By Amin Kef Sesay
Mercury International, on the 26th March 2021, donated items worth Le 150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Leones) and a cheque of Le 50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Leones) to those affected by the Susan’s Bay fire disaster. The company, which is regarded as Sierra Leone’s leading Corporate Social Responsibility Company made that immediate response in order to console the victims.
A delegation from Mercury International visited the disaster site on Friday the 26th March 2021, to determine the magnitude of the disaster caused by the fire incident and to formally hand over the items donated by the company.
The delegation was headed by Dawn Cummings-John, the Chief of Staff of the company and included the Human Resource Manager, Michaela Sannoh, Procurement and Logistics Manager Ossama Zayat.
During the presentation, Mercury International, Public Relations Manager, Alhaji Komba, said that in line with Mercury’s policy the Company felt compelled to make an immediate move to comfort the victims of the fire incident.
“Mercury International is operating in Sierra Leone which means we operate in every area in the country including Susan’s Bay and that is why we felt the need to come here together to show support for the victims of this disaster and to offer humanitarian help to our brothers, sisters and children.”
According to the company’s Chief of Staff, Dawn Cummings-John, the donation worth around Two Hundred Million Leones (Le 200,000,000) was on compassionate grounds as the victims needed immediate support to help alleviate their present predicament.
She expressed sympathy on behalf of the company to the victims, especially the children.
“We understand over 300 children were affected by the fire outbreak and we believe it is but fitting for us to come in and help in our little way,” Miss Cummings-John said, as she continued to console the victims with words of courage.
The Mercury International Chief of Staff said the company has always provided support and a helping hand to people who have suffered from devastations of such nature.
Receiving the cheque and the donated items, the Councilor of Susan’s Bay community and its surroundings, Madam Madinatu Kamara, thanked Mercury International for their continued humanitarian support to the people of Sierra Leone, adding that the company has always supported Sierra Leoneans.
She said: “I want to assure Mercury International that this cheque and the donated items will be used and shared among the victims. On behalf of my people, I want to say thank you again for your support.”
The Assistant Director Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Management Department, Office of National Security (ONS) Philomina Isatu Turay, also extended her profound gratitude to Mercury International, on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, as she described them as exemplary in adhering to Corporate Social Responsibilities in the country.
She further recalled the support ONS had received from Mercury International after the fire at Angola Town and the Mudslide disaster couple of years ago, which accounted for the massive loss of lives and properties in Sierra Leone.
The donated items included 276 bags of rice,750 bundles of water, 40 five gallons of palm oil, 1,500 sachets of Ovaltine, 25 twenty litres of oil, 50 packets (2,500 sachets) of milk, 50 packets of salts, 50 kilograms of sugar, 50 boxes of tea leaves, 50 bottles of Mayonnaise, toiletries, clothing , 40 mattresses amongst others.
The Board of Directors, Management Staff and retailers of Mercury International extend their heart felt sympathies to all those who have suffered loss of life and properties at Susan’s Bay and its environs.
