By Ragan M. Conteh
The paramount chief member of parliament (PCMP) from Tonkolili district, chief Kanagbaro Rosanka III has stated that Sierra Leone is losing millions of dollars through agreements with foreign airlines because Sierra Leone does not have its own national airline.
‘New Directions don’t go back to the old direction, otherwise you will be misdirected. Four years down the line, what have you been doing,’ the PC asked.
The PC made the disclosure on Tuesday, 22nd February 2022 while making his submission during the ratification of airlines agreements laid on the table of the House on Tuesday, 15th February 2022.
According to the PCMP, airlines are ripping off Sierra Leone and its people, adding that airline service providers are in the habit of ‘even going as low as allocating backbench seats and even seats that are near the toilets’.
He said even if Sierra Leoneans are paying for an economy class ticket they are still treated with levity, adding that the New Direction government should now consider getting a national airline.
He said the ratified airlines agreements should thoroughly observe the local content policy, adding that the country should be given the opportunity by these airlines to handle the administration aspect instead of importing expatriates, to make more jobs available to Sierra Leoneans.
He urged the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to do special side agreements for the handling of the affairs of these airlines.
The deputy opposition leader in Parliament, Hon Ibrahim Ben Kargbo has stated that many people have asked questions why Sierra Leone does not have an airline.
He said the reason the country is yet to afford an airline is because ‘airlines are very expensive; the country cannot afford to buy its own airplanes’, and admonished the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to explore all avenues for more airlines.
He said the country needs developed nations to partner with in doing business in the country, citing that the Qatar Airlines agreement is good because Qatar has economic potentials that Sierra Leone can explore through its airline service system.
In his submissions, the deputy leader of government business, Hon Bashiru Silikie said the country needs airlines and warned the Minister of Transport and Aviation not to keep the agreements on the shelves but should instead ensure that in the not too distant future Sierra Leone owns a national carrier.
The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kalllon said before the emergence of the Coronavirus pandemic they had a dream of having an airline and that dream is still alive.
The agreement ratified in Parliament includes: Airline service agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the government of the State of Kuwait; airport transport agreement between the government of the United States of America and the government of the Republic of the Sierra Leone.
Parliament also ratified an agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and Sierra Leone and a Memorandum of Understanding between the government of Sierra Leone and the government of the State of Qatar relating to the operations of air transportation respectively.