By: Bampia James Bundu
Strategic Communications Unit MIC
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Mrs. Emma Kowa Jalloh has officially unveiled the Ministry of Fisheries' Out Station Office, a public Toilet and presented one patrol boat with 115 horsepower engine to the people of Sulima in the Sorogbeima Chiefdom in Pujehun District on 28th September 2021.
Unveiling and presenting the goodies to the people, the Minister of Fisheries reaffirmed His Excellency the President Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio's commitment in ensuring that the promises he made to the people of Sulima during his 2018 campaign are actualized.
She maintained that the unveiling of their new outstation office, the construction of the public toilets and the presentation of the out board engine machine were some of the promises the president made to the people of Sulima, and as the minister in charge of fisheries she is ensuring that the promises are actualized.
She explained that officials of the Ministry of Fisheries will be attached to Sulima to ensure that they monitor and regulate the manner in which fish products are packaged and exported and also ensure that proper fishing procedures are followed.
She commended the Town Chief and his people for providing the ministry with a piece of land for the construction of an ultramodern Smoke Oven for the fishmongers, especially Women in Fisheries.
Madam Kowa Jalloh revealed that her ministry has purchased fishing nets that will be sold to licensed boat owners at a cost-recovery price so as to ensure that the fishermen in the chiefdom practice proper fishing methods using the right fishing nets.
She used the forum as an opportunity to introduce the new Quality Assurance Officer who will be attached to Sulima and Jendema respectively.
She appealed to the stakeholders especially the local authorities in the Chiefdom, to continue to work in partnership with officials of the ministry to ensure that due processes are followed.
The Resident Minister Southern Region Mr Mohamed Alie expressed thanks and appreciation to the Minister and her team for visiting his region and for providing all those goodies for the people of Sulima.
He assured the delegation of their continued effort to ensure that the will and wishes of the president are actualized.
The Resident Minister urged the people to be committed in their work as the ministry will always be available to support them when needed.
Expressing appreciation to the delegation, the Town Chief of Sulima Chief Shiaka Luseni Massaquoi heaped praises on the Minister of Fisheries and her team for their continued support to his chiefdom and also appreciated the goodies.
He noted that the New Direction government has done a lot for the people of Sulima that they will not forget in a hurry.
"We can now boast of having 24 hours solar electricity light in our town, a brand new two-storey fisheries out station building, one brand new patrol boat with 115 horsepower outboard engine, and a public toilet that will prevent the people from defecating in the beach. All these goodies we have received under this regime," he said.
The Director of Fisheries Madam Kadijatu Jalloh appealed to the Navy personnel in the town to use the boat for its intended purpose. She called on the Women in Fisheries organisation to continue to be hardworking and work in line with the new fisheries officials that will be attached to the chiefdom.
The meeting was chaired by the erudite hardworking Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Madam Elizabeth Ellie.