By Tunde Scott
SLPP Government Incompetence Causes 90% of SALCAB Staff to Go Jobless in December
Innocent workers are always at the receiving end of the SLPP government’s incompetence, the recent dissolution of SALCAB is an example.
Pathetic how SALCAB has become the first casualty of President Julius Maada Bio’s ineffective and corrupt government. Despite all the warnings of SLACAB failings, the inept Information Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray continues to argue and exhibit ignorance even in parliament. (Photo: SALCAB Board Chairman Sorie Fofana and Managing Director Kebbay, right, mismanaged SALCAB into the dustbin of history).
Today, there are many Sierra Leoneans having a very bitter Christmas and unhappy New Year in the aftermath of losing their jobs due to the dissolution and closure of the Sierra Leone Cable network popularly known as SALCAB. Latest reports say the SALCAB Board and the inept management have been dissolved with immediate effect.
SALCAB, before it demised, has always been in the news for the wrong reasons and as recent as a few months ago, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Mohamed Rahman Swaray and the SLPP Parliamentary Transparency and Accountability Chairman Ibrahim Tawa Conteh clashed in parliament over SALCAB fibre optics, an ugly situation that led to the resignation of Chairman Ibrahim Tawa.
It was therefore no surprising that on the 2nd December 2020 an agreement between the Ministry of Information and Communications and the new company Zoodlabs Sierra Leone Limited was into and signed in order to facilitate the transfer of SALCAB management and submarine cable to Zoodlabs Limited.
The 15-year agreement to manage the assets of the ACE submarine fibre optic cable has already come into effect. Zoodlabs (SL) Limited is reported to have already taken over the management and operations of the submarine network at SALCAB. All the assets of SALCAB including vehicles have been transferred to Zoodlabs (SL) Limited. (Photo: SALCAB ex-Chairman Sorie, reading, as former Director Kebbay, 2nd left).
Latest reports say around 90 per cent of SALCAB workers including engineers and cleaners have been effectively laid off by the new management company Zoodlabs. Employment and labour laws have failed to protect the workers at SALCAB who were not given the option to transfer into the new company.
SALCAB’s former Managing Director, Ishmael Kebbay (Junior) has been left with no job to do. He has even packed out of his office at Hill Cut Road reports say. The faith of the Board of Directors remains hanging on a thin thread. And the SALCAB Board Chairman Mr SORIE FOFANA has also lost his job. All happening despite the SLPP government had earlier claimed that SALCAB was one of the most profitable parastatals in the country.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Communications has confirmed that the dissolution of the Board and Management of SALCAB was final and stated that the former officials have no role to play in the new arrangement in Zoodlabs.
