By Mabinty M. Kamara
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr Sunil Saigal, is set to leave Sierra Leone after spending four and half years in the country.
Dr Saigal, who would also be proceeding on retirement after 35 years of service with the United Nations (UN), met with President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday to bid farewell.
He described his experience in the country over the last four and half years as exciting, noting that he was opportune to have witnessed a number of important landmark events in the history of Sierra Leone.
Dr Saigal commended the government and people of Sierra Leone for the hospitality accorded him, noting that that would remain with him throughout his retirement.
He further noted the favourable standing of the UN systems in the country, saying that Sierra Leone has demonstrated the readiness of government at all levels to engage and dialogue with the global body. He went on to assure the country that the UN was a trusted partner to the country and noted that his successor would continue to provide the necessary support to the government.
“We in the UN commend the government for the decisive actions that have been taken to prevent the early arrival of the COVID-19 in the country. We continue to stand by the government, both in its public health response and socio-economic response,” he said.
The UN is yet to name a replacement for Dr Saigal, as of Wednesday, August 12.
President Bio expressed gratitude to the out-going UN boss for the many strides they have achieved together as country and development partner while he’s in the country. Bio specifically recognized the role of the UN Country office under Saigal in the areas of sustainable agriculture and food security, climate change, good governance, expanded access to basic services - including education, health, water and sanitation and energy, protection and empowerment of the most vulnerable.
“You have been part of the many processes we have gone through. We are working so hard to keep the Medium-Term Development Plan on track even in the midst of COVID-19. You have played your own part here and I want to say thank you for being there for us even with the COVID-19 and wish you all the best,” President Bio said at the meeting at State House.
“I want to thank the United Nations in Sierra Leone for the successful construction of a specialized COVID-19 treatment Centre at the 34 Hospital and handing over same to the Government of Sierra Leone as part of the UN’s support to the national COVID-19 fight,” Bio added.
Dr Sunil Saigal first came to Sierra Leone in 2016 for its just concluded assignment, and has witnessed the transitioning of power from the All Peoples Congress (APC)-led administration to the current Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP)-led administration in 2018.
Saigal, and Indian by nationality, has been vocal on national issues bothering on democracy, good governance, rule of law and Human Rights.
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