The Minister of Environment, Prof. Foday M. Jaward has announced 24th of February this year as the date for the election of the national executive of the Sierra Leone Timber Association.
The Minister made this announcement during a round table meeting with members of the Timber Association, Forest Division, and Chairman of the Environment Committee in Parliament, National Electoral Commission and Ministry of Internal Affairs at the ministry’s conference hall on Thursday 11th February 2021.
He noted that the Timber Association should be regarded as a good one despite the differences and challenges that do exist within the association. He said there have been several postponements for the conduct of the national election for the association.
He entreated all intending aspirants to embark on a robust campaign in their various districts and further called for the election to be a people's chosen one.
He admonished members of the association to desist from spreading hate messages or physical one. He appealed to all delegates not to vote with sentiments but rather, with a vision that could enable the association to progress for the betterment of all and sundry of the association.
He informed the interim Chairman to work closely with NEC and the electoral committee to ensure a positive outcome of the entire process.
In his statement, the Chairman of the Committee on Environment in Parliament, Hon. Yusuf Mackery, said that the presence of all district Chairmen to the meeting was deliberate for the purpose of clarifying any inaccurate information that relates to the election.
"This round table meeting is to reaffirm that the national election has to hold on February 24th", he said.
He said in the event delegates and aspirants failed to participate in the election on the said date, "we as government will choose an interim Chairperson."
He took cognizance of other agencies and NGOs being regulated by the government, and further noted that the timber association is not an exception since it has registered with the government of Sierra Leone.
He disclosed that the government through the ministry has been proactive by choosing four executive persons per district to serve as delegate including; Chairmen, Chairlady, Secretary General and PROs, adding that it was only western area that has five delegates.
He added that NEC has to conduct the election together with the electoral committee. He said the incumbent national executive would subsequently be mandated to conduct the district elections across the country.
Copyright (c) 2021 Politico Online
