Transport Minister launches “Operation no half way”
The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Leonard Balogun Koroma aka Logus on Monday, October 14, launched the “Operation no half way” country-wide. (Photo: Logus Koroma in action)
According to Hon. Koroma, he is very determined to see that this initiative succeeds; stressing that this time round this operation is going to be sustained.
He explained that in this operation passengers will form a queue at strategic points whenever they want to board public transportation.
Hon. Logus Koroma also called on the people of Sierra Leone not to pay if the drivers fail to take them to their required destinations, and also warned the drivers to display their routine destinations, if not they will be arrested and charged to Court.
He added that the operation will last for one week in Lumley, after which he will then move on to Calaba town and Waterloo.
He indicated that he will ensure that law and order will be maintained within the traffic system because there is law and order in Sierra Leone which the people should abide by.
He highlighted among other things that the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC) buses will be repaired very soon while 50 new buses are to arrive to add to the fleet of SLRTC buses in the country.
He also revealed that there is now an arrangement where people in distress can call a free line 2244 and they will receive assistance.
In his comments, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Ibrahim Mansaray aka Washinga, also expressed similar sentiments, maintaining that they will leave no stone unturned to achieve what they want for the people of Sierra Leone.
On the part of the Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Vincent Kinnie Nabieu, he pointed out that as far as he was concerned he will do everything possible to ensure that this operation does not fail for the good of the people.
He called on the people not to tell drivers that they will pay twice for a one way journey as that is unfair to other people who cannot afford to pay two ways.
He assured Sierra Leoneans that he is determined to leave an indelible print in the minds of the people because he will ensure the correct procedure is done country-wide.
He pointed out that corrupt District Traffic Officers (DTO) will be transferred out of the Traffic Division while corrupt traffic personnel will be weeded out and face the Complaints Discipline Internal Investigations Department (CDDID) where if they are found wanting they will be dealt with appropriately. He stressed that under his command there will be no room for corrupt traffic personnel.
In his remarks, the National Traffic Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Police, Superintendent of Police Ambrose Sovula, stressed that the Police will do its best to work alongside the Transport and Aviation Minister to ensure that the operation succeeds.
Describing Superintendent Sovula is a no-nonsense officer, who she said has done so much to correct the wrongs of lawless drivers, the District Traffic Officer (DTO) Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isata Fullah, of the Lumley Divisional Headquarters, explained that when she was posted few months ago as the new DTO to the Lumley Division, she started an operation but was sent on a two month course and only returned the day the operation was launched.
She noted that she would assure that after the Minister may have left later in the week, she will continue with the good work, adding that any driver who will fall short will be arrested and charged to court.
A cross section of commuters this Reporter talked to have described Hon. Logus Koroma as one of the best Ministers in President Koroma’s government as he has done so much within the few months he became a Minister.
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