By Nasratu Kargbo
Members of Parliament have expressed frustration over the severity of the situation in accessing to clean and safe drinking water in the country and called for an increase in budget for the sector, in a bid to remedy the situation.
A situation that the MPs described as "a perennial problem" in the country whilst debating the approval of presidential nominees including Ing. David K. Fonnie who is appointed as Chairman for the Board of Directors at Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC).
Emphasizing the gravity of the water situation in the country, Chief Whip of the Opposition Abdul Karim Kamara said even the Presidential Lodge depends on water bowsers for supply. “It’s a shame to us as a nation that even the house of the presidency in Sierra Leone depends on water bowser when Guma Valley has a dam that is not more than three miles away from the presidency. If Guma Valley cannot supply the presidency what hope do we have as citizens?” he asked.
The MP explained that since tap water can be hardly accessed, citizens now depend on sachet water as a source for clean drinking water, but noted that most of the packaged water is not tested for purity. Kamara said “It is a risk our people are engulfed in. We spend more money as a government in the health sector curing these water- related diseases, when what we actually need to do is to prevent the situation”.
Highlighting some of the significance of water, he said food security cannot be achieved without water, adding that the common illnesses recorded in hospitals are mostly water borne diseases.
The Leader said that he has noticed that on an annual basis much is not allocated to the water sector. “How do you expect them to do magic when the allocation given to the water sector in Sierra Leone is so abysmal. There is no way the water sector in Sierra Leone will improve if we as members of parliament do not do the needful in allocating serious resources in that sector”, he pointed.
The Deputy Leader of Government Business Bashiru Silikie said it is no secret that Sierra Leoneans are still constrained with access to water, stressing that even parliament buys water for their utilization.
He cited that his Hamilton Community which is located very close to the dam, hosts more than four thousand people, who do not have access to water.
Silikie said children are having sleepless nights, explaining that they are the ones who are out on the streets at odd hours to fetch water for their various homes, a routine that he says makes the children become exhausted with some not even going to school.
Whilst addressing the proposed Chairman, the Leader said “Please go and work with the team and improve on water, this is the 21st century and we should not be struggling with water”
The Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas agreed with submissions made by the MPs and stated that they have to invest in water.
Ing. David K. Fonnie was approved as chairman board of Directors. Other nominees that were approved were Dr. Williette Jame as Chairperson Board of Trustees at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) and six other members to serve as board members of trustees at the SLBC. Bintu Myers is Chairperson Board of Directors at the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, Ibrahim Nyellenkeh Chairman of National Sports Authority, and Vandy Konneh Chairman National Commission for Persons with Disability,
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