While government struggles to settle debt owed to local, national and international bodies, some citizens believed to be workers of Oriental Timbers Company (OTC) have steeped up to confront the government to do the needy.
On Tuesday, August 19, 2024, the group of aggrieved old time OTC workers made a passionate plea at the Capitol Building, calling the attention of lawmaker to make intervention.
The former workers of the Oriental Timbers Company (OTC) have called on the House of Representatives to request the Ministry of Finance to pay their benefits.
The former workers claimed that prior to the closure of the company during the Liberian Civil Crisis in 2003, the House of Representatives authorized the payment along with the General Auditing Commission, tasked with auditing the process.
They noted that the mandate which gives rise to getting their benefits is in the of the legislature, and only needs implementation.
The former workers, comprising a little over 23 people, claimed to be indebted by seven United States dollars.
According to them, the lack of payment has rendered scores of them to face harsh economic conditions, including enrolling their children in schools.
They narrated that in case where some of their colleagues are not in existence, their family members will claim their benefits.
Their concern brings additional burden to the financial covers of the government.
Receiving the petition was Montserrado County District 14 Representative, Muka Kamara, who lauded the workers for the level of resilience demonstrated over the years.
The 55th Legislator noted that such resilience requires commendation and as such their plight will be looked in coordinated manner and form in line with government’s procedures on debt payment.
Representative Kamara however called on them to exercise restraint, vowing to ensure that the Ministry of Finance remedies the situation.
The Oriented Timbers Company (OTC), was a logging company that operated in Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Rivercess, among others, prior to the civil unrest in Liberia in 2003.
