In an attempt to clear the air and re-state the reasons behind the intention by the Vice Presidents office to last Friday order “that all government officials including those of parastatals and commissions wishing to travel out of the country should obtain SECURITY CLEARANCE from the Inspector General of Police before leaving the shores of Sierra Leone,” the office of the Vice President has issued a new release clarifying its position.
Stating that the earlier release “has been either misunderstood or deliberately misinterpreted” the release explained that “we are going through a period of transition and before the new Government starts to function effectively, there must be a smooth handing over from the former Ministers to the new.”
This the release went on to explain “cannot be done properly if government officials especially professionals technocrats and those occupying strategic positions decide to leave without performing the duties required of them by the Transition Management Team.”
The release defended the action to impose the order stating that “this is not the first time that government officials are being asked to obtain security clearance before traveling out of the country”, adding that “this regulation which has been there all the time, only needs to be reinforced so that Government officials can perform their assigned tasks before leaving the country as and when necessary.”
The release went on to re-assure the public that “there is no intention to restrict the movement of Government officials for the purpose of witch-hunting, victimization or political harassment.”
ADVERTISEMENT