Local businessmen in the country, who have rented the Radisson Blu facilities to host several programs, have accused the Managing Director, John Klang and his management staff, of discriminatory practices.
The local businessmen stated that the MD has shown signs of favoring foreign companies and white folks against local businesses. He offers them unequal treatment when it comes to using the venue facilities and prices. This ismeantto scare away the local business people from using the venue.
One incident, the local businessmen have cited, has to do with the regulation by the management of Radisson Blu around playing music after midnight. This regulation was put in place to allow guests have a peaceful sleep.While such a regulation is in place, local businessmen have complained that the management of Radisson Blu has used this rule to favour white folks, by creating extension for them.
Sierra Leoneans, who hire the facility, are discriminated against and not given extensions as their white counterparts.
The recently organized Madeng Festival, which lasted till dawn, is an example of discriminatory treatment by the Management of Radisson Blu.
Responding, the Managing Director of Radisson Blu, John Klang, noted that such extensions were given two years’ back but have since been stopped. He noted that the cut-off time is now being implemented by the management regardless of who is organizing the event. This rule, he noted, was because of the frequent complaints they receive from their guests, that noise, around late hours in the facility, prevents them from sleeping.
“Our first priority is to make our guests happy and comfortable and not to discomfort them”, the General Manager noted.
However, this was not the case for the recently concluded Madeng festival, which ended around 2am on Friday and 4am on Saturday.
When John Klang was again called to comment, as to why Madeng was given preferential treatment unlike other organizations, his response was “…If you have any queries send them in writing so I will forward them to the Board for a response…”
This, according to our source, is a pointer that the local business people have a genuine concern of discrimination against the Radisson Blue management.