During the commemoration of World Cancer Day held at the Bintumani Conference Hall at Aberdeen in Freetown on 4th February 2019, the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, told the audience that only diagnosis can save lives and called on the Government to ensure that a cancer treatment centre is established in the country.
The event was graced by President Bio, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corp, MPs, Ministers and a host of development partners and health stakeholders. Madam Bio explained how she was able to get international attention to the plight of cancer patients in Sierra Leone during an international conference she attended overseas. She explained that because of the absence of cancer diagnosis machines, medical expertise and the necessary facilities for the treatment of cancer, 70% of people who have the disease die of it.
The First Lady further disclosed that 10 Doctors will soon be leaving the country for further studies on cancer, and on their return they will boost the country’s ability to handle the disease. These doctors are being sponsored by her Foundation ( Fatima Bio Foundation) to study in India and Egypt. She then introduced the doctors to the audience and admonished them to take their studies very seriously and return to the country to help their compatriots.
Madam Bio further unveiled a blue print of the type of standard hospital that she is calling on the Government to build in the country. This hospital will not only serve Sierra Leoneans, but will serve citizens from the neighbouring countries of Guinea and Liberia. The hospital, she stated will not only be for cancer treatment, but will embrace all types of ailments. She stressed that after independence the country’s hospital has not changed and it is now time to get a modern facility with all the necessary equipment to handle all types of diseases. She stressed that the construction of a cancer treatment and diagnosis centre is urgent.
She singled out Dr. Owiss Koroma for an award, which she said he deserves as the only pathologist in the country with over 30 years’ experience and an ardent campaigner against the disease. The plaque was officially handed over to the pathologist for his service by the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
Giving the Keynote address, President Bio gave harrowing figures of cases of cancer recorded in the country. He said 3,000 people are diagnosed every year with cancer and out of this number, 2,200 of them die. He stressed that 900 of the 2,200 are male whilst 1,300 are female. This is so because the majority of them do not have the finance to pay for overseas treatment and the country lacked the facility and expertise to deal with such cases. He further recalled that during his campaign he promised to develop the human capital and praised the First Lady for taking this venture to fund 10 doctors to do further studies (specialized courses). This move, his government will complement. Treatment from all diseases must be made available, accessible and affordable to all Sierra Leoneans, he added.
He called for the intensification of awareness campaign, which he said should start now, if the war against the disease is to be won. President Bio further disclosed that a diagnosis centre and a Radiotherapy unit is going to cost the country $19.8 billion at an interest rate of 1.7% over a 10 year period. Sierra Leoneans deserve better healthcare service delivery.
Other speakers made similar statements and called for awareness raising campaign across the nation. Passionate appeals were made by 2 surviving cancer patients, Madam Simingie Mondeh and Kadija Konneh. A gift was given to the First Lady by the Cancer Society as a token of their appreciation for taking onboard their course.
A skit about cancer and a video of the blueprint of the First Lady’s Hospital Complex was displayed. The ceremony was climaxed by the vote of thanks offered by Kadija Konneh, a cancer survivor.

Ummah Welfare Trust is a UK-based International Relief, Development and Charitable Organization which years back was convinced or influenced to consider Sierra Leone in their humanitarian gestures by one of the country’s business tycoons, a politician and philanthropist in no less a person than the compassionate minded Hon. Musa Tarawallie.
The Organization on Saturday 2nd February 2019 donated the sum of 3.8 Billion Leones to Muslims in the Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone.
Before the donation was made, Musa Tarawallie who led the team gave brief background information about Ummah Welfare Trust revealing how it is one of the largest Muslim Charitable Organizations in the world.
“I came into contact with them three years ago and explained to them about the plight Muslims in Sierra Leone are going through and promised that they assist to remedy the situation which they did. Last year alone the Organization spent 1.3 Billion Leones in the country and now they have registered as an Islamic Humanitarian Charity Organization in Sierra Leone which is good news to us. This time now they have come to offer you the sum of 3.8 Billion Leones,” the well known Musa Tarawallie informed the Muslim audience who greeted his statement with a round of applause. He admonished them to use the money judiciously in order to further the cause of Islam
He stated that very soon the Ummah Welfare Trust will start to build more masjids (mosques), Islamic schools, will offer sponsorships to orphans and widows in order to ensure that these vulnerable people take their rightful places in society. He admonished the beneficiaries to make good use of the money.
Hon. Musa Tarawallie thanked President Bio and his Government for the warm welcome given to the organization and for conducting a successful 2018 Hajj pilgrimage which he stated shows that the Government is committed to address the problems Muslims are facing in the country.
He stated that his grandfather was one of those who took Islam to Moyamba District.
“West Africa Regional Coordinator of Ummah Welfare Trust is poised to provide financial assistance to Muslims all over the world. It was established in 2001 and inspired by the Islamic teachings of empathy, generosity and selflessness, the Trust aims to alleviate poverty and suffering across the world. It is providing emergency relief, such as food and medical aid, to victims of conflict and natural disasters,” he furthered.
Musa Tarawallie also stated that 5 Million Leones will be given to each of the beneficiaries and it will benefit all the Mosques within Moyamba District.
He stated that the money was given to the beneficiaries for their resilient efforts in upholding the values of Islam in the country.
The pragmatic philanthropist revealed that Ummah Welfare Trust will work across the four regions of Sierra Leone.
He applauded Sierra Leoneans for the interreligious unity that the country is enjoying,
He encouraged other non-Muslims to come forward and embrace Islam, because it a religion of peace and love.
The beneficiaries in jubilant moods prayed and showered blessings for Ummah Welfare Trust and Hon: Musa Tarawallie for what they described as a timely gesture openly stating that they have never received such a short gesture from any organization or individual.

