The Resident Minister East William Juana Smith has suggested new measures like suspending bike riding after midnight and stopping all over night vehicular traffic along the highway to combat the spate of armed robberies in Kenema City and highway robberies along the Bo – Kenema highway.
The Resident Minister disclosed his suggestions during an information sharing meeting called by the Provincial Administration East for all heads of departments and other stakeholders.
The meeting took place at the district administration office along Maxwell Khobe street office in Kenema city. In his opening remarks the Provincial Secretary East Alhaji Salia Magona called on all and sundry to put politics aside and work towards development, saying that we cannot succeed in good governance as a government without soliciting support from the departmental heads in the country.
The Resident Minister East William Juana Smith while outlining the purpose of the meeting said the meeting is geared towards revenue collection in the district particularly the 2008 local tax and other pertinent government policy matters.
Mr. Smith thanked the heads of departments for their support to the APC government saying that elections are now over and that every one should now forget about the election differences and focus on development.
He said there is need for all to come together and work as a unified force to push development together.
William Juana Smith also spoke about the insecurity in the Kenema district, which he said would not be conducive for not only business people but also everyone as a citizen in the country. He cited the interception of arms and ammunition at the Bandama check point on the outskirts of Kenema and a number of highway robberies between Bo and Kenema as a great concern to the government.
As a result of these security threats William Juana Smith suggested that all activities including bike riding to stop at 1am and vehicles plying the Freetown highway to start their journey at 6am every day in other to secure life and property.
Mr. Smith also emphasized on local tax collection, which he says is a source of revenue in our country.
He pointed out that America and the United Kingdom depend on taxation and it is their taxes that they usually sent out to help the poor nations like Sierra Leone.
He appealed to all heads of department to encourage their staff to pay their tax and rates.
The Principal of St. Joseph Secondary School Blama in the Small Bo chiefdom in the Kenema district who is the Chairman Conference of Principals Michael Samba promised that every teacher will pay their tax and requested for more sensitization on the collection of taxes, licenses and rates in the district.
ADVERTISEMENT