The Senior Senator of Bomi County, Hon. Lahai G. Lansanah is to shortly appear before a Police Panel of investigators to comment on his alleged roll in the fatal shoot-out at the Guthrie Rubber Plantation in Bomi and Cape Mount Counties early this year. Three persons were wounded in the shout-out.

Disclosing this to reporters at a weekly press briefing, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Lawrence K. Bropleh said the committee set up by President Sirleaf to investige the Guthrie shoot-out resolved to transfer Senator Lansanah to the Liberia National Police for questioning on the role he played in the incident.

According Minister Bropleh, the committee has written Senate Pro-Tempore, Hon. Cletus Wotorson informing him about the committee's decision in line with the laws of the Senate. He said although Senator Lansanah has not been accuse by the government for shooting anyone, the committee believes it is fair enough for the Senator to appear before the Police investigative team to explain his involvement since he was accused by the Guthrie workers.

It can be recalled that early this year workers at the Guthrie Rubber Plantation staged a violent demonstration in demand of three months salary arrears allegedly owed them by the Guthrie Plantation Interim Management Team. During the demonstration, Guthrie workers allegedly vandalized the campus of the Plantation School and the administrative building, set up road blocks along the Monrovia- Bo Waterside Highway and burned the Police Station, a quick impact project constructed by UNMIL.

Upon receiving the news of the workers' strike, Senator Lassanah immediately abandoned regular legislative session for Guthrie along with former Agriculture Minister Chris Toe. The senator was said to have been held hostage by the protesters.

The Senator who was rescued by officers of the Police Support Unit (PSU) of the Liberia National Police was also accused by the protesters of gunning down three persons, but Police Spokesman George Bardo has since denied the workers' claim.

In a related development, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance has began identifying and processing funds to pay Guthrie employees' arrears pending a takeover of the company by the Samy Darby Group in August. Contact 06270297 email perryroland@rocketmail.com.