The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Hu Zhangliang, on behalf of the Embassy, on the 13th September, 2022 donated Le150,000 (New Leones) to the Ministry of Social Welfare for further donation to the affected families of the recent flood disaster in Freetown.
“China and Sierra Leone have always been true friends. We hope this donation can be of some help to those who lost their loved ones or properties in the flood. This is to show our sympathy, support and friendship,” Ambassador Hu said.
Upon receiving the donation, Hon. Minister Baindu Dassama Kamara of the Ministry of Social Welfare thanked the Chinese Embassy for such an important and timely gesture. The Honorable Minister promised that her Ministry will make sure that the donation will be used for its intended purposes and be distributed to the needy as soon as possible.
The Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer of Statistics Sierra Leone, Prof. Osman Alimamy Sankoh, on Thursday 15th September 2022 presented ,at State House, the first fully digital Mid-Term National Population and Housing Census report to President Julius Maada Bio.
Before the presentation Prof. Sankoh stated: “Statistics Sierra Leone is pleased to report that intensive data reviews did not result in a significant change in the provisional results. There are a total of 7,061 individuals added to the provisional total reported. This confirms the robust processes we put in place and, consequently, the high-quality data we have generated.”
Prof. Sankoh also noted that they achieved the objectives of the 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census through the digital methodology used, starting with the cartographic mapping and ending with the main enumeration.
“Sierra Leone can now be proud of having conducted its first digital census like a few other African countries. We will henceforth be able to provide population data at the locality, ward, section, chiefdom, council, district, and regional levels, and due to the digital methods used, this data can be generated promptly,” he assured.
He said they were able to cover 24,000 Enumeration Areas nationwide, which gave data of a total of 850,599 structures recorded nationwide and that the final 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census results totaled 7,548,702 individuals in the country.
Receiving the report, President Bio stated that no one has been prosecuted for spreading hate messages, misinformation, disturbing the peace and threatening enumerators.
“Politicians and some of their henchmen are on record spreading incendiary messages and persons associated with them acted to impede the work of enumerators – in some cases threatening them with physical violence…All is forgiven for the sake of national cohesion and peace.
“For the first time in the history of this nation, we have used cutting-edge technology and digitalization to conduct a national census. As the Statistician General has affirmed in his presentation, for the first time in the history of this nation, we have deployed technology to generate digital data and excellent sampling frames we can use in the future. With this first-ever digital census, therefore, there have been unprecedented national coverage, accuracy, verifiability, transparency, and professionalism,” he said.
He added that: “Until the next decennial census, this dataset will be used for making governance decisions, policymaking, planning, public service delivery, and various investments in key sectors of our economy. It will also be the basis of future national surveys.”
President Bio also thanked friends and partners, who had generously supported his Government and the people of Sierra Leone, throughout the process, among them former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the World Bank, UN Fund for Population Activities, UN Economic Commission for Africa, UN International Children Emergency Fund, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, and sister States of the Mano River Union.
He noted that Statistics Sierra Leone had also received regular guidance and no objections from the World Bank’s technical advisers until the eve of the enumeration, and, therefore, thanked them for their professional input.
“I value the peace and stability of this nation. I led men into battle to safeguard the peace of this nation. I restored democracy and voluntarily handed over power to a democratically-elected Government – all for the sake of peace. I was elected President of this country in peaceful and democratic elections. It is my duty to preserve the peace of this nation. It is my duty to ensure that the future of this nation is well-planned and structured for success. That future must be predicated on verifiable, current, and accurate data,” he reminded.
There is a school of thought which holds the view that President Julius Maada Bio should ensure that the needful is done to save Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray from dying an untimely death.
They argue that he has been in detention for close to three years and even the allegation surrounding his incarceration is still in court.
The argument furthered how he is a senior citizen by virtue of his position as Leader and Chairman of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) and has also contested in two democratic elections for the highest office in the land adding that if President Bio is in office today as President, then Kamarainba played his own part to make the previous APC Government unpopular.
According to that school of thought, just after the 2012 election, Kamarainba was the only opposition leader who was holding the APC led Government of Ernest Bai Koroma accountable maintaining how in his days as National Chairman and Leader of the ADP was like giving the APC Government heavy load to carry as he was the only politician at the time preaching the politics of truth.
They asserted that he had issues with the APC on several occasions, as he was also incarcerated on more than two occasions but he was still there for the people.
