SNA workers on the rampage

By Zainab Kanu

Former workers of the defunct Sierra National Airlines (SNA) on Monday and Tuesday this week went on the rampage to demand their five year backlog salaries and redundancy payment.

Displaying placards at the former office of the SNA at the junction of Howe and Lightfoot Boston Streets in mid Freetown, the aggrieved workers called on Government to intervene to make sure that they receive what is due and owing to them or else they will continue to protest until their voices are heard.

In a telephone interview with the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Osmond Hanciles, he said they inherited the SNA problem from the previous Government but that they were doing everything possible to solve it.

He explained that they have consulted a Liquidator working with the Accounting Firm of KPMG, Mr. William Tucker, who is now looking into the issue, pointing out that there was nothing they can do at the moment until they receive the Liquidator’s report.

One irate protester, Mrs. Isha Mansaray, told AYV in an angry mood that since the collapse of SNA nobody has ever talked to them. She maintained that they will not stop protesting until they receive what is legally due to them.

She explained that since they were laid down by the SNA five years ago without paying them their salaries, most of them have remained unemployed while twenty one other have died because of poverty. She explained that most of them spent twenty five years with the SNA with nothing to show for it.