By Foday Moriba Conteh
The leading building materials trading company in the country, Fawaz Building Materials, in a bid to extend sympathy to the victims of the Susan’s Bay Fire disaster, among others, supported the Agnes Bio Foundation with three hundred 25 kg bags of rice and twenty sheets of tarpaulin, in the latter’s gearing up to donate food and non-food items, to the Susan’s Bay Fire victims, which took place on the 1st April, 2021 within community.
In his opening address, Chief Brima Keita, a popular political figure, who said he grew up in the community years back, stated he was asked to lead an entourage, comprising of members whom, he said, despite their elevated status in life thought it but fitting to extend an humanitarian gesture to the victims of the Susan’s Bay inferno.
He then went forward to introduce the Chairman of the donation programme, Alhaji Savage.
In his statement, Chairman Alhaji Savage pointed out that they are not in the least happy with what happened to the residents of the community as they were touched by the news of the disaster but maintained that such a disaster is sometimes inevitable. He disclosed that though they wanted to respond earlier, however, he said it is God who really determined when they should intervene.
Alhaji Savage furthered that those who came to do the donation should not have done so if they were not truly humanitarian further disclosing that it is the Agnes Bio Foundation that came to do the donation, of whom the Chief Executive Officer is Agnes Bio, who happens to be the daughter of the sitting President, Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
He categorically stated that there is no political connection or link to the donation the Foundation will be handing over stressing how it is purely a humanitarian gesture underscoring that the unfortunate incident that occurred could happen to anyone or in any community further admonishing that all must show love for one another.
“Let it be abundantly made clear that all the funds used to procure the items were donations made to the Foundation be well meaning personalities and individuals,” he stated emphasizing that no public fund whatsoever was utilized.
The Chairman said since the unfortunate incident took place Agnes Bio left all her busy schedule and focused on how the Foundation could generate funding and ultimately render assistance to the victims.
“It might not be surprising to know that you were not expecting the coming of the Foundation because Agnes’ father and mother had already visited you and made a huge donation,” he said adding that in the present circumstance such is not the case as her father, President Julius Maada Bio and Fatima Bio just opened the door for her Foundation to intervene.
He lamented that the Susan’s Bay Community is a commercial location underscoring how the victims may have lost so many things adding that Agnes and entourage came to really sympathize with them.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Agnes Bio Foundation, Agnes Bio, in her brief statement highlighted that their visit and donation to the victims has nothing to do with politics maintaining that they were not happy when they got information of the tragedy.
She told the audience that the donation is just one of the many interventions that they intend to roll out in the community in a bid to improve the lives of community residents.
Agnes Bio also informed that they, as a Foundation, are with the people of the Susan’s Bay Community again giving them hope that they will continue to pray for God to be with them.
The Chief of the community, Pa Alimamy Kamara, on his part, said since the ugly incident occurred on the 24th March 2021 he has been overwhelmed, his pressure has gone up and needed to rest. He furthered that, however, when it was made known to him that it was the President’s daughter who was coming to do the donation he decided to be part of the programme.
He commended the youth of the community for the tremendous role they played in putting out the inferno. The Chief also applauded the Local Unit Commander of the Eastern Police Station, Adama N’gobeh and her personnel as well as other security personnel for providing tight security that prevented massive thieving from taking place while the fire was ravaging.
He said the visit of Agnes Bio shows that she is a person with humanitarian feelings saying that if it was some other influential person she would have said there is no need to do so since her father has already made a donation. “For what you have demonstrated today means that you have bought the Susan’s Bay Community,” he stated maintaining that when a person is in distress anyone that comes to his or her aid or comfort is indeed a true friend.
Councilor Madinatu Kamara of the Susan’s Bay Community thanked the Agnes Bio Foundation for the gesture underscoring that Agnes and her entourage came because the people are currently suffering. She prayed for the growth of the Foundation and promised that all what has been donated will be judiciously shared in order for the victims to benefit.
Handing over of the donated items to the requisite authorities formed the highpoint of the programme after which Agnes Bio and entourage went to look at the houses that were destroyed by the fire incident.
