Syrtis

XV.

Foreign Discrimination Against Liberian People

WRITTEN BY: JESSICA KING

The increase of foreign businesses along the sidelines of the different major streets in the nation of Liberia is becoming alarming. While not against this rise of development, the influx of the Lebanese and Indians into the country is not only robbing the citizens' of their rights to own big businesses, but also forcing them to become employees of these same people.

Something has been happening in the country, but everyone either pretends that they don't see it or ignore it because they feel like there's nothing that can be done. The people employed in these stores and shops have gotten used to being poorly treated and underpaid so they don't say anything about their dilemma.

Now that they have gotten the people used to being mistreated and talked down at, they are kicking things up a notch. Or are they? According to testimonials last Friday, this has been happening for years and nothing was done about it! Liberian women are being refused entry to their establishments; the reason being that they weren't escorted by men. Sajj House violated the rights of those girls and they deserve to pay for it.

Not only is it shaming and demeaning, it is also against the rights of those women. All it takes is one establishment, then it will spread like wildfire and that's how the country and its citizens will be under the thumb of foreigners, especially the Lebanese. Something needs to be done, now that something has been said.

While they don't owe the Liberian people anything, they at least deserve a good working environment, getting what they earned and a little bit of respect.

Amin frowned down at his phone as he walked into the store that Monday morning. He had been trying to get to Jessica for hours but no response. The night before had been a fairly good one so he knew that he wasn't in trouble. But something still nagged at him. She left before he could wake up, without a text to say where she was or why she left. Her phone had been ringing for hours with no answer, and all his texts went unanswered.

Bassam was already seated behind the desk, his lips in a thin line. He sat on the edge of his seat with a newspaper in his hand, reading silently. Chisom was nowhere to be found.

"Good morning." There was a coffee holder beside him with two cups in it so Amin took one and sat in the chair beside him.

"It's really not. Have you seen the papers?"

"Should I? You know I rarely read those," Amin lifted his phone to call again but the look on Bassam's face stopped him. "What is it?"

"Read the paper."

He took the nearest one, which was lying across the table and opened it. It was FrontPage Africa. "What am I looking for?"

"Page 10. Don't worry, you'll see it."

He just sighed and found the page, not sure what to expect. Bassam's gaze on his face made him anxious. He already had one thing to worry about, he didn't need another.

His eyes scanned the page for some seconds then he sat up when he saw Jessica's name.

The words in the article jumped out at him from the page and he took in every single word. Then he read it again for the second time, in case he missed anything.

Then everything started to connect in his head like dots across a page. All the things that puzzled him about her over the weekend made so much sense; he couldn't believe how dumb he was that he didn't figure it out.

"Amin."

He shot up from his seat and took his phone and the paper along, heading for the back. He didn't stop until he was safe behind his locked office door. Then he sank to the floor and rubbed his face, as if that would help him forget what he just read.