NEWS > Commentaries Who is Fooling Who, Sierra Leone Brewery or the Press? Posted by on Feb 3, 2010, 14:14

The interest of Sierra Leoneans and other nationals who consume products from the Sierra Leone Brewery must always come first, in the Fourth Estate’s evaluation of matters/issues in relation to the health of the people of this nation and others. Anything done or purported to have been done, which can or would reflect discredit to this country must always be fiercely resisted, especially if companies concerned are headed by foreigners who may never feel the same affection or fears for the well being of citizens of this nation as if it were their own countrymen and women. Let’s parallel the Brewery matter/issue to that of the South Africa situation during the Apartheid regime many years ago.  Only a reminder of what could possibly have happened in Sierra Leone as a corollary of the South African experience for Sierra Leone. This press is not suggesting that what happened then in South Africa is what Brewery had intended.

After the demise of the Apartheid era, there was a Truth and Reconciliation Commission of which nationals from several countries that operated there, participated and gave harrowing evidence of malpractices that took place against the Black inhabitants of that country.  To wit, it was revealed that ‘incendiary’ substances which could have the effect of affecting both male and female fertility reproductive organs and to shorten the mortality rate of black people, with a view not only to reduce their population gradually but eventually to eradicate them in due process of time was reportedly sold out to black people. 

Indeed, terminal convicts populated both Australia and New Zealand, many years ago, and today the Maoris and Hottentots, of those countries are now of little significant in terms of population and functions. Whether this is what happened to the Black population in those countries or not is any one’s guess today.While, this press does not by any means say that, that would have been a likely outcome from the Brewery experience under scrutiny, such fearful thoughts would not escape contemplation for future developments; if incidents of such that have been highlighted were not brought to the fore.When the first report of contamination of beer products reached the press, both the victim and press representatives visited the Brewery Company. 

Subsequently, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation held a meeting with representatives of the press and the Managing Director of the Brewery at his office where exhibits of the subject matter were produced.  If it is true that no outright denial was made as to origin of the exhibits, what could be more disturbing as it is confusing when the Managing Director of the Brewery, afterwards addresses an open letter to the public for beer drinkers in which he stated quote “I would like to take this opportunity to inform you (beer lovers) that we strongly refute all of the allegations… (which were)  false, malicious and defamatory……..” unquote. 

This could have been done at the press conference at SLENA office called by Standard Times Newspaper to which representatives of the Brewery Company were invited but failed to send any. The stance and view currently being taken in this matter/issue is neither personal nor individually motivated, but the press is playing its rightful role in seeking and defending the interest of the vast silent majority, including Magistrates, Judges and litigants in the country who may not have access at all to register their concerns, except those who have been personally affected.

Of course it has always been accepted that by the Brewery’s very existence, significant and appreciable contributions have been made to the economy of the country through employment of nationals at both the factory end and at the end where Sorghum is grown to provide local raw material necessary to enhance the industry’s manufacturing productivity. 

But that not withstanding when unavoidable errors occur, it should be admitted outright and corrective measures put in place. 

If it is true, as may have been strongly rumoured by certain distributors of the Brewery products, that the contamination now receiving press and public attention is not new to the Company, then something is seriously wrong with the Brewery Machines. The view now to be taken after such a possible scenario, would not lend itself to the statements made in the Managing Director’s letter published in the Awareness Times Newspaper of 21^st January, 2010 at page 11, which could now be interpreted as deceptive and economical of the truth of the matter/issue now in question.

The suggestion in an earlier commentary in this press that requested a temporary halt in production to clean up and put quality control mechanism in place, was intended to be an immediate solution to the impasse and not to cast aspersion on neither the industry nor those operating in it.  It was all meant to be in the common good of all concerned, consumers and producers alike. The bold question which remains unanswered, that readers could or may address their minds to after looking at all the probable scenarios in this matter/issue is, WHO IS FOOLING WHO? For this, the public is the arbiters.