LOCAL GOV’T MINISTER PRESENTS ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATORS TO RESIDENTS IN PENGUIA CHIEFDOM

Minister Lamina addressing the resident of Penguia

Sandaru Town, Penguia Chiefdom, 31 May, 2021- The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Tamba John Sylvanus Lamina, has officially presented a team of administrative investigators to the people of Penguia Chiefdom and entreated them to comply with the investigative processes.

 The investigators are expected to take a week in the Chiefdom to engage stakeholders with questions relating to administrative conduct of Paramount Chief Samuel Sheku Gibrilla, who has been out of the said Chiefdom since 2018 due to conflict with his people.

Addressing the people in the Court Barray at Sandaru Town, Minister Lamina explained that Sierra Leone has one hundred and ninety (190) Chiefdoms, which are expected to be governed by Paramount Chiefs. He added that no Chiefdom would be totally safe without a sitting Paramount Chief, which is why he said even though his official vehicle was faulty, he used other means to get to the Chiefdom in a bid to clearly explain to the people the reason why the investigators were there.

“This Chiefdom is supposed to be amongst the richest Chiefdoms in Kailahun District based on the minerals it has, but because of conflict, you cannot even boast of a decent Barray. This is just to say it is difficult to develop a Chiefdom that is not peaceful,” he said.

Residents of Penguia Chiefdom attentively listening to Minister Lamina

 He maintained that the administrative investigators are not in the Chiefdom to judge anyone, but they are merely there to get the sides of other stakeholders with regards the issue at hand. He added that the investigators are expected to come out with an accurate, balanced and credible report with recommendations that would guide the Government in the process of taking final decisions on the said issue.

He urged the residents to see the team as people who are there to lay foundation for lasting peace that would enhance development in the Chiefdom.

He called on all the Chiefdom stakeholders to give their maximum support to the team, which he regarded as a group of competent people whom the Government believes to carry the assignment diligently.

For more enquires:

Frederick V Kanneh

Information Officer

MLGRD

fkanneh@mlgrd.gov.sl

+23279788989