By Mohamed M. Sesay
In a bid to strengthen maritime security lacunas, the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) with support from the European Union, has procured thirty thousand euros (EUR 30,000) worth of equipment for the Maritime Sector. The dispatched consignments are expected to arrive in Sierra Leone early next month.
In a consultative workshop held with various stakeholders in the Maritime Sector, Dr. Axel Klein, the Team Leader for the support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS), said the workshop was meant to discuss pertinent issues geared toward addressing challenges in the maritime sector. He disclosed that the project is an ECOWAS project supported by the European Union through the provision of equipment, training, strengthening legislation and the drafting of strategies. During so, he said they would also consult the Member States since it is an ECOWAS Project which covers all Member States within the ECOWAS Region.
Dr. Axel Klein continued that they have not been to Sierra Leone which he considered an overdue stance to implement the project in Sierra Leone. He furthered that the purpose of the workshop is to consult all the Maritime Stakeholders on what they perceived to be the greatest Maritime threat for possible redress through the SWAIMS project.
The Team Leader also unearthed that there are already dispatched consignments of radios; computers and office equipment that would help the navy equip their Maritime operation centres. He continued that by next year, they would also provide the Navy with two boats which is about eight meters in length
and two hundred HP engines that would allow the Navy to patrol territorial waters more efficaciously.
For the training aspect, he also intimated that they would mainly focus on Maritime Security which is provided by the Regional Maritime University in Accra Ghana and another Regional Training centre in Ivory Coast. He added that they would also provide training on the handling of the aforementioned two boats including maintenance and the use of equipment for collecting evidence of crimes that are committed at sea.
“At the moment, we are here to discuss what the main concerns are in the Maritime operations. The monetary value of those consignments is around EUR30, 000 and that equipment would arrive in the country next month”, he said.
On his part, Holger Rommen, the European Union First Counsellor, intimated that Sierra Leone together with other countries of the Gulf of Guinea is facing significant economic losses due to Maritime insecurity problems. He added that the economic fall-out is estimated at billions of euros and could jeopardize the sustainable development of the region.
He added that the ECOWAS Member States have made important progress in improving maritime security and safety by putting in place coordinated and concerted actions and country and regional levels under the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (EIMS). He added that such an effort is being supported by the European Union through several regional projects including the support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) and the PESCADO regional programme.
“We are all aware that illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities constitute one of the major maritime threats to Sierra Leone. These activities if continue undeterred, would lead to the depletion of fish stock, and as a result, they would seriously hamper the livelihood and food security of vast strata of the population of Sierra Leone”, he said.
Holger Rommen concluded by assuring that the European Union remains committed to supporting Sierra Leone and all government institutions that are tasked with the enforcement of legal and regulatory frameworks for an essential role in achieving economic development that is sustainable for the environment and inclusive for the population of Sierra Leone.
