By Mustapha Sesay
The proprietor of Cabenda hotel, Olufemi Boyle-Hebron has told journalists that the United Nation integrated Office in Sierra Leone has left his property in a state of disrepair, which he said “border on vandalism”.
His allegations come on the eve of the arrival of the United Nations Secretary General, ban Ki-Moon who jets in tonight on a one-day visit to close the UN Mission here.
Hebron said UNIPSIL had refused to make modification to the alteration made during their tenure at his premises such as the container gym and concrete platform that hosts water tanks.
In addition, he said the electric cables were left exposed and that the computerised electronic locks his hotel had before the occupancy of UNIPSIL were all removed and replaced with cheaper locks, adding that the swimming pool was also left empty and the garden left un-attended.
He maintained that most of the facilities the hotel had including carpets, kitchen cabinet and shelf were distorted and never replaced.
Hebron went on to say that UNIPSIL had initially offered him US$ 65,000 to take care of the damage but that there was no survey done to ascertain whether the money was enough to undertake the repair work. “I [therefore] insisted on renovation of the facility” he said, adding that it was a breach of contract which he said amounted to criminal action in the absence of diplomatic immunity.
He furthered that much as he recognised the role played by UN in restoring peace in the country he would not accept them "tramping" on his right, thus he said the coming of Ban-Ki Moon was an opportunity for him to tell the whole world the attitude of UNIPSIL.
After the press conference he took journalists on a conducted tour of the premises to ascertain the damage.
(C) Politico 04/03/14