As the campaign intensifies to get rid of Female Genital Mutilation the story a victim whipped sympathy in many quarter .Mary Oloiparuni was 13 when she was mutilated. Restrained in a doorway early one morning in her home, she was cut, bled profusely and experienced agonizing pain. The scarring she endured then continues to cause her pain today, 19 years later. It has made giving birth to each of her five children an excruciating and harrowing experience.
Mary is not alone. At least 200 million girls and women alive today have had their genitals mutilated – suffering one of the most inhuman acts of gender-based violence in the world.
On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, UNFPA reaffirms its commitment to end this violation of human rights, so that the tens of millions of girls who are still at risk of being mutilated by 2030 do not experience the same suffering as Mary.
It was maintained that this effort is especially critical because female genital mutilation leads to long-term physical, psychological and social consequences. It violates women’s rights to sexual and reproductive health, physical integrity, non-discrimination and freedom from cruel or degrading treatment. It is also a violation of medical ethics: Female genital mutilation is never safe, no matter who carries it out or how clean the venue is.
Because female genital mutilation is a form of gender-based violence, the Organization cannot address it in isolation from other forms of violence against women and girls, or other harmful practices such as early and forced marriages. To end female genital mutilation, UNFPA has to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and work for women’s social and economic empowerment.
In 2015, world leaders overwhelmingly backed the elimination of FGM as one of the targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is an achievable goal, and all must act now to translate that political commitment into action.
At the national level there is need for new policies and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women to live free from violence and discrimination. Governments in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent should also develop national action plans to end the practice. To be effective, plans must include budget lines dedicated to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, education, social welfare and legal services.
At the regional level, there is also need for institutions and economic communities to work together, preventing the movement of girls and women across borders when the purpose is to get them into countries with less restrictive female genital mutilation laws.
Locally, religious leaders must strike down myths that female genital mutilation has a basis in religion. Because societal pressures often drive the practice, individuals and families need more information about the benefits of abandoning it.

Public pledges to abandon female genital mutilation – particularly pledges by entire communities – are an effective model of collective commitment. But public pledges must be paired with comprehensive strategies for challenging the social norms, practices and behaviours that condone female genital mutilation. Testimonials by survivors like Mary also help to build understanding of the practice’s grim reality and long-lasting impact on women’s lives. Advocacy campaigns and social media can amplify the message that ending female genital mutilation saves and improves lives.
As a result of the collective action of governments, civil society, communities and individuals, female genital mutilation is in decline. But the aim is not for fewer cases of this practice but insistence insisting on zero.

Amidst concerns raised by various stakeholders in the Sambaia Chiefdom in the Tonkolili District over the attempts by Hon. Alhaji Musa Bambeh-Foray Jalloh aka ‘Musa Bendugu’ of Constituency 056 to contest in the Chieftaincy election in the Chiefdom has come under is questionable mainly on the basis that he must have resigned as a Member of Parliament long ago.

