Japan Boosts MEWR on Disaster Management
In a bid to mitigate climate change effects and to also respond to disaster management, the Government of Japan has handed over vehicles and earth moving equipments for disaster management to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources under the Japanese environmental grant aid programme or (KANPRO) at the SALWACO compound, Shell Kissy. (Photo: Project coordinator at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources Joe Ben Davis giving an over view of the project during the ceremony)
Handing over the donation to the government of Sierra Leone an official of the Japanese Embassy based in Ghana, Shin Honda, said the vehicles and earth moving equipments are to be used for the mitigation of climate change effects in the country.
He said the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation submitted a request for a grant to support the country’s natural disaster prevention measures which the Japanese government responded to by providing US$3m (three million dollars)
He said the Japanese Environment Grant Aid Programme is aimed at improving capabilities to cope with climate change effects on the environment and that the provided funds was used to procure goods and services for water supply and distribution.
He called on the government of Sierra Leone to judiciously utilize the vehicles and equipments for its intended purpose and that periodic maintainace should also be carried out to ensure sustenance of the equipments.
The project coordinator at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources Joe Ben Davis while giving an overview of the project said the government of Sierra Leone and the government of Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2010.
He expressed thanks and appreciation to the government of Japan for the timely donation and crown agents for facilitating the procurement of the vehicles and other equipments for the project. He said the Japanese government has contributed immensely towards the socio economic development of the country.
The Ag Director General of the Sierra Leone Water Company, Victor Hastings Spaine, said the donated vehicles and earth moving equipments will help to complement their activities across the country to ensure the mitigation of climate change effects on the environment.
Mr. Spaine said SALWACO will use the equipment in their normal operations at various water stations across the country and that the equipment will also be used for disaster risk management for the protection of lives and properties.
The SALWACO Director General commended the government of Japan for their appropriate and valuable contribution towards the mitigation of climate change in Sierra Leone and assured that the donation will be used for its intended purpose.
The General Manager for Guma Valley Water Company, Bankole Mansaray, also assured the government and people of Japan that the donated vehicles and equipments will be used for the intended purpose and it will also help to carry out Guma activities in the Western Urban area of Freetown.
Government officers and Japanese representatives on a conducted tour of the vehicles and its equipments
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government of Sierra Leone the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Oluneyi Robin Coker, expressed thanks and appreciation to the government of Japan for the timely donation to mitigate climate change effects in the country.
Mariama Jalloh Admin Officer at SALWACO said the handing over ceremony marks a milestone in the improvement of services for the public in the areas of disaster management and climate change and commended all stakeholders involved in the project for ensuring the procurement of quality vehicles and disaster management equipments.
A conducted tour of the equipments which included KVA generators, mobile compressor and its accessories, dewatering pump, wheel loader with 2.5m bucket capacity, crane trucks, cargo trucks, water bowsers and Toyota pickup trucks amongst other by the Japanese Ambassador and entourage and a cross section of government officials which included trained operators formed a high point of the ceremony.
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