I, Du Zijun, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Sierra Leone have noted that some local and foreign media have recently published some false reports on the China-aid Fish Harbour Project for Sierra Leone on the basis of some unfounded social media news.
I find it difficult to understand this kind of groundless speculations, attacks and smear. I wish to make the following points:
First, it is an assistance project that the government of Sierra Leone has requested the Chinese government to help construct for the purpose of promoting the development of Sierra Leone’s own fishery sector. The content of the project is to build a fish harbour rather than a “fish meat mill”. It is a Sierra Leonean project rather than a Chinese one. The accusation about Sierra Leonean side selling 250 acres of land to China is totally groundless.
Second, the site selection and environmental impact assessment of the project are determined or conducted by the government of Sierra Leone in accordance with its own laws and administrative procedures. The Chinese side will decide on the establishment and implementation of the project after the Sierra Leonean side completes its relevant work.
The accusations of not paying attention to environmental protection and destroying the ecological environment are completely sensational and hypothetical. It is an insult to the government and people of Sierra Leone to claim that the Sierra Leonean government is incapable of doing relevant work or does not consider the interests of the Sierra Leonean people.
Third, some people make relevant remarks about the project in the name of environmental protection, but their real intention may not be to protect the environment, but to hinder the implementation of the project and thus hinder the economic and social development of Sierra Leone.
Fourth, some people indulge in criticizing and accusing China- Sierra Leone and China-Africa cooperation for one reason or another, but they are unwilling to contribute in a substantiated way to the economic and social development of Sierra Leone and other African countries. The Sierra Leonean people and the African people can see it through very easily.
The China-Sierra Leone and China-Africa friendly cooperation will not be detracted by such groundless accusations.
Obviously the Chinese government don’t like to be criticised, as per usual. They’re a dictatorship and they get defensive at criticisms. Look at the heavy pollution in their country all because of huge profits they want to generate, to the cost of their health. They do business with African countries. Increase their arrogance and rudeness locally. Then eventually the local people turn against them. It happened at Gambia’s Chinese Fish Mill in March 2021. It’s happened in Kenya. Theyre disrespecting local Kenyans. Meanwhile Sierra Leonean civil servants (yes, you’re supposed to serve the country you’re working for. It’s not a kingdom) think the economy will increase by creating a harbour to feed developed countries Tuna. The fishing of Tuna is already a huge scandal abroad. So what happens to domestic fishery in Sierra Leone? It will deplete to such an extent that prices will rise due to the scarcity of our preferred fish we sell. This will then lead to civil unrest. You create a harbour to supply your own country. Any excess of other seafood you then export. That’s how it should be. Not the other way round. At this rate it’s better to mine for diamonds than destroy our fish stock. People can see through this. The Chinese never do something without obtaining a huge profit, often to the detriment of the local people. We should have gone to the Scandinavians to help create a fish harbour. They are often very honourable in ecological preservation whilst dealing with innovation and engineering. To be honest I don’t trust any Sierra Leonean government official’s risk assessment when it comes to ecology versus profit. They will sell their own mother just to say ‘yes’ to money. Look at that stupid idea of creating tourist beach resort on a strip of beach in Bonthe. As a civilian I saw the tiny strip of land and was aghast that anyone would look at that tiny peaceful area and think that’s a good idea. Western countries are trying to invest in eco tourism which generates lots of money. We’re trying to destroy our ecosystem for ridiculous tourist locations when we should be promoting them as such. That’s what we should be focusing on. Ecological tourism. Lots of people with money want that type of tourism. Its going to be a multimillion dollar industry. That’s how Black Johnson Beach should be promoted as. Not some harbour that will close down in less than 10yrs, due to over fishing.