Several contractors working for Western Cluster Liberia Ltd have appealed to the Liberian government to lift the recently imposed road user permit, which has halted the company’s mining operations and left the contractors without work and pay for the past three months.
During a news conference in Tubmanburg, the capital of Bomi County, the contractors emphasized the critical role Western Cluster has played in providing them with livelihoods and supporting their families.
One of the contractors, Charles Cooper, stated, “We are dying slowly because three months now, we haven’t taken pay all because we are not transporting.”
The contractors, who are largely citizens of Bomi County, rely on transporting the iron ore mined by Western Cluster as their primary means of survival. With the suspension of the road permit, they have been left without work, causing hardship for their families.
“See reason, look at your citizens, look at women men that have families, please bring our bead back on our table. We are not using violence but only appealing to you,” Cooper pleaded.
The trainee workers of Western Cluster also expressed their concerns, with Linda T. Cooper, one of the trainees, warning that the suspension of work could lead to serious problems in the county, as some may resort to unsavory measures to meet their basic needs.
The contractors and trainees are urging the government, including President Joseph Boakai and his cabinet, as well as the lawmakers, to engage with Western Cluster to resolve the issue and allow the mining operations to resume, restoring their livelihoods and supporting the economy of Bomi County.
