Following the pronouncement of the Public Health Emergency by His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma as one of the blond strategies in eradicating the Ebola scourge in Sierra Leone, The Paramount Chief of Magbema Chiefdom, PC Bai Farma Tass Bubu N’gbak IV who is known as one of the victors in the fight against the Ebola virus in Kambia district is facing huge challenges in implementing the Community Bye Laws recently promulgated in the Republic of Sierra Leone House of Representatives in the hands of the Honourable Member of Parliament of Constituency 38 in Kambia District, Alieu Badara K. Munu and the Councillor of Ward 123, Osman Sabena. These challenges according to the Paramount Chief came as a result of the Bamoi Luma activities he put on hold in response to the call of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to thwart the district population from the killer Ebola Virus Disease EVD through body contact which is one of the common ways identified by health pundits as the fastest way to spread the disease. Before the Public Health Emergency pronouncement by His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma which put a ban on public markets (Luma or Dowies) and the formulation of the Community Bye Laws according to Bai Farma, he had already commenced putting modalities in place to prevent his people from Ebola using his mega chiefdom resources. He said he was the first Paramount Chief in Kambia District that took the community bye laws down to the grass root in his chiefdom and formulation of Community neighbourhood watch which he said has helped his chiefdom people a whole lot from the havoc Ebola is wrecking on the poor lives of Sierra Leoneans. One of the measures to kick this invincible enemy called Ebola in his Chiefdom according to PC. Bai Farma Tass Bubu N’gbak IV, was to suspend the international trade activities at Bamoi Luma in response to the President’s call and this action he said brought a very serious stalemate between him on the one hand and the Honourable Member of Parliament constituency 38 together with the Councillor Ward 123 representing the ruling All People’s Congress Party on the other hand. Following the closure of Bamoi Luma International Market in Kambia District by the Paramount Chief, Honourable Alieu Badara K. Munu and Councillor Sabena took a delegation to the District Security Committee DISEC and asked that DISEC allocate two days in the week so that traders can take out their commodities in order for the locals to have their food. This request was endorsed by DISEC but with a condition that they have only two days in the week (Monday and Tuesday) and that only two vehicles transporting food items into the district from any part of Sierra Leone were allowed in. Also, the vehicles must carry an authentic pass from their District of origin. Furthermore, immediately the two approved vehicles enter Kambia District, details of them must be communicated to the District Security Coordinator, Alfred Kamara before it could be unloaded in Bamoi. After the advise issued by the District Security Committee to the Honourable Member of Parliament Constituency 38 and Councillor Sabena of Ward 123, the later went ahead and apparently flouted the advise by allowing trailers from all over the country and Guinea which gives no difference from Monday and Tuesday given to them to the normal Saturday and Sunday public market days. The deliberate refusal on the side of the MP and the Councillor to adhere to the instruction of DISEC apparently for their personal gain, Kambia Authorities who have used their flesh and bone in making Kambia District one of the least in terms of Ebola cases have condemned the lawlessness exhibited by the Honourable Alie Badara K. Munu and Councillor Sabena which attracted the attention of the Acting Minister of Trade and Industry, Honourable Alie Badara Mansaray to travel to Kambia with a team of his Ministry’s officials and journalists to look into the impasse. Addressing stakeholders in the District Security Meeting, the Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry, Alie Mansaray said Government is doing all within it might whether convenient or inconvenient to eradicate Ebola in the country and that it requires an extra ordinary measure. Mr. Mansaray went on by saying his Ministry had long decided to close all public markets in the country before the pronouncement of the President that prohibited all public markets (Dowei). The Minister in a desperate mood enforced the continued closure of all public markets including Bamoi Luma International Markets and further commended the action of the Paramount Chief for his efforts in implementing the policy of the President of Sierra Leone and further applauded him for his effort in protecting the lives of his people in his Chiefdom. Honourable Alie Badara Mansaray urged the MP and the Councillor to show respect to traditional rulers at the same time give ultimate support to the fight against what he called invincible public enemy (Ebola). The Acting Minister ended by saying if anyone stands before the way of Ebola fighter, he/she regardless his/her position will be arrested adding that the law remains the law. On his part, the District Officer who doubles as Chairman of the District Security Committee informed all that the law is supreme and that the closure of Bamoi Luma is sacrosanct. Alfred Lahai called on Honourable Alie Badara K. Munu and the Councillor to respect the Paramount chief as major decision maker of the chiefdom and that they should look at themselves as his subjects. The District Officer and Chairman of DISEC ended by passing a decree to the invariable closure of Bamoi Luma International Market in Kambia District following the pronouncement of His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma and the advice of the Acting Minister of Trade and Industry, Alie Mansaray. The District Officer representing the Government of Sierra Leone in Kambia public mandated the security forces to constantly monitor activities at the Bamoi Luma International Market and bring anyone found wanting before the law.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:33:29 +0000
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