Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000215 EndHTML:0000089621 StartFragment:0000022040 EndFragment:0000089581 SourceURL:file:///C:\Users\User%202020\Desktop\PR%20TUES%2016%20MARCH%202021\MONDAY%2015%20MARCH%202021.docx TRANSAIR has resumes its operations at the Freetown international airport on Saturday 13th March ,2021 The goal is to serve its Dakar hub via Guinea Conakry to Freetown this time around enhancing a seamless Guinea Conakry options for passengers. During its maiden flight of 18th November 2019, Transair the first low cost airline company in West Africa commenced with a Dakar- Banjul – Freetown route. Effective 13th  March 2021, the airline will have three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays on the Dakar –Conakry –Freetown route bringing a total of eight scheduled commercial Airline operations at  the Freetown International Airport. Receiving the flight at the restart ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Transport and Aviation ,Honourable Kabineh Kallon welcomed the airline to Sierra Leone’s beautiful skies. He opined that Sierra Leone alongside the global stage has not attained pre-Crisis levels in commercial air traffic . “The  drop  for us was even more pronounced when airlines like Trans air were missing within the early resumption forecast.” In line with the presidents Manifesto the Ministry of Transport and Aviation he continued, have been working assiduously to build the airline routes of the country’s only international Airport. With aviation market intelligence from his Ministry they help airlines consider Freetown as a prime destination when planning new routes. Following COVID 19,many engagements particularly in route planning programs was done alongside aviation response to the pandemic. However, the crisis brought in its wake   changes in passenger behavior, travel restrictions and the ensuing economic crisis that have resulted in a dramatic drop in demand for airline services. The government according to the Honourable Minister has considered several policy interventions to curtail the size of the shock to the industry. “For Transair  we clearly saw a demand forecasting within the Conakry Guinea options which can improve strong  connections  for both the  business and leisure  traveller ,more regional connectivity  with Dakar hub thereby  reducing the flying time for our passengers whilst enjoying  comfort at Blaise Dagne Airport, the airline having a fleet of aircraft to support its operations and can further  match the existing competition”The Minister Said. The Honourable Minister exchanged felicitations with his Senegalese Aviation counterparts and expressed his strong desire that with Trans air operations as a low cost carrier of which low cost carriers being tipped for the swiftest recovery within the wider aviation segment after COVID, will maintain its enviable operational structure and finances to build market share. Groupe TRANSAIR Regional Director Naby Sylla said they are extremely enthusiastic about what the Airline can bring to the Aviation market “We are happy to commence operations and acknowledge the challenges faced with the COVID-19 outbreak. Our network needed to be restored so as to bring in more air services within our region whereby we can recover together. Our plans are huge but it’s one step at a time and having a firm footing “ Sierra Leone foreign Mission in Dakar followed the ambitious development plan of TransAir particularly relying on transit traffic. It advanced Sierra Leone to be part of  the Airline destinations by engaging the many platforms and establishing support  for the improvement of its load rates . The Ambassador to the republic of Senegal, Ambassador  Alhaji Brima Elvis  Koroma arrived with the Senegalese delegation and was pleased with his  accomplished mission of an air carrier from   Senegal to Freetown . He reiterated that the Air carrier is a strategic instrument in building solid cooperation between Senegal and Sierra Leone. “Every passenger an airline carries tells a much broader economic story; they will stay in hotels buy food from restaurants etc we are hopeful that as aviation facilitate  tourism ,Transair can bring new levels and impact for both industries” The Ambassador Said. General Manager of the Sierra Leone Airports Authority Mr JDK Massaquoi assured TransAir delegation of operational safety particularly with public health standards in the new normal “We are passionate about the safety and relationship with our airlines because our recovery is tied together.  It is a great delight to have your wings at our Airport and we look forward to greater accomplishments” The Manager noted. The Airport Authority presented gifts to the Airline symbolizing the Sierra Leonean hospitality and its best wishes for growth and expansion. Among the delegation from Senegal were  the Executive Director of groupe Transair,Mapenda Cisse ,financial director Andrew Diouf  ,group representative  from the republic of Guinea  Samirachamei Shamel , and Mohamed  Seck representing  the Guinean tourism .They further  met with the Sierra Leone Transair team. Transair has in its fleet Embraer -EMB12O,ERJ145, Beechcraft 1900c on these routes, offering  both Business and Economy class Seats. Flights can be booked at www.groupetransair.sn or passengers can visit nationwide travel agencies. UAE, S/Leone