The Regional Crime Officer east Samuel Sanie Sesay has called on guest house, hotels, bar and Restaurants owners in the region to cooperate with the law enforcing bodies in ensuring perfect security for all. He made this statement at a meeting held in the office of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police east Al-Shek Kamara at the Kenema police division.
He said police officers do not go out to be in conflict with the public but admitted receiving complaints of police harassment of them. The police have also reported disrespect on their part. Sesay said most of the guests engage in criminal activities but they will not know as civilians. He also said someone will be held responsible for conniving with a criminal and will be charged for conspiracy. Mr. Sesay said the police, immigration and mining department needs to work as team adding that as law enforcing agents they are working together as a team.
In his statement the National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone Classification and Quality Control Officer Abraham Turay disclosed that the NRA is now responsible for the collection of bed tax. He said all bed taxes before June 2008 should be paid to Tourism Board and after June 2008 to be paid to NRA and demand a receipt. Turay said Tourism Board is the only authority empowered to register their operation of a guest house, Restaurant and bar and hotels. He disclosed that a lot of people are operating hotels, guest houses without licenses and warned that it is a crime to do so.
The government mining engineer Mr. Ibrahim Barrie called on proprietors not to allow their guest houses and hotels to be used as a diamond office and to discourage buying and selling gold and diamonds in their hotel.
The Immigration officer Kenema Mr. Mohamed Abdulai Kamara who represented the Regional Immigration Officer Mr. Dominic Usman said they are mandated to regulate the movement of people in and out of the country. He said because there are numerous border crossing points in the country, they have the right to visit any guest house in the city and all other places.
Sergeant 7207 Aruna A. of the Inspectorate and Evaluation Unit east called on the guest house and hotels owners to acquire the services of armed personnel’s at their places for security reasons adding that some criminals possess ID cards of various institutions that will aid them in their dubious activities. Always inform the police he said.
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