...Flour Company Clarifies Report
The management of the Premier Milling Corporation reported to be the leading producer of flour in the country has clarified that there's no harmful waste from its milling operations.

Management of the Flour Company said its operation is a substantially “Dry Process”, and does not involve any washing; instead, water is only sparsely used to sprinkle and moisten the wheat in the milling process.

The company explained that water coming from the flour mill compound is rain water from the drains and gutters in the factory compound, which is disposed of mainly through concrete drains built by the company for this purpose.

The company's clarification followed publication of a story recently by this paper in which it quoted residents of the Freeport Community as alleging that the company is polluting their community with waste products from its factory.

The paper quoted two leaders of the Freeport Community, Theophilus Moore and A. M. Sheriff as alleging that the company is not only dumping waste products into their community, but also has failed to implement its social obligation to the community.

Mr. Moore said wastes from wheat used to produce flour are sent into the community through the drainage. He noted that the community is besieged with offensive smell due to the pollution from the flour milling company

However, in a letter addressed to the Managing Editor, the Flour company said the paper's report was blatantly untrue, grossly inaccurate, unfounded and did not thoroughly investigate the allegation.

The company explained that the company's disposal of production waste into the community is done through wheat bran, which is bagged and supplied, mainly on a gratis basis, to local pig and poultry operators.

“Mr. Managing Editor, the Milling operations of Premier Milling is a substantially “Dry Process”, and does not involve any washing, as you incorrectly implied; instead, water is only sparsely used to sprinkle and moisten the wheat in the milling process. Thus, there is no waste water from which to pollute the community. Water coming from the compound is rain water from the drains and gutters in the factory compound, which is disposed of mainly through concrete drains built by Premier Milling for this purpose. Even this situation, only occurs during the rainy season, and it is not unusual that some wheat dust or particles may appear in this drain water which temporarily results in an unpleasant odour, especially when the covers on the drains are removed,” a letter from the company said.

Undeniably, the Flour Company disclosed that it is the producer of the highest quality of baking flour on the market, using exclusively high quality hard red winter wheat imported from the United States of America.

 Dear readers, kindly see full letter below.

The Managing Editor
News Newspaper
Monrovia, Liberia

Dear Sir,

It is with disappointment and dismay, that I read the article in your Thursday, Nov 22 publication entitled “Pollution Hits Freeport Community”, and the related editorial “Rescue the People from Pollution”, all of which, inaccurately alleging pollution on the part of Premier Milling Corporation.
   
For such sweeping allegations, I would have expected that a respectable Newspaper such as yours, would have conducted proper due-diligence in investigating the veracity of the story. Instead, you felt professionally justified to write an editorial based upon unfounded and unsubstantiated reports. Clearly, after reading the Story and Editorial, one is left wondering what may have been the real agenda behind this Article. Be that as it may, I am hopeful that the well-earned professional reputation of your paper will oblige you to conduct a thorough investigation into this grossly inaccurate and prejudicial story by your Reporter.
   
Sir, Premier Milling Corporation is proud of its identity as a wholly and truly Liberian-owned corporation, always mindful of its corporate responsibility and commitment to the wellbeing of its employees, the community in which it operates and its customers. At Premier Milling, we produce, undeniably, the highest quality of baking flour on the market, using exclusively high quality hard red winter wheat imported from the United States of America. Through its operations, Premier Milling provides employment for over 75 persons, thereby positively impacting about 500 persons, taking into consideration the extended average family size of about 7 persons. Now, let's move to the facts of the story, which were so badly misrepresented.
   
Mr. Managing Editor, the Milling operations of Premier Milling is a substantially “Dry Process”, and does not involve any washing, as you incorrectly implied; instead, water is only sparsely used to sprinkle and moisten the wheat in the milling process. Thus, there is no waste water from which to pollute the community. Water coming from the compound is rain water from the drains and gutters in the factory compound, which is disposed of mainly through concrete drains built by Premier Milling for this purpose. Even this situation, only occurs during the rainy season, and it is not unusual that some wheat dust or particles may appear in this drain water which temporarily results in an unpleasant odour, especially when the covers on the drains are removed.
   
Regrettably, some members of the community consistently remove the concrete slab covers in order to use the drains for disposal of their personal wastes. It is blatantly untrue, Mr. Managing Editor, that Premier Milling disposes of production waste into the community, as the only waste from our milling operations is Wheat bran, which is bagged and supplied, mainly on a gratis basis, to local pig and poultry operators.
   
I acknowledge that during discharge of wheat from the port, which occurs about 4 times a year, small quantities of wheat may drop from the trucks when entering the gates to the compound. This poses no problem in the dry season, but during the rainy season when this occurs and is not quickly removed or chemically treated by the company's workers, there is a tendency for a temporary unpleasant, though harmless odour to develop; although this is a normal occurrence in this type of operations, we regret any such temporary inconvenience. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO HARMFUL WASTE FROM OUR MILLING OPERATIONS.

Since your inaccurate report, Premier Milling has met with the community elders, who acknowledge you're your reporter's visit, but generally disclaimed your report of harmful odour. We agreed with them to regularly cover the costs for several persons to be provided from the community to help in ensuring that rainwater and particles do not settle in the community, and that the drains are properly and regularly cleaned.
   
It is our hope that this clarification will be published in its entirety in order that the public may be properly informed.

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