It's about manners, not race

NOT HAPPY: Alan Longmore was not impressed when he caught three Sudanese men urinating on the wall of his Rockhampton business.

Allan Reinikka

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ALAN Longmore was one of the Rockhampton business owners who banned a small group of Sudanese men from his store.

He yesterday defended his decision in light of The Morning Bulletin’s front page story in which the group’s members claimed they were being unfairly treated and victimised in Rockhampton.

Alan operates Billman’s Store on Lakes Creek Road, next door to the Central Hotel where the Sudanese men stay while they’re employed in Rockhampton as meatworkers.

He said a couple of months ago when he was closing the store just before 7pm, he caught three of the men urinating on his building.

Alan said he was offended by their behaviour that night, which is why he banned them from returning to his store.

“I would have done the same thing for anyone caught urinating on my building; I wasn’t being racist,” he said.

“I don’t know why they didn’t use the toilet at their hotel, a few steps away.”

Alan said he told the men they weren’t welcome back until they cleaned up the mess.

“It wasn’t until about a week and a half later that someone came back to clean it up. I don’t even know if it was them,” Alan said.

Alan said he lived at the back of his store and his two young daughters’ windows were at the side of the building where the incident happened.

“I don’t know what I would have said if they saw it happen.”

A group of Sudanese men have been subjected to bans from businesses including a shop, pubs and clubs.

One of the men, Jacod Elia argued that if one Sudanese person committed a minor infringement, all were blamed.

Yesterday Alan said that despite being insulted by the urinating incident, they were welcome back in his store after the mess was cleaned.

The Morning Bulletin was unable to contact the Sudanese men yesterday.

It is believed there are at least five Sudanese families living in Rockhampton.

Related: Sudanese want a fair go

After receiving further information, do you think Longmore's actions were fair? Leave your comments below...