According to the standard,
“The Dominion Group of Companies has threatened to close a rice farming investment in Siaya District and move to a neighbouring country.
Mr Calvin Burges, the president of the US company, said he was fed up by intimidation and extortion by politicians and residents.”
Good riddance. I think he should leave. Or renegotiate. Why?
(i) There is no worthwhile economic benefit to the people of Bondo/Siaya at all
- -these people are not shareholders of Dominion, so Dominion’ s success is not their success
- -Dominion’s products are for export (rice and the fish )
- -purchasing of the oranges, rice and fish from the Farm is not subsidized to them (as expected)
(ii) The environment will no doubt be affected by the chemicals and pesticides Dominion uses in the farm
- -who will clean up after Dominion? Dominion never cleans up, even in America ( Operating as Cimarron Pork Inc, they left a pig mess in OK, USA. In USA, Calvin Burgess builds Prisons, not rice Farms )
- -the resulting adverse health on the “already poor and unhealthy people” will be multiplied
(iii) There is no technology/knowledge transfer
- -as with most projects of these types in Africa, there is no useful technology and knowledge transfer to the people/kenya
- -once Burgess leaves, if at all, the Bondo people won’t be able to recreate Dominion
(iv) Once Dominion’s Fish Farm succeeds, what happens to the local fishermen?
- -They will be employed as factory hands in the Dominion Fish plant
- -Dominion’ Fish will be cheaper than theirs (being mechanically harvested, etc), so they lose out
The people of Bondo/Siaya ( and their counterparts in Kwale ) should really favor a deal that makes them co-owners. All they need is a mere 25% of the Farm. After all, the inputs,local resource, is theirs. It is true that the technology and know-how is is Dominion’s. But what worth is that technology without the raw materials? I do not think the $$$$ people were being paid to relocate and give up control of their resources was sufficient compensation.
For those who would argue for Dominion, give me reasons why the investment is good for Siaya and Bondo residents.
- Jobs (employment), direct (factory hands) and indirect (e.g tractor mechanics)
- Subsidiary buisness (Bondo could be a company town as a giant company attracts support companies and services) . e.g there are bank branches in flower farms
- possible environmental side-effects are outweighed by economic benefits
- Good community relations are not a hard thing to maintain and Dominion should be able to do that without having to pack and go.
Good day!,
How come these American companies feel that there idea’s reign supreme? How about asking the actual people of this community how they feel the best way to improve their lives are. I have heard many of their stories and idea’s thanks to a new documentary that is coming out. Imagine if the people of this community were given the money and resources to help fix their current situation. I can guarantee that it would be much more effective then what Dominion is doing. For the people know their own situations and needs far better than anyone else does, so shouldn’t they get a say in what happens to their land and their lives?