Police Interrupt SLRSA Mile 38 Operation

Confirm report reaching this media states that The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and Director of Operations Al-Sheik Kamara, has been accused of putting on hold the Mobile License operation of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) at Mile 38. An operation that was launched on 7th August, 2015, our source revealed. (Photo: Dr. Sarah Bendu, SLRSA Executive Director)

Reports further states that the Road Transport Authority was created by an Act of Parliament to complement police efforts in the area of traffic control.

As part of its continued road safety campaign, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) in its revenue generation drive for the construction and rehabilitation of roads on Friday 7th August, 2015, officially launched the License Mobile Operation at the Mile 38 Check Point.

This according to report was done in a bid not only to enforce ‘Operation Zero Tolerance’ but to sensitize and encourage drivers and bike riders to insure and license their vehicles and as well observe road safety measures.

It has been further revealed that Mile 38 is the main checkpoint to the provinces and bordering Guinea whose route continued to be used by a lot of unlicensed and uninsured vehicles and motorbikes daily.

On a visit by this media at Mile 38 to have firsthand information as to why the Mobile License Booth was closed, our reporters noted that SLRSA staff has been prevented from entering the Booth which is now in the protection of teargas armed OSD officers.

According to reports, there was an encounter with the Police Divisional Traffic Officer, Inspector Alfred Turay and Superintendent A. K. Kabba who were both present during the formal launching on 7th August 2015 and those they declined to respond on their action of closing the SLRSA License Mobile Booth.

Police Divisional Traffic Officer, Inspector Alfred Turay who was present also made statement during the launching and commended the SLRSA for efforts in helping to coordinate and enforce the mandate of the police to enhance road safety.

Turay assure that the police would work together with the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority.

He further stated that road safety is his ‘baby’ and therefore would do his best to ensure that road accidents are minimized drastically and went on to admonish the community to join hands with the police to enhance a better life for the benefit of all.

Abibatu Kalokoh who is SLRSA License Officer for the Mobile Booth at Mile 38 also stated that the Sierra Leone Police has no mandate of issuing licenses and implored higher authorities to intervene.

She further revealed that the Police interrupted their operations by closing down the booth a week ago.

According to Abibatu, this acts as waste of resources and time as they always report for duty since the establishment of the Booth at Mile 38.

Kaloko disclosed that at the early stage of the operation, their relationship with the police was very cordial and that some police officers stated their comfort with the SLRSA team as a better way of intercepting unlicensed drivers and vehicles.

Abibatu Kalokoh further reveal that a taxi with registration number AJC 232 who was reported to have been driving along that route with a long time expired license was allowed to pass through the check point daily without any action by the police.

During the investigations, AIG Al-Sheik Kamara responds that the SLRSA also fail to inform the Inspector General of Police on its operations at Mile 38 and that according to sources obstructed police operations at the Check Point.

Kamara further said that if the Mile 38 Check Point continue to accommodate SLRSA operations, that would lead to road blocks and call on the authorities of the SLRSA to establish its operations at Masiaka and that he believes is the most appropriate place for such an operation.

AIG Kamara furthered disclosed that several people trys to protect their ego with ulterior motive.

By Abdul R. Bedor Kamara

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