JETTY ENGULF WITH CONTROVERSIES AMID ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGFUL DETENTION OF RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN WEALA

 Margibi County Weala, Margibi County – Popular Indian Businessman Upjit Singh, wildly known as Jetty known fhas found himself engulfed in growing storm of controversies.

Jetty currently faces series of allegations ranging from illegal mining to bad labor practices among other things in Weala, Margibi County where he operates the Salala Rubber Company (SRC) and the Jetty Rubber Processing Factory.

He is being accused of the wrongful detention of residents of the area who are engaged in advocating against Jetty’s alleged illegal mining. It was reported that on February 7, 2023, Osei Gbassakollie was jailed at the Kakata Central Prison for rallying the community against Jetty for his illegal mining activities in Weala.

Osei was later set free on March 3, 2023, with the Liberian National Police dropping all charges. According to sources close, Osei gain his freedom after being compelled to sign a letter written by the Indian Businessman, appealing to Jetty and admitting to lying against the Businessman. ‘’Osei was the lead campaigner against Jetty illegal mining in this community, but he was abandoned by the community’’, a source who chose to be unknown told Women’s TV Liberia.

‘’He was abandoned after Jetty threatened to take his company out of the community because the people could not lose their jobs. Osei spent over 20 days in prison before he was released after he was given a letter to sign by Jetty. With Osei being set free without the due process of the law taking place, it points to deficiency within the Liberian judiciary.

At the same time, there are reports of other unlawful actions carried out by the well-known indian businessman. Residents from towns and villages bordering the SRC plantation told Women’s TV Liberia that they continue to live in fear since Jetty took over the company.

“We have been told to stop making farms in those places we use to make our farm. Our survival is at the crossroad with our major source of livelihood (farming) at stake” a lady who chose to not be named told Women’s TV Liberia.

Also there have been reports of bad labor practices at the Salala Rubber Company, a company owned by the Indian Businessman since 2024. At can be recalled in 2023, before his purchase of the SRC, workers of Jetty Rubber Liberia Limited Corporation accused the company of bad labor practices. Key among these were low salaries with each worker earing daily L$600 instead of US$5 per the Liberian labour law. The workers also highlighted poor healthcare delivery, and contractors being forced to sign contract sheets without reading the contract document. Additionally, sources close to the situation alleged that Jetty is using his illegal sanding mining activities to extract other natural resources without the proper agreement between the Liberian government and the residents.

“He told us that he needed land to set up his factory but now he is minding sand. Only God knows if he is only minding sand because there may be other resources involved too. We raised the concern but some of us were detained. Witnesses claim that heavy machinery is being transported in and out of suspected mining sites under cover in the night.

The allegations against the Indian Businessman have sparked concern among local residents and environmental advocates who are border about the long-term impact on the environment of the region and its people. One local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, stated, “Our water is no longer clean, after giving Jetty land along the river for the construction of his company. He gave us US$1,000 after pressure from the community about his illegal sand mining.

We want the government of Liberia to come in and see how best we all can have an agreement. Our resources are not free. However, Jetty has declined to respond to the accusations. As the controversy continues to unfold, the spotlight remains firmly on Jetty and his business operations in Margibi County. Whether or not the allegations will lead to legal action or a government crackdown on illegal mining activities is something are hoping to see. For now, the people of Weala are left to grapple with the potential consequences of what many fears could be a looming environmental disaster.