IPNews-Monrovia, Liberia-18 January 2018: Authorities at the Sime Darby plantation have resolved recent confusion over the recall of buses plying and commuting students at the plantation.
According to an Independent Probe investigation in the county, calm has returned to the plantation with the resumption of buses recently recalled by authorities of the company due to none road worthy standards.
The Independent Probe investigation also reveals that the confusion arose when the supplier identified as “Masseta Transportation Company defaulted on its obligation to supply high standard transportation to the company as contained in the contractual agreement between the company and the Sime Darby Company, resulting in the withdrawal of the seven defective buses which posed danger to the lives of deserving students in the concession areas.
Our investigation further revealed that Sime Darby Management has with immediate effect terminated the contract of “Masseta Transportation Company” for its failure to conform to the terms and provisions of the contract.
Meanwhile the management of Sime Darby Plantation has concluded agreement with a new transportation company leading to the supplied of seven new high tech buses for the resumption of normal transportation for the students at the company’s facilities in Grand Cape Mount and Bomi counties. Our investigation revealed
A members of the Management Team of Sime Darby informed the Independent Probe that the situation is now under control with the resumption of transportation and massive information dissemination to students and workers in the concession area to defuse all the misconception leading to the unwarranted protest on Monday.
On Tuesday protesting students demanded the redeployment of buses to commute students to school in the concession areas sparking tension at the company which lead to the rapid deployment of police officers of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, to restore law and order.
Some students spoken in the county has expressed gratitude to the Sime Darby management for ensuring the resumption transportation which has eased the high cost of transportation on striving students within the concession area.
Boima Gray, 11 grade student alleged that Armed police officers of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) , violently dispersed protesting students at Sime Darby Oil Palm Plantation in Grand Cape Mount and Bomi counties and arrested some of their colleagues placing them behind bars in their uniforms.
Contrary to these claims, Police spokesman, Sam Collins told this paper that all protesting students were released to their parents later the same day and intimated that the Liberian National Police has evolved into a more professional police and will not go violating the rights of students whatsoever.
Tuesday’s protest action by students in demand for the redeployment and resumption of transportation by Sime Darby Plantation paralyzed normal operations at the oil palm plantation.
Sime Darby, is the world’s largest palm oil producing Company with concession in two counties of Liberia.
