Why the frequent fire outbreak?
While Sierra Leoneans continue to be overtly obsessed with frequent outburst of political violence in various parts of the country, the incidence of fire outbreak especially in government establishments has become a cause for concern.
When it first took place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just when the former minister, Haja Zainab Bangura was getting her act together in her new assignment, little did any one realise that it was going be a routine phenomenon. Some internal investigation was conducted to find out the cause of the fire.
Sadly, the outcome of the investigation never saw the light of the day as it was swept under the minister’s carpet; at least up to the time she was leaving the ministry nothing was further heard about the fire incident.
Recently, it was the nation’s biggest social insurance building, NASSIT that had part of its structure gutted by a mysterious fire. Again, like the foreign affairs ministry fire mystery, the public is yet to know what caused the fire in that gigantic building.
As a matter of fact, when the news broke out, there was uneasiness among many public sector workers who have their monies invested in that establishment for their retirement age. A lot of tongue wagging took place as investors were worried that vital documents relating to their savings must have been lost in fire.
Indeed, the workers have every reason to be worried because this is a country where impunity thrives on lawlessness, thus giving way to physical violence or criminality which by extension undermines our justice system.
In other words, when crimes are committed and the perpetrators are sheltered under the cloak of cronyism or political patronage impunity is bound to take precedence.
That is all the reason members of the public are demanding full scale investigation into last week fire outbreak at the 3rd Floor of the Ministry of Lands Country Planning and the Environment and whoever is found to be behind the incident should face the full force of the law.
Even though the minister, Alleu Pat Sowe has promised to mount internal investigation into the incident, it has been suggested that an independent investigation panel be put in place to ensure that no manipulation or cover-up take place during the investigation.
Setting fire on public property is criminal and therefore the criminals must be brought to book speedily.
The apparent acts of violence in a volatile society like ours should not be allowed to undermine our capacity to preserve our peace, fragile as it maybe, nor should we allow anti-social behaviours to affect our development prospects.
Meanwhile, we wish to commend the national fire force for their show of gallantry. Many would imagine what would have happened to one ofSierra Leone’s modern edifices, theYouyiBuilding, if the national fire fighters had not responded promptly.
We cannot afford to lose that building through criminal behabiour. We therefore demand full scale investigation into the burning of the building and the criminals severely punished.
No sacred cows this time round!
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