By Mabinty M. Kamara
In an effort to make the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces more productive in contributing to national development in terms of infrastructural development, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has landed a number of assorted construction equipment at Sierra Leone’s Port, for the engineering regiment of the force.
Speaking to Politico, the Director of Media and Public Relations at RSLAF, Colonel Abu Bakarr Sidique Bah described the donations as a big boost not only for the force but for the country in terms of construction work generally.
He admitted that the force has over the years not been actively involved in road construction due to the lack of the required equipment but that the engineering department of RSLAF has been involved in the construction of temporal barracks units and other construction works in various parts of the country where they are deployed.
He assured that the force has the required expertise to do the job and that the equipment is an added advantage. “I believe the RSLAF by now is one of the most equipped construction entities in Sierra Leone because very few construction companies can match those types of equipment. One thing it has done is that it has boosted us both nationally and internationally,” he said.
Internationally, he said they can be deployed as engineers during peacekeeping missions abroad. “Assuming that we want to go on peacekeeping operations where we will be deployed as an engineering company to support operations, we can be of value to them,” he said.
Bah added that they can also support national development by their engagement in the construction of roads on behalf of the government which can save some costs.
Bah could not at press time tell the exact number of equipment they will be receiving once they are cleared from the Port but said they include excavators, dump trucks, asphalt paver, motor graders, rollers, front-end loaders, and water bowsers. Each battalion location across the country is also to benefit from a water bowser.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (01/08/22)
