Thursday, 22 October 2009
Mr Bastou Badarou sued as director of Engen GB
I have been informed on Monday 19th October that Mr Badarou is being sued as representative of Engen GB.He was summoned to the court however he did not.I hope to have more information on this case in the coming days.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Mr:Badarou had another accident
On the 21th September 2009, at night, Mr Badarou had another accident, luckily without serious consequence for him. This accident, unlike the first one took place in Bissau.
A policeman told me that accident happened at Chapa crossroad at about 30m from the Ecobank Bandim agency.
The also said by looking at the impact point of the vehicle hit by Mr Badarou one can see that he was over speeding.
According to same witness Mr Badarou wants the issue to be settled discreetly. He had the vehicle hauled to the Engen HQ on Monday 28th September 2009.
I went to Engen to see the damages on the Engen vehicle but it was covered to hide the signs. It is new Volkswagen Touareg bought about 2 months ago. It is only at about 4.00 p. m that Mr Badarou inspected the car with some mechanics. The way things are going, it seems that Mr.Badarou the whole issue solved with as much secrecy as possible. And that is understandable, when one remember that he had an accident exactly 9 months ago that almost cost him his life.
Unfortunately I was not able to get any news on the passengers of the vehicle hit by Mr Badarou’s Touareg a Peugeot 205, Nº RGB4162CC.
The issue will not go far as Mr Badarou will do his best stop and that a lot of CFA will rain.
A policeman told me that accident happened at Chapa crossroad at about 30m from the Ecobank Bandim agency.
The also said by looking at the impact point of the vehicle hit by Mr Badarou one can see that he was over speeding.
According to same witness Mr Badarou wants the issue to be settled discreetly. He had the vehicle hauled to the Engen HQ on Monday 28th September 2009.
I went to Engen to see the damages on the Engen vehicle but it was covered to hide the signs. It is new Volkswagen Touareg bought about 2 months ago. It is only at about 4.00 p. m that Mr Badarou inspected the car with some mechanics. The way things are going, it seems that Mr.Badarou the whole issue solved with as much secrecy as possible. And that is understandable, when one remember that he had an accident exactly 9 months ago that almost cost him his life.
Unfortunately I was not able to get any news on the passengers of the vehicle hit by Mr Badarou’s Touareg a Peugeot 205, Nº RGB4162CC.
The issue will not go far as Mr Badarou will do his best stop and that a lot of CFA will rain.
Monday, 31 August 2009
Police men at Engen GB office
It’s seems that Mr.Badarou’s problems are increasing?
On Tuesday 21th July 2009, two police men went to Engen to take Mr.Badarou to the Labor Inspection Department. That office had summoned Mr.Badarou several time, but he had always refused to answer .He has also refused to follow their recommendation (put an end to Head of the Trade Union’s suspension)
Mr.Badarou was not in office when the police went there because he was supposed to travel that same day. He therefore asked Mr.Ibrahima Sow and the company lawyer. He also asked Mr.Sow to tell the Labor inspector that he was abroad.
Mr.Badarou is challenging the laws of Guinea-Bissau and his behavior will have a serious impact on the image of Engen.
On Tuesday 21th July 2009, two police men went to Engen to take Mr.Badarou to the Labor Inspection Department. That office had summoned Mr.Badarou several time, but he had always refused to answer .He has also refused to follow their recommendation (put an end to Head of the Trade Union’s suspension)
Mr.Badarou was not in office when the police went there because he was supposed to travel that same day. He therefore asked Mr.Ibrahima Sow and the company lawyer. He also asked Mr.Sow to tell the Labor inspector that he was abroad.
Mr.Badarou is challenging the laws of Guinea-Bissau and his behavior will have a serious impact on the image of Engen.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Fraud at Engen Guinea-Bissau?
The topic today is about a generator of Engen Guinea-Bissau. How come Engen bought a generator from the beginning of the year and that up to now it has not been declared at the customs?
The generator costs more that 9,000,000fcfa and it seems that Mr Badarou bribed some official in order to get the generator out of the customs warehouse illegally.