Also brought to the fore was that he took his time to go round the country discrediting the APC and was very instrumental in unearthing the ills of the APC, much to the admiration of the public.
Kamarainba is suffering today in prison with a very serious medical health problem. His situation has gone worse to the extent that even his family members are afraid for his life.
Many social commentators and activists say that Kamarainba deserves bail under the laws of Sierra Leone, especially for the simple fact that he is merely a suspect and not a convict.
They reference Section 23 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which states that: “A man is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.”
The school of thought concluded that in this case, Kamarainba has been going through pain, as his right to bail has been denied by the court, even though a bail has been granted by the Presiding Judge.
It underscored that what makes this case more suspicious is the fact that similar cases of such nature have never been given attention in comparism with the ADP Leader and Chairman’s case.
At Magistrate Court No 3 on Ross Road in Freetown presided over by Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, the first and second Prosecution Witnesses in the matter between the Inspector General of Police and fourteen (14) accused persons, who were arrested and charged in respect of the August 10 riot, have testified before His Worship Magistrate Hadiru Daboh on the 15th September 2022.
Led in evidence by Detective Sergeant 8534 Gibrilla Sesay representing the Inspector General of Police, the first Prosecution Witness identified himself as Deputy Superintendent of Police, Abubakarr Mohamed Kamara, attached to the Ross Road Police Station as Operations Officer.
He recognized all accused persons in the dock and recalled that he was on duty on Wednesday the 10th of August 2022, in the office when the Commissioner of Police, Francis Hazley called him together with the Local Unit Commander, Denis Taylor and instructed him to form a team of Police Officers.
“I did same involving the Operational Support Team and Personnel from the Operations Unit. I was instructed specifically to visit Ferry Junction where a group of people, holding placards in their hands and others with stones and sticks, were heading towards the Ross Road Police Station,” the Police Witness said.
He continued that they on-boarded a Police vehicle with registration number SLP 056 and moved to the scene, adding that as soon as the accused persons and some others saw the vehicle they ran in different directions.
He went on to explain that, “we ran after the accused persons and we were able to apprehend them.” He added that the others escaped while the accused persons were brought to the Police Station and handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department at the Ross Road Police Station for further investigations.
He went on to state that he was asked to make a statement in respect of the arrest they effected.
Under cross-examination by Lawyer V.A Koroma representing the accused persons, the witness said he has spent 33 years in the Police Force and denied working on shift basis.
He agreed with Lawyer Koroma that before the accused persons were arrested there was a public notice encouraging citizens to go about their normal business.
The second Prosecution Witness, Detective Sergeant Sumaila Ismail Alie said he’s attached to the Regional Criminal Investigation Department at Ross Road Police Station and recognized the accused persons.
He also recalled that he was on duty on the 10th of August 2022, when the accused persons were arrested and brought to the Police Station by the Operations Officer and his team for the offence of Riotous Conduct. He said file was assigned to him for investigation.
Lawyer R. S. Bangura renewed his application for bail on behalf of the accused persons some of whom he said are students and pupils.
Magistrate Daboh refused bail and remanded all accused persons in custody.
The matter comes up today, the 19th September 2022.
NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is indeed committed to continue marketing petroleum products in this country despite all the challenges it is confounded with.
Going beyond the normal business spirit, the Shareholders and Management of the company deemed it as a moral obligation to avail individuals access to qualitative petroleum products out of the firm conviction that they are meaningfully contributing towards enhancing, in various ways, standards of living.
This indomitable company has gained massive local as well as international recognition for its meteoric rise and the higher height that it has reached through effective service delivery.
Through its pro-active stance, the company is always ensuring that members of the general public have easy and ready access to qualitative petroleum products of high quality.
Those who have interfaced with the company have confessed that it is amongst the most successful privately owned and operated business entities this country can boast of that have withstand varying external shocks, within and without, but admirably is steadfast in its service delivery.
As a 100% indigenously owned and operated company, NP-SL has over the years, successfully extended its operations country-wide and even beyond to the West African Sub-region in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and The Gambia where it is doing extremely well with regards service delivery, rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, availing job opportunities, offering new products among a host of other things that it is churning out.
Very mindful that without their cherished customers there will be no NP-SL, the shareholders and Management have made customer care a number one priority which is why the company is synonymous with 1st For Customer Care. With the conviction that every experience matters, the Management is very receptive to new initiatives, ideas, suggestions and concerns as long as they could help in shaping the policies that the company outlines from time to time that will be translated into tangibles on the ground.
