-promises improved conditions for workers, residents
Following the recent takeover of Salala Rubber Corporation in Weala, Margibi County, Indian businessman and philanthropist Upjit Singh Sachdeva assures workers and residents that the plantation is in better condition.
By Ramsey N. Singbeh, Jr., in Margibi
Margibi, Liberia, September 10, 2024—Mr. Upjit Singh Schadeva, aka Mr. Jetty, the owner of Jetty Rubber LLC in Weala, Margibi County, assures former workers and residents of the Salala Rubber Corporation that normal operational activities will resume in the plantation very soon.
While touring for the first time within the plantation, he assured the audience that he would announce his ownership of the Salala Rubber Corporation after purchasing the investment recently.
Mr. Jetty, who was accompanied by several top Indian investors and Diplomats both from Liberia and Sierra Leone, distributed cooked and uncooked rice along with cash to all of the camps in the plantation that he toured on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
The beneficiaries received between six 25 kg bags of rice and LRD10,000 to thirty 25 kg bags of rice and LRD30,000 with hot meals distributed to residents in the camps. He admonished them to ensure that every resident of the camp benefits from the donation.
Presenting his entourage to citizens, he introduced Mr. Jay Khanija, Managing Director of Sethi Brothers Inc.; Baisnab Charan Pradhan, Indian Ambassador to Sierra Leone; Jaspal Singh, proprietor of Supreme Liberia Inc.; Ajith Kumar, the current General Manager of the Salala Rubber Corporation; and Moses Darmo, CEO of MOABEL Enterprise Inc.
Also in attendance were Roland Sackie Johnson, the former Commissioner of Cinta Township, women, youth, elders, and some residents of Weala, as well as workers of SRC and Jetty Rubber LLC.
“My name is Mr. Jetty. I have come to identify with you and inform you by the grace of Almighty God, our creator, and with his blessings, we are the owner of Salala Rubber Plantation now. I have come to identify with all of you and my family and to let you know that very soon we will start the plantation,” Mr. Jeety noted in the SRC Camp #:1.
He emphasized that business would not be as usual, as changes would be made for the betterment of the plantation and its workers.
He noted that this is the first time since SRC was established in 1959 that somebody from Weala in Liberia will own the company.
“I want to emphasize (that) I’m a Liberian by heart. I don’t have to be Liberian by passport.
I’m sure you know for the past three years, I’m operating Jetty Rubber. When I heard the plantation had been closed and the jobs had been laid off, I intervened to see how best I could take it over and run this plantation to bring back all the jobs for the people of Liberia and bring relief to the people of Salala Rubber.”
He also assured both residents and workers that the company’s current general manager, Mr. Ajith Kumar, would join his new team.
On the question of the school’s fate in the plantation, he said the new management is discussing with Mr. Kumar to work out modalities for ensuring that the SRC School system is reopened for this academic year.
He promised that he would be seen quite often on the plantation because he loves to interact with his people, who work for him to understand their problems.
According to Mr. Jetty, the feeding program that started about two months ago on the plantation will continue, adding that it will not stop because he has taken over.
He informed them that though there are problems, it will take time to solve them, as he will not perform miracles.
He maintained that he counted on their full support for the success of the plantation.
The former Management of the Salala Rubber Corporation shut down indefinitely in June following violence by aggrieved workers, predominantly tappers, that led to looting and burning down of the residence and vehicle of Plantation Manager Sangeeth Sathyan.
The protesting workers had demanded improved working conditions and five months’ salary arrears, among others. The company’s total workforce is estimated at 800 people, who have been jobless since the violence that destroyed the company’s assets amid the threat of life.
On the morning hours of Thursday, June 27, 2024, workers of SRC, including contractors and employees, predominantly tappers, entered the factory, set the administrative offices on fire, broke into a warehouse, and looted bags of rice as they set ablaze residence of the plantation manager, Sangeeth Sathyan and his assigned vehicle while holding general manager Ajith Kumar, hostage.
As a result of the violence, the SRC Management shut down indefinitely on Saturday, June 29, 2024, halting all operations.
A copy of the shutdown notice obtained by the NEW DAWN addressed to employees with copies to the Ministries of Justice, Agriculture Labour, and the General Agriculture and Allied Workers Union of Liberia or GAAWUL, the management said its operation is closed until otherwise decided.
The notice from SRC Management reads: “In the wake of the recent illegal and violent strike action carried out by employees, in particular, on Thursday, June 27, 2024, which led to the manhandling of senior personnel and staff, especially the general manager and one of the company’s plantation superintendents, issuing of death threats as well as wanton destruction of company’s properties by burning of senior staff residential unit(s), the plantation manager’s vehicle, smashing offices, setting fire to offices, and looting, etc., Management hereby informs that the operation of the company is closed with immediate effect until otherwise decided. Meanwhile, Management informs all employees that the company shall pay appropriate end-of-service compensation in keeping with applicable laws.”
However, Mr. Jeety intervened and subsequently bought the company to resume full operation. Editing by Jonathan Browne