Is the finance director aware of all of this? Is he part of the plan?
The ministry of finance issued a communiqué on a local radio warning anybody to cheat the customs.No matter what happens , the reputation of Engen is at stake
The generator costs more that 9,000,000fcfa and it seems that Mr Badarou bribed some official in order to get the generator out of the customs warehouse illegally.
Is the finance director aware of all of this? Is he part of the plan?
The ministry of finance issued a communiqué on a local radio warning anybody to cheat the customs.No matter what happens , the reputation of Engen is at stake
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Management of the Bandim petrol station
The current topic is the management of the Bandim petrol station. Since Engen bought Total Guinea-Bissau, they have been leasing the stations to other companies. It seems however that the handing over procedures were not very transparent.
The Bandim petrol station was given to Mr Rosado who owns a small oil company called Rosado Combustiveis. He is a Portuguese and was a mechanics before going into the oil business.
The news shocked a lot of people.Engen is has given the management of the Bandim station to a competitor.
The truth is that Mr Badarou gets a share on all contracts signed by Engen Guinea-Bissau. Even before the lease agreement was signed the refurbishment contract for the Bandim station (fences….) was awarded to Mr Rosado while he is not in the construction business.
The other thing is during the hand over ceremony, Mr Ibrahima Sow, the marketing director said in front of all the people present: «You see all these people here, those who worked at the station? We have paid them off, therefore you are free to fire whoever you want.».
Mr Rosado fired them all except 2.Even if Engen has paid the staff off, is it correct to say such things in public?
Engen Guinea-Bissau, through Mr Bsstou Badarou has made may people jobless. Where are all the promises made?
Many employees say they would leave if they have the opportunity because they do not feel safe.
Engen says: « With us you are No 1».In Guinea-Bissau it is rather: «With us you are nothing».
Is it the same in other countries? I would very much like to know.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Mr Ramalho back at Engen
Mr Badarou allowed Mr Ramalho back after several people begged him.The was however a condition.Mr Ramalho will not manage the station anymore,he will be a simple pump operator.
Good luck to Mr Ramalho.
Good luck to Mr Ramalho.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Engen GB fires another employee
It seems that nothing can Mr Badarou´s madness. He just dismissed another employee on the 25th June 2009.Mr Ulysse Ramalho was the head of the Segunda Esquadra station. It belongs to Engen GB but is managed by a third party. That means the employees are directly employed by Engen and that there might be no documents concerning the issue.
Mr Ramalho is blamed for not stopping a construction team hired to build an ATM for a bank.
Yes Mr Badarou decided to lease part of the Engen space for an ATM.
The ECOBANK agents used to the station for inspections and Mr Ibrahima Sow used to inform Mr Ramalho of their visit. However last time, he was not told anything and the ECOBANK staff just told him that they had come to start work. Ulysse Ramalho, thinking that they had the agreement from the head office did not do anything to stop them.
When Mr Badarou heard the news later he rushed to the station,so angry he was hitting a table with his fist and fired Mr Ramalho on the spot.
ECOBANK has now finalized the process by signing a formal agreement, the construction work is almost finished and Mr Ramalho is jobless.
It is true Mr Ramalho made a mistake but was it this the only was to punish him?
In six months Mr Badarou has fired 2 employees, Mr Edgar de Jesus Pinto Vieira dos Reis and Mr Ulysse Ramalho and suspended the head of the Trade Union Mr Dezire Djaso.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Mr Badarou´s accident
The facts treated in the blog today came to my attention just some days ago.
They took place in December 2008.Mr Badarou newly appointed as director of Engen Guinea Bissau had an accident of the Ziguinchor-Bissau road. There were 3 people in the vehicle that belonged to Engen: Mr Badarou and 2 soldiers.
One of the soldiers lost his life in the accident and the other one came out unscathed. Mr Badarou was severely injured and he taken to São Domingos, the closest town then to Ziguinchor (Senegal) just minutes after the accident by some travellers.
He admitted in a hospital in that city that is about 200km away from Bissau.
