December 16, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
The Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has on Wednesday the 15th December 2021, ratified an agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and Land dreg (SL) Limited relating to the procurement of Biometric Property Registration Project.
Explaining the significance of the Agreement to Members of Parliament, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning Dr. Turad Senesie, said the minimum guarantee for the agreement was four million dollars but negotiated and brought it down to two million dollars instead of four million dollars.
He furthered that the agreement was asking for twenty years period of which he renegotiated and brought it down to ten years adding that, it is in the best interest of Sierra Leone rather than having it for twenty years.
He disclosed that the fees to be shared between the Government of Sierra Leone and that of the service provider were on the basis of 80% for the Service provider and 20% interest for government. He also disclosed that they reviewed the agreement which now stands at 70% for the service provider and 30% for government.
Minister Senesie added that the percentage for the service fees was to be paid to government after the first two million dollars is recovered by the service provider. Through constructive engagement with the service provider, he said they were able to have the service providers to accept that immediate they commenced the operations of the project, then government will have it won share.
Dr. Turad assured that all issues raised by members of Parliament have been addressed and all suggestions made by Members of Parliament have been taken into consideration by the service provider. He intimated that the goal of the project is to ensure that dispute around land administration and management is reduced to at least 80%.
He added that there will be increased revenue for government by using appropriate technology in order to take land inventory across the country. He also assured that there will be biometric property title to each and every Sierra Leoneans holding property.
“Mr. Speaker, Honorable members of Parliament, be it resolved that this honorable house hereby, ratify this agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the Land reg (SL) Limited relating to the procurement of Biometric property registration project on a build operation and Transfer basis”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party, the Opposition Chief Whip Honorable Hassan A. Sesay commended the Minister of Lands for such agreement. He said indeed the Minister took into consideration all of the suggestions made by Parliament adding that, the agreement is now acceptable by all members of parliament. He encouraged other ministers to emulate the lands Minister for being a listening minister. Closing the debate, the Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma also said the minister is a listening minister for taking the suggestions made by parliament in renegotiating the agreement. He confessed that land issues are a major challenge of which the just ratified agreement will help reduce or eradicate land disputes across the country. He concluded by reassuring that parliament is satisfied, the government is satisfied, and the service provider are satisfied because the agreement is in the best interest of Sierra Leone