Hon Jalloh seemed undaunted by this concern and is bent on clinching the Chieftaincy by all means, boasting that as a Member of Parliament of the ruling SLPP party, he has their backing to contest the election and after becoming the new Paramount Chief, he will simply deliver the seat he now occupies in Parliament to his hand-picked successor.
In spite of the open violation of the provisions of the Constitution and the fact that he is not eligible to contest the said election, as it has been undoubtedly established that he is not a son of the ruling house, but he is doggedly insisting that he will get the position at all cost.
According to residents in the chiefdom, the known and bonafide members of the family of the late Paramount Chief, Hon. Alimamy Kulio Jalloh II are still alive and have shown intension to contest in the election. They are the direct heirs to the throne according to the Chieftaincy Act of 2009 section 8 (1):

8. (1) A person is qualified to stand as a candidate in a paramount chieftaincy election if-
(a) he was born in wedlock to a rightful claimant in a recognized ruling house in the chiefdom; or
(b) where tradition so specifies, he or she has direct paternal or maternal lineage to a rightful claimant in a recognized ruling house, whether born outside wedlock or not.

Our investigations unearthed that Hon. Musa Bendugu of Constituency 056, is not a member of the ruling house and is not qualified to contest the said elections if it is conducted according to the provisions of the Customary Act of 2009. They stated that according to section 9 (d) of the Act;
9. Notwithstanding the provisions of any enactment, a person is not qualified to stand as a candidate in a paramount chieftaincy election if:
(d) he is the adopted child of the person from whom he claims to be qualified.

Hon. Musa Bendugu is still not qualified even if he claims adoption by the late PC.
Stakeholders interviewed in the Chiefdom say that the Hon. MP has doctored the delegates list in his favour due to his political influence without the consent of the elders. He is alleged to have inflated the Tribal Authority list (list of eligible voters), which is in violation of the Chieftaincy Act of 2009, section 4 (3) & (4):
4 (3) Subject to paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 18, the election of a Paramount Chief shall not be invalidated by any irregularity in the revision of the Gazette List used for the election, but it is an offence for any person compiling that List to knowingly take into account an inflated number of taxpayers.
(4) The revision of the Chiefdom Councillors list shall be undertaken by the office of the Provincial Secretary in collaboration with the Electoral Commission.

They maintained that the Provincial Secretary did not revise the said list as the MP would want to postulate, but rather he simply hand-picked his own loyalists and incorporated them into the list. The family further explained that the MP could not be more SLPP than the late Chief and his family who suffered in the past in the name of the party.
Furthermore, it was also disclosed and confirmed by some members in the community,within Tonkolili, that Hon. Musa Bendugu, during his campaign tour of the various villages in the Chiefdom, has been telling residents that he has appealed for support from the SLPP party to actualise this dream, a clear violation of section 7 (2) of the Chieftaincy Act of 2009 which states:
(2) No government Minister or other official, and no political party, whether collectively or otherwise, shall promote or show support or preference for the candidature of any particular contestant in a paramount chieftaincy election.

The above Act states clearly that there should be no political party influence by way of support for the candidature of any person contesting the chieftaincy election. Thus insinuations of wooing the support of the SLPP for the seat of the Paramount Chief in the Sambaia Bendugu chiefdom is an act against the stipulations of the law enacted by Parliament in 2009 as provided for in section 72 (5) of the 1991 constitution: 72 (5) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and in furtherance of the provisions of this section, Parliament shall make laws for the qualifications, election, powers, functions, removal and other matters connected with the Chieftaincy.

