Vimetco Mining Company led by their General Manager made a cheque donation of seven hundred and fifty million leones (Le.750.000.000) which was followed by Fawaz Building Materials led by Haj Fawaz with a cheque of two hundred million leones (Le.200.000.000), assorted food items, 200 pieces of foams, 600 pairs of plastic slippers, 1000 pieces of blanket, 5 bales towels, 20 cartons of laundry and toilet soaps, 6 bales of clothing for all ages and 5 cartons of sachet milk.
Also making a donation was First International Bank who gave 50 bags of rice (50kg), 25 gallons of cooking oil and ten cartons of tomato paste.
Receiving the donations on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh thanked the various Institutions for their donations, further commending them for identifying themselves with the State and its people.
Vice President Foh emphasized that, it is not the quantum of money or item donated, but the thought behind the donations. This, he said, is making President Ernest Bai Koroma very proud.
Government, the Vice President said, is grateful for the participation of the Banking and Private Sectors in Government’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of compatriots. The loss, he said, is heavy and the trauma is great. But with their response, he averred, renewed hope had been brought. He expressed optimism that as a resilient nation, Sierra Leone shall once again overcome the challenges brought by the mudslide.
VP Foh assured that, every donation received will be used for its intended purpose, as the Government, he said, had been transparent and will continue to be transparent and inclusive in receiving donations relating to the emergency response.
The Vice President informed the Banking and Private Sectors that, the Government of President Koroma will soon be engaging them in an effort to providing lasting solution to these problems. This, he said, will involve the building of affordable homes that will be made available to people living in unsafe areas.
He appealed to the Press to be dispassionate in their reporting, stressing that this is no time for politics, but a time for us all to think about the Sierra Leonean poor.