After the doctors judged his condition stable he was taken to Dakar for further tests and care.
Mr Badarou went back to work about 2 weeks later. His co-workers were worried about him. However Mr Badarou is now well.
The thing is many seem to forget that there is need to know what happened. The vehicle belonged to Engen and the person driving was an Engen employee.
Was Mr Badarou working when he had the accident?
The other soldier who survived said he did know what happened because he was at the back. The only thing he could say was that he had the impression that Mr Badarou was driving fast. The road was good, no oil on the ground there was no traffic, he did not hit anything and the road was straight at particular spot for several kilometres.
What happened?
Nobody knows because Mr Badarou himself says he does not remember. Yes, amnesia.
A local radio brushed the accident and Mr Badarou tried to put a lid on that.
A man lost his life and nobody knows why or how. What did Engen do about it?A father and husband died but life continues. It is just……business as usual.
They took place in December 2008.Mr Badarou newly appointed as director of Engen Guinea Bissau had an accident of the Ziguinchor-Bissau road. There were 3 people in the vehicle that belonged to Engen: Mr Badarou and 2 soldiers.
One of the soldiers lost his life in the accident and the other one came out unscathed. Mr Badarou was severely injured and he taken to São Domingos, the closest town then to Ziguinchor (Senegal) just minutes after the accident by some travellers.
He admitted in a hospital in that city that is about 200km away from Bissau.
After the doctors judged his condition stable he was taken to Dakar for further tests and care.
Mr Badarou went back to work about 2 weeks later. His co-workers were worried about him. However Mr Badarou is now well.
The thing is many seem to forget that there is need to know what happened. The vehicle belonged to Engen and the person driving was an Engen employee.
Was Mr Badarou working when he had the accident?
The other soldier who survived said he did know what happened because he was at the back. The only thing he could say was that he had the impression that Mr Badarou was driving fast. The road was good, no oil on the ground there was no traffic, he did not hit anything and the road was straight at particular spot for several kilometres.
What happened?
Nobody knows because Mr Badarou himself says he does not remember. Yes, amnesia.
A local radio brushed the accident and Mr Badarou tried to put a lid on that.
A man lost his life and nobody knows why or how. What did Engen do about it?A father and husband died but life continues. It is just……business as usual.
Monday, 15 June 2009
What is happening at ASB?
ASB is a company owned part by Engen GB part by Petrogal.
When Total was still in Guinea Bissau he director was one of the signatories on the accounts and an employee was appointed to manage ASB. employee knows a lot on the legal and technical aspect of supplies for planes. the current management is trying to replace him with the stocks manager.
1-In march 2009,Mr Bastou Badarou and Aminou Abache organize a meeting with the employees of ASB without informing the person appointed to manage the company.
2-Mr Badarou refuses to renew the contract of an employee of ASB, Mr Edgar de Jesus Pinto Vieira Reis and gives the stocks manager the green light to recruit somebody who happens to be one of his friends(who leased his pumps to ASB).Can´t ASB buy its own pumps?
3-It seems that the stock manager received a big salary increase.
The truth is that some get profit from the storing and sales of petrol and mixture.ASB due to its isolation is the right place to store and sell those products which makes it a strategic point.
The objective of Mr Badarou is to get rid of anybody who can disturb him in his illegal business.
First he pushes away the person responsible of the company.
Secondly, he gets rid of an employee who was line-managed by the stocks manager.
Finally, they hire the owner of the pump and friend of the stocks manager.
Nothing of this is known is Cape Town as all the information coming from or going to the headquarters pass through Mr Badarou and Abache.
When it is time for Engen to review the forecast or plans this year in Guinea Bissau, the reasons for low performance will be : political, military problems, elections, global crisis…
The true reasons like: bad management, conflict of interest, lack of motivation of staff, misuse of company resources, etc will never come up.
The only is that the whole Engen reputation will be permanently stained.
When Total was still in Guinea Bissau he director was one of the signatories on the accounts and an employee was appointed to manage ASB. employee knows a lot on the legal and technical aspect of supplies for planes. the current management is trying to replace him with the stocks manager.