Whilst the constitution prevents a person from vying for the position of Member of Parliament if he is Paramount Chief, the inverse is implied here and legal luminaries have been consulted on their opinion on this matter and their response has been the same. In fact they went further to state that anyone holding such office should resign at least 12 months to the elections. As things continue to unfold, the public is waiting to see if another violation of the constitution will be allowed, especially as the Hon MP is quoted as saying that no law prevents him from contesting the Chieftaincy election whilst he is still a member of Parliament and that after the election results for the chieftaincy is announced, he can then resign his seat in Parliament and not before that.
It should be noted that the Constitution guarantees fair play in all elections and nobody is allowed to have undue advantage over the other. This is why certain restrictions have been put on interested candidates who may want to contest any election. Residents of the chiefdom and even members of that chiefdom living in the diaspora are calling for the intervention of President Bio on the matter. In their submission, they claim that the Honorable Musa Bendugu was brought into the SLPP fold by the late S.B Marah as he was a former APC stalwart and that he should not be making as if he is more SLPP than them. They want the MP to cease from usurping the powers of the District Officer or Local Government Minister to change the legitimate list of Tribal Authority and replacing it with his own without the knowledge and consent of the chiefdom elders, District Office, Provincial Secretary and all stakeholders, as it is a recipe for chaos.
What is now really bothering many is that since Musa Bendugu was found guilty by the Anti-Corruption for untoward actions bordering on fraud and dishonesty such singularly must disqualify him outright as he could not be trusted especially after he converted to own the late Paramount Chief’s assets. It was further alleged by members in the community interviewed and some officials in the Chiefdom that the Honorable Member of Parliament orchestrated the removal of the Mammy Queen of the Chiefdom, Madam Pessie Tarawallie and replaced her with Madam Morie Bamba as the new Mammy Queen without going through the usual protocol of elections done in that regard. He has also been accused of replacing the old Youth Leader, Sheku Thoronka, with his preferred choice Monso Marah and has ordered the cancellation of the existing Tribal Authority list and replaced it with a new list certified by him. This, they say, is a bid to ensure that he gets an unfair advantage over his rival contestants. They are calling on the minister of Local Government to investigate this matter before the election reaches.
Some political analysts say that the MP should have thought carefully about his intentions before going for the seat of Member of Parliament. His actions now will add more financial burden on the government to conduct a by-election when he leaves the seat, an endeavor that could have been avoided if only he had thought well before going for the position of MP.
Hon. Jalloh has been accused of holding meetings in the 4 sections of the Chiefdom, where on all such occasions; he had offered the sacrifice of a cow (Sambaia Section, Buyan Section, Dayie Section and Borowa Section). Chiefdom sources say that he has been instrumental in the appointment of Mines Wardens and a Chairman of Operations, Momodu Kamara, to collect gold carats and levies for black stone minerals mined in the chiefdom and revenue from such transactions have not been made known. To further intimidate his opponents, he is alleged to have formed a vigilante group loyal to him, who are bent to terrorizing his rivals.

A humanitarian organization, Never Give Up Foundation, which was established in 2016, has been working tirelessly to ensure the standards of children are elevated.
Just after it was established, the Foundation undertook different activities aimed at giving succour to children.
The founder of Never Give Up Foundation, Lance Mavin Marah explained that the main aim of the Foundation is to assist orphan kids and children with disabilities.
Lance Mavin Marah said his main intention is to ensure that he provides shelter, food, medications and scholarships for those children.
He said Baw Baw area is the place he is planning to construct a home for them.
He disclosed that he has been engaging the children in school feeding programme in July and intends to continue with it.
In 2018, Never Give Up Foundation was engaged in community feeding programme .
The same year, the Foundation took 30 kids to watch the Black Panther movie at the Lagoonda Cinema, West of Freetown.
The motive and idea behind that ,according to the Founder that is based in Germany, was to help those kids take their minds off the tension and words going around in town during the elections.

Black Panther Movie, he went on, was the best movie they can watch at this time because the film has Black Predominant casts and is focused on how rich the African continent is and how Africa would have looked if not for colonialism and the importance for Africans to work and stay together.

All the kids were so positive and grasp the concept of the movie and knew how important the family and nation are to them.

Some of the male kids wanted to be King T’Challa, the black Panther himself (Chadwick Boseman) and some of the female kids wanted to be the King’s mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) because they said she was a caring mother and loved her son and some wanted to be the King’s sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) because they say she helped her brother a lot and knew lot about technology and others wanted to be the General in the King’s army Okoye (DanaiGurira) because they say she was loyal to her nation.

Lance Mavin Marah said for them that was very good for the kids to remember and learn how important it is to have education and help their nation. “We are planning in doing more for these kids in order for them to build our future because these kids are the future leaders,” he maintained.

