By Francis H. Murray
President Julius Maada Bio has assured members of the diplomatic and consular corps, as well as development partners of Sierra Leone, that robust response measures were being instituted as part of government’s strides to prevent Covid-19 from entering the country.
“We have declared a State of Public Emergency to facilitate a more agile but robust response to a rapidly changing situation in the sub-region. Let me assure you that our actions during the period of the emergency will be non-discriminatory, proportionate, and undertaken only if necessary. This is not a lockdown. But we will consider further measures based on developments in our neighbouring countries and in our country,” Bio said at a meeting at State House last week.
The State of Public Emergency was meant to strengthen the government’s position in taking measures in the fight against the global pandemic which started in China and has been fast growing in Africa in the last few months.
Bio said the measures his government intends to take would not discriminate against anybody regardless of their political orientation, but would be proportionately applicable to all.
He added that the government expected a disproportionate economic impact, and that they intended to remain disciplined and focused on their agenda of fiscal discipline, public financial management and their overarching fight against corruption.
Bio further noted that the government had set broad achievable goals that included supporting the private sector and local entrepreneurship, maintaining a stable foreign exchange rate and stable prices for key commodities, expanding the social safety net to cushion the impact of the anticipated contraction of the economy and supporting labor-based public works, and assistance for the local production and processing of staple food items.
“In view of the situation, Government is seeking augmentation of our current allocation under the Extended Credit Facility Programme with the International Monetary Fund. Additionally, we are also seeking three key interventions: Debt relief from the IMF under the Containment Window of the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust; Debt relief from other Bilateral Partners and Multilateral Agencies; And additional grant resources from other Development Partners,” he said.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr Francis Kaikai, said that the meeting with development partners was on the request of the President as part of the government’s engagement with critical stakeholders on its Coronavirus preparedness efforts.
United Nations Resident Coordinator to Sierra Leone, Sunil Saigal, lauded the president for convening the meeting, describing it as timely. He also commended the government for its proactive measures, preparedness and prevention efforts by building on the experience from the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015.
Mr Saigal said that coordination would be very crucial in the fight against the global pandemic, adding that he was satisfied with the structures that had been laid out.
He further noted that they were pleased to be able to help so far, especially with the health authorities to support the preparedness and prevention, assuring that they were ready to stand with and support the government.
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