As a Researcher and a Writer with a lot of laurels under my belt, I have done my homework, that is, I have tried to find out the rationale for the toll system, in the first place both from Government and the China Seventh Railway Group on the one hand and conducted interviews with many Sierra Leoneans to pick their brains about the project on the other hand.
My findings have proved in a nut shell that the project is needful at this point of our infrastructure development aspirations, and the majority of Sierra Leoneans are “in line” with the project.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am neither a Public Relations Officer for the Chinese Company doing the road, nor a Spin Doctor for the Government. Rather, I regard myself as a self appointed voice of the voiceless majority, a campaigner, protector and promoter of the rights of underprivileged Sierra Leoneans.
I am a very conscious man and I don’t compromise principles for whatever consideration. So my advice to you the majority of Sierra Leoneans for whom I stand and speak, is to accept the toll road system. As you have always trusted me, I want you to trust me this time again. I tell you that this toll system is good for our country and it will bring a lot of goodies to our country. Our children will get employment, we will get taxes to swell up our revenue base, drivers will become more careful on the roads, we will stem smuggling activities and the trafficking of illegal drugs and weapons and above all, the Chinese will be using part of the money to maintenance the road and reinvest into business initiatives elsewhere in the country.
And of course our cordial bilateral relations with the Chinese will further grow. We may ever start inter-marrying each other.
Take me on my word. Have I ever lied to you? No. So I wouldn’t lie to you now. Cross my heart.******End
