Monrovia-The Liberia Nationwide Casket Union (LINCU) has known as for unity amongst its members and urged the general public to stay vigilant following what it describes as makes an attempt by sure funeral houses to limit bereaved households from buying caskets from unbiased sellers.
In a press assertion issued over the weekend, LINCU accused St. Moses Funeral House, by its supervisor and President of the Funeral Houses Affiliation of Liberia, Mr. Moses H. Ahossouhe, of issuing notices to varied funeral houses allegedly discouraging or limiting households from shopping for caskets exterior funeral residence amenities.
In accordance with the union, the alleged notices quantity to anti-competitive coercion and undermine the rights of grieving households to freely select the place to buy funeral gadgets.
“The Republic of Liberia operates an open market system. No particular person or establishment has the authority to dictate the place bereaved households should buy caskets or whom they have to do enterprise with,” LINCU stated in its assertion.
The union additional condemned what it described as intimidation ways in opposition to weak households during times of grief, warning that any try to stress mourners into signing “commitments” to make use of particular casket suppliers is unacceptable.
“A citation is merely a suggestion. Households have the inherent proper to simply accept, negotiate, or search alternate options,” the assertion famous, including that funeral houses are solely entitled to cost for providers they immediately render, akin to embalming.
LINCU emphasised that its craftsmen and store house owners present important and dignified providers and vowed that members would stay resolute and proceed working with integrity and professionalism regardless of the alleged restrictions.
Nevertheless, responding to the claims, Mr. Moses H. Ahossouhe clarified that St. Moses Funeral House just isn’t compelling households to buy caskets solely from its parlor.
“I’m not forcing any household to purchase a casket from St. Moses Funeral House,” Ahossouhe stated.
“What we do is advise households on requirements. We give them the choice, and it could be good for households to buy a casket that meets acceptable requirements.”
He denied issuing any directive meant to coerce or prohibit households’ decisions, insisting that the funeral residence’s precedence is to make sure dignity and high quality in funeral providers.
Regardless of this clarification, LINCU maintained that the discover circulated to funeral houses had the impact of discouraging households from patronizing unbiased casket retailers and known as on related authorities to pay attention to the state of affairs.
The union additionally appealed on to the general public, together with international nationals residing in Liberia, to not succumb to stress.
“Don’t be afraid. Don’t enable any enterprise to bully or power you into surrendering your freedom of alternative,” LINCU acknowledged.
“You’re legally and morally entitled to patronize any casket store you deem match, based mostly on high quality, value, and compassion.”
The event has reignited debate over competitors, client rights, and moral practices inside Liberia’s funeral providers business.
