Parliament nets cached big fish, EJF apologized
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on special select committee on International Non-Governmental Organization INGO’s, CSO’s, CBO’s and NSA’s was on Tuesday 17th June 2014 cashes one of most biggest INGO’s called Environmental Justice Foundation EJF for non-compliance working illegally in the country for over 18 good months.
“In a bid to combat the illegal operations and non-compliance of certain International Non-Governmental Organization INGO working in the country and continue to contribute to work with these INGO’s, and country representatives, and policy makers to improve the outcome of young people to developed their skills undertaking out “look of work in global economy and contribute responsibly to society”
The committee which is responsible otherwise required from the above mentioned organizations to submit documents, reports as part of its mandates was seriously dealt with EJF at the committee room 1 AOU Drive Tower Hill, Freetown for illegal operations as a result of not been renewing their license since 2013 to dates.
According to Chairman Hon. Claude D.M. Kamanda of Constituency 095 of the Western Rural who also doubles as Chief Whip of Parliament said INGO’s policy regulation 2009 foundation of special select committee including NSA’s, CSO’s, as well as CBO’s was set up in line with section 93 (4) of the constitution of Sierra Leone with the standing order (SO) 71.
Hon. Kamanda said mandate of the committee is to envisage activities of various these INGO’s that are implementing project and programs for and on behalf of the government and the people of Sierra Leone that were financed through public funds as provided for in section 111 of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone Act No 6.
He said that the committee is also tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that INGO’s, account to Parliament how they expend finances they receive from donors and funds raised in the year under review through sponsorships and raising activities.
He said the committee will also monitor INGO’s to ascertain information in their areas of operation in the country, their partners and their establishing programs, noting that EJF illegal programs of activities in country must stop immediately as the committee will no longer tolerate that for the development of the country, adding that since EJF fail to registered and by extension should not operate as an INGO’s.
In another development over the illegal and non-compliance of EJF, Director of Fishers Mr. Alpha A. Bangura in his statement stated that EJF programs of activities in the country was negative he said that they had not being adhere to their technical advice as they the responsible Ministry.
Mr. Bangura added that Vessels where brought in country by EJF without their concert and foreign experts without resident permit, failure to produce to the Ministry their sector of programs for better understanding as they could not stop violating the rules and regulations of the Fishers Ministry, he said was unacceptable noting that EJF inserted the vessels union into certain areas like the Fishers Regulations and as well as posting Newsletters and International Media correspondences in the country .
In her response, the West Africa Regional Representative Sarah Vuylsteke said they came in country since 2003 and registered in 2011-2013 and starts operation in 2008 implementing programs that being funded by European Union, while EJF country Director
Victor Cole stated that they had been sending their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between EJF, the Ministry of Fishery and the Ministry of Justice and Antony General adding that the issue of the illegal operation he said, is an inside problem but were apologized that they will be open up and ready to abide to the policies and regulations the Ministry they said.
By: Mohamed y. Turay
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