The management of the Security Port Company has bitten more than it can chew as former staff vowed to sue the company to court of law for a wrongful termination of her appointment, while some other staffs are blowing hot for litany violations including intimidation, abuse, non-conducive working environment, cheating, lacks of medical insurance among other things.
Nato Sonko, former employee of the company who is a Collection Supervisor and IT specialist was fired by the company following a shakeup with the management.
Security port was contracted by the Gambia Government last year to collect a controversial compulsory $20 security fee on all departing and arriving travellers using the Banjul airport.
Narrating her ordeal, one of the victims, Nato Sonko explained how her problem started with her employer when she fell sick in the aftermath of her marriage last May which kept her home for a week.
She revealed that she had informed the head of the operations and finance manager about her sickness but was asked to submit her medical bill in order to confirm her claim. Later, she said she was informed by the director of Human Resources to report for a sick leave interview which has not been indicated in her bill of employment letter.
“I found it bizarre and insisted because sick leave interview does not exist in my contract, and that was when they accused me of challenging the management which led to my indefinite suspension,” the aggrieved Mrs Sonko told this medium.
The aggrieved young lady further stated that despite the so-called suspension by the management, she continued going to the office until she received a letter asking her to report for a disciplinary hearing within 48 hours.
“After two days of waiting without any notification, I sent a follow up letter through a legal representative to enquire from them and they responded with another letter indicating a date for the new hearing but my lawyer told them that the day is not feasible and we pleaded for a different date. Two days later, I received a letter indicating the termination of my services,” Mrs. Sonko explained.
Nato Sonko went on explain that following her unlawful dismissal, the HR Manager Mehgan Bih orchestrated a campaign to terminate the services of several cashiers which were employed following her recommendation to the company.
She further alleged that her problems with the company soured following the arrival of the company’s operation manager, Emmanuel Awani.
She continued in narration that “We were working smoothly until the arrival of the operation manager and they started pushing us aside. The way things are going it seems they want to terminate all the Gambians especially revenue collectors. Just two weeks ago, another four cashiers where unlawfully dismissed things are becoming too much and perhaps the government is not aware of it.”
Meanwhile other anonymous staffs who also shared their ordeals with this medium lamented on litany of violations including an intimidating and abusive working environment, cheating, lack of medical insurances, unfavorable working environment and the lavish lifestyles of the management.
“We want the Government to review this contract because there are serious breaches of the rights of staffs. The operation manager (Awani) was brought by the general manager (Brian John Power) to maltreat us. Beside the general manager (Mr. John) is racist; he does not greet his staff nor talk to them, the only time (thing) he does is by insulting our parents. They are really frustrating us and we are not happy,” one of them alleged.
Another staff also alleged that the general manager is in relationship with the HR Manager at the expense of the general staff since HR Manager will remove perceived critics of their unlawful acts.
“There are no medical allowances or social security. Recently a team of staff had an accident and the management told them to submit their medical bills but no refund was given to them,” the staff alleged.
The dissatisfies staff have made starling allegation against the management of the company ranging of unfair charges levy on travellers which according to them is different from what exists outside.
“About D180 is stolen from every passenger who pays in pounds. They established their own rates scheme and told us that changes in the market price do not apply with us,” they alleged.
According to the staff, most of the female cashiers experienced serious security worries when they were closing from work since the management had directed the driver to drop them off at their junctions.
“Some of us close at around 2am. Imagine how risky that could be for a young lady, especially with the ongoing security threats facing us? We used to have 5 flights a day including Brussels, Air Senegal and Air Maroc and dealing with all these passengers is tedious but any slight error is received with a warning letter just to frustrate us.”
Meanwhile when contacted Meghan Bih the company’s human resources manager and Brian John Power, the general manager to respond to these allegations, the human resources manager requested us to provide all the allegations before he could respond. However, before going to the press, the human resources manager was contacted again but she declined to make any comment while rescuing herself from the issue.
“I have forwarded the allegations to the general manager because he is the rightful authority to respond,” she added.
However, when contacted, Mr. Power said: “My friend, I am not speaking on this matter, go and talk to Fatou Ceesay. She is a Gambian at our office.”
It is also established by this medium that Fatou Ceesay, who is also the CEO and vice chairperson of the First Lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow Foundation, is also the liaison officer between the company and The Gambia Government but she is not part of the management.