Making the Keynote address before declaring the meeting open, Madam Kamara said that she is fully aware of the issues related to land ownership, access and distribution in the region but assured all that the Government of President Julius Maada Bio will go the extra mile to ensure that the National Land Policy is fully implemented as provided for in the Act. She also called on the members of the Regional Oversight Committee to utilise the platform well and adequately address the challenges that have been plaguing land ownership and distribution in the region.
To show her commitment to the process, Madam Isata stayed to attend the meeting proper, where she had the opportunity to reiterate her commitment to ensuring women have equal access to land and productive resources in the region to very loud applauses.
The energetic Minister had on the previous day, Monday 28th May, paid a courtesy call on the resident Paramount Chief of Port Loko, PC Adikalie Mella.
In welcoming her, the chief of all the ruling houses in Port Loko said he is delighted to have the Resident Minister honour him with a visit, the first by a woman of her caliber in the history of the District and thanked her for being the extension of the President’s new direction in the new Northwest Region. He added that Northwest is a strategic region full of difficult and good people but he is of the strongest conviction that Madam Isata’s appointed will make a huge difference to the male dominated mindset of leadership in the North.
Madam Isata responded by re-emphasising her commitment to creating a non-partisan movement of development oriented men in the region and her lifelong desire to leave a legacy that will be emulated by everyone, especially men by the end of her five-year tenure
In another development, Haja Isata Kamara met with a high-powered 8-man delegation from Batkanu, including, the aspiring Paramount Chief of Makerembay-Mafonda section, Mr. Moray Kandeh Kargbo and the women’s leader Ya Mamadi Sesay, who had come to visit the Resident Minister and appeal for her unfettered support to their region. Edward Koroma aka junior Konto, the Organizing secretary spoke at length about the challenges they have, which included bad Roads, lack of schools and unapproved teachers.
He said the ten years of APC rule has eroded all of what Batkanu had to offer and they hope the Minister would help them to tap into their Agricultural potential and utilise the fertile land that their region is blessed with. The Women’s leader, Mamadi Sesay spoke about the market which is yet to be opened and reported that they still have APC elements in their community who want to continue to control the affairs of community management and undermine development.
In her response, Madam Isata told the delegation that she is not there for SLPP alone but she is there because she has a job to do for everyone and wants to keep it. She revealed that Karene District is her priority and she has done her homework and already knows most of their problems
She assured them her first agenda will be agriculture, which will be followed by the approval of all the schools and opening of their market
The highlight of Madam Isata Kamara’s visit was when she was asked by a delegation of the JMB Women, Sierra Leone, to join them in the distribution of food and none food items to Muslims who are observing the holy month of Ramadan.
In presenting the charity (zakhat) in Kambia central mosque also known as Ibrahim Njai Masjid and Port Loko central mosque, the Resident Minister thanked the people of Kambia district for their warm welcome.
In attendance were Mrs. Ann Marie Harding, Deputy chair person, Mariam Musa PRO, Fanta Rogers deputy PRO, Mrs. Samba member, Mrs. Judith Porseh, member, and Mrs. Isatu Jalloh member.
The district imams thanked the Julius Maada Bio women, Sierra Leone and prayed for good health and prosperity to prevail.
In total, the JMB women presented 25 bags of rice, 4 Jerry cans of cooking oil, 4 bags of sugar, 4 cartons of date palm (Tarmaroun), 48 pray mats, 24 ablution kettles and cash donation of Le 2,000,000 to the people of Kambia and Port Loko districts.
Meanwhile the Resident Minster is back in Freetown for final preparations for her final and grand return to Port Loko where she will be resident for the rest of her five-year term.
