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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: A Man believed to be a close associate of the Liberian president, Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his regime, only identified as William Richard Dewalt, CEO of Lemu’s Clarence and Forwarding Service with headquarters in Tompoe Village opposite the Police Station, accused of raining terror on local workers, subjecting them to modern-day slavery.
According to employees who spoke to Afric-Daily on the condition of anonymity, Dewalt operates one of the worst labor systems within the private sector.
The workers disclosed that nearly 90 percent of the company’s employees, some of whom have worked there for between eight and fifteen years, have no formal employment contracts, no social security benefits, no medical insurance, and no empowerment opportunities despite their years of service.
Workers, including Obediah Turray and Lorenzo Ford, reportedly died while serving the company, but management failed to take responsibility or provide death benefits to their grieving families, who continue to languish.
Additional information gathered by this paper indicates that truck drivers and other workers are not covered by any medical insurance scheme. As a result, whenever workers sustain injuries or become involved in accidents during work hours, they are forced to cover their own medical expenses, while salaries are deducted during the period of recovery.
Accordingly, Dewalt regularly boasts about his close relationship with the current administration, claiming that his financial support contributed significantly to President Boakai’s election victory and political rise.
“Can you imagine? The man always tells us that even the vehicle President Boakai used during his inauguration was his personal car,” source continued. “We continue working for him because we have no choice and we need to survive. He has failed to fulfill every labor obligation. He dismisses workers anytime he wants. We work long hours from Monday to Sunday without overtime benefits. Only the media and labor rights activists can help us now. Poor people hardly get the chance to fight for their rights.”
Dewalt action has expanded critics’ doubts on Boakai’s ability to render a fair judgment to take action against his closest allies, who continue to violate the law of the land and undermine national and human capacity development under the current Unity Party-led administration.
Afric-Daily has used several means, including WhatsApp text and calls, text messages, local calls and Facebook messenger to get Dewalt’s response, but has ignored all to the press time.
However, the investigation continues into Lemu’s Clarence and Forwarding Service to restore workers’ dignity.
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