities in Malen for their unreserved support towards the company and also make known that SAC is operating in a open forum for Sierra Leoneans to see the transparency of the company. The construction of water-wells, community roads, public toilets, extension of the clinics, and central mosque for the chiefdom are all evident of the facts that the company is yielding to its corporate social responsibility.

ING. Sven Van Den Broucke, head of projects Socfin Agricultural Company stated that the Mill has been designed for a total processing of 60tons fruits per hour, of which the first phase is 30ton/hr which will be extended. The extraction rate of oil he said will be around 22%, the mill will provide its own electricity, a steam boiler (20ton/hr steam) that runs on the fibers of the fruits, which will be used for keeping the whole process sterile and to also generate a turbine. The capacity of the turbine is 1,8MW, which will produce in the first phase 1.2MW of electricity. An oil storage of 4200 ton on site, a kernel storage of 600M on site also. The Mill which is nearly in completion is one of the biggest in West Africa.
by Cecil Cole Showers Jnr

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