By Thomas Dixon
232News
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The Executive Director For Native Consortium Edmond Abu together with other Civil Society Organizations has stated that if parliament increases the fees for the Wellington Misiaka toll road they are going stage protest.
Mr., Abu made this statement last Thursday March 14th 2024 after the committee on Works and Public Assets called on Civil Society organizations, Drivers Union President, Kekeh Riders Union at Speaker’s Conference room Parliament building Tower Hill in Freetown.
He presented their position paper to the committee that CRSG must vacate all the blocks which they placed at the alternative roads because it exposed the drivers to accident because the agreement which parliament passed is a bad one and did not meet international standard, pointing out that there have should be only one toll gate not three toll gates.
According to him, the Chinese are saying the road cost US$ 2.5 M while the Wilkinson Road cost US$ 1.5 M also the toll road is 363 kilometer, pointing out that the people of Songo were crying to the Chinese to construct toilet which they refused to do, instead they used the money to block the alternative route, and the money which they use to block the routine will be used to construct schools,
Abu said the Chairman informed them that the document which CRSG presented to the committee is almost the same with SLRA but on the previous meeting held, the Director General of SLRA Alfred Jalil Momodu informed the committee that what CRSG presented to them is different from SLRA document.
The Chairman of the Committee Hon Bashiru Silikie stated that the Ministry of Works and Public Assets has tabled the proposal for the increment of the toll gate that why the committee has called on all the stake holders Civil Society Organizations, Drivers Union President, Kekeh Drivers Union, and others.
Hon Silikie clarified that the documents which CRSG provided to the committee is the same with SLRA.
Alphonso Mainley from Civil Right Coalition said sometimes in November he received letter from the Ministry of Works and Public assets on the toll gate increment which he supported because nobody is doing business not to make profit.
Alpha Amadu Bah President For Drivers Union said when the toll road started in 2016/2017 he was the president they even went on the rampage saying that they did not want it but it was a benefit to them they started with dialogue and negotiated with CRSG and the Ministry of works and the government of Sierra Leone.
Bah said that on the review of the toll charges, he has reached out to his union trailers, trucks and others and they have agreed on the all the prices but group 5 which according to him, should be separated from the trucks coming from Guinea and the one in Sierra Leone.
Hon Silikie said on the issue on the alternative route government has the right to rehabilitate the alternative route not the Chinese investors. He pointed out that he has listened to all side of the stakeholders which will be part of his recommendations.
