The New Minister of Transport and Aviation Mr. Kabineh Kallon is due to meet with the Board of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) today with a view to properly understand the status of the Authority as he takes up office .
According to close sources within the Authority Board of Directors key in the discussions is the current stand off between the Board and the erstwhile Director of the Authority Dr. Sarah Bendu over her resumption from leave and other matters concerning how the Authority has been generally managed under the leadership of Dr.Sarah Bendu and the Board .
It could be recalled that the erstwhile Director was sent on leave having worked for quite a long time without going on leave as procedure demands. The Instructions on the leave letter, our source went on was for her to resume duty on the 3rd May, 2018 at the Ministry of Trasnport and Aviation for further instructions. This was not done and since then Dr. Sarah Bendu has tried all means to illegally return to the Authority against the instructions of his bosses.
On three occasions, our source went on, large crowds have gathered at the precincts of the Authority at Kissy Road in Freetown clad in T-shirts having the face of Dr Sarah Bendu and claiming to have gone there to welcome her back from leave. This has not materialized and the actions by her so-called supporters and workers of the Authority from within and some from outstations in different parts of the country according to the source hinders the work of the Corporation and deprives customers to access the services rendered by the Authority just to welcome a single individual.
A leaked correspondence on social media purportedly signed on behalf of the Secretary to the President by one R.Thomas dated the 17th April, 2018 had stated that the President has instructed Dr.Sarah Bendu to resume at the SLRSA with immediate effect.
Sources very close to state house have denied the contents of this letter and the Iron lady has since not returned to base.
The new Minister according to sources would be properly briefed by the Board of Directors so as to be able to make an informed decision on the current status of the Authority that has been hugely divided along pro and anti Dr.Sarah Bendu lines.
Many say this has affected work at the Authority and there is an urgent need for the new administration to put a halt to this saga.The Authority is very much integral in raising the required revenue to finance development projects in the country and this should be the focus and not wranglings over personal interest.