Bad Labor Practices In Maryland …Senator Ballout Foresees Trouble Maryland County Sen. John Ballout has disclosed that tension was developing in the county between citizens and managements of companies operating in the area. The Maryland County senator also told his colleagues that there is also tension developing between citizens of the county, particularly in Pleebo –Soloken District and Management of the companies, SIFISCA, Cavalla Rubber Corporation and the Maryland Oil Palm Plantation due to problems arising from the companies bad labor practices that remains unresolved by the government. Sen. Ballout explained Tuesday in the Senate Session that residents of the county especially those residing in Pleebo – Soloken District were not happy over bad labor practices by the companies in the area, which the Senator, noted could degenerate into full bloom conflict if the Senate fails to intervene. Over the years, Sen. Ballout said citizens of Maryland County have expressed their discontentment over what has been happening in the labor sector of the county, saying that the government and the Liberian senate continue to pay no attention by taking concrete actions needed to avert the looming conflict in the county. Marylanders, according to him, are peaceful citizens who may not want see things going off hands. But he said the failure of the government to intervene could serve as a key factor that could heighten the tension between the people and concessions in county to an uncontrollable state could affect the entire nation. Sen. Ballout used the opportunity to call on the Liberian Senate and entire government to began taking those steps that would prevent conflict in that county. But Martin Nyeka, the Director of Public Relations and Outreach who was contacted via mobile phone denied knowledge of any bad labor practices; he also denied having any information regarding any looming trouble between the People of Pleebo-Soloken District and the companies mentioned. Saying that that he is organizing a trip of journalists from Monrovia for an assessment visit, Nyeka told this paper that the people of the District and Marylanders in general are on good footing as far as labor practices and cooperation is concern. According to him, Senator Ballout is in a political gimmick for reasons known to him, adding that if there were any labor concerns, the Ministry of Labor would have been involved and its intervention would have calm the situation. These Companies you referred to are not above the law, the law would act against them, Nyeka added.