By Nasratu Kargbo
Following citizens’ outcry on the proposed increase in tollgate fees, Parliament invited the various stakeholders involved and had asked that the decision to commence the implementation of the new tollgate charges on March 1st, 2024 be put on hold until investigations are conducted.
Speaking during the committee hearing on the 23rd March 2024 the Chairman of the Works and Public Assets Committee in Parliament, Bashiru Silikie and all other MPs present during the hearing asked that the government and China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) submit to them a draft review of the new price formula for the toll gate charges, traffic data and financial reports amongst other document.
Silikie asked that the Minister of Works and Public Assets Dr. Dennis Sandy ensure that parliament gets a draft of the proposals.
Representing Western Area Urban Member of Parliament Ibrahim Tawa Conteh said: “I will advise that the date the Minister has set for the implementation of this new rate be put in abeyance until these reviews are done, to enable the people to know that we have done a thorough work and they as investors know that we have looked into their concerns and we can strike a balance”.
Parliament promised to hold further meetings in a bid to resolve the situation, emphasizing that they’ll put the interest of Sierra Leoneans first.
The Minister assured that Parliament will get the draft of the proposals, the recommendations they’ve made, and all other relevant documents.
On the same matter, Renaissance Movement in an Open letter to President Julius Maada Bio urged him to review the agreement with the toll operator and revise toll gate fees before the proposed date.
The letter dated 20th February this year explained that the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) officially informed them about the plans to increase the tollgate fees, stating that an increase will lead citizens into dire suffering.
The document cited that charcoal, vegetables, rice, palm oil, building materials, sand trucks, and fuel tankers amongst others are usually transported to Freetown from the provinces and vice versa. It added that the increase in tollgate will attract a hike in prices of all those commodities and that there will be an increase in rent if the toll gate price is increased. It noted that an increase in fuel will affect all other commodities.
“For those in the provinces who depend on imported rice and other necessities, until the Feed Salone program takes effect, the story will be even worse as households in the regions, based on household survey data have lower incomes” a part reads.
The Movement in their letter stressed that the proposed increase of tollgate charges will intensify hardship and immensely affect those already grappling with hardship.
The letter ended by urging the government through the President’s “esteemed office” to take immediate action to address this pressing issue to alleviate the impending suffering of ordinary citizens.
The over-arching goal of the Renaissance Movement is to re-create political and socio-economic structures to enable or allow every Sierra Leonean to live a life of dignity and to realize their full potentials.
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