Foreign interests can’t exploit our citizens

I wanted to do something on this for more than a week now, but somehow it slipped me.

So I am going to address it today.

This story about Philip Chong and his issues with RUBiS has been bothering me since I read the first stories of this late last year.

Let me bring you up to speed. Chong has been operating a RUBiS service station on Water Lane in downtown Kingston since 2014.

The service station employed about 20 people, some of whom were from the community where the station operates.

So late last year, RUBiS terminated Chong's contract, reportedly without any form of compensation.

According to reports in the media, at the meeting where Chong lost his contract, he was accused of not defending the company during the bad gas saga back in 2015.

The reason why this disturbs me is simply this.

CREATING JOBS

It is nice when multinationals invest in a country. It creates opportunities for entrepreneurs. It creates jobs, which help to grow an economy.

However, I do believe that they should not be allowed to do so while exploiting the citizens of the country.

Agreements between the parent company and any individual or group of persons must be based on mutual respect and benefit.

But while it is a company's prerogative to terminate contracts whenever they deem it necessary, to do so with any sense of malice is a cause for greater concern.

If those reports of what was said inside the reported termination meeting is true, then clearly, something needs to be done by the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association and/or Government because ordinary citizens should not be exploited by any multinational coming into this country to do business.

This man invested millions into his service station over the past five years. For him not to be compensated under the reported circumstances is not only not right, it is unjust and should not be allowed to happen.

If there is another reason why RUBiS terminated Chong's contract, they need to come forward and clear the air.

If they fail to do so, then the seed planted by the media reports will grow and flourish into a grand perception that Chong is being victimised.

If that is the case, then it should not be allowed to continue.

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