GVL Clarifies Political Activities Guidance ______________________________________________________ Dear Colleagues, Our country is heading towards constitutionally mandated elections in December even if the exact date is not yet known. Introduction: Important Freedoms and Rights, supported by GVL Political participation and activity is an important freedom, and the right of every citizen. Our company supports and promotes these rights and freedoms, responsibly and prudently, by all citizens, employees and members of our partner communities. GVL as a major employer and economic developer, and having so many active, thoughtful and high potential Liberian citizens with us, must have a clear policy which helps guide our employees in exercising their rights. Our Civic and Political Activity Policy promotes peaceful, positive civic activism, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with good practices surrounding political contributions, lobbying or campaigning in any manner involving the company and our people. The purpose of our Policy is to promote the rights of our employees, uphold responsible and prudent conduct, and to preserve the reputation and integrity of Golden Veroleum Liberia. Please read again the Policy, attached in the next page, and consider what it means to you and how you can participate and contribute to Liberian democracy while adhering to the requirements of your job and role in GVL. Case example What is appropriate and what is not? Some time ago, three citizens employed at GVL, two Assistant Managers and a HR Administrative Assistant signed a complaint against a National Elections Commission Magistrate and this was published as a news item in a Monrovia newspaper. GVL later received a memorandum of concern from a respected source about a group of the company’s management taking a political role. How does this situation relate to citizen’s rights and our Policy? Take a look at what the policy says and how that might relate to the case: • GVL employees individually are naturally free to engage in political activity in accordance with Liberian laws, in their personal capacity and in non-working time o Interpretation: As Citizen Mr. X or Ms. Y, you are entitled to carry out activity – but not expose your job title or position, and you must do so only outside of working hours and work areas. • In doing so, care must be taken by these persons to ensure that such activities are not interpreted as GVL activities and that their role in GVL is not mixed by anyone with such political activities o Interpretation and questions: As part of your job duty, even while exercising your political freedoms, must be to separate your job from your personal or political views. Did the activists take care not to be interpreted or seen as a GVL activity? If only GVL persons were involved in the action and in the news, perhaps more care should be taken to avoid wrong interpretation. • Employees in prominent, visible and externally oriented jobs with GVL are required to channel their political communications to personal situations only, where their activity does not in any way reflect on or from their GVL job, and these persons are required to maintain cordial relations with all members of the Liberian Government and political spectrum o Interpretation and questions: This is significant requirement for any persons working in GVL’s roles that involve the communities, Government and society stakeholders, such as colleagues with Community Affairs team, Governmental Affairs team, with the School system, and other visible roles. Was this element of the policy fulfilled? Can the activist team members still maintain cordial and effective working relationships, with political leaders whom they may have opposed in their activity? How should you channel your activism, to still be able to meet these job requirements? We ask you all to consider these points and others in the Policy, and adhere to these policy requirements as we exercise our political rights. K. Emmanuel Yarkpazuo
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 09:56:06 +0000
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