But the rotten rice is being re-sacked in F1 Compound and distributed to the stores and markets across the country for public consumption irrespective of its health implications.
In a bid to ascertain why exactly the importation of the killer rotten rice is being done with impunity, on arrival at the CRS store in F1 Compound, a team of investigative journalists were greeted with verbal attacks and raining of invectives by one Sembu Sesay who later identified himself as the Personnel Manager at Gtext.
While heavily engaged in his verbal attack on the journalists, Sesay rushed and closed all doors where the rotten bags of rice were stored. He continued with his ranting and raving for several hours unleashing invectives on the journalists, saying that they can do anything in Sierra Leone and go scot-free.
‘We are connected everywhere and as long Gtext is well networked with the top layers of the government, including the Office of the President at State House, we won’t listen to anybody nor fear doing anything,’ he said.
Sesay bragged that the Gtext Store has done so much for State House and the country as a whole, adding that even heads of the government are currently surviving through his company, which makes him to care less about compliance concerns. Although he claimed to be in full compliance with tax conditions and NASSIT contributions for workers, one of the causal workers secretly informed the journalists that Gtext does not contribute to NASSIT for them.
Sembu Sesay, however, refused to talk to the journalists and referred to their fact finding mission as ‘rubbish’, and instructed the labourers to shutdown work for the time being.
The Gtext insurer, while trying to persuade the investigative journalists with externalities aside from their actual purpose of visit, said the rice was certified by all government representatives at the Sierra Leone Port Authority, Queen Elizabeth II Quay, including the National Revenue Authority, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, et al.
Bangura confirmed that there are indeed rotten bags of rice caused by condensation and droplets of hazardous liquids, stored in the Gtext Store. He added that they are separating the rotten segments of the rice from the good ones, re-sack and supply them to the markets for public consumption. He further disclosed that the rotten rice is under his purview, as he is in charge of cargo and cargo conditions, thus he is the only person charged with the mandate of providing reliable information to the public on such findings.
I discharged the rice cargo from the ship at the quay including the non-consumables in the presence of all government representatives at the port, he said, adding that he is only concerned with cargo and cargo interests.
He said the condensation is caused by the lack of ventilation in the stores where the rice is kept, confirming that the Gtext store is reliably protected in its rotten rice dealings from the top by the police and other law enforcement agencies including State House and lawyers.
When asked if the rice is safe for public consumption, Bangura replied: ‘When the unwanted ones are removed from the bag, then we re-sack the good rice and supply them for sale.’