The Executive Chairman of Produce Monitoring Board, Dr. James Vibbi has disclosed that the institution in three months from October to December 2018 generated the sum of Three Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-One Million, Four Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Five Leones (Le 3,231,419,655), saying that this revenue has been paid directly into the Single Treasury Account at the Bank of Sierra Leone.
He made this disclosure on the 31 January 2019 at his Lightfoot Boston Street Head office in Freetown.
He said the institution has the mandate to regulate, promote and improve the making in order optimize the export earning of farmers, encourage the production of quality produce to meet international standards.
He said since he took up office as the Executive Chairman of the Board, a lot of reforms have been done including restructuring the Quality Control, Marketing and Finance departments to make them more effective and efficient.
He informed that PMB has also streamlined its operations to improve on its organizational effectiveness to be able to deliver on its mandate.
He made it cleared that over the years the institution has been generating Le 4 Billion on average per year.
‘As provided for in Part V, Section 11 of the PMB Act of 2013, PMB charges a levy of 2.5% of the FOB value of the unit of measurement of any produce to be exported from Sierra Leone’ he noted.
He furthered stated that PMB’s presence has also been increased in some border-crossing points across the country to help forestall the smuggling of produce.
He underscored that these initial reforms have led to an unprecedented increase in revenue generated by PMB, and they are determined to increase this more by deploying additional staff at the border-crossing points to collect the statutory 2.5% levy on produce moving across our borders.
Dr. Vibbi emphasized that over the years the institution has been losing huge sums of money through under-valuation of export levies for produce and smuggling of produce at the border areas, and these are some of the key issues PMB has taken head-on, and they are determined to sustain this drive in order to generate more revenue to help the Government to deliver on its mandate.
In addition, he said the institution has in January 2019 generated a total of Eight Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Leones and Thirty-Three Cents (Le 899,361,592.33), adding that this is an evident that PMB will increase its revenue as time progresses.
He pointed out that January has been described an ‘off season’ for produce with Three Hundred Million Leones (Le 300,000,000) as highest revenue generated, but January 2019 has defied this norm given the reforms that have been implemented.
He said PMB will continue to engage famers across the country to improve on the quality of produces.
He assured that PMB will raise more revenue for government to facilitate it functions.

Medical doctors in Sierra Leone have accused the government of failing to respect an agreement they reached to put an end to last December’s devastating industrial strike action.The doctors, in a statement issued by the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Council (SLMDC), the umbrella body representing professional doctors in the country, said the government’s promise to pay its members allowances beginning January have not been fulfilled.
The doctors downed their tools early in December over what they termed at the time unfavorable working environment and poor conditions of service.
A nearly two week long strike action left the health sector paralyzed.
Eventually an agreement between the doctors’ representatives and the
government was reached as presented in a communique signed by both
parties.
It detailed the plans with timeline to address all the concerns raised by the doctors over a two-year period, including increment in pay and their allowances.
According to SLMDC, the government agreed to pay specific allowances in the short term effective January 2019.
“To the dismay of medical doctors nationwide, these allowances were not paid as agreed in the communique,” the statement said, calling on the government to pay the full allowances by February 4. While calling on its members to remain calm and continue serving the people, the Council said it would convene a general membership meeting on April 4, to discuss the matter for further actions.

Even before the first hearing of a Commission of Inquiry probing alleged corruption of former Sierra Leone government officials, two of their successors in the current administration are accused of misusing funds meant to popularize the work of the Commission. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced on Friday that it had indicted two top officials in the Ministry of Information and Communication over the alleged misuse of monies meant to be used to sensitize the public about the Ccommission.
Mr Edward King, Director of Information and Sorieba Kamara, Senior Accountant at the Ministry, were indicted on three count charges.
According to the Commission, the two men connived to receive Le206million (US$23, 000) requested by Mr King in his capacity as Director of Information with the intention of embarking on a public sensitization and awareness raising on the need for such an anti-graft body.
The ACC said after cashing the money, Mr King became unavailable until an alarm was raised by officials of the Ministry.
His alleged accomplice, Mr Kamara, who prepared the cheque, later allegedly received the sum of Le115 million (US$13, 000) from Mr King.
The two are expected to make their first appearance in the High Court of Freetown this Monday.
Rumors of the missing fund and the subsequent detention of Mr King began early last month amidst the political debate over the legality of the Commissions of Inquiry which was formally launched on Tuesday and is expected to make its first hearing on Monday.
President Julius Maada Bio has waged a war on graft as part of his campaign against indiscipline in governance.
He has vowed to prosecute any member of his administration found wanting to demonstrate his determination to achieve that goal.

From what emerged after interviews were conducted by this medium it came out clearly was that the Big Brother TV reality show, which is going to first in the country’s history, is gaining high momentum .It could be recalled that the organizers are both the African Young Voices alongside Africell telecommunications company the first in. Currently, it is undoubtable that Big Brother 2019 is going to turn out to be an intriguing social event . What is notable is that free voting is steadily ongoing that will determine the successful and deserving competitors who will emerge to move to the final stage. Already 40 of these competitors have been shortlisted but after the ongoing public voting, 20 comprising 10 male and 10 female will qualify to enter the House on Valentine’s Day,14 February 2019.

It is indeed worthy to note that for transparency sake, the organisers of this Big Brother TV Reality Show decided to avail the general public the opportunity to participate in the selection of the 20 contestants who should enter the House by voting through the Africell Sierra Leone TOLL FREE LINE – 5500.

