By JIMITOTA  ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT — HOST communities of E A Field 12  have called on Shell Petroleum Development Company to urgently address issues of marginalisation presented to it within seven days, failung which, they would occupy the field indefinitely.

Coordinator, E A Chairmen Forum, Mr. Amamogiran Francis, who addressed newsmen, yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that Shell  should immediately convert the nine casual workers and 12  community contract officers, who had been working with them in the last 11 years, to staff of the firm.

The coordinator,  flanked by His Royal Highness, Stephen Tume, the Amananawei of Letugbene; His Royal Highness Ajuju Jacob, Amananawei of Orobiri and Mr. Simon Franklin, said Shell  had failed to comply with a Federal Government policy on employment of qualified indigenes into lower cadres and other positions of responsibilities in the area.

He said: “We call on SPDC/SNEPCO to open up the service boats, catering and housekeeping services supply contracts for indigenes from the area to also obtain and render such services. There are also capable contractors from our area, who can provide such services and should be given opportunity to participate and get the economic empowerment  benefits.

On his part, HRH Ajuju Jacob, said they were being pushed by Shell to get angry, adding that ordinarily, they were peaceful communities. “Shell is making us angry, if not we are a peaceful people. The world should step in .”