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The government through the Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Denis Sandy, together with the Minister of Lands, Dr. Turad Senesie, commissioned the Berge ferry at Bumpeh. Before starting his statement, Minister Sandy conveyed a special greeting from the president to the people of Bumpeh and Bonth District as a whole. He mentioned that they were on a special assignment given by President Bio a few months ago. The directive was to temporarily solve the crossing boarding and constraint issues before Christmas and New Year, which would be the best gift for the people of Bumpeh.
Dr. Sandy explained that since President Bio gave them this directive, they had been working tirelessly. They formed a committee consisting of the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Finance, and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA). They visited the site multiple times and put pressure on the Ministry of Finance to disburse funds, leading to the assembly of the Barge ferry in Bumpeh. This was the Christmas gift that His Excellency decided to give to the people of Bumpeh, showcasing a perfect example of action rather than mere talk.
Mr. Sandy mentioned that the barge had started operations five days ago. As a committee, they needed to assess the requirements to ensure that the barge remained functional until the completion of the bridge, which is scheduled to begin construction in early 2024. He expressed his happiness to be present on the ground, representing President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, to commission the barge.
The Minister of Land, Dr. Turad Senesie, stated that the president had instructed him to oversee all the projects in Bonthe and Moyamba. He commended Dr. Sandy for his efforts and collaboration in fulfilling the president’s vision for ongoing road projects. Dr. Turad thanked the people of Bonthe District for their patience and assured them that the bridge would soon become a reality. He pledged to continue monitoring and collaborating with Dr. Sandy to bring development to all districts in the country.
Patrick H. Walker and community members performed a customary libation ceremony to express gratitude to their fellow community members. Mr. Walker expressed his happiness for the operation of the barge, as it coincided with his holiday visit from Freetown. He praised the ministers and the government for respecting the people and emphasized that no matter the work done for them, they deserved such respect. The ministers’ commissioning of the barge in the traditional way, by pouring libation for the deceased elders of the community, was a testament to this respect.
Senior Engineer Paul H. Lebbie, representing the Director General of SLRA, stated that the agency’s role was to provide economical access to the people. He mentioned that during their previous visit, they handed over the construction of the bridge to the contractor, CSE. The SLRA had promised the people the barge, and today, the Minister of Works and Public Assets would commission it. He assured that the SLRA would visit periodically during the bridge construction next year.
They should have completed the money and build a bridge. That river is not even a quarter mile. Than to spend all such money on ferry that will need repairs almost immediately.