It is important to note that voting, via 5500, is absolutely free.

Interestingly, despite the name, Big Brother,, there is going to be a combination of ten male and ten female contestants in the House who are expected to display their talents on a variety of issues.
Each housemate will receive Le100, 000 for every day he or she stays in the House with the exception of the winner but the criterion for staying in the House depends on the amount of votes a housemate bags.

For now housemates are encouraged to convince their fans and supporters to be in readiness to cast their votes for them if they fall in the number of the 20 housemates selected to be in the House.

The competition is going to be very captivating and interesting especially after Sierra Leoneans have enjoyed a successful Big Sister Salone and saw the handing over of the star prize to the eventual winner.

The show is another opportunity for the Africa Young Voices Media Empire (AYV), one of the organisers, to not only entertain, but to empower young people to showcase their talents and at the same time create new millionaires among Sierra Leoneans.

After the just concluded auditions, the Judges of the Housemates Salone 2019 Television Reality Show released the list of Top 40 contestants.

Here are the names of the 40 contestants already shortlisted out of which 20 will be finally selected to enter the House:
1. Abu Turay
2. Affise Odubella
3. Alusine Kamara
4. Amina Konneh
5. Aruna Lamin
6. Bintu Kaba
7. Derick Kelvin
8. Diana Decker
9. Dwight Smith
10. Dyllis George
11. Emmanuel Coker
12. Enid Boston-Jones
13. Fatmata Sankoh
14. George Wyndham
15. Habbi Jalloh
16. Hassan Hallowell
17. Henry Fonah
18. Monica Yeani Ghaliwa
19. Ibrahim Shuhab
20. Ibrahim Sorie Barrie
21. Isata Marion Musa
22. Ishmael Mauzi
23. Jalikatu Conteh
24. Jennifer Jabba
25. Jonathan Fitz John
26. Kenchine Palmer
27. Kariatu Mansaray
28. Magdalene T Williams
29. Marvina MK Davies
30. Mohamed Alie Jalloh
31. Moriana Walker
32. Precious Kamara
33. RaIford Rollings-Bull
34. Rashid Dyfan
35. Regina B Jombo
36. Saheed Komkanda Bangura
37. Salamatu Kargbo
38. Salim Sahid Kamara
39. Sebatu Bright
40. Suad Koroma

The Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers, SLIE, and the Professional Engineers Registration Council, PERC, have met with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House to update him on their activities.

Professor Jonas Redmond-Sawyer of SLIE said the institution was a body aimed at fostering the practice of engineering in Sierra Leone, saying that they were delighted about the President’s pronouncement, during his State Opening address in Parliament, to partner with professional bodies like SLIE in addressing issues of development in the country.

He mentioned that that was a brilliant step because it would create a forum for dialogue and interaction between the government and professional bodies, which in turn would create a more efficient pathway to development in the country under the New Direction.

President of PERC, Engineer Tani Pratt, said they were a body empowered by an Act of Parliament of 1990 to regulate and control the practice of engineering in the country. He said they were beginning to fulfill some of their wider regulatory mandates, adding that they had started providing certification services to the Mining Industry by introducing a scheme for Mine Manager’s certificate of competency for surface.

He noted that despite the successes, PERC was concerned that its 1990 Act was unable to adequately provide them with the mandate to address all of today’s challenges, disclosing that they had started discussions with the Ministry of Works on ways to strengthen PERC and the engineering profession for greater impact on the ground as well as to facilitate the body’s increased involvement in national development.

“Failure to implement the improved regulations is one of the greater risks to the safety of our citizens as multi storey buildings continue to be built without adequate regulations. These are incidents waiting to happen as have been demonstrated in similar situations in Sierra Leone and the sub region,” he said.

On his part, President Bio thanked the two bodies for updating him on their various activities, saying that that had given him an insight on the ways they could help in developing the nation. He said different nations chose different pathways to development but noted that whatever ways a nation chose, engineers would form an important component. He added that the experiences already gained by members of the two bodies would be vital for the development of the country.

President Bio also said that he had always grumbled about engineers when considering the level of experienced engineers in the country as opposed to the kinds of poorly constructed buildings around, especially in the capital city, which was becoming a perennial problem.

On the proposed new Act, he said: “The Act itself must be made current and as soon as you present us with the reviewed Act, we will quickly move it through the natural stages of governance and get it back to you so that you have a new document that will empower you and also bring you to date.”