By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs on Wednesday 16th October, 2019 stood down the Chief Immigration Officer, Andrew Jaiah Kai Kai and other officials of the Immigration Department ,an appendage of the Internal Affairs Ministry and De La Rue Company, an international printing company based in the United Kingdom which is now the world’s largest commercial security printer and papermaker, for woefully and wilfully failing to produce pertinent documents and the actual contract agreement signed with the Government of Sierra Leone for producing the country’s passports.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, Hon. Alusine Kanneh said that the committee also oversees the Immigration Department and has the power to determine whether they should continue or terminate their contract, adding that Sierra Leoneans are concern with the increment in the price of passport in the country. He stressed that the Committee needs detailed information to ascertain whether the rumours making the round that very soon the price of obtaining a passport will go up from the present official price of seven hundred and fifty thousand Leones is anything to believe.
He urged them to unveil the truth to the Committee as far as issues relating to obtaining passport are concern noting that the company should give details as far as the issue of passport is concern.
Disappointedly, the summoned officials failed to produce the requisite documents needed by the Committee which therefore left the Chairman with no other option but for the officials to appear on a later date with all the necessary documents for clarifications.
It could be recalled that just recently the Chief Immigration was on air responding to questions when he denied any proposed increase in the price of a passport nut he was very economical with words only letting the public know that there could be an adjustment. What he really trying to tell the public was not clear and should not be interpreted as being diplomatic.
