There is so much hue and cry over the Israeli Beny Steinmetz; due to the clash between Octea / Koidu Holdings and First Lady Fatima. Octea has warned Fatima to back off or face the Courts. And Fatima too, threatens to do likewise. But were background checks / due diligence carried out on Steinmetz before he took over the company? And is it only now that the govt is aware of the Panama Papers on Steinmetz; which are now floating around like confetti in the local press and social media?
Whether this is a reactionary attempt to defend Fatima; right or wrong, remains to be seen. Fatima is quoted over BBC; that hubby Bio asked her to step in to resolve the Kono workers debacle. Does that mean Bio’s line ministers are incompetent? No wonder, they are said to be dogs; toothless bulldogs maybe: who bark but don’t bite.
You have the Labour Minister Swarray; the key man to resolve labour disputes and I learnt, that Kobi Walker is President of the Mines Union? If so, can a man be a Judge in his own cause? And whose side would he be as the boss for Sierra Rutile and Leonco; and with vested interests in National Petroleum and Waka Fine buses?
Then you have Mines minister Julius Mattai; one of Bio’s closest fides achates; who has kept quite a reserve position; perhaps, bcos his position is already usurped or he too, has vested interest as Fatima said some of them do; after collecting brown envelopes to suggest they are corrupt.
Or rather, Mattai would wish to take a back seat; and allow Fatima a free hand so as not to upset the apple’s cart. And Bio’s deafening silence; as leader on such a very sensitive matter; could possibly suggest that Fatima is right; that he gave her the authority above both the Labour and Mines minister et al to resolve such a very critical issue. But can she?
Personally, I don’t think Fatima’s approach to political issues qualifies her to mediate on this matter. She has proven to be divisive. A First Lady should be mother for all; but for Fatima, you have to be SLPP to be a Salonean; even though she is both Gambian and British. She is too abrasive and her choice of words unbecoming at times. And to call SLPP ministers as dogs and corrupt; is certainly a bridge too far.
I think many ministers feel hurt by such a denigration. Can she force Octea to take back those sacked workers? Or, would the workers carry out their threat of burning the place or do harm? The few other foreign companies are keenly watching how this spectacle unfolds. But I think Bio should step in bcos the buck falls with him: he took the oath of office to promote the national interest; not Fatima, no matter how sincere or concern she might be.
Then comes Chief Minister Sengeh; who is the helmsman supposed to hang all heads together including vice-president Juldeh. But we learnt from Fatima that it was the veep’s failure to resolve the issue that led to her intervention. And with the seeming attacks against Sengeh whose loyalty to Bio might be the reason to weather such incessant diatribes from Sylvia, acting on behalf of Fatima; also reveals looming internal cracks that Bio in the end might find very difficult to repair. Sylvia is a divisive character, to say the least!
This is the cul-de-sac the SLPP finds itself. And I wonder; what party chairman Prince Harding who is also a miner and wife Deputy Mines minister; and other elders of the party are doing about it. What intrigues me, is the fact that Octea has brazenly sack over 900 workers at a time of high unemployment and looming economic disaster. We can only pay salaries by the grace of the almighty IMF/World Bank. Moreover, Fatima and Octea are trading legal suits; whilst pro-Fatima writers are rooting for Octea to be kicked out of Kono.
But do they know the agreement? When Octea would be replaced by another Octea under a new name? Even if Octea gives up the mines, would govt be able to scrap the agreement that have mortgaged Kono diamonds? What was the agreement signed by NPRC, Kabbah and EBK? What of Mines Minister who today, are wallowing in millions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth?
Briefly, let me start with a documentary interview titled: The Fifth Estate – To Buy A War: in which Reginald Glover the NPRC Sec of State of Mines said: “I was told that Executive Outcomes is coming to help govt fight the war and the diamonds mortgaged for peace.”
In 1995, EO pushed the rebels to the border with just 200 men. The rebels captured a leader of EO, Lt Bob McKenzie, tortured him for a few days, then ate him. After govt terminated its contract, EO left behind Life Guard and Branch Energy and then from Life Guard to Southern Cross. Their partner was Schlomo Schwarz whose wife Priscilla Schwarz was appointed by Bio as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Kobus Vlassens, the Commanding Officer for EO in Kono teamed up with Schlomo as a rep of EO; not bcos of him but his wife Priscilla’s connection with Berewa – who is his legal assistant. The M and A of Southern Cross and Igoli Mining gave Priscilla 30 percent shares. In this, it is 50-50 with Berewa.
Priscilla’s father is Rev Fofanah, who is very close to Berewa and Hinga Norman. It is good to note that it was Berewa who released Leatherboot from prison ( extra-judicially killed recently), bcos the elder sister of Priscilla Schlomo was married to Leatherboot who took part in the bloody invasion of Freetown in January 1999.
Schlomo was a professional locksmith contracted to fix the lock at Pademba prison. It was Schwarz; who gave a master key for Israeli Yair Gal Klein and Russian Igor Klynchakov; to break out of jail but unfortunately, were apprehended at No 2 whilst waiting for their battery to be charged. They were caught with their passports which were supposed to be lodged with the police. ( Will soon write a piece on lawyers).
It was Berewa who had brought a seven-count charge against them for botching a govt contract to supply helicopter spare parts and chopped USD 535,000. But Berewa was bribed USD 500,000 by an Israeli Shapira who stayed with Shapira to plan their escape; and Priscilla’s house was frequently visited by Berewa.
What was interesting during the trial of the Israeli and Russian was that; while Berewa was prosecuting on behalf of the State, his legal assistant Priscilla Schlomo; was defending the accused. Berewa did not only free them but did not charge them for jail breaking and allowed them to leave; even though he had maintained that Gal, who is wanted both by the American and Israelis; would be extradited to Columbia.
Berewa did not only sold out but had treacherously lost a case which he had enough evidence to win and the State lost over USD 500,000
See Part Two: Kabbah And The Sandline Affair!