1-In march 2009,Mr Bastou Badarou and Aminou Abache organize a meeting with the employees of ASB without informing the person appointed to manage the company.
2-Mr Badarou refuses to renew the contract of an employee of ASB, Mr Edgar de Jesus Pinto Vieira Reis and gives the stocks manager the green light to recruit somebody who happens to be one of his friends(who leased his pumps to ASB).Can´t ASB buy its own pumps?
3-It seems that the stock manager received a big salary increase.
The truth is that some get profit from the storing and sales of petrol and mixture.ASB due to its isolation is the right place to store and sell those products which makes it a strategic point.
The objective of Mr Badarou is to get rid of anybody who can disturb him in his illegal business.
First he pushes away the person responsible of the company.
Secondly, he gets rid of an employee who was line-managed by the stocks manager.
Finally, they hire the owner of the pump and friend of the stocks manager.
Nothing of this is known is Cape Town as all the information coming from or going to the headquarters pass through Mr Badarou and Abache.
When it is time for Engen to review the forecast or plans this year in Guinea Bissau, the reasons for low performance will be : political, military problems, elections, global crisis…
The true reasons like: bad management, conflict of interest, lack of motivation of staff, misuse of company resources, etc will never come up.
The only is that the whole Engen reputation will be permanently stained.
Friday, 29 May 2009
Engen GB in trouble
Engen GB might be in trouble after all the social tensions the company went through as they all have their consequences on performance.
Everybody knows that happy employees make a happy company. The employees´ conditions are very bad. The distribution of tasks, functions and benefits are done on affinity rather than performance. The salaries are among the lowest of the oil sector companies. The director is not interested in dialogue and his only objective is to get rid of any challenges and destroy the trade union. The end result is a total confusion that has consequences on the company’s sales and therefore performance.
Most of Total, now Engen GB customers were private companies, institutions, international organisations and NGO´s that are very strict on ethical issues. They have some principle that might make reluctant to continue dealing with a company that does not have any respect for the employees, people, laws and transparency rules.
What is the future of Engen GB?
Nobody knows.Only Engen can answer that question.
Everybody knows that happy employees make a happy company. The employees´ conditions are very bad. The distribution of tasks, functions and benefits are done on affinity rather than performance. The salaries are among the lowest of the oil sector companies. The director is not interested in dialogue and his only objective is to get rid of any challenges and destroy the trade union. The end result is a total confusion that has consequences on the company’s sales and therefore performance.
Most of Total, now Engen GB customers were private companies, institutions, international organisations and NGO´s that are very strict on ethical issues. They have some principle that might make reluctant to continue dealing with a company that does not have any respect for the employees, people, laws and transparency rules.
What is the future of Engen GB?
Nobody knows.Only Engen can answer that question.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Injustice at Engen GB
The regional director for West Africa at Engen promised that there would be a salary review for the employees of Engen GB during a meeting in December 2008.However the only thing Mr Bastou Badarou did was to give the employees a salary increase.
One of the main issues is the fact that nobody knows what the criteria for the increase are. Some received 20,000fcfa, others more than 100,000fcfa increase. Many people now think that Mr Badarou did that in order to reward some employee who closed their eyes on some of his little arrangements.
Engen GB is one of the oil company in Guinea Bissau pays the lowest salaries.But that is not an issue for Mr Bastou Badarou as to him the employees are almost like slaves.
Threats, arbitrary punishments, blackmail and corruption are part of Engen GB culture now. All the employees suffer in silence because they are afraid and they have already seen what the price of asking questions is. They do not know what their rights within the company are (no access to the HR policies…).What Mr Badarou and mr Abache say goes.The employees feel left out because they have the impression that nobody cares as otherwise all those things would not have happened
One of the main issues is the fact that nobody knows what the criteria for the increase are. Some received 20,000fcfa, others more than 100,000fcfa increase. Many people now think that Mr Badarou did that in order to reward some employee who closed their eyes on some of his little arrangements.
