The Kenema MP furthered narrated the importance of pipe burn water. He commended the government particularly President Koroma and donor partners for providing them safe drinking water.
Hon. Kai Samba said water was not free and the people must ensure that they pay in order to sustain the facilities. He also recalled on the recent water shortage in Western area.
Speaking in Bo, Hon. Alfred Brima Katta highlighted some of the contributions of the Committee to ensure that SALWACO achieve its goals and salvage the recent water crises in Freetown.
He pleaded to the beneficiaries to make good use of the facility and should not allow their son Hon. Suahilo who is the chairman of the Committee on Water to shame as the was always willing to partner with similar institutions in future.
In a meeting held at the Bo and Kenema district Council halls, the Minister of Water Resources, Momodu Maligie, appealed to the beneficiaries not to misuse the blessing provided them by the government.
Mr Maligie informed that if they wanted to grow, they should put politics aside and appreciate the good work of President Koroma. He admonished the authorities of Bo and Kenema to put mechanisms in place aimed at protecting the assets of SALWACO in their districts.
The Resident Minister East, Karamoh Kabba, said when President Koroma came to power he brought young people to manage the affairs of SALWACO, adding that the President had brought life to the people of Bo and Kenema respectively.
Mr Kabba encouraged the people of Bo and Kenema to treat water supply with all the seriousness it deserved by paying for it, stressing that all over the world, water was not free.
He furthered that the government had been very reasonable by selling water cheaper than those selling in other places and therefore encouraged the people to embrace the development strides of President Koroma.
Also addressing the gathering at the Bo and Kenema District Council Halls the Board Chairman of SALWACO, Hon Robin Falley, narrated that the portable water supply was an issue from which the south-eastern people had suffered for years.
Hon Falley lamented that bringing pure water to the people was made possible under the leadership of President Koroma, as according to him, one of the problems that Kenema had was with regards politics. He therefore admonished them to stay away from bad politics and instead focus on working towards reducing poverty in the country.
A representative from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Alpha T Bangura, disclosed that Bo, Kenema, and Makeni were the beneficiaries of the three-town water project which was being sponsored by the African Development Bank (ADB) and OFID.
Mr Bangura furthered that the government received US$ 62 million from African Development Bank and OFID, pointing out that the project centred on improving sanitation. He, however, admitted that the challenges they were faced with were that of repaying the aforesaid loans, and the sustaining of the water supply facilities.
The Director General of SALWACO, Samuel Bangura, said the company had come a long way and, according to him, had achieved over 26% of it tasks. He added that the government’s objective was to rehabilitate all the water supply systems in the country. He encouraged Members of Parliament (MPs), Councillors, Chiefs and the media to advice their people not to misuse the facilities.
The DG also acknowledged the contributions of the Committee on Water Resources in Parliament and that it chairman has being resourceful to him and the company.
