NRA MEETING TARGET WITH THE BURDEN ON THE ORDINARY PEOPLE
We've heard NRA people on at least two radio stations in Freetown this week announcing to the whole world that NRA had met its target for revenue collecting for a certain period. We could feel the excitement in the man's voice. He asked the whole country to celebrate with them. Well not in as many words. Ok then congratulations. But there are a few issues we want to raise on this tax and target question.
1. Who really sets these targets? The government, right? Can you please help us as to how they arrive at the target figures that you are supposed to have reached?
2. Can NRA please explain how they reached that target? Yes they collected monies from here, there and everywhere but how and under which condition?
3. Could it also be that the target is unrealistic - either it's too low or too high? Maybe all the NRA is concerned with is reaching the target and everything else falls off the table. Maybe there's too much taxing going on.
4. Because the tax base is so narrow, it would appear as if NRA taxes are too high...so set because they simply want to hit targets. One pay slip we looked at shocked us because the income tax the man paid from his small salary is simply disgraceful. It's no joke. We cannot reveal who the subject of this statement is but a man with a take home salary of SEVEN MILLION LEONES paid tax to the tune of TWO MILLION LEONES or more. That's killing.
5. Also, because NRA taxes every little transaction and goods so high, the burden gets transferred to the man in the streets. So while they celebrate on radio about meeting targets and all that, the ordinary people of Sierra Leone, call into the same radio program to complain about the high cost of living. It starts with the high taxation, our people.
Finally, when the people pay all these taxes and yet see their leaders going all over the world begging for budgetary support, they are left asking serious questions - what's going on with our taxes. The NRA would always say their job ends after collecting and announcing TARGETS. But we urge them to start to be concerned about what happens after collection. It's serious.
The people would continue give to Caesar what is Caesar's but what Caesar does after receiving, is also very important.
REMOVING BATHROOM TILES FROM FREETOWN'S CLOCK TOWER
So those cheap bathroom tiles plastered on the historic Freetown Clock Tower near Eastern Police Station are finally going to be removed? We thank the Monuments and Relics Commission for standing up to that unnecessary waste of the people's money at last. We really can't wait for that day when the Clock Tower is restored to its original condition.
When residents of Freetown complained about that mess at the Clock Tower during the days of Mr. Morgan Heritage, they were described as anti-government idiots who should shut up. In fact, the celebration that accompanied that project - complete with street dancing by Red Movement supporters in party colours, ended in a big fight with Green Movement supporters at their troubled party office which is next door to the Freetown City Council.
The Green Movement office was thrashed so badly that within two weeks or so, Mr. Morgan Heritage returned to the opposition office and presented plastic chairs to them as sign of peace. Do you now see the kind of administration Freetown endured at that time?
We also note that even the clock that we were told would provide correct time and chime out across Freetown like its elder brother, BIG BEN in London, failed so badly that school children who relied on it as they went to school found out they were always half an hour late. It took time before they realised that SMALL BEN in Sierra Leone had gone completely mad.
The Monuments and Relics Commission should not just remove those tiles, they should publicly state that Mr. Morgan Heritage wasted the people's money and should consider paying back some of it to the treasury. Well that is unlikely to happen but let's just put something like that on paper because the guy was warned. Next stop VICTORIA PARK. And let's not allow Cathedral School to go...please!
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THE POLICE AT NUMBER 2 RIVER?
The police at NUMBER 2 RIVER in the Freetown Peninsular are creating a kind of apartheid system at the beach that people will soon resist with all the powers of true citizens of this country. We don't know what their instruction is but we are definitely not amused about being treated like foreigners in our own country.
We recently visited the beach for a little relaxation and swimming but to our utter dismay, we were prevented from jumping into the water because, according to the police, the war against Ebola was still around. We absolutely agree that Ebola was still here but how come some white folks who are part of the foreign contingent fight Ebola were allowed to enjoy themselves in the water while we stood by watching them? And we were not the only Sierra Leoneans treated like that on that day.
The people country in the country have no problem with xenophobia like those Africans in the South African city of Durban who are chasing away their brothers and sisters from their land. Sierra Leoneans just don't care where people come from or even how they survive here. But this kind of behaviour by the police at NUMBER 2 RIVER is likely to get people thinking deeply about who really owns this country. If because of Ebola restrictions people are not allowed to swim at NUMBER 2 RIVER, please let us know by nationwide public notice and let's also not go there and see other people - foreigners or no foreigners enjoying the water. If it is part of the agreement that brought the Ebola warriors to this country that they should have good time on the beaches exclusively, then tell us that please. The police at NUMBER 2 RIVER are really beginning to get on our nerves. Lonta!
GUMA VALLEY PLEASE STAND UP AND ACCEPT THERE'S NO WATER FOR ALL
We've all been trying to massage this thing for a very long time but we have now reached a stage where we think people must be made to account for the fact that those running our institutions have simply not been open with us. When will the board and management of Guma Valley Water Company actually appear before the people to announce the following:
1. The water supply system is broken
2. Guma can't bring water into our homes
3. Guma doesn't have enough money, personnel, expertise and will to run an efficient system
4. They can't even control waste in areas known to all for more than five years now
5. In fact, there is no water. Even the catchment area around their main dam has been seriously affected by housing construction - many quite illegal. But they easily bullied the Catholic community at FBC from building a church. Meanwhile dreg man squatters have built homes inside the so-called protected area in the same place. Guma is a strange organisation.
These are facts that we know on the streets but Guma Valley people are so scared to speak out. They don't want to hold their pay masters' incompetence to the light so that their salaries and board fees are not affected. Meanwhile the people continue to suffer.
Under Richard Konteh as Chief of Staff, the WATER MINISTER WAS VOTED THE BEST MINISTER. When we challenged that, ministry officials told us, they weren't responsible for Guma Valley. We left their offices completely surprised that they believe the people have no idea how government works.
So why do we have a minister of water resources when we have Guma Valley Water Company and Sierra Leone Water Company, SALWACO? In fact, the young man running SALWACO is not doing badly at all. What is the minister's job? There are two ministers hanging in there.
Parliament should not bother asking Guma Valley any questions. Let the MPs drive around Freetown every morning and evening and see the suffering on the streets for water. Then they can match that with official pronouncements about the water minister being the best guy around and all that. Please don't push us on this matter. Just tell the ministers to continue to chill.
© Politico 16/04/15
