My opinion – Nassit scores goals in the hospitality industry
I am a keen observer of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) and what they have been doing ever since that institution’s establishment close to ten years ago. To be very precise the institution was born by Act of Parliament No. 5 of 2001. Readers may want to know that the object for which NASSIT was established is to provide retirement and other benefits to meet the contingency needs of workers and their dependants. Prior to taking over the pension business, it was the office of the Accountant General that was charged with this responsibility. We are all testimony to what used to obtain: nothing to write home about. Today this institution has become one of the important and viable establishments in this country. In short, NASSIT has become a household name.
Pension schemes all over the world face challenges, particularly in the continued sustainability of their various institutions. That is why the Acts establishing them also gave them the mandate to invest their surplus funds not used for current pension payments. This brings to the fore the thrust of my article to showcase what NASSIT has done in just a little under ten odd years in the hospitality industry. I begin with Mammy Yoko Hotel. Readers may be interested to know that NASSIT owns 80% shares in the Mammy Yoko Hotel at Aberdeen. I am very delighted to note that the Trust has already signed a Management contract with Radisson Blu, a world renowned name in the hospitality industry. By the time I was doing this piece the hotel is fast nearing completion of a massive refurbishment to bring its status to 5-Star international standard. This is no mean feat!
To add to their achievement in the hospitality industry is the refurbishment of the Kimbima Hotel with an increase in the number of rooms and other modern facilities. Since partnering with the Kimbima Management, NASSIT has not stopped short in ensuring that the best and optimum benefit is realized from the venture. They are doing all this to make sure that they attract first class hotel management names to come to the country to develop and improve the hospitality industry. This they are fast doing, and with a difference. For the Kimbima Hotel, NASSIT has signed a Management Contract with the Don Group of South Africa. The Don Group is on the lips of everybody in the hotel business in South Africa. What an achievement!
Not stopping at this, the Government of Sierra Leone leased the Cape Sierra Hotel to NASSIT in order to upgrade it to a 5-Star Hotel. I believe this consideration must have been done as a result of the viability of NASSIT and the confidence reposed in the Board and Management of that noble institution.
Just a day before the Eid ul Fitri prayers, I had the opportunity of meeting the Director General of NASST, Mr. Samuel Bangura Jr. I asked him about the status of the Cape Sierra Hotel as it appeared like an abandoned edifice. Without mincing his words he informed me that come Friday 16th September 2011, the turning of the sod ceremony will be done by H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. He told me that they have over all this period been working behind the scenes with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in trying to secure a partner for the project, and that as a Trust they were happy that the bid for the hotel was won by a company called IDEA (UK).
Perhaps what impressed me the most was when he said that the public should know that they have striven very hard to ensure that a Management Contract is signed. And you know what? This time round they have signed with another heavyweight in the global hotel industry – Hilton Worldwide. Beaming with smiles, he went on to say, “Those of you who know this brand name in the hospitality industry will marvel at the strides we have taken to get them here. NASSIT as I have always said is a centre of excellence. It is either the best or nothing”.
You see, it is always good to give the devil its due. Let us as a people give credit to where it belongs and to those that deserve it. By doing this we will be spurring up those who are behind the action. Let our psyche be devoid of the pull him down (PhD) syndrome.
This brings me to the driver behind these noble ventures. Without prejudice, Mr. Samuel Bangura Jr, the Director General responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust’s activities deserves a feather in his cap and a pat on the back. Mr. Bangura, please continue to do the good work. Sierra Leoneans are proud of you. We look forward to the commissioning of these hotels.
By Peter Jusu
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