By Abdulai Kargbo
The National Tourism Board of the Republic of Sierra Leone has commenced a demolition exercise at the Lumely Aberdeen beach views. This action was initially prompted by a statement by the General Manager of the National Tourism Board Sierra Leone, madam Fatmata Mida Hamid Carew, a few weeks ago, where she stated that she needed to decongest the beach to ascertain clear access to the beach offshore. It was clear in her statement that the National Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism had thought about this and agreed to carry on with the demolition process along the beach view. Fast forward to the commencement of this demolition exercise, the public is concerned about the process of determining the condition under which a beach bar can be demolished.
Speaking to AIMNet Newspaper, the board's Communications Manager, Kai Bockari Saquee, stated that initial guidelines were given to Beach Bar Owners during their application stages. He added that the guidelines clearly stated that the board only gives temporary permits for constructing Beach Bars at the beach view.
He furthered that a building plan was also issued to Beach Bar Owners to guide their construction.
He also disclosed that the initial guidelines mandated all Beach Bar Owners to ensure that they give access to the beach, and also ensure that they remove all their excretion storage facilities connected to the beach to prevent pollution. He also stated that it is very clear in the application form that the construction of a story building is prohibited along the beach view.
Speaking of the number of structures they have demolished, Saquee stated that they had demolished about up to fifty structures and that this demolition had been segmented into six phases. He said they are only in the second phase of the demolition exercise. Responding to the issue of political undertone in this exercise, Saquee stated that there is no political interest in this operation. He said the demolition had been the process even during the last APC Government. He said the minister determines the status of beach bars at the beach view.
Speaking to a victim of this exercise, Mr. Denis Smith, owner of a beach bar at Lumbly Beach, stated that he was uninformed about such an exercise on his investment. He disclosed that his structure complies with the guidance of the board, as his structure serves as a guideline for every newly constructed beach bar at the Aberdeen beach.
According to Mr. Smith, his understanding is that the Director of Cultural Affairs once approached him at the National Tourism Board to give up some portion of his land to him. In exchange, he promised to help him get a permanent staying permit at the beach, which he refused. He stated that ever since his refusal, there has been a strained relationship between himself and the Director, Mr. Mohamed Jalloh. According to him, he believes he is responsible for the demolition of his investment. He said an attempt was made to reach out to Mr. Jalloh to have his side but was unsuccessful.
The chairman of the Aberdeen Lumley beach bars, John Donald Sandy, stated that the board, to some extent, engaged owners of beach bars, and they were even told to re-do their structures. He added that the property owners were even given a deadline after which the board would have no option but to demolish structures owned by defaulters.
Speaking on the policy issue, Mr. Sandy stated that the beach needs an inclusive policy guideline, and the word “temporary” needs more interpretation to prevent such a situation where people would invest hugely and later have their structure demolished. Speaking on the impact of this on the lives of people affected, Sandy stated that this is a difficult moment for them as beach bar owners, stating that the beach, in recent years, had been a hub for enjoyment by Sierra Leoneans.
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