By Amin Kef (Ranger)
One of the most successful indigenous business entities that has admirably displayed innovative and sterling initiatives in the manufacturing sector that produces qualitative garments TEES Shopping Centre, situated on 100b Wilkinson Road, Freetown and the National Social Security Insurance Trust (NASSIT) have been ordered by a Magistrate to settle their differences and report back to her.
The Magistrate’s order came in the wake of an allegation that the Company was in defiance of according NASSIT access to conduct an inspection for payment of NASSIT dues to be determined.
However, while the Magistrate was reviewing the matter, she discovered that TEES Shopping Centre has never prevented NASSIT from doing so and therefore came to the conclusion that the two should conduct the inspection and settle their differences, an order both have carried out.
Lamentably, an unfounded account reported, short of accuracy, presented the insinuation that the company is adamantly trying to shy away from honouring its statutory obligation of honouring NASSIT inspection.
Established by a former Cabinet Minister, Alhaji Musa Tarawally, TEES Shopping Centre has been widely acclaimed as a shining example of an indigenous investment.
Specialized in the manufacturing of high classed Made in Sierra Leone garments and wears of quality textiles, which are marketed in and out of the country, the company is set to produce garments for institutions on a massive scale and now expanding its production facility internationally.
One admirable aspect of the former Cabinet Minister’s investment is bringing experts, especially from Asia who have the requisite expertise in the production of these high classed garments of all shapes and in turn transferring knowledge to Sierra Leoneans with the expectation of building their capacity and reducing the need to import foreigners.
In a snap telephone chat, the erudite and versatile entrepreneur stated that other Governments like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Ghana, Togo Benin and Niger, support private sector investors to achieve such meaningful and job creating manufacturing projects, making them part of National Development Projects.
He underscored how our Government and institutions must be seen supporting such type of national development projects undertaken by a patriotic Sierra Leonean adding that he also plans to start cotton plantation that will further employ and create livelihood opportunities for over 25,000 Sierra Leoneans in five years.
In a country where former politicians have hardly demonstrated the culture of making meaningful investments that should contribute to national development, the bold step taken by Alhaji Musa Tarawally in establishing this manufacturing has been widely commended. In the long term it will generate substantial revenue and foreign exchange for our country.
There is a school of thought that expresses the view that there should be certain incentives that should be put in place to motivate people like former Cabinet Ministers and Civil Servants to make meaningful investments in various sectors. They argued that such could dispel the notion that funds meant for investments were acquired through surreptitious means, maintaining that such could be a reason that is holding them back from doing so.
It must be noted that TEES Shopping Centre is a Limited Liability Company with shareholders, meaning that it has a form of legal protection for shareholders and its owner that prevents them from being held personally responsible for any debts or financial losses. Therefore, Hon. Musa Tarawally shouldn’t be personally held responsible.
