PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

The Independent Media Commission gives ruling on complaint from Yaya Sidi Turay on behalf of Vimetco SMHL against Salone Compass Newspaper in Connection with publication dated 27^th and 29^th July 2021, titled “NSBT staff found dead at Vimetco mining site”; and “aftermath of local staff… Vimetco staff NSBT Evade responsibility”.

This complaint was filed with the IMC on 11^th August 2021. The matter received one hearing, which was scheduled on Tuesdays 31^st August 2021. The hearing was attended by both the Salone Compass Newspaper represented by its Managing Editor Ibrahim Alusine Kamara and Vimetco shml represented by Yaya Sidi Turay—General Relations Manager, and Victoria Adama Koroma—Legal representative.

Restating his complaint on behalf of Vimetco SMHL Yaya Sidi Turay said, despite the fact that Vitmetco has an office in Freetown; the Editor did not get the company’s side of the story before going to press. He said the company and its partners found the publications inaccurate, misleading and a ploy to smear the image of the investment. He said the deceased mention in the publications was not found at Vimetco’s site; rather he was found at the high seas, 32 nautical miles off the Vimetco’s Port-site, around the area where the drowning took place. He said the deceased was employed by NSBT as stevedore and was assigned by his employers as a cook for the crews on Vimetco vessel, and not as a cook employed by Vimetco.

Responding, the Managing Editor of Salone Compass Newspaper, Ibrahim Alusine Kamara said his story was based on an interview with NSBT, that: the deceased was a cook at Vimetco and details about who employed him was not clear because no question was posed on that line; the deceased was in active service cooking for Vimetco crews before his demise; and that the body was found around Vimetco’s site. He referenced a letter from Vimetco which he said was a reply to a letter jointly sent to the company by Salone Compass and Public Review Newspapers. He added that extracts of Vimetco’s reply was contained in the publication.

After thorough investigation and deliberation at the Complaint Committee level the following were the Commission’s findings:

1. That the caption “NSBT Staff found Dead at Vimetco Mining Site” was inaccurate, as the deceased was found on the High Seas, 32 nautical miles off Vimetco port site;
2. That the Newspaper published that Vimetco did not make any effort to search and rescue the deceased, was incorrect and does not reflect Vimetco’s version of event as stated in the 3^rd paragraph of their letter dated 22^nd June, 2021;
3. That although the Salone Compass Newspaper did not substantiate the caption “VIMETCO ENDANGERS WORKERS’ LIVES”, the captain of the Vimetco Berge was negligent in that he allowed the deceased to sit on the open Berge, close to the Mooring Line without wearing his protective gears;
4. That the publication was inaccurate in that it failed to adequately publish or represent Vimetco’s response to their inquiry, and even where they received information from NSBT that was at variance with what they got from Vimetco, the veracity of the information NSBT gave them.

The Independent Media Commission at its meeting held on Monday 22^nd November 2021, made the following ruling:

• That Vimetco be warned to take their safety standards seriously;
• Fined Salone Compass Newspaper Le 1,000,000 (One Million Leones) for the breach of the accuracy provision of the Media Code of Practice;
• Salome Compass Newspaper to publish a retraction with regards to equal space and time principle; and
• Salome Compass Newspaper to publish this ruling.