By Amin Kef Sesay
In a China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) Management Press Statement issued on the 9th June 2021 Management of the company decried a conflict that ensued between a Chinese CRSG staff and a Sierra Leonean Kingho staff at the company’s repair shop at Tonkolili mine site, as indicated in a video clip on social media, saying such was an unexpected and isolated case.
It continued how the Management of CRSG is of the view that the behaviour of the Chinese national concerned is unacceptable and wrong no matter what the cause was.
CRSG, it stated, wishes to apologize for the unfortunate incident and has decided to relieve the Chinese national of his duty immediately.
It ended by maintaining that the CRSG requires its entire staff to strictly abide by the laws and regulations of the country and sincerely wishes that similar events will no longer occur.
In another Press Statement released on the 9th June 2021 by the Management of Kingho Mining Company with a caption: “Re: Fighting Incident at Tonkolili Mine Site” it said the attention of the Management of Kingho Mining Company (KMC) has been drawn to a video making rounds on social media, showing a fight incident between a staff (a Sierra Leonean) of Kingho Mining Company and a staff (a Chinese National) of their sub-contractor– China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG).
It was further stated that Management’s attention has also been drawn to a Press Release titled: “A Preliminary Statement on June 8th 2021 Physical Conflict Incident between Chinese Personnel and Sierra Leonean Personnel at the CRSG Repair Workshop” said to have been released by the CRSG.
According to the Press Statement, Management wishes to inform the general public that: KMC condemns all acts of violence and/or physical assault on any personnel within their mine site maintaining that the unfortunate incident at the mine site contravened the Company’s policy, the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 and other related laws of Sierra Leone.
Management of the company further pointed out that KMC, as a Chinese company, totally condemns the behavior of the CRSG employee as portrayed in the video.
It stated that as a result, the said employee of CRSG was immediately withdrawn from the mine site and the KMC employee was taken to the hospital for professional medical attention;
The Management of Kingho Mining Company said in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency and other relevant stakeholders, investigations are ongoing and appropriate actions will be taken immediately to avoid the reoccurrence of such unfortunate incident.
Management assured the general public of its strong commitment to continue operating in compliance with the laws of Sierra Leone.
