By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The International Migration Organization (IOM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, on Tuesday 28th February, 2023 launched the “Keep the Beach Clean” Campaign designed to be undertaken by three hundred (300) Sierra Leoneans who attempted to seek greener pastures abroad but were either forced to return or were deported back to Sierra Leone. The event took place at Kallon Car Park, Lumley Beach, Freetown.
Explaining the rationale behind the launch of the programme, IOM Head of Office, Christos Christodoulides informed his audience which included the three hundred returnees, government ministers, journalists and other distinguished guests that it had become a norm over the years for Sierra Leonean victims of irregular migration to suffer extremely after returning home.
He said the IOM and its partners this time round decided to launch the “Keep the Beach Clean” Campaign for migrant returnees to be engaged in cleaning the beaches for a period of four months after which they would receive a package which they can use to develop themselves. He further stated that, after the stipulated four months, the participants would then have the opportunity to be absorbed by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture into mainstream sectors as long as there is a vacancy and the participant has the relevant qualification or skills.
According to him, the programme also provides for cleaner environments and cleaner beaches, adding that clean beaches attract tourists. He maintained that Sierra Leone is among countries with the highest rate of irregular migrants seeking greener pastures abroad but that, he believes that with the “Keep the Beach Clean” Campaign, returnees would engage themselves meaningfully and after recouping from their experiences, serve as ambassadors to sensitize other potential irregular immigrants about the dangers of irregular immigration.
Delivering her Keynote address, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, thanked IOM and the other partners including government ministries and the UN system for believing in the programme and for playing leading roles in its establishment/. She informed her audience that it all started in December last year with a batch of returnees who had nothing to do after returning home. She said that after consultation with IOM and other players, they agreed to embark on a programme which would engage returnees and at the same time, serve as a platform for them to reflect on the fact that irregular migration is more problematic than a solution. She admonished them not to lose hope or faith but to always consider the fact that staying at home and keeping themselves busy could reap more dividends that trying to migrate to another country the improper way.
She reiterated that the campaign would last for four months after which, the participants will receive a package, adding that her ministry will consider absorbing those that are well-behaved and competent enough into mainstream employment in the Tourism sector.
Other speakers at the historic event were Minister of Social Welfare Baindu Dassama, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Lusine Kallon and the Minister of Environment Prof. Foday Jaward. They all shared similar sentiments and admonished the returnees to grasp reality now, serve as ambassadors instructing other potential irregular migrants to not venture but rather to do what they can to engage themselves internally and help in the development of Sierra Leone.
The climax of the event was a brief explanation by two returnees, Isata Sesay and Mohamed Lamin Kamara. They spoke of the horrors and dangers they and colleagues suffered at the hands of human traffickers while en-route to countries abroad. They both used the opportunity to call on other young Sierra Leoneans that would be thinking of risking their lives to make such a journey to desist because it is a painful and uncompromising journey.
The audience was later thrilled by a Sierra Leonean musician residing in France who in one of his songs, recounted his own irregular journey abroad but at the same time, admonished his colleagues not to try such a journey because it could be fatal.
