September 6, 2021
Edwin Augustine Bangalie has been formally presented to the People of Barri Chiefdom, Pujehun District at a ceremony held at the Potoru Court Barri as the New Regent Chief for Barri Chiefdom, Pujehun District.
In his statement, the Provincial Secretary for southern Region Moses Gbetu said they were in Pujehin District to install Mr. Bangali as the new Regent Chief for the aforementioned chiefdom.
He added that whenever a paramount dies, a regent chief is appointed for one year until a paramount is elected.
P.S Gbetu disclosed that a regent chief is appointed from another chiefdom and a chiefdom speaker will not be appointed as Regent Chief because only the Paramount Chief has the right to appoint the chiefdom speaker.
The provincial secretary also noted that as per protocol and respect, they have to present and install Edwin Bangalie as the Regent Chief for Barri Chiefdom, Pujehun District. He called on the people of Barri to respect the newly appointed Regent Chief.
Making a statement on behalf of Government, the Resident Minister Southern Region Mohamed Allie maintained that government was highly concerned about the commotion at Barri Chiefdom in Pujehun District owing to issues around Paramount Chieftaincy.
“There is an issue in court leading to the election of Paramount Chief in this chiefdom, the court slammed an injunction on the tax assessment and review of councillors list, a process leading to the election of a Paramount Chief. We are here to install a Regent Chief and not to conduct Paramount Chieftaincy election”, resident minister observed.
He furthered that, there were too many misleading information surrounding the chieftaincy issue in Barri Chiefdom. He added that peace was the only way forward to ensure that development comes to the chiefdom.
Mohamed E.K. Allie reaffirmed that it was government that appointed Edwin Augustine Bangalie as the Regent Chief for the aforesaid chiefdom for at least one year noting that if a paramount chief is not elected it is the responsibility of the government to allow Chief Bangalie to continue as Regent Chief.
The resident Minister informed the people of Barri Chiefdom that he was in the chiefdom for three things:
- To clarify some misgivings by some people relating to the process that leads to the conduct of Paramount Chieftaincy election.
- To ascertain the conduct of the people of Barri and report to authorities
- And to witness the presentation of the New Regent Chief of Barri Chiefdom, of recent,the minister continued that people within and outside Barri have not been pleasant adding that people are underneath the unpleasant behaviour of some people in the chiefdom. He warned all to desist forthwith as the government cannot tolerate such.
The resident minister reiterated that there was a matter in court and that the court of law has slammed injunction on tax assessment and review of the chiefdom councillors list and therefore cannot dwell much into that.
He encouraged the people to work with the new regent chief rather than contradicting any constituted authority. He concluded by reminding all and sundry of the COVID-19 situation in the country and also admonished them to conform to the dictates of the restrictive measures in order to curtail the spread of the disease.
Chairman for the Civil Society Organizations in Pujehun District Ibrahim B. Swarray welcomed the new Regent Chief. He stated that there has been confusion in Barri Chiefdom and therefore urged all and sundry to put their indifferences aside for the development of the chiefdom. Ibrahim Swaray concluded by calling on the people of Barri Chiefdom to work with Chief Edwin Augustine Bangalie as their Regent Chief.
In his maiden statement, Edwin Augustine Bangalie thanked God and the government of Sierra Leone for appointing him as the Regent Chief for Barri Chiefdom.
Chief Bangalie informed the people of Barri that he has been sent to work with them and therefore expect them to come together and support him. The New Regent Chief intimated the people that he was not coming to stay forever but as a Regent Chief for the chiefdom and also promised to work with all stakeholders in the chiefdom including the youths also.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people attended the said ceremony including the district officer for Pujehun, SSOS, the media and some members of the St. Puis Catholic Church in Bo.