By Parliamentary Reporter

The Member of Parliament from Tonkoliili District, Hon Jawah Sesay, has informed the entire House of Parliament that “the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government has failed the people of Tonkolili District and its people.”

Hon Jawah Sesay made the statement on Thursday 21st November 2024 while debating on the 2025 budget tabled by the Finance Minister last week.

On substantiating his claims, Hon Sesay revealed that like the previous budgets, the 2025 budget did not consider the people of Tonkolili District.

He said the Ministry of finance had completely abandoned Tonkolili District despite the huge revenues it generates from that part of the country.

Hon Sesay said Tonkolili is the hub when it comes to revenue generation ranging from mining companies to the Bumbuna Hydro electricity dam but noted sadly that the Ministry has still not considered the district.

“If you now travel the road from Magburaka to the Bumbuna linking Sambaya, you will agree with me that my people are excruciating suffering in hunger. Year in year out the budgets have failed to capture  developments of any,” he said.

He said Tonkolili District has 19 Chiefdom, with a huge population, adding that, but since 2019 to date, no budget has included the district in terms of development.

He underscored the fact that with all the iron ore, gold and other minerals mined from the district, Tonkolili District Council is still the poorest.

Hon Sesay maintained that the people of Tonkolili district do not trust the SLPP government anymore because, they said, for seven years down the line, the people of the district are dying of hunger and poverty, underdevelopment and lack of support are factors affecting the district.

He spoke about the health problem which are key issues yet unresolved in the district, citing that lack health facilities, educational institutions and pure drinking water are some of the challenges in Sierra Leone’s north-second biggest district.

He said youths in the community are still facing unemployment challenges while chemicals and the deplorable roads serve as health hazards and are a  major health threats.

The APC MP said, surface rents and CDA (or community development fund) cannot help construct feeder roads, adding that these are capital projects government need to factored in the budget.

“It seems as if we are cooking the rice but cannot taste it. This is wrong,” he said.

He said it is painful for them to generate revenues that cannot go to the people.

“What have we done wrong in Tonkolili District”

The MP urged the Ministry of Finance to make sure they consider in the supplementary budget.