BY: PROBLYN J. ALPHA
Under the leadership of the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Bash Kamara of the 9 infantry Battalion headquarters at Simbakoro Barracks Gbense Chiefdom Kono District, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) Lieutenant General Peter K. Lavanhun has officially opened the newly refurbished facilitates at the aforementioned Barracks.
The newly refurbished facilities comprise of other ranks canteen, warrant officers and sergeant messes funded by Koidu Limited Mining Company.
In his welcome address, the commanding officer 9 infantry battalion headquarters in Kono District, Lieutenant Colonel Bash Kamara said the composition of the attendance of the ceremony was equally important in gracing the program, therefore, he expressed delight for people to be part of the historic ceremony.
Giving a brief background to the establishment Lieutenant Colonel Bash Kamara maintained that the establishment of the battalion started just after the disarmament process in the country.
He thanked the paramount chiefs in Kono District for championing the establishment of the said barracks in Kono District. Lieutenant Colonel Bash Kamara intimated to the audience that to expedite the establishment of the aforementioned battalion operation pebble was declared but to no avail and as a result the battalion was left in an uncompleted state.
According to him the refurbishment of the said facilities at the nine infantry battalion is to match up with the development of their superiors in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed forces RSLAF. Lieutenant Colonel Kamara told the audience that one of the refurbished facilities that are the other ranks canteen before now was in a very deplorable state but due to the healthy working relationship between members of the RSLAF and the Kono Community Koidu Limited Mining Company voluntarily opted to give the battalion a facelift by refurbishing the said facilities.
He said the structures refurbished are very important as they serve as recreational facilities for the officers to rest or when they are not on duty. He added that the facilities do not only provide recreational facilities but also boost what he called the moral of the officers. Lieutenant colonel Kamara Commended the management of Koidu limited Mining Company for funding the said work and the provision of Television sets for all of the refurbished facilities.
He used the opportunity to appeal to all and sundry for the provision of furniture for the refurbished facilities. Whilst assuring the judicious use of the refurbished facilities Lieutenant Colonel Bash Kamara thanked the contractor who did the refurbishment for a work well done.
Making a statement the Community Development Manager Koidu Limited, Philip Sorboeh foremost thanked all for attending the official opening of the newly refurbished facilities and that his company’s intervention in the said work is roll out of their cooperate social responsibility coupled with the fulfilment of the mining policies.
Mr. Sorboeh pointed out that the funding of the aforesaid work by Koidu Limited is one of their interventions noting the company recently built security structures at the border crossing points to neighbouring Guinea adding plans to do more are underway.
He urged members of RSLAF to judiciously use the refurbished facilities. Delivering his Keynote address and officially opening the refurbished facilities the Chief of Defence staff RSLAF Lieutenant General, Peter K. Lavanhun thanked Koidu Limited for funding the work and the contractor for a work well done. To the paramount chiefs, the CDS also thanked them for hosting his men in the district. He maintained that to effect development is always painful but the endpoints are enjoyable.
Lieutenant General Lavanhun said when he assumed the office of commander joint force, he threw a challenge among the commanding officers across the country to showcase the development they can effect noting as a development agent he finds pleasure in working with development-oriented personnel adding over the year’s Lieutenant Colonel Bash Kamara has proven himself well and urged him to do more.
“The other time I was in the district to commission an accommodation facility done by Mr. Kamara for that reason, I must commend him and his team for the thoughts behind their benchmarks in the district. The CDS stressed that the facilities provided are first for their kind and advised that they should be used for their intended purposes. The chief of defence staff pointed out that the facilities provided were very important as they form a component of what he called warfare.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Emmanuel T. Foyoh, pour out the libation and cutting of the tape to form part of the high point of the official opening ceremony of the newly refurbished facilities at the 9 infantry battalion in Kono District.
