By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Member of Parliament for constituency 011 Kenema district Peter Musa Moigua has condemned the actions of some of his colleague members of parliament whom he claimed demand Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSA) and other logistical support from development partners taking developmental projects to their communities.
He made this statement during the National Disaster Management Agency’s response with food and non-food items to victims of a storm disaster in his constituency in Kandu -Leppiama chiefdom.
He said President Julius Maada Bio has instructed all development partners and government institutions to always involve members of parliament in developmental activities in their respective constituencies and districts especially local councils. He however said most of his colleagues are in the habit of asking for their travel facilitation cost from the organizations who intend to take development to their people.
“It’s unfortunate as a Parliamentarian when organizations want to take tangible development to your people and you ask them to facilitate your movement to your people,’’ he said.
He added that most of his colleague MPs do not like visiting their constituencies for fear of countless requests for assistance from their people. This he said is largely due to bogus promises made by the MPs during campaigns and the lack of understanding of the roles of the parliamentarians by the communities they represent.
He also urged his colleagues to recognize and work with the paramount chiefs and other chiefdom authorities including their party people if they should achieve their development agenda.
Moigua outlined some of the development projects he has taken to his constituencies through lobbying with organizations and government agencies.
He noted the replacement of a burnt transformer at Blama community and the new bridge linking Blama town with Saint Joseph’s Secondary School as laudable ventures. Presenting the relief items to the victims, Director General of National Disaster Management Agency, Retired Lieutenant General Brima Sesay said many disasters have occurred over the period but that with the establishing of the institution and through the support of the government, they have been able to respond swiftly.
He said their mandate as an agency is to quickly respond to disaster situations across the country and mitigating some of their causes as well as educating them on how to reduce the risks of disasters.
He said each affected family will receive five bundles zinc for roofing and packets of nails to rebuild their houses, one 50 kg bag of rice, blankets, mats, buckets, cans of cooking oil, among others.
He commended the Member of Parliament for his continuous advocacy for his people which he said demonstrates caring and compassion for the people in his constituency.
He also used the occasion to educate people on how to minimize the risk of disasters.
Chiefdom Speaker, Michael Kenawa Gbondo expressed delight at the intervention which he said was the swiftest response to a disaster in his chiefdom that he has seen from a government. One of the affected persons, Hannah Alusine thanked the government for the help given them and called on her fellow victims to make good use of the supplies.
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