Sign MoU to Improve Higher Education The Governments of United Arab Emirates and Sierra Leone have signed a Memorandum of Understanding Thursday 11 March 2021 that will allow greater collaboration between the two countries in the field of education, as part of on-going efforts to strengthen relationship between Sierra Leone and the oil-rich Arab state. “This memorandum is aimed at establishing cooperation between public and Higher Education institutions in the two countries by holding direct agreements between them, holding conferences, seminars, courses, scientific and educational exhibitions, lecturing on topics of mutual interest,” the document mentioned. His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahhim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education in the UAE, who signed on behalf of his government, thanked his counterpart for the opportunity noting that he was looking forward to a joint cooperation. He thanked all the parties involved, especially Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay for his efforts and constant engagements with authorities in the UAE in different topics of cooperation. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, said that the cooperation was significant for Sierra Leone because it would focus on science, technology and agriculture which were of priority to the Government. He also added that Sierra Leone had a rich tradition in higher education

As Waterloo Set for modern market Kasho Holland Cole Praises Pres. Bio In a stakeholders meeting in Waterloo this morning, the  Chairman of the Waterloo Rural District Council, Joseph Kasho Holland Cole, in the presence of Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and his six ministers’ delegation praised President Bio. The VP and his delegation were in Waterloo to engage Waterloo stakeholders on the construction of a new modern market for the people of Waterloo. The market project is a directive from President Bio. At the meeting, Chairman Kasho told stakeholders that the development projects undertaken in the Waterloo Rural community is a pointer to President Bio’s intention to transform Waterloo into a city. He and other stakeholders thanked the President for the proposed market which they stated will no doubt change the face of Waterloo. In response, the VP thanked the ministers and stakeholders for the meeting, stating that the proposed market and other development projects demonstrate that Waterloo and its environs is a priority for President Bio and his New Direction government. He spoke about the establishment of the now enlarged technical team that includes a representative of the traders and the various stages of the project. The VP and his delegation later visited the proposed market site and interacted with some traders.

ABDULAI SIDIBAY: Entrepreneur & Philanthropist With A Difference By Mohamed Jalloh Few Sierra Leoneans would dare to invest in their country of birth after accumulating fortunes from their business initiatives.  But, Mr Abdulai Sidibay is a young man that is totally different. Mr Sidibay who is popularly known as CDB could be singled out for his patriotism due to his multi-diversification investment to better the lives of his compatriots by providing decent employment for youths in Sierra Leone. Mr Sidibay was born in the diamond ferrous rich district of Kono in Eastern Sierra Leone.  He attended the Islamic Secondary School in Koindu in the same district. Mr Sidibay got married in 2003 and is blessed with five   beautiful children (four boys and a daughter). Mr Sidibay has successfully thrived in business by engaging in the buying and selling of precious diamond stones. He lives in Sierra Leone and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but also shuttles between Angola and other countries around the world. His love for the Kono people in his district of birth prompted his taking over of the management of the biggest football team in the district; Diamond Stars FC which is also among the most successful football clubs in the entire country. Even though the club`s supporters are primarily in Kono, it can also boast of one of the largest fan base in the country. In the midst of Covid-19 that witnessed the halt of all football leagues in the country, Mr Sidibay has ensured the smooth running of the club by paying the salaries of players, officials and other employees of the Diamond Stars. His vision for business diversification is seen in the establishment of Sierra Transportation which is an international bus system that does not only serve his home country but the entire Mano river Union (including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Cote d`Ivoire). In his desire to establish more business footprints in his home country, Mr Sidibay has established the Sierra Star Group, which is a business conglomerate that operates in logistics, drilling and heavy machinery coupled with an investment in water production and the manufacture of other beverages.    When the operations of the Sierra Star Group located at Joetown Road Off Waterloo Highway would have taken off, thousands of Sierra Leoneans would be employed in different capacities as senior and intermediate personnel. His investments in Sierra Leone would go a long way in bridging the unemployment gap particularly among the actively energetic youthful population.

