Today, Wednesday, October 6, 2021 marks at least 39 years following the Mano River landslide catastrophe which claimed scores of innocent lives in Grand Cape County, all of whom were employees and dependents of former workers of the National Iron Ore Company (NIOC).
Surviving families of the No Way Camp, Mano River landslide incident, which resulted into about 51 dead and several others rescued alive, have been recounting the horrible event in Monrovia and Grand Cape County in a press release issued on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
In the release, signed by the NOIC Employees General Chairman, James T. Mafarlon, the survivals recalled, “On that rememberable morning of October 6, 1982, at 2:30 a.m. while each and everyone of the No Way Camp was in deep sleep, suddenly came a river of thick clay mixed with large stones and huge forest trees—all from one of the seven mountains (H-Hill) that was being mined by the then National Iron Ore Company (NIOC).”
The NIOC was 85% owned by the Government of Liberia (GOL) with 1,820 employees at the time. In No-Way Camp, over 1,000 living bodies, including men, women, babies, pregnant women and even strangers who had gone to visit loved ones, were all buried 12 feet above ground level, the release stated.
Among the dead, the release also included Fulanis who were shepherding cows, and others, below the very mountain.
With all efforts made by the management and Government of Liberia (GOL), only 51 bodies were discovered, using earth-moving equipment, the released added.
“My dear people of Liberia, will you agree that this was just the beginning of suffering for the people within that western belt? Countries that came to our cries, along with the Government of Liberia (GOL), donated cash and kinds in sympathy with the survivals for their relocation. With a budget for 12 houses to be built, only 9 was built and the rest of the cash and kinds went into some unknown pockets in Liberia,” the former employees of NIOC voiced.
On the cause of the closure of the company, the release said NIOC started its operations in 1961 after the signing of a mining agreement with the GOL for 25 years, and in 1978–79, US$67 million was borrowed from the World Bank to renew mining equipment, including the railroad (train track). The funds was properly utilized for the intended purpose up to 1980 when the coup took place and the military junta, People’s Redemption Council (PRC), violently replaced the True Whig Party (TWP) government headed by Rev. Dr. William R. Tolbert, Jr.
The release stated, “When the company noticed that the borrowed US$67 million was being used on the contrary, it requested to GoL that since indeed they were unable to provide their quota of cash as usual for operation to continue, “please let us suspend operation for now, until at which time you are able to play your part in cash. But let’s pay all employees a redundant benefit, and will re-employ them when operations resumes.” All these happened in March 1985. But on the contrary, GOL requested that all expatriates be paid-off and all Liberian employees would be paid by her (GOL).
“Against this backdrop, the former NIOC employees explained that the company paid off all expatriates, including their plane tickets home. The physical cash was turned over to the GOL for the payment to Liberian employees. GoL then ordered the company to close. When we noticed government’s delay to pay, a court action was taken against the GoL by the workers at the Debt Court. The decision came down in favor of the workers, that the workers be paid their just benefits, including 6% interest to every dollar in United States dollars. The records are there.
“To our dismay, when the GoL knew that their money had been misused, it gave a promissory note to each employee that in the event the company does not resume as expected all assets of the company would be sold and proceeds paid to the workers.
“This was in 2001. Also, any company that will succeed NIOC, any up-front payment made to GoL will be used to pay all severance and other benefits to the workers. From that time to 2001, only one percent (1%) of our severance was paid to us, balancing 99%. The records are there,” the former NIOC workers averred.
“Waiting all these years, with continual request every year that comes to the sitting President, in 2011 during the regime of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Western Clusters came in and signed a mining concession agreement with GoL under our watchful eyes, and made an up-front payment in the tone of US$40.5 million. Expecting that our benefits would be settled by GoL, on the contrary again GoL made use of this money without paying us a dime. Our severance and other benefits are in the tone of over US$15.5 million,” the release revealed.
According to the former NIOC employees, “Since GoL might not give us cash down, we have appealed on several occasions that our severance and other benefits be placed on GoL budget for payment. This, again, seemed to be falling on deaf ears.”
The former NIOC workers hinted President George Manneh Weah that the company was represented by employees from the 15 counties, some of whom are still in Mano River today for shame that they cannot outlive their useful lives working for a company that is owned by GoL at 85% and expect to go home empty-handed after working many years.
“What can you do, Mr. President, to help 1,820 former employees, excluding their wives, children and grandchildren, who are still waiting to hear from GoL? We need an audience with you. For more details, Mr. President, you can please contact us on 0776519862 or 0888564129,” the released added.