The last meeting marking the end of the four year term of office for local councilors in Kenema has been held at the council’s main conference room along Maxwell Khobe Street. Addressing the gathering the chief Administrator of the Kenema District Council Charlie Patrick Kallon disclosed that the administrative wing of the council will continue to work while the political wing or the councilors will go back and prepare themselves for the forth coming local council elections.
The Chief Administrator says the councils did remarkably well though they were faced with funding problems and revenue mobilization due to the unwillingness of the people to pay their taxes. Mr. Kallon appealed to all well-meaning residents of Kenema District to pay their taxes if the local council should survive to serve their needs in their various communities.
Delivering his speech the outgoing chairman of the Kenema district council Patrick Sarmu thanked everyone for their turn out in the meeting and appreciated the efforts of some committed staff members whom he said have put the council in its high position among others.
The chairman mentioned several developmental projects undertaken by the council among which includes the construction of a grain store, drying floor and four compartment VIP latrines in Small Bo chiefdom, construction of two bridges, one double and two single culverts whilst rehabilitating the Bendu junction to Kornia through Foindu to Kamboma new site, and construction of community Barray at Kwawuma Tunkia chiefdom.
The chairman says he is satisfied with the council’s achievement and he promised to do more when he comes back to office after the local council elections in July. Mr. Sarmu is however calling on those councilors whose projects are still not completed to redouble their effort to finish their work so that the council will be cited as the best example of local councils in Sierra Leone.
He said as councilors their major responsibility was to serve the entire district in making sure that developmental projects are carried on in the district.
A councilor Fatmata Dassama of ward 56 in Dama chiefdom while speaking on behalf of the female councillors disclosed that the council was able to overcome most of the challenges they faced due to unity among councilors which she said has laid the foundation for the sustainability of the future councils.
Councilor Fatmata Dassama bided farewell to her colleagues councilors who lost their party symbols and encouraged them to support fortunate councilors who got the party symbols to come back to the councils and complete the good work they all started in the interest of the district.
The July 5th 2008 local council elections is yet to decide who the next Kenema District councilors would be, twelve staff members who according to the chairman Patrick Sarmu have contributed immensely to the success of the council were issued commendation letters to continue their good work in the council in the interest of the masses.
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