Protest is the last resort to call on government in the ensuing disagreement between the Chinese sand mining group Z and C, and residents of Fofee Town in Louisiana Township, Montserrado County.
The community chairman, Joe B. Perry, accused the company of “refusing to fulfill it responsibilities in many ways.
Perry said the company is yet to adhere to main clauses in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that prevents the sales of sand on Sundays.
He said the company is deliberately violating the MoU signed up to for operations.
Perry said they are left with no other options rather than staging protest in the coming days.
He also mentioned that residents on both sides of the river banks are faced with land cracks, and the owners of the properties are constantly engaging him for redress at the time the company is refusing to pay attention to their plight.
Mr. Perry said it is spelled out in the document that each time there is a signal of damage to nearby lands the company should be notified.
“There will be no transport trucks coming in and out on the day of the protest. The Chinese people have no respect, the last time I came here to talk with the management of the Chinese woman here took one hour and thirty minutes before listening to me.”
He stated that at another time he was denied entry by the security guard assigned to the company head office located in Chocolate City, Gardnersville, on a visit to deliver a letter concerning the dissatisfaction of Fofee Town residents.
The leadership has earlier written a communication addressed to the office of the Louisiana Commissioner stating the cause of the protest.
The affected communities pleaded with local authorities that the company is deliberately, and consistently violating the MoU with flagrant “disregard to the community people.”
The letter is approved by Mr.Perry with copy in possession of the In Profile Daily newspaper, was attested by the women, youths and elder council.
It indicates primarily the refusal to provide sand to community projects; failure to deal with operational road maintenance; neglect to support youth empowerment projects, and the lack of proper communication and disrespect to the locals.
Amongst other issues, Perry reiterated that the existing MoU is not beneficial to the interest of the community to receive as low as US$5. for a load of truck leaving the company operational site.