December 5, 2018
By Mohamed Massaquoi
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who also doubles as member of the Bonthe District Family Association, has raised concern that their tribe was gradually going into extinction, and that they decided to come together in order to undertake a campaign and ensure that their ethnic identity is not totally fade away.
Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas reiterated that they formed the association to collaborate and seek their interest, but more importantly to reactivate their ethnic identity as most Sherbros have identified themselves with other ethnic groups in the country.
The lawmaker was on Friday addressing audience at a fund raising dinner organised at Hotel Cabenda in Freetown, where he claimed that Bonthe district suffered greatly during the former administration as the district was considered one of the strongholds of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party ( SLPP).
“Bonthe is the most neglected district in the country and politicians have claimed that the district is not economically viable. What is actually worrisome at this moment is that the Sherbro tribe is disappearing. This is the reason we have come together and to promote our common interest,” he said.
Public Relation Officer of the Bonthe District Family Association, Rose Konima Stevens, said they formed the association since 2009, and that they have been galvanising support across the world.
She claimed that the district has been neglected since the departure of the colonial masters.
“We formed the Bonthe District Family Association because we saw the need for collective responsibility, considering the fact that the Sherbro ethnic group is very small. We also want to learn more about the language so that we can identify ourselves so easily and collectively we can bring development into our district. This group is fully registered with government institutions. Each year we collect resources and go to Bonthe to embark on development programmes because the district is seriously lagging behind in terms of development,” she said.