September 4, 2018
By Ibrahim Tarawallie
Deputy Trade Minister Abraham Sesay-Jones commissioning the water facility
Thousands of people residing within Ward 405 in the eastern part of Freetown will benefit from a water facility that has been provided by Indian company MR Distilleries.
For decades, residents in that part of the city, especially the ‘Portor Portor’ community, have been struggling to access safe drinking water.
Those who spoke to Concord Times shortly after the commissioning of the facility on Saturday, September 1, thanked the company for their timely assistance and added, “We will forever be grateful for this huge support. We assure you of maintenance of this facility.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Abu Sesay, had this to say during the commissioning: “We have faced lots of constraints to access pure drinking water for years. Our children walk long distance to fetch water. This facility will help us greatly.”
On behalf of civil society, Robert K. Kargbo thanked the company for their support and urged the community people to take ownership of the facility.
He commended the past All People’s Congress (APC) government for the strides made in the water sector and recognised the steps already taken by the new regime to solve the many problems facing the sector.
The company’s head of Media and Communications, Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh, stated that they decided to intervene because water is one of the felt needs of residents.
He disclosed that over thirty millions Leones was spent to have the facility up and running.
“This is part of our corporate social responsibility as a responsible company. This is not the first project we have financed. We have provided jobs for hundreds in deprived communities,” he said.
Councilor Mohamed Thorli commended the company for the support and assured that the facility would be maintained and used for the intended purpose.
The water facility was officially commissioned by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Abraham Sesay-Jones, who urged residents to make good use of the facility.