Aggrieved workers of Sierra Diamonds have embarked on a peaceful protest, demanding the payment of their eight-month salary and bonuses owed by the company.
They are calling on the government, especially the Minister of Labour, to visit the mining site in Tongo and gather firsthand information from them.
The workers have blamed Tommy Kaiza Coker, the country director of Sierra Diamonds, for the non-payment of their salaries and bonuses. They stated that Kaiza has made several promises to the workers, but to no avail. They have now decided to cease all operations until the Minister of Labour intervenes.
The workers also accused the company of smuggling their vehicles from the Tongo site under the pretext of accompanying experts to Lungi.
Furthermore, they revealed that the senior management team has abandoned the mining site without providing a clear explanation regarding when the backlog of salaries will be paid.
All efforts to reach Tommy Kaiza Coker have proven futile.
O OOO Tommy Kaiza! Don’t bite what you cannot chew. If you can longer manage the company, then pay off the workers and close the company. A mining company should not be run like a backyard gardening.