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SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO6421 TUESDAY 23 JANUARY 2015 Tel +264 64 205 854/+264 64 461 866/Fax +264 64 204 813/+264 64 461 824/Website www.namibtimes.net
inside
Pro-Ed latest
Langer Heinrich accused of double standards Marshallino Beukes
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Adverteerder ondersoek
Bladsy 4
NASA in Namibia
A grievance letter, regarding alleged irregularities at Langer Heinrich Uranium mine, reached the namib times. In the letter the author, who asked for anonymity, indicts the mine of contracting foreigners, under the pretext of being experts, but they afterwards become full-time LHU employees. The grievance letter further indicates that the entire technical management departments and understudies at the mine are occupied by foreigners, while Namibian experts are available. This supposedly led to many Namibian experts
resigning out of pure frustration, as they were not recognised and advanced to higher ranks. The communication further alleges that very few contracts are being awarded to black-owned Namibian companies and once a black company is
awarded a contract, the working conditions are made impossible for them to last for even six months on the site. Langer Heinrich Uranium is renowned for its strict anti-corruption, bribery as well as their whistle-blower policy.
The letter however claims that complaints from employees, indicating that LHU employees continue to benefit from subcontracts, allegedly fall on deaf ears. An employee was apparently recently suspended for reporting such irregu-
larities. In conclusion the grievance letter mentions a financial agreement between the mine and a junior metallurgist, recently. The employee’s signature was allegedly forged and submitted to the Ministry, as if he was an understudy
of a foreigner, while in fact he was not. Langer Heinrich’s Managing Director, Mr Simon Solomons responded via email on the allegations. He once again gave reassurance that LHUPL treats seriously any allegation of wrong-doing or
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Rough seas delay Opera cruise
Bernabé Blaauw
The latest visit of the luxury passenger liner, the MSC Opera, was delayed due to extremely stormy weather conditions in the Cape Town area, which in turn caused rough seas and high waves along the Western Cape coastline. The MSC Opera, who viPage 5 sited Walvis Bay last week as well, was supposed to dock in the Cape Town harbour on Monday. Unfortunately the huge waves made it impossible for her to enter the harbour and the passengers were only able to board the ship on Tuesday to start their cruise to Walvis Bay. She docked here yes-
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SFC Table Tennis day
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Photo by Bernabé Blaauw
SPCA give thanks
terday morning but the delay will unfortunately cause the passengers to miss their scheduled visit to Lüderitz. The MSC Opera is a regular visitor to the Port of Walvis Bay and is described as classic, grand and opulent. She is operated by MSC Cruises and was built in 2004. She can carry 1 712 passengers in
878 cabins and a crew of approximately 728. She has 13 decks, including nine for passengers, is 251.25 metres long, 28.80 metres wide and 54 metres high. Her average sailing speed is 18 knots. The next passenger liner to visit Walvis Bay is the Boudicca who is expected here on Monday morning at 06:00.
A Sister’s Pain “Babab was very close to my heart…” Sharlien Tjambari “He was a sweet boy – and the sweetest brother I had.” That is how Petrina Swartbooi (40) the first born, of the family, remembers her little brother who drowned this week in Swakopmund. The lifeless body of Paul Theofilus Swartbooi (pictured), also known as Babab by his close friends and relatives, was washed ashore on Wednesday afternoon around 13:30, at the Vineta beach, just about 500 metres south of the waterfront area, known to many as the “Klip jetty”. On the day of the incident, the 14-year old went to the beach in the afternoon to swim and have fun with three
his friends from Haus Romi, also known as the Namib High Hostel. Paulus was struck by a very strong wave and
drowned. Paulus, originally from Maltahöhe, was born on 18 October 1997 and he was the youngest of ten children.
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