Engen GB is one of the oil company in Guinea Bissau pays the lowest salaries.But that is not an issue for Mr Bastou Badarou as to him the employees are almost like slaves.
Threats, arbitrary punishments, blackmail and corruption are part of Engen GB culture now. All the employees suffer in silence because they are afraid and they have already seen what the price of asking questions is. They do not know what their rights within the company are (no access to the HR policies…).What Mr Badarou and mr Abache say goes.The employees feel left out because they have the impression that nobody cares as otherwise all those things would not have happened
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Employees at Engen GB are worried about their situations and they raised some issues during a meeting with Mr Hassen Zalgaonker.He told them that Engen would keep its promise and give a 3 month salary bonus 6 months after taking over the company,i.e May 2009(as agreed before).
However the employees see no sign that there will any compliance from the local management.
Mr Badarou,then answered in creole(the local language)to Mr Zalgaonker.He said that Mr Zalgaonker was not his line manager and therefore does not have the right to answer those questions.
This gives an idea on how Mr Badarou treats his subordinates,colleagues and line managers.
Engen GB is in fact Mr Badarou´s private playground.
However the employees see no sign that there will any compliance from the local management.
Mr Badarou,then answered in creole(the local language)to Mr Zalgaonker.He said that Mr Zalgaonker was not his line manager and therefore does not have the right to answer those questions.
This gives an idea on how Mr Badarou treats his subordinates,colleagues and line managers.
Engen GB is in fact Mr Badarou´s private playground.
Court summons Mr Bastou Badarou
The manager of the Kalliste Hotel went to Engen GB office to meet Mr Badarou.The main issue was related to some unpaid bills.There were some misunderstandings and Mr Badarou insulted the gentleman and had him expelled from the premises.
The manager then filed a complaint against the company.Mr Badarou was supposed to answer at the court last week (19th to 24th May).
This is another stain on Engen reputation in Guinea Bissau
The manager then filed a complaint against the company.Mr Badarou was supposed to answer at the court last week (19th to 24th May).
This is another stain on Engen reputation in Guinea Bissau
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Witch hunt at Engen GB
The management of Engen GB,in the person of Mr Badarou is not happy about the news on the net.Recently a staff member was appointed to discover who is behind all this.To punish or to have an idea on how much the person knows about him?
There is a disciplinary process against the head for the trade union and he is accused of arrogance,disrespect fo his superior and the company procedures, not working on Sundays and not doing his work correctly.However can anyone have faith when the defense is heard before the accusation?when the person accused is punished by the management even before the conclusion of the disciplinary process?
Does the Engen vocabulary really include words like:justice,equity,respect?Maybe.But not for Engen GB.After all Mr Badarou said that the international employee (from the integration area) who recently visited the branch in Guinea Bissau did not have the right to tell him how to run his office.
Maybe this is a "TOTAL" culture ,Mr badarou is trying to import into Engen as the same thing is happening in Burkina Faso where all the TOTAL employees are on strike.
Is Engen GB going in the same direction?
Can Engen afford strikes or lawsuits at this critical time?
Only Engen can give answers.
There is a disciplinary process against the head for the trade union and he is accused of arrogance,disrespect fo his superior and the company procedures, not working on Sundays and not doing his work correctly.However can anyone have faith when the defense is heard before the accusation?when the person accused is punished by the management even before the conclusion of the disciplinary process?
Does the Engen vocabulary really include words like:justice,equity,respect?Maybe.But not for Engen GB.After all Mr Badarou said that the international employee (from the integration area) who recently visited the branch in Guinea Bissau did not have the right to tell him how to run his office.
Maybe this is a "TOTAL" culture ,Mr badarou is trying to import into Engen as the same thing is happening in Burkina Faso where all the TOTAL employees are on strike.
Is Engen GB going in the same direction?
Can Engen afford strikes or lawsuits at this critical time?
Only Engen can give answers.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Engen GB getting rid of employees
On the 15th of April Mr Edgar de Jesus Pinto Vieira Reis was told by Mr Badarou that his contract would not be renewed.He was on a one year contract with ASB a company owned Engen GB and Petrogal with 50% shares each.
