In a decisive meeting held by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) of the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), stakeholders and community members of Bureh Town have unanimously agreed to adopt a private sector management model for the upcoming touristic and leisure facilities at Bureh Beach.

The meeting, which took place in Bureh Town, was organized to engage the local community on the management strategy for the facilities currently under development as part of the SLEDP project. This project aims to boost the tourism sector by enhancing key sites, including Bureh Beach, Leicester Peak, and Tacugama. Planned developments at Bureh Beach include a beach boardwalk, market stalls, a surf club, a restaurant, a jetty, public and beach showers, toilets, green parking, and upgraded access roads.

Tourism Specialist for SLEDP, Prince Gaima, highlighted that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the business management model for these facilities reflects the wishes of the Bureh community. He emphasized that, although stakeholders had previously expressed a preference for private sector management, the final decision needed to be validated by the broader community.

Mohamed Jalloh, Director of Tourism, Travel and Exchange Programme, reinforced this sentiment, stating that the government’s goal is to transform Bureh Beach into a premier tourist destination that generates employment and business opportunities for the local population. He noted that in a prior meeting at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, key community figures, including the Chief Administrator, the current headwoman, and the former headman, had already shown support for a private sector model. The purpose of the latest meeting was to confirm this decision directly with the community.

After extensive discussions, the community, represented by Headwoman Representative Pa. Tucker, unanimously agreed to allow a private entity to manage the facilities for an initial period of five years. This arrangement will enable the community to learn from the management process, after which control of the facilities will be handed over to them.