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From Standard Times Press News Paper NEWS Fellow citizens,
Once more its yuletide! The period of festivities, conviviality and enjoyment heralding the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on 25 th December.
Yuletide has since time immemorial been celebrated as a season of goodwill – a time to exchange sincere felicitations and gifts, all of which are outward and visible signs that our hearts are fully prepared both to receive Christ and our willing to abide to abide by his two greatest commandments of loving God first, and loving our neighboiurs as much as we love ourselves.
No doubt as we all know, the year 2007 has been remarkable in many ways, for which we should remain unfeignly thankful to our God our Creator. I will encourage everyone therefore not to worry for anything but to continue relying on God, through steadfast prayers and thanksgiving so that we as leaders do not go astray.
It is common knowledge that as is always the case, the resources available are inadequate to satisfy the expectations of our citizens, but under the new dispensation, this Council is assured of government’s avowed commitment to fast track the processes of devolution and decentralization more meaningfully, to expedite achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within schedule.
Reciprocally, we as a Council plan to build on this unique gesture, so as to enhance our service delivery capacities to the advantage of our communities, through the introduction of structured development projects that will reflect their total involvement.
During the year, Council through partnerships with the Ministry of Health and Sierra Leone HIV/AIDS Response Project was able to successfully implement city wide, various health care programmes - particularly relating to the reduction of Maternal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity, HIV/AIDS prevention and palliative support to infected persons.
We are also thankful for consideration by the SABABU Education Project this year – a novelty in our administration – for their proposed support to comprehensively rehabilitate schools within the city – starting with the Constance Cummings John Memorial Municipal Junior Secondary at Lightfoot-Boston Street in January next year - so as to make our learning environment more conducive.
Simultaneous partnership assistance is equally being sought for rehabilitation and extension works to other schools within the municipality, to reduce generic constraints relating to inadequate accommodation, teaching and learning materials and general insecurity over schools assets.
The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) deserves commendation for finally consenting to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with us. Under that arrangement, significant assets including machinery and landed properties will revert to Council and once that is achieved, regular periodic maintenance of feeder roads networks within Freetown, jointly undertaken by Council and the SLRA will commence without delay.
All of these efforts are complimentary to new or ongoing partnership programmes with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies including the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), with a view to expanding existing Markets and Recreational Parks facilities, and/or creating new ones to cater for our growing number of citizens and traders.
As equal opportunities service providers, Council is aware of the dire needs of the under-privileged – particularly the physically challenged - and by mid-next year, our Social Services Department will be fully capacitated so as to be able to link with the various organizations in the city, with a view to addressing their felt needs in the areas of education and accommodation.
Fellow citizens, as you are no doubt aware, the success of any Local Government is wholly dependent on its ability to fully harness its revenue major revenue streams which to us are Rates, Market Dues and Fees and Licenses. For a number of reasons our performances in those sectors have fallen far below expectations, purely because we lack the legal muscle required to effectively enforce the available collection mechanism against defaulters.
I am delighted to report that we now have full government backing and that effective 2nd January, 2008, with support from the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, we intend to apply the full provisions of the law regarding City Rates defaulters, including distrainment. All property owners and tenants are hereby forewarned in their own interest, and in the true spirit of Christmas to ensure the fulfillment of their civic obligations, or in case of doubt to seek clarification from the Freetown City Council offices before 31st March 2008
Fellow citizens, let me at this point reiterate and lend public support to the concern of H.E. President Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma regarding the spate of growing disregard for law and order in the city in particular and the entire country in general. For the sake of good civic relationships, I will continue to encourage our youths to do away with lawlessness and to inculcate instead, a culture of respect for authority and the rule of law, which is the only recipe for national progress and development.
We as leaders shall continue doing our level best to leverage on all available social, educational and cultural opportunities - both locally and externally - to maximize the development potentials of our citizens - especially our youths – through partnerships with Non-Governmental and Community-Based Organizations, because we are aware that the youths are leaders of tomorrow.
On the international front, I am pleased to inform you that this Council scored a number of successes during the year that will presently see our city regaining its past glory. For example, October 25th annually is now recognized by Hull City Council as “FREETOWN DAY” and our recent re-affirmations of Sister-Cities links between Kingston-upon-Hull in the UK and New Haven, Connecticut in the USA – home of the La Amistad which is currently berthed on our shores as part of the “Freedom Tour”, also represent significant steps in that direction. We continue to patiently wait to see the actualization of the dreams inherent in those accords
I must on your behalf register our thanks to our delegates from the Amistad America Inc. in New Haven, Connecticut for giving us the rare opportunity to embrace our heritage through the visit of the replica schooner – the La Amistad - and to all those who contributed to making the programme successful. I wish all our visitors a safe return journey and pray that the cords of love and friendship struck will never be broken.
Finally fellow citizens after nearly four challenging years, the term of office of this administration comes to an end in July 2008. I entertain no doubt that the next Local Councils elections will be conducted fairly and peacefully, so in closing this valedictory address, let me take this opportunity, to convey on behalf of myself, the Mayoress and colleague Councillors, our eternal gratitude to God Almighty for sustaining us thus far.
I also want to profusely thank the leadership and rank and file of our political party - the All Peoples’ Congress (APC) Party – and the entire citizens of Freetown for having given us this rare opportunity to serve our city. I have enjoyed every minute spent with the present crop of Councillors to date, as without them, my reliance on God would have waned.
Please accept on behalf of my dear wife, the Mayoress, Councilors and Staff of the Freetown City Council, our sincere wishes for a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year in advance.
Thank you all very much for your kind attention. © Copyright by www.standardtimespress.net |