Engen GB had told the employees that their contracts would be respected and realigned even the fixed term ones.
Did Engen change its position?
Is Mr Reis a scapegoat?
is the new management trying to show that staff what will happen to them if they continue to challenge them?
At the Mr Badarou is putting pressure on the staff,suspecting them of telling on him.
Who will be the next victim of Mr Badarou´s "folie des grandeurs"?
No matter the answer to these questions,one thing is sure:all the employees of Engen GB are worried about their future.
Engen GB had told the employees that their contracts would be respected and realigned even the fixed term ones.
Did Engen change its position?
Is Mr Reis a scapegoat?
is the new management trying to show that staff what will happen to them if they continue to challenge them?
At the Mr Badarou is putting pressure on the staff,suspecting them of telling on him.
Who will be the next victim of Mr Badarou´s "folie des grandeurs"?
No matter the answer to these questions,one thing is sure:all the employees of Engen GB are worried about their future.
Conflict of interest in Engen GB?
Engen GB has a new financial manager Mr Aminou Abache.This gentleman was part of all the auditing mission in Guinea Bissau even when the company was still called Total GB.He became friend with the current director.There was later a need to recruit a financial manager when Mr.Badarou was promoted as director.The reason why Mr.Abache was recruited is not very clear to many people.
Were there no suitable applicants?
Is Mr Badarou trying to reward Mr Abache for all the good reports he wrote?
The truth is that the other managers are being pushed and those in control are the 2 gentlemen named above.
Were there no suitable applicants?
Is Mr Badarou trying to reward Mr Abache for all the good reports he wrote?
The truth is that the other managers are being pushed and those in control are the 2 gentlemen named above.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Engen Guinea-Bissau harasses employees
A trade union was created to fight against the way Engen Guinea-Bissau mistreats its employees.The main issues were about a salary survey that was supposed to be conducted by the company.Mr.Badarou ordered a customized survey from an audit firm.The trade union tried to have more information but the resultat the suspension of the trade union president.The president has been working in that company for almost 2 years and has never received any blame.The new financial director started on the 18th March and he is a former auditor of the firm.He blamed the president of the trade union of not respecting the procedures and not doing his work while no employee has ever received any information on Engen HR procedures.Another thing is that the current director of Engen Guinea Bissau has forbidden the local from writing to any other Engen international staff without his approval.
What has really caused the suspension of the president of the trade union just 4 months after the creation of the organization and his appointment at its head?
Is Engen not interested in listening to their employees´ concerns?
What is the future of Engen Guinea-Bissau?
No matter the answers to these questions,the population of Guinea-Bissau now sees the other side of the Engen coin.
What has really caused the suspension of the president of the trade union just 4 months after the creation of the organization and his appointment at its head?
Is Engen not interested in listening to their employees´ concerns?
What is the future of Engen Guinea-Bissau?
No matter the answers to these questions,the population of Guinea-Bissau now sees the other side of the Engen coin.
Engen Guinea-Bissau challenges Nino,The President of Guinea-Bissau
The president´s service requested for fuel for the plane that had brought Nino back from abroad.The director of Engen,M.Bastou Badarou gave the order to refuse supplying the presidential plane.The president sent a cheque to prepay for the fuel.The cheque was also rejected on the orders of the director,asking the president´s services to go and certify the cheque.The director of a local bank had to call M Badarou and act as a collateral.
Mr. Nino,the President of Guinea-Bissau summoned Mr.Badarou who refused to go saying that he had another meeting.He was summoned again for Monday 2nd March 2009through the minister of transport.We all know what happened that day in Guinea-Bissau.
The President is dead,but what will be the relationship between the government of Guinea-Bissau and Engen Guinea-Bissau.
Mr. Nino,the President of Guinea-Bissau summoned Mr.Badarou who refused to go saying that he had another meeting.He was summoned again for Monday 2nd March 2009through the minister of transport.We all know what happened that day in Guinea-Bissau.
The President is dead,but what will be the relationship between the government of Guinea-Bissau and Engen Guinea-Bissau.
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