Since the importation of right-hand vehicles has increased over the years in Sierra Leone, the Executive Director for the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation, Sarrah Bendu on Tuesday disclosed that her management will enforce the ban on their importation come September this year.
Madam Bendu made this remark during the opening of the Authority’s Dual Facility Vehicle Centre at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay and its website on Tuesday July 30, 2013.
“Our country had long ago moved from right-hand traffic, importation of such vehicles, disturbs the traffic system” she stressed.
She urged citizens and vehicle importers to deviate from this, as the corporation will not take it lightly with defaulters.
Dilating on the importance of the outlet, the Executive Officer mentioned among others that it will enable the Authority to capture the total number of vehicles imported into the country and will also help in the interception of stolen vehicles that are imported in the country.
Moreover, Madam Bendu added that the outlet will be issuing temporal registration tags to imported vehicles which will enable vehicle owners to at most, use their vehicles for two-weeks before proper registration is done. She reiterated that the outlet will enable the Authority to enforce the ban on the importation of right-hand vehicle.
Also speaking on the importance of the website, the SLRTA Boss stated that it will expedite the process of vehicle registrations as long as people are knowledgeable on its operations.
Madam Bendu noted that the utilization of the website will drastically reduce the individual contact and human population at the Authority’s premises.
In his address, the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Leonard Balogun Koroma commended the SLRTA for the move and disclosed that the Corporation is the most proactive and result-oriented among the agencies under his supervision as just two weeks after the retreat in Bo, its management has started implementing some of the recommendations made by the Ministry.
Koroma noted that the improper management of statistics on vehicles would antagonize the dream of the Agenda for Prosperity, and the launch of the website will enable SLRTA to collaborate with other strategic agencies to effectively manage vital information on vehicles in the country. He pledged government’s support in ensuring the achievement of the corporation’s goal.
The General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Abu Bangura also hailed the partnership strides of SLRTA and described it as a step for making the Port a free pedestrian area, as congestion is one of the major challenges of the port. He emphasized the construction of the Truck Store as it will equally enable SLRTA to ensure that they are road friendly.
The Board Chairman of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority, Harry Turay congratulated the management of SLRTA for the progress made in the transport sector. He acknowledged that it will be difficult for the country to benefit from the road fund if the statistics of vehicles plying the roads of Sierra Leone was not known.
The police representative, John S. Tumbay noted that the initiative will help the police to easily track stolen vehicles including those engaged in criminal activities. He also pledged support for the initiative of the SLRTC.
By Keifa M. Jaward
August 1, 2013
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