Sierra Leone News: AWOKO TOK TOK Sabotage or bad luck?

We have been watching events shape up since the political change or reshuffle.
We have noticed that some institutions, which used to render an appreciable level of service to the people, have suddenly gone very bad.
One such area of concern has been the Electricity Generation and Distribution companies. We have been very surprised that electricity which had improved to an appreciable level, seemed to collapse and virtually ground to a halt barely days after the political reshuffle. This is alarming, because it forces one to suggest that there are political considerations to these actions.
EDSA the Distribution and Supply company came out explaining about the water levels being down as it happens every year. But their business is to distribute the supply that had been given to them from EGTC, which is the generating and transmission company.
It seemed rather odd that those, whose business did not have to do with Bumbuna where the electricity is generated and then transmitted to EDSA to supply to our homes, were the ones who were now explaining about generation, which is not their core business. Why was this so? Was something happening that they were afraid of sharing with the people?
Since then the electricity supply has noticeably dropped and the efficiency of both companies seemed to have gone down considerably. Blackouts seem to now be the order of the day. Where are the back up generators which used to step in when Bumbuna is down? Is this all so that we can be forced into the Turkish agreement which will more than triple the tariff?
The second government owned institution that seems to have suffered the same fate or worse is Sierratel. This was the company (Sierratel) that had arguably the cheapest and most stable and reliable internet service. It was Sierratel which popularised the MiFi, such that people were travelling with it is their pockets and bags, and it was so convenient. Then they launched the 4G and the service again received another boost.
However noticeably just after the political reshuffle they became rogues. It started with the 4G and its cut off date for the promotion. Then it was observed that the down load speed of 5 mbps that was paid for and advertised for mostly the ADSL or land line users who connect through the fibre optic cable, was suddenly reduced to half – 2.5mbps upload speed. Then it became unstable swinging from 2.5mbps to 0.05 then up again but never above 2.5mbps.
Then it was claims that unknown persons had opened the man-hole along Lumley beach road and set on fire the fibre optic cables.
Since then Sierratel’s service has gone to the dogs. From the best it has now suddenly become the worse. The fantastic customer service that had been developed has now become the customer dis-service. Service is cut without notice and no effort is made to give back to the customer the service they have been deprived off yet the service is promptly terminated when the subscription ends. Service is turned off and initial complaints are brushed off and when customers complain the service is reluctantly turned on again without so much as an apology.
One begins to wonder is this all bad luck. Is it that the God’s have suddenly become angry or are disappointed in the new administration? Why is everything breaking down like a pack of cards? Or is it sabotage? Or better still is this proof that Sierra Leoneans cannot by themselves successfully manage Sierratel?
It is our view that whether it is by small measure or a big chunk, politics seems to have adversely affected the running of these institutions. That is why we urge that government must institute very very serious measures to de-politicize and increase the level of efficiency of not only these institutions but all government institutions. There are those who will quickly cry foul and call it witch hunting. We care less with that. What we want to see is a properly working system where service paid for is delivered.
It is our view that politics should be practiced in parliament and at the level of ministers and their deputies. State institutions MUST be run by selfless professionals, whose allegiance is unwaveringly to the people and not who sits at State House. It is about time we right the wrongs and move on. This nation is in a hurry and therefore there must be no place for square pegs. Let the professionals do their job and let the politicians do theirs too. Together we need to move this country forward.
Tuesday May 08, 2018.Sierra Leone News: AWOKO TOK TOK Sabotage or bad luck?
We have been watching events shape up since the political change or reshuffle.
We have noticed that some institutions, which used to render an appreciable level of service to the people, have suddenly gone very bad.
One such area of concern has been the Electricity Generation and Distribution companies. We have been very surprised that electricity which had improved to an appreciable level, seemed to collapse and virtually ground to a halt barely days after the political reshuffle. This is alarming, because it forces one to suggest that there are political considerations to these actions.
EDSA the Distribution and Supply company came out explaining about the water levels being down as it happens every year. But their business is to distribute the supply that had been given to them from EGTC, which is the generating and transmission company.
It seemed rather odd that those, whose business did not have to do with Bumbuna where the electricity is generated and then transmitted to EDSA to supply to our homes, were the ones who were now explaining about generation, which is not their core business. Why was this so? Was something happening that they were afraid of sharing with the people?
Since then the electricity supply has noticeably dropped and the efficiency of both companies seemed to have gone down considerably. Blackouts seem to now be the order of the day. Where are the back up generators which used to step in when Bumbuna is down? Is this all so that we can be forced into the Turkish agreement which will more than triple the tariff?
The second government owned institution that seems to have suffered the same fate or worse is Sierratel. This was the company (Sierratel) that had arguably the cheapest and most stable and reliable internet service. It was Sierratel which popularised the MiFi, such that people were travelling with it is their pockets and bags, and it was so convenient. Then they launched the 4G and the service again received another boost.
However noticeably just after the political reshuffle they became rogues. It started with the 4G and its cut off date for the promotion. Then it was observed that the down load speed of 5 mbps that was paid for and advertised for mostly the ADSL or land line users who connect through the fibre optic cable, was suddenly reduced to half – 2.5mbps upload speed. Then it became unstable swinging from 2.5mbps to 0.05 then up again but never above 2.5mbps.
Then it was claims that unknown persons had opened the man-hole along Lumley beach road and set on fire the fibre optic cables.
Since then Sierratel’s service has gone to the dogs. From the best it has now suddenly become the worse. The fantastic customer service that had been developed has now become the customer dis-service. Service is cut without notice and no effort is made to give back to the customer the service they have been deprived off yet the service is promptly terminated when the subscription ends. Service is turned off and initial complaints are brushed off and when customers complain the service is reluctantly turned on again without so much as an apology.
One begins to wonder is this all bad luck. Is it that the God’s have suddenly become angry or are disappointed in the new administration? Why is everything breaking down like a pack of cards? Or is it sabotage? Or better still is this proof that Sierra Leoneans cannot by themselves successfully manage Sierratel?
It is our view that whether it is by small measure or a big chunk, politics seems to have adversely affected the running of these institutions. That is why we urge that government must institute very very serious measures to de-politicize and increase the level of efficiency of not only these institutions but all government institutions. There are those who will quickly cry foul and call it witch hunting. We care less with that. What we want to see is a properly working system where service paid for is delivered.
It is our view that politics should be practiced in parliament and at the level of ministers and their deputies. State institutions MUST be run by selfless professionals, whose allegiance is unwaveringly to the people and not who sits at State House. It is about time we right the wrongs and move on. This nation is in a hurry and therefore there must be no place for square pegs. Let the professionals do their job and let the politicians do theirs too. Together we need to move this country forward.
Tuesday May 08, 2018.