…Youths picket Youths Ministry
March 18, 2016 By Patrick Jaiah Kamara
Hundreds of irate youths yesterday picketed the Ministry of Youths at the National Stadium to demand over four months backlog salaries the ministry owes them.
The youths accused outgoing Minister of Youths, Alimamy Kamara, of causing unnecessary delays to facilitate payment of their backlog salaries – estimated as Le4.1 billion.
They said they have no confidence that his successor, Bai Mamoud Bangura, would pay them the huge amount when his predecessor leaves to take up new ambassadorial assignment in Iran.
Some 2,591 youths were employed as part of the Youth in Drainage Clearing Project by the ministry, according to our sources.
The project, according to the outgoing minister, was geared toward minimising the huge unemployment rate among young people in the country.
Addressing the concerned youths, Kamara tried to allay their fears that he would ensure the backlog was paid before he takes his diplomatic assignment.
He promised to put pressure on the Road Maintenance Fund to fast track documentation and payment as soon as possible.
One of the aggrieved youths, Saidu Jalloh, told Concord Times that they have not been paid their salaries for five months and that the minister continues to assure them whenever they approach him.
National coordinator of the project, Ibrahim Koroma, said the youths were afraid they might not receive their salaries when Kamara leaves for Iran.