In order to give maximum and optimal satisfaction to customers, NP-SL has always ensured that it operates in tandem with international standards and best practices so that after any service delivery customers get the good feeling that they have derived value for money. The company’s filling stations are state of the art structures having modern calibrated pumping machines that are transparent and accurate in terms of measurement.
Their attendants are well mannered, always courteous and ready to assist both old and new customers whenever they are in doubt of what to do. Most have tire repairing sections, shopping marts and relaxation points where they can spend time doing what they think is right to do. All these facilities are made available to make customers feel at home and be comfortable.
“I always carry my NP Smart Card with me just in case my car’s fuel gauge will show red and I may not exactly have the required amount of money to refill or even if I have it such could be for another purpose. With my card I can just breeze into any NP Filling Station and by using my card the attendant will pump the quantity of petrol I need,” Amadu Bangura, an engineer intimated adding how the card’s security features are unique and could not be easily falsified. “When I first heard of ‘Your fuel on Smart Card’ I thought it was a joke but only realized its efficacy when I started making use of it,” he furthered saying he is really finding it very convenient in doing so and as such prevent him from withdrawing big cash from his bank account for purchasing fuel adding how it as well help in also saving him time.
NP Gas is now the talk of the day as numerous individuals are everyday coming to the realization that it is very suitable for cooking purposes without posing any serious health risks. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes NP Gas is marketed at all the company’s filling stations and by authorized dealers going at affordable prices. Advantageously, NP Gas can be refilled with gas that the company imports and markets making them simple for customers to continue their use.
With regards rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, NP-SL Ltd is rated high as it has been contributing effectively in improving lives and communities. The company has been making meaningful interventions, meaningfully supporting entities , like it did lately to the National Fire Force by facilitating the construction of a water facility at the Force’s Kissy Branch, in order to capacitate it with water supply to respond to any fire emergency in that part of the country and in other areas within Greater Freetown.
These interventions, worth millions of Leones, are ways by which the company is magnanimously giving back to society. Lives have indeed changed for the better as a result of NP’s interventions.
Utilizing local skills and talents has been topmost in the agenda of discussions relating to national development. The argument for embracing the Local Content Policy borders around enhancing entrepreneurship, comparatively making use of less financial resources to pay for accomplished tasks and creating job opportunities thereby reducing poverty.
NP-SL has made it an established policy to give priority, in terms of employment, to Sierra Leoneans as long as they are in positions or competent to perform. The same is replicated everywhere the company is operating. Such an acclaimed stance is contributing greatly towards poverty reduction and improving lives.
From all indications it is very apparent that the premier oil marketing company, NP-SL-Ltd, is doggedly poised to continue to improve on its business strategies and step up interface with relevant stakeholders with the avowed aim of continuing to diligently and selflessly serve the people of this country and indeed it is walking the talking, doing exemplary well to foster meaningful socio-economic development.
From an economic point of view, the Gums Valley Water Company that supplies clean potable water to over one million consumers in the ever-growing Western Area is installing water meters for those that are legally connected to its service.
The intentions are clear – to cut down on wastage and to increase revenue intake in order to improve on service delivery. However, some consumers The Calabash spoke to on the meters recalled that this not the first time that GUMA has come up with the initiative and that the first attempt some years back ended disastrously.
They asked what modalities have been put in place by Guma to address concerns and challenges like people cutting pipes connected to their homes. They also asked about how Guma will ensure that they do not only have meters at their homes and businesses but that they get water supply, especially in the dries.
SDG17 suggests that water is a human right related to health and sanitation. Water thus being an essential commodity that everyone needs, how Guma ensure that poor communities get public standpipes to cut down on pipe cutting and how will this class of users be billed?
Another concern raised by people in new communities is that they do not have access to Guma clean water at all. What provisions they asked have Guma and its partner water service provider, SALWACO, made for them to access clean drinking water.
As the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) continues to conduct the voters’ registration exercise across the country, influential sons of Pujehun District, decided to embark on engaging residents of that district with a view to thoroughly sensitize them on the ongoing voter registration exercise and its importance with the avowed objective of galvanizing them to turn out in huge numbers to register in order to become eligible for the exercise their franchise next year when the country will be going to the polls.
