The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, has signed a deal that will see a fish harbour built at Black Johnson community.

It’s a bilateral agreement between Sierra Leone and China.

The Chinese Ambassador is to implement a modern fish harbour  project at Black Johnson which is located in Western Area Rural  District in Freetown .

The ceremony was attended by a cross-section of MFMR staff,  civil society groups, parliament, staff of the Chinese  embassy , the media, justice ministries, lands  and Black Johnson community. The programme signaled the realization of government’s desire to promote effective service delivery in the fisheries sector.

Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Dugba described the project as a new infrastructural development, geared towards enhancing fisheries operations and improving sustainable   management of the country’s fisheries and marine resources.

She referred to the ceremony as a “milestone achievement.” The programme was held at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown.

Mrs.  Dugba said the agreement would serve as a springboard meant to address other policy actions including, promotion of private sector investments in the sector, combating illegal fishing, development of aquaculture.

The fishing harbour would work to secure an international certificate that would enhance its exporting of fish and fishery products to the world’s market, authorities confirmed.

While dilating on the importance of the project, she pointed out that though the country has one of the most productive fishing  grounds in Africa, with diverse fish stocks, it still lacks the  necessary infrastructure that should provide for an output of requisite ancillary services. Such services include  trans-shipment , bunkering and opportunities to raise more revenue and curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing system.

She added that if the country’s fishery is well-managed with the required infrastructure, more revenue and job opportunities will be created.

She expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the Chinese Government for their project which she described as a “laudable project” while calling on both parties to deepen the  existing cordial and bilateral relations between the Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Signing on behalf of his government, the Chinese Ambassador, Wang Qing  spoke about the long standing, cordial bilateral and relations between the two countries, noting that  the agreement was a clear manifestation of China ‘s desire to promote a socio-economic  development in Sierra Leone.

The project, he said, came about as a result of the two leaders of the countries who have resolved to implement the said project through an existing bilateral cooperation.

She thanked all those who, in diverse ways, have contributed to the promotion of the fish harbour project.

Ambassador Qing described the occasion as a “great day “to celebrate, and outlined a number of projects his government has undertaken in the country over the  years and pledged to do more particularly in the fisheries sector.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of  Fisheries, Elizabeth Hawa Ellie, who chaired the programme, said the “milestone” event  would also provide an opportunity for them to show gratitude to the  Chinese  Government for the  assistance they have been  rendering to the country particularly in the area of fisheries management.

Mrs Ellie hoped that the existing bond between the two countries to continue.

 

By Max  A. Konneh

Media Coordinator, MFMR