Local Sierra Leone businesses, who were dealing with the APC regime and have been refused payment due them by President Bio’s Government, as a result of certain discrepancies, have appealed to the President and his New Direction Government to have mercy on them and release payments owed them by the Government.
They implored President Bio not to allow their local business to crumble, as they have, for the past one year, been responding to interest payments to the Commercial Banks where they have accrued some loans to start their businesses. They said they are not engaged in any worthwhile business venture due to the fact that government owed them colossal sums of money through the supply of goods and services and the undertaking of works in various areas.
One of the businessmen, who want to remain anonymous, stated that their local businesses are largely a boost to many Sierra Leoneans. They also contribute to direct and indirect taxes, noting that this has been affected for the past one year as everything has come to a standstill.
He called on the relevant authorities, tasked with the responsibility by government, to verify payments owed them to speed up the process, adding that some of them are very genuine and should not continue to suffer for the wicked.
They recounted how Government had decided to prioritize the road contractors, who are also mostly local Sierra Leoneans, by paying them substantial amounts of money to resume all the road contracts across the country, amidst the huge irregularities that had marred these contracts and sidelined the other local Sierra Leonean businessmen.
We are calling on you, Mr. President, to temper justice with mercy and consider releasing all or some of the monies owed us as Sierra Leoneans, who have contributed in different ways to the growth of the local economy. They used to employ local Sierra Leoneans, paying taxes and also engaging in other humanitarian activities.
We have no reason to be deprived in the only country we called ours, while foreign businesses continue to thrive, even when they have been found wanting by the same GTT Report.