Rice Production should be a priority
We hear reports of moves by this present government to start large scale mechanized rice farming in the country. Well that is fascinating news and indeed with VP Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh officially launching the one in Port Loko district few days ago, doubters of this administration’s inclination to deliver, are beginning to sit up and watch. We are told the UAE Crown Prince was won over by Principal when he trotted around the globe in the early days of his administration, something that was not taken kindly by the RED SUN guys. It appears we beginning to realize the fruits of his travels. Pouring of over fifty million dollars into such a project just shows the scope of the investment venture by the men from the Middle East.We are impressed, knowing the latest technology that is to be at the Centre of this expansive rice production project. The importation of rice is privatized and that takes quite a chunk from our country’s FOREX. The Sierra Leonean can never feel satisfied for the day if rice has not been eaten and some would hardly have a peaceful night rest. We hear that 2,000 jobs are to be created for the people of this republic through the rice project in Port Loko. A plane to do aerial mapping is here already. The project is to be managed entirely by the investors themselves for a 25 year period. Our hope is that our compatriots who are going to gain employment should take it as their baby, since jobs are hard to come by these days, with all the pending aftershocks expected in post- covid. Some of our young people are hardly engaged in anything worthy of their stay in Freetown. They should be thinking of going to seek job opportunities rather than idling in Freetown, a lifestyle which is an easy route to crime and other vices.
NACOVERC won’t budge over the ban on all sports but...
The body charged with the duty of managing the coronavirus pandemic in the country has been doing very well, such that the mighty US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) considered Sierra Leone as one of four countries in the continent where there is the lowest travel risks and hence was cleared of any hesitations by a traveller wishing to come to the country. Great America has applauded us for our fight against a pandemic that is still ravaging other nations outside of the continent. Well with the lifting of the curfew that people appreciated so much, there is every need not to drop guard. And that is exactly what our NACOVERC personnel are doing, setting up mobile checkpoints and stopping vehicles to make sure occupants are masked. And the office has even gone further to say that the ban on sports be maintained. We might not be overly supportive of that because there other places people converge in large numbers and interact, with very little or no regard for the virus. Market places are often overwhelmed, with people rubbing against each other. In countries where the disease is claiming thousands of lives, fans have been allowed to watch football games, though on a limited scale. We want to believe the same can be done here by the Football Association. But to still put a ban on local sporting activities in general is a bit discouraging somehow. And the irony of it all is that world football governing body FIFA and CAF are endorsing international matches. Our Leone Stars played Nigeria recently in empty stadiums. Why can’t local football resume now? The boys are losing shape every passing day. Think about it NACOVERC!
Let the buses come please
There is much anticipation for the Urban Resilience Project that will see the introduction of new buses to ease the chaotic and painful experience of commuters in the Western Area. Drivers of commercial vehicles are cheating passengers with their notorious half-way trips and over charging in fares. Principal’s administration should come in very fast to stop this disturbing trend and that can only be done by bringing in the buses. People are becoming tired with the promises and their skepticism has been further strengthened with no sign of any work on the proposed sites for the bus terminals and related facilities like the overhead crossing for pedestrians and traffic lights. Work should start now as people are getting tired of plans.
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