By Crispina Lois Cummings
Deputy minister of transport, Ibrahim Mansaray a.k.a. Washinguy last week officially launched a distribution of 1,800 life jackets to be distributed free of cost to boat owners throughout the country.
They were provided by the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA).
Addressing the audience, the deputy minister underscored the importance of using life jackets at sea saying government was concerned over the high casualty figures during sea accidents. He expressed the hope that such casualties would be a thing of the past with the availability of the jackets. He admonished boat owners and passengers to make good use of the jackets, insisting that boat owners should always ensure they have enough fuel before departing from the wharf.
The executive director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, (SLMA) Alhaji Wurroh Jalloh said the administration procured the life jackets as part of its strategy to help prevent human casualty during accidents at sea.
He said the distribution ceremony was a testimony that President Ernst Bai Koroma was concerned about the safety of his people, adding that the life jackets were initially meant to be sold to boat owners but that they later realized that people were unable to pay for it. He Jalloh said government asked them to distribute the jackets free of cost. He called on the boat owners to ensure that the jackets were used at all times, noting that the maritime administration would not take lightly to any boat that leaves a wharf without the passengers using life jackets.
Receiving the life jackets from the minister, the president of the Boat Owners Association, P.C. Bai Shebora Lion II extended thanks and appreciation to the maritime administration and the government for the gesture and expressed hope that the jackets would be of benefit to the association and sea passengers.
A total of one thousand and eight hundred life jackets costing over Le 140 million were handed to the president of the boat owners at the Susan’s Bay popularly known as Big Wharf.
According to the distribution list, Susan’s Bay got 800 jackets, Targrin Wharf 150, Kissy Ferry Terminal 150, Kissy Dock Yard 100, Bottom Oku 100, and Lungi 500, totaling 1,800.