For now there is intensive voter registration, monitoring, mobilization and campaigning going on in the district.
Led by the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis ,who doubles as the Honourable Member of Parliament for Constituency 101in Pujehun District, the team comprised the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone – Honourable Jacob Jusu Saffa, the Minister of Information and Communications – Mohamed Rahman Swaray and HE Eddie S. Massallay who is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Liberia and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Chairman of Pujehun District, Mustapha Wai, the SLPP National Liaison Officer for 2022 Voter Registration Process and others.
With the support of other stakeholders from that district they saw the need to embark on a combined Voter Registration Sensitization in Pujehun District which is located closer to the Sierra Leone – Liberia Border.
The aforementioned personalities have been engaging residents of the district, through radio discussion programmes on Voice of Masoro 90.5FM and other community engagements, geared towards encouraging all qualified citizens to do voter registration.
In a snap chat with Hon Sidie Mohamed Tunis, he stated that to avoid apathy in the district they thought it but fitting to sensitize their people on the significance of participating in the ongoing registration exercise.
He noted that it could be dangerous to form the impression that the residents are knowledgeable of the exercise, what it entails, what they are expected to do and leave it at that but rather to properly ensure that they fully understand the entire process.
On his part, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, underscored that the issue of First Time Voters must be clearly explained to residents of the district so that those who will be turning 18 years of age before the elections are captured in the exercise adding that they are also doing so to discourage those who will not be 18 years not to attempt to register as such is an electoral offence.
“Information is power and what we are currently doing is empowering our people via sensitization in order for them to properly exercise their fundamental human right which is the franchise,” he maintained.
He enjoined all the sons and daughters from Pujehun District to be very realistic in their political choices adding that when it is time to cast their votes they must do so wisely.
Some of the residents of the district copiously expressed gratitude to Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis for coming up with the initiative adding that they are now knowledgeable of certain things which hitherto were not clear to them.
For a considerable period of time, Orange Sierra Leone has been running a prize draw called “Points Up” in which customers receive one point every time they recharge their account by SLL 2,000.
Every five points entitle subscribers to enter the daily draw to win as much as SLL 2.5 million every day. Customers who get above five points automatically qualify for the weekly draw, with bigger prizes. The grand prize for the campaign was a brand new car.
On Saturday 17th September 2022 at the company’s Rawdon Street Customer Care Center in Freetown one Ibrahim Mansaray emerged as the lucky winner of a brand new Toyota Corolla car after a transparent electronic draw was held.
Mansaray who resides at Waterloo in the Western Area Rural District was not economical with the truth as he categorically stated that Orange Sierra Leone Limited is the best mobile telecommunications company in the country, noting that the company is not only operating in Sierra Leone to do business and make profits but it has provided lots of supports to its customers.
Mansaray explained that he was busy with his work at the IMATT community when he received the call on Saturday informing him about the win.
“At first I thought it was a joke. I had to rush to Rawdon Street only to find out that the brand new car was waiting for me,” he explained and furthered that the car will be for his personal use.
The lucky winner with GSM number, 076959355, commended the company for putting their words to action. “I have been an Orange customer for close to twenty years and this is my first win,” he said and continued by urging other customers to continue patronizing Orange Sierra Leone. “I appreciate the Staff and Management for a good job. The gift is from God, people should appreciate Allah,” Mansaray remarked.
The winner’s number was verified and it was proven that it was registered before the prize was handed over to him by the Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Sekou Amadou Bah and the Chief Commercial Officer.
Draws were done every evening from 17:30 hrs on local radio stations across the country. Weekly draws were done using all Orange partner radio stations, too.
Five weekly draws were held on Saturday with the lucky winners grabbing Le1 million each.
The highpoint of the occasion was a performance by a popular musician, commonly known as I-Tribe who rocked the event making it really thrilling and impressive.
It must be noted that the launch of the Orange brand in Sierra Leone speaks volumes of the group’s confidence in the country’s ongoing economic recovery and its wider commitment to bringing the benefits of new digital services and creating value for all the regions it serves.
Miksi Chocolate, one of the brands marketed by Premium Divine Trading Company Limited, a food distribution company that operates as an agent for Promasidor Holdings, a leading distributor of quality food products in Sierra Leone, has supported the 1stNational High-Level Youth Driven Dialogue Conference on Democracy on the theme: “Media Freedom: A Catalyst to Democratic Good Governance”, at the New Freetown City Hall Auditorium.
