The Chairman of the oversight Committee on Tourism and Culture Affairs, Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Rahman-Coker has summoned different guesthouses in the country to ascertain their compliance with government policy like payment of taxes, registration fees, their full operations especially the minimum wage for salaries, NASSIT, PAYE, GST, and audited account of their institution.
Hon. Sheriff Rahim-Coker maintained that the 2024 license of Sweet Mother Guesthouse is okay, their NASSIT for 2023 is update but no NASSIT for 2024 and PAYE, and that their GST is okay but without staff list and Environmental Impact Licensed.
The Manager of Sweet Mother Guest House, Marie Kamara told the Committee that they have contract with City Council to be collecting their waste.
The Chairman asked whether they have foreigner staff and how many staff they have. Madam Kamara responded that they do not have any foreign staff but that they have 12 staff who are 10 females and 2 males who are receptionists, noting that they have 24 bedrooms. She pleaded that they will bring their 2024 NASSIT on the next adjourned date.
Hon. Rahman-Coker told the manager that on August 5th 2024, she must come with all documents which the committee requested for at 10 am.
The Manager of Franco Diving Restaurant and Bar Center, Fabrio informed the committee that they have started operation since 1995. Hon. Mabinty Taylor Bangura asked what are the Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) they have been doing and how they do away with waste. Fabrio replied that they have not been doing anything on CSR but that they have requested for waste bins form Council which they fail to bring, and that they have to ask a private company to collect the waste. Responding about their staff capacity, Fabrio said that they have eight staff, two females and six males.
However, members of the committee detected in the document submitted by Ranco Diving Restaurant and Bar they only have five staff contrary to what Fabrio said.
The Assistant Manager of The Place Guesthouse at Rawdon Street, Fatmata Foday Kamara said that they are operating twenty-five bed rooms. The Committee had to stand down The Palace Guest House for no compliance and asked that the proprietor should appear before the Committee on Wednesday 7th August 2024 with all necessary documents. Fatmata said he had just taken three years there.
Skyinn Motel operating at Wilkinson Road was also stood down by the Committee for noncompliance and asked to appear before the Committee on 5th August 2024.
