February 26, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
The Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Turad Senesie has in a Press briefing held at the Ministry of Information and Communication at Youyi Building on 25th February, 2021, refused to answer question posed to him by Press men. He told the press that the Press Conference was not the right time to answer questions.
The Minister said that the Bio led regime is under tremendous pressure from the people of this country especially the fourth estate for quality service delivery
The Minister said that, his Ministry has a huge task of land administration and management, provision of affordable housing and ensuring that there is proper town and city planning mechanism. He said as for decades, the Ministry has not been able to efficiently and effectively achieve any of the three components of the ministry.
Lands Minister Turad said that past and current government have been grappling with the issue of land allocation especially for Western Area with little or no planning.
He alluded to the challenge in provision of affordable housing for low and middle income class. “There has to be change of approach in the discharge of our duties as a Ministry, as the Bio led government will now focus on Country Planning and Affordable Housing as a priority and land Allocation as a secondary issue,” he said.
The Minister authoritatively stated that to meet the expectations of the public, he will separate the Directorate of Housing and Country Planning into two separate directorates; Directorate of Country Planning and Directorate of Housing.
The primarily functions of the Directorate of Country Planning will be to develop or review Towns and Country planning Act to control and regulate.
He spoke about establishing an urban design unit and country planning and district planning committees, initiate a holistic development plan including structure and local plans and conduct research relating to town and urban planning and for the directorate of housing.
He promised to work with partners to build affordable housing around the country for low and middle income earners.
He envisioned the modernization of towns and cities to replace derelict and shanty communities, encourage the setting up of home finance institutions, encourage large scale production of local building materials and faciliting access to credit for building and mortgage for low and middle income earners.
He also spoke about encouraging the creation of green and on plot car parking spaces that will promotee private ventures to build toilets, and bathing facilities and multi-storey car parks in urban cities.
In conclusion, the Minister said he believe that Sierra Leoneans want to see their towns and cities competing with other countries around the globe. “To achieve this it requires Discipline, Decency and Honesty in short (DDH)”.