The conference targeted Democracy Experts, Politicians and Practitioners, Civil Society Activists, Women Leaders, Disabled Groups, the Media and over 500 young people across the country.
Miksi Chocolate has been commended as one of the best healthy beverages that gives nourishment by many young people who joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Democracy in Sierra Leone.
Premium Divine Trading Company Limited support to the Youth Alliance for Democracy and Accountability Sierra Leone (YaDA-SL)1stNational High-Level Youth Driven Dialogue Conference on Democracy in this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Democracy, was done within the context of the company’s massive education on healthy eating habits by availing their products to actual and potential consumers of chocolate, the Miksi nutritious package, to enable them and their families enjoy good nutrition through the consumption of Miksi chocolate drink that were sampled during the commemoration of the day.
Speaking on behalf of the company, the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kenneth Konuahsaid the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world including Sierra Leone, adding that as a responsible company they decided to support the 1stNational High-Level Youth Driven Dialogue Conference on Democracyin the country.
Kenneth, spoke about the importance of consolidating peace and democracy in the country of which he pointed out that the August 10th saga, which deprived them as a business company in the country was a great loss on their part.
He encouraged the youth in the Auditorium to join hands together in order to promote peace and stability in their communities as elections are approaching.
The Country Manager further revealed that Miksi brand consists of Miksi powdered milk, Miksi Chocolate and Miksi Coffee of which she encouraged older persons to add Miksi as part of their daily food intake adding that Miksi offers a healthy beverage or snack anyway anytime.
He maintained that Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd also distributes and markets, Onga, Xploza, Kremela and Yumvita , the latter being an infant cereal with milk also consisting of wheat, rice and maize and wheat variants.
He concluded by appealing to all young people present to always buy the quality food products of Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd especially Miksi chocolate and Miksi Coffee because they are enriched with all the necessary nutrients needed by the body.
Earlier, the Mayor of Freetown City Council, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, who also made a statement during the ceremony, commended the Youth Alliance for Democracy and Accountability Sierra Leone for organizing such an event for young people to know and reflect their minds into colonization of the British Empire.
She defined the traditional definition of ‘Democracy’ as the Government of the people, by the people and for the people which was vivid to alland sundry.
She threw light on the term democracy, how its gives respect and rights to citizens in a democratic State. The Mayor said she believes in democracy because it puts people at the center of electing their representatives.
The Deputy Commissioner of National Youth Commission, Emerson Kamara, also commended YaDA-SL and partners for the laudable venture towards enhancing democratic governance in the country.
He noted that social media has a lot of means to promote democratic good governance in the country also urging young people to serve as agents of transformation in our beloved country.
On his part, the Executive Director, Youth Alliance For Democracy and Accountability Sierra Leone (YaDA-SL),Foday Moriba Conteh, said that this year’s commemoration of International Day of Democracy marks the 15th anniversary of the International Day of Democracy, a day to reflect on the democratic credentials nations have strived to achieve, the gains made, consolidated and the challenges to be surmounted.
He stated that according to the UN Secretary on the commemoration of this year’s International Day of Democracy, “Across the world, democracy is backsliding, Civic space is shrinking, Distrust and disinformation are growing and polarization is undermining democratic institutions in various parts of the globe”.
Foday Moriba Contehcontinued by stating that because of the complexity of modern States what obtains is Representative Democracy where the citizens are at liberty to choose their representatives, through periodic elections, to represent them in Parliament, speak and make laws in their best interests.
He said that during this International Day of Democracy, the focus is on one of the cornerstones of democratic societies – a free, independent, and pluralistic media as the theme of this conference was: “Media Freedom: A Catalyst for Democratic Good Governance”, a theme which, he said, could not have been more appropriate at any other given time than now.
He furthered dilated much more on the Freedom of Expression of journalists. “Indeed, attempts to silence journalists are growing more brazen by the day from physical to verbal assault to online surveillance and legal harassment especially against women journalists.
Media workers, at given times, face censorship, detention, physical violence, and even killings often with impunity.”
It is usually stated that a ripe corn is easily known by its looks. In an attempt to juxtapose that saying with the charismatic, pragmatic and result-oriented Senior Vehicle Examiner and Training Coordinator at the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Francis Kovuma Morovia, it cannot be concluded that such an assertion is really an overstatement.
