Minority Sierra Leone People’s Party in parliament on Tuesday 15 January unanimously approved twelve ministers and deputy ministers nominated by President Ernest Bai Koroma to serve in his new cabinet. After their approval and recommendation by the house, minority leader Dr. Bannerette Lahai, MP,commended the ministers and in particular advised the women appointees to live up to the tasks. She challenged the new deputy minister of agriculture, Marie Jalloh to empower women farmers. Emma Kowa, MP, also of the opposition party,said she was impressed with the nominations of women. She singled out the resident minister south, Muctar Conteh, saying she was looking forward to working with him. Another opposition MP. Kess Boya praised all of the ministers, noting that Diana Konomanyi “will no doubt deliver on her new office” but entreated her to stand up and find permanent solutions to problems in her native Kono. All People’s Congress’ majority leader in parliament, Sheku BB Dumbuya said the House agreed that all ministers were worthy of commendation and were “people of integrity”. He called on them, especially the new Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Captain Alieu Pat-Sowe, to respect parliamentarians and open their doors to them when they assume office. He warned that deputy ministers were not inferior to ministers and should therefore work with them as a team.
After the session Politico caught up with some of the new ministers to sample their views on the task ahead and how they hoped to surmount them in the interest of the masses. Deputy agriculture minister,Marie Jalloh said that she was very happy to have been approved, and dedicated her achievement to all Sierra Leonean women.The women activist promised that she would continue to support the course of women by targeting more of them for support. “I have 14 years of experience in field work and I studied agriculture, so I know I will do well. I depend on God not to be a disappointment to women,” she said. New minister of water resources, Momodu Maligi said he was not surprised that he was appointed. “I am however very humbled by the opportunity. It doesn’t come as a surprise because the president stands by his words to bring the youth into governance,” the 32-year-old said,adding that he would work towards gaining confidence by living up to the expectations of the public. “I will also urge the public to pay their bills. There are a lot of technical ideas to be put in place and am sure they will yield good results,” he noted and assured that he had no fear the position would overwhelm him. On the issue of illegal fishing, which is costing the country millions of dollars annually, marine resources minister, Alieu Pat-Sowe said the country needed to increase its surveillance strategies. “Upgrading to air surveillance will enable the country’s naval team and relevant authorities to spot intruders some 50 miles away; get their boat registration numbers and prosecute them internationally,” he said, something he said would add to the country’s revenue. Sierra Leone has a coastline of 330km with a continental shelf of about 600km2. Industrial marine fisheries are made up of local trawlers or shrimpers owned by Sierra Leoneans or chartered through local agreements, and produce fish for the local market as well as high-priced products such as shrimp, cuttlefish, tuna, spiny lobster and some fine fish
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