A Union Trust Bank (UTB) employee who made a social media comment on the Facebook page of the wife of the President of Sierra Leone has been dismissed today by the bank. Attached with this post is the termination letter of the employee, Mr. Garvyn Cole and the social media comment that triggered the bank’s action.
This is an example of the climate of repression in the country. This should tell us why many citizens in Sierra Leone today are afraid to freely speak out on issues affecting their lives. We must defend Mr. G. Cole’s right to employment and free speech. His comment has nothing to do with his job.
GARVYN COLE WRITES
Following my sacking by the CEO of UTB this morning, I have seen several views on social media on the issue and to my surprise, some people are even justifying my sacking by saying that my exchanges with the First Lady were political and violated the Bank’s policy. In light of such misconceptions, I find it necessary to make the following clarification.
Firstly, I want to make it very clear that I did not contravene any of the Bank’s policy or code of ethics by my social media engagement with the First Lady. The exchanges with the First Lady were not insulting or disrespectful and did not even take place on her Facebook page. I engaged her on an issue of accountability which being a tax paying citizen, I believe I am entitled to.
None of my messages had anything to do with politics or campaigning or political party etc. It is very sad that it’s only in Sierra Leone that people view accountability issues as political, just because it had to do with a political figure. I challenge anyone to show me which bank policy I violated. The quoted Article 24 of our staff handbook merely provides for 1 month notice.
I am extremely distressed that after diligently serving the bank for 6 years the CEO of the bank treated me like thrash and terminated my services without even affording me the dignity of an opportunity to be heard. But what is most shocking is the fact that he called me into his office this morning and this is what transpired:
MD: Na u dae argue with First Lady eh…
Me: Please mek ar explain Sir
MD: No need…Ar don see say me en u nor dae see wan sai pa political views, so you nor go continue for woke for me…you can leave my office now…
The MD has done his own but this is not the end of my life. I am a qualified young man and have my life ahead of me, I won’t eat grass. I know he took that decision to use me as a scapegoat for his political interest. I have my political views but don’t let it interfere with my work ethics. I also know I have a right to freely express myself on national issues bordering on accountability, transparency and good governance and that is very different from politics. I feel victimized but as a young man, I don’t have what it takes to fight him in court,
as a God-fearing person, I leave my case to God, let God be the judge between us.
Thanks to all those who have shown solidarity to me at this point in time. I appreciate you all. To those who think that what has happened to me is okay, I leave you to your conscience and God….
I would like to invite the MD and Management of Union Trust Bank to kindly inform the general public of bank’s HR policies.
I and many others want to know if it is #UnionTrustBank’s policy that employees must give up their right to free speech guaranteed in the Constitution to work at this Sierra Leonean company.
I would like to better understand how Garvyn Cole by exercising his human rights to freedom of speech as guaranteed in the UN Declaration of Human Rights violates the values of this noble Sierra Leonean institution.
Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights is as follows:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
What does Union Trust Bank have against human rights? Is it bad for business? Asking for Garvyn Cole and every young person in this country who has ever had an opinion and expressed and who may in the future have an opinion and wish to express it.