That assertion could be justified on the basis that Francis Kovuma Morovia is one such personality whom, on first sight, could be seen as someone who could be entrusted with any meaningful assignment and definitely he will endeavour his best to deliver solidly.
For the sake of those who are not aware, Francis Kovuma Morovia, has declared his firm intention to contest for the Village Headman position within one of the communities under the Western Area Rural District, Macdonald Village, an election which has been scheduled to take place next year.
In a privileged discussion with this medium, the affable personality, who always radiates with love and compassion, personifying hard-work, dedication intimated that after a considerable absence at Macdonald Village he was really disappointed after returning to only realize that the community is really in a backward state.
“When I came back after spending a considerable time away from Macdonald I observed that nothing had changed for the fact that the entire community is still going without electricity, has poor access road network, lack a health facility, pure drinking water and the issue of unemployment still remains the order of the day,” he stated.
Francis Kovuma Morovia commended one of the erstwhile occupants of the enviable position, popularly known as Aunty Francess. He stated that during her tenure she facilitated the construction of the Macdonald Village Community Junior Secondary School, a pure H20 facility, consolidated peace within the community adding that she is still alive.
He, however, revealed that the Headman who succeeded Aunty Francess, one, by the name of Oseh Koker reversed all the gains that residents of the village were then enjoying.
“Now deceased he only succeeded in destroying all the good legacies that were left behind by his predecessor and left the community sharply divided into factions,” Morovia, as he is fondly called revealed.
According to the aspiring candidate he has the lobbying power or ability to convince development partners to aid in the positive transformation of Macdonald Village.
He described the issue of improving health and sanitation as a priority for him if given the chance or opportunity to serve, followed by electricity and in improving the welfare of the youth.
Morovia attributed the failure on the part of the past leadership to work in line with the young people within the village assuring that his leadership structure wouldn’t only be inclusive, but would also be people centered underscoring that the existing gap between the leadership and young people would be bridged.
He expressed frustration over the complete absence of a health centre in a growing community saying such has resulted to transfer of health related cases from Macdonald to other areas with better health care facilities.
Morovia furthered that Macdonald Village is part of the Western Area Rural District Council (WARD-C) but lamented that they have never benefitted from any visible development.
He described Macdonald as a peaceful community with very ambitious young people and recalled that nobody was found wanting after the ugly August 10th violent protest in Freetown.
The Senior Vehicle Examiner and Training Coordinator assured that he was not vying for the position of the Macdonald Village Headman for any personal aggrandizement or to lord it over the residents but for him to be at a vantage position to lobby for the general development of the community.
“I always wanted good things to happen in my community that will benefit my people,” he stated and concluded that one of the things that residents of the Macdonald community are looking forward to is a credible free and fair village headmen election in order to attain peaceful co-existence.
In another engagement with the Youth Chairman of the Macdonald Community, Melvin Santos Brown, he stated that Morovia has been demonstrating interest for the Headman position of Macdonald Community since the days of the late Headman, adding that he is indeed competent for the position because he had all what it takes to govern the community well as required by the local government procedure.
“People love Morovia because he always makes things happen positively as anticipated,” he commended and disclosed that recently they embarked on a peace campaign with megaphones within the community to raise awareness on the need for people to always remain law abiding and show respect for the rule of law.
He appealed for residents to take part in the current ongoing voters’ registration process in order to become eligible to cast their votes.
Guma Installing Water Meters But…
By Ranger
From an economic point of view, the Gums Valley Water Company that supplies clean potable water to over one million consumers in the ever-growing Western Area is installing water meters for those that are legally connected to its service.
The intentions are clear – to cut down on wastage and to increase revenue intake in order to improve on service delivery. However, some consumers The Calabash spoke to on the meters recalled that this not the first time that GUMA has come up with the initiative and that the first attempt some years back ended disastrously.
They asked what modalities have been put in place by Guma to address concerns and challenges like people cutting pipes connected to their homes. They also asked about how Guma will ensure that they do not only have meters at their homes and businesses but that they get water supply, especially in the dries.
SDG17 suggests that water is a human right related to health and sanitation. Water thus being an essential commodity that everyone needs, how Guma ensure that poor communities get public standpipes to cut down on pipe cutting and how will this class of users be billed?
Another concern raised by people in new communities is that they do not have access to Guma clean water at all. What provisions they asked have Guma and its partner water service provider, SALWACO, made for them to access clean drinking water.