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has taken the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine during a symbolic ceremony at State House, where Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and opposition politicians also took the jab.   Before the vaccination, the President responded to the declaration of purpose of the occasion by Minister of Health and Sanitation, saying that because it was a major milestone, he would take the leadership in receiving the vaccine. “That is to tell you that we should all try to be vaccinated as and when the vaccines are available for everybody. That is what leadership is about. We will give confidence to the rest of the population to receive their vaccines as and when it is available, so that we can get rid of COVID and pay attention to development, which should really be our preoccupation,” he said. The National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre, NaCOVERC, had said the combined total of 296,000 SinoPharm and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines being offered by the Government of Sierra Leone had undergone many tests and proven to be safe and effective because millions of people around the world had taken them.  Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Austin Demby, said the day was a very special day for Sierra Leone, adding that with the show of political will, they now had the tools in their arsenal to get ahead of the COVID-19 virus instead of reacting to it. “When I asked the President if he would publicly take the vaccine, his response was ‘absolutely’. He also said, ‘as a leader, I would not ask people to take a vaccine that I am not willing to take myself’.  His Excellency, thank you Sir for your leadership. “We have shown resilience at every step of the way and today, with the new safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines, we take a bold new step in our march to get rid of COVID-19 from our country,” he said. He added that in addition to other globally renowned regulatory agencies, both vaccines had been cleared for use in Sierra Leone through an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the country’s Pharmacy Board. Dr Demby clarified that even though they had 296,000 doses of vaccines, they would only be able to enrol just under 150,000 individuals, because those were 2-dose vaccines given 21-28 days apart. “We expect more vaccines to come soon. As a result, for this first round of vaccinations, we will prioritize: Healthcare Workers, Political Leaders, Social Workers, Teachers and lecturers, Military, Police, Customs and Immigrations workers including Sea Ports and Airports, Prison Officers, Fire Force Officers, People over 70” he said.

Sahr Jusu vs Auditor General Sahr Jusu vs Auditor General † The Jungle War: What will happen now next is the question on the lips of concerned Sierra Leoneans, following a letter written by the Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Sahr Lahai Jusu to the Auditor General on the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce requesting her to refund audit fees collected from MDAs totaling a little over Le3 billion for the Financial Years 2019 and 2020. His request for the Auditor General to return the said amount to the Consolidated Revenue Fund is seen as an action that is setting a collision course with the Financial Secretary and the Auditor General Mrs. Lara Taylor Pearce and also between the Ministry of Finance and the Audit Service Sierra Leone and the motive for this is yet to be understood. However, most political pundits and social commentators say Mr. Jusu’s letter to Lara Taylor Pearce could not be unrelated to recent outrageous financial discrepancies and misappropriation of public funds allegedly carried out by the current SLPP regime within just two years in power. The act which most people agree has been the worst and most disastrous in terms of misappropriation of public funds for a struggling country like Sierra Leone. The question now on the lips of most Sierra Leoneans is what will happen in the event the Auditor General Mrs. Lara Taylor Pearce refuses to comply with the Financial Secretary’s request on the grounds that her request for audit fees from MDAs is constitutional and because such fees are to boost the work of the ASSL.