By Feima Sesay
The Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic has on Tuesday 4th June 2024 unanimously approved Dr. Williet James as the chairperson Board of Trustee SLBC and ten other presidential appointees to occupy various positions of trust in the government.
The following nominees were approved by the house :
Dr Willete Princess James Chairman Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Mr Isaac Sowa Board of Trustee SLBC, Madam Hawa Christiana Bah board member SLBC, Mr Mustapha Theophile Kallie board member SLBC, Ing Dr.Samba Sesay board member SLBC, Hon. Bintu Ndoella Myyers Chair board of director Sierra Leone Marinetimes Administration, Ms Cecilia Ticker board member SLBC, Mr Mohamed Bundu Koroma board member SLBC, Dr Vandy Konneh chairman national commission for persons; living with disability, Mr Ibrahim Nyelenkeh chairman national sport authority Sierra Leone and Ing. David Karim Fonnie chairman board of directors Guma valley water company.
The Deputy Leader of Government Business Hon Bashiru Sidikie seconding the motion during the debate said the corruption at SLBC should not be overlooked, adding that if SLBC fails, the women in the board will be held responsible.
He encouraged Mrs James to give her best in bringing tangible change to the state broadcaster and set the pace for other women to get similar position in the future and equally make president Bio proud.
He urged Mr. Forney as board member to work tirelessly to ensure that water supply is improved in Freetown.
Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara from Kambia zooming in in the former minister of sport, Ibrahim Yelenkeh who is going to serve as board chairman of Sport Council, praised him for his role in the country’s sport and further urged him to do more whiles at the board.
Speaking regarding Guma Valley Water, he said the Guma Valley Water company is not able to supply State Lodge, and if the entity is unable to supply State Lodge water reverting to water bouncer, what would the ordinary man do to get water.
Hon Veronica Kadie Sesay from Moyamba district said that “Dr Williet James is an encyclopedia of broadcasting.
She said that SLBC is the baby of the country and that she should endeavor to improve it.
She urged parliament to advocate for the increment of SLBC’s allocation for authorities there to do more for it to compete with other Africa national broadcasting institutions.
Hon. Alpha Bah from Western Area said that Dr Williet James will perform in the position she has been appointed.
Leader of the opposition All People’s Congress APC, Hon Abdul Kargbo said that there are good people in all political parties but people tend to defend the bad ones.
He said we have been too political in handling the affairs of the country, adding that appointment of board members should be drawn from council of paramount Chiefs, representation from inter religious council, from Bar Association, from SLAJ, from University of Sierra Leone Engineering department, from Youth council, and representatives from civil society among others.
According to him, the SLBC is the oldest English broadcaster in the whole of West Africa which was established in the early 1934, and started its broadcast in 1963, underscoring that SLBC can’t be compared to any broadcaster in the subregion in terms of age.
He called on Dr James to improve on the broadcast to compete with others in the content.
The leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma in conclusion applauded members for their contributions and further urged all the nominees to do their best for the interest of the country.
