By Josephine Lagawo
September 05, 2020, (SALONE TIMES)
FREETOWN – Hon PC Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka 111 of Tonkolili said that Parliament is not getting water from Guma Valley which makes the toilets in Parliament stinks.
He made this comment last Wednesday 12 August when the Committee on Water Resource was probing Sierra Leone Water Regulatory Commission.
That it is an embarrassment because if he has visitor in Parliament, he has to take the visitor to his office in town so that he won’t be embarrassed.
That in Aberdeen where he is living he pays for water to Guma Valley but cannot get it unless he has to go to Goderich to get water.
That water is everywhere in Sierra Leone but he is wondering what is wrong with the country in providing water.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Water resources, Hon Lahai Marah told the Executive Director of Sierra Leone Water Regulation Commission, Emmanuel Mannah that when he and his family drank Fatima Pure water, he spent up to three million Leones to heal himself and members of his family.
“Fatima Pure Water is so stink,” he affirmed.
He asked the Executive Director how many water companies the commission has registered, Mannah replied to the committee that the commission has registered fifteen water companies.
Hon Marah asked whether they met all the criteria in terms of testing and whether standard bureau was involved, the Executive responded in the affirmative.
The Executive Director admonished the committee that they are being very fair in doing their work, adding that most of the time; people misunderstood the role of the regulator and producer.
That Guma Valley and SALWACO are responsible for producing water while they are around to make sure that water is given to the consumer.
According to him, they ensure that whatever they are giving to the consumer is very affordable and of quality.
He highlighted the challenges of Guma Valley and asked the committee to help them design policy so that they look for money to supply water to the people.
He asked the public to exercise patient with this utility as Parliament has just passed five water regulatory instruments to regulate and provide good quality water to the consumers.
That there is also the responsibility of the consumers because they don’t want to pay for water- if Guma gives water, the people must pay.
That people must stop tampering with Guma pipes as it is making the supply of water difficulty.
