Hon P.C Mohamed Sama K. Banya of Kailahun District has blamed the colonial masters, the APC and SLPP governments for the neglect of the deplorable state of the Kailahun road.
The Chief was contributing on the motion of thanks on the speech delivered by President Koroma during the State Opening of Parliament, where he expressed the disappointment of the people of Kailahun District.
He stated that when the British colonialists were in control of the country, they built the railway from Pendembu just for their selfish interest; and when the SLPP took over from them and ruled for five (5) years, they too did not do anything towards the road. After the SLPP rule, the Chief continued, the APC took over and ruled for twenty four (24) years and also manifested the same neglect.
The PC stressed that when the SLPP came back to power it was only towards the end of their tenure of office that they secured a fund of about $34M for the Kenema/Koindu road.
He described Kailahun as most productive and that areas like Bandajuma and Yawei which is rich in agricultural produce is not accessible.
P.C Banya urged government to undertake maintenance work on the road so that the price of essential commodities and imported goods would be reduced and sold to other areas.
He stated that the price of imported rice in Kailahun was sold at Le 150,000 because transport owners were afraid to ply their vehicles on the terrible road.
“The people of Kailahun have the right to the revenue of this Country and the consequences of the bad roads have seriously affected production in the District.”
By Ishmael Bayoh