May 26, 2021
The Parliamentary oversight Committee on Trade and Industry, Chaired by Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, over the weekend, concluded oversight visits to business entities in and out of Freetown that are under the purview of the Committee. The aim of the oversight was to get first hand information on the activities of these entities and to ascertain they are in compliance with Trade and Industry, Local Content, Standard Bureau and PRA rules and regulations. In particular, the Committee visited and inspected the facilities and operations of Integrated Trade Services (ITS) Sierra Frozen Foods, All Petroleum Product (APP), Victory Enterprise, Vita Foam Factory and Fuel Stations.
The Integrated Trade Service (ITS) was established by the Government of Sierra Leone and subsequently approved by Parliament a year ago. The company’s mandate is to carry out destination inspection and exports verification in Sierra Leone with the view to ensure that Government realizes the required revenues from duties and taxes for all goods imported into and exported out of the country in collaboration with NRA.
Briefing staff of ITS at Gbalamuya Guinea -Sierra Leone Border, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Trade and Industry Hon. Veronica K. Sesay among other things acknowledges the role and responsibilities of the Trade Committee in Parliament and notes that it was approved by Parliament to physically examining and classified goods in collaboration with NRA to raise revenue for the Government. In light of that, Hon. Chair notes as Parliament, they did a follow-up to see how the services are helping the Government to raise its much needed revenue.
Responding, Mr. Foday Kallon, ITS Branch Manager, appreciated the visitation of the Committee and highlighted their achievements and challenges in their operations. Speaking on their achievements, the Branch Manager proudly informed the Committee that NRA’s hitting its previous year revenue generation was attributed to the intervention of ITS as it was able to generate more than twice compared to their predecessor. He further disclosed that ITS is working in close collaboration with NRA Customs Staff and their Guinean counterpart at all times.
On challenges, he said they should be the first point of contact and not NRA in the process of evaluation of goods being imported and exported at the port at Cline town, Lungi Airport, Gbalamuya and Gendema in line with their mandate. He pleaded with the Committee to look into this misunderstanding and find a permanent solution to it in tandem with the agreement.
During the conducted tour, the Committee realized that the Scanning Machine, worth thousands United States dollars donated by the Chinese over seven years ago was at the Sierra Leone side of the border but has never been used.
The Committee, was very pleased with the work of ITS at the Gbalamuya border and encouraged them to do more not only in revenue generation but also in corporate social responsibility, employment of locals especially qualified women.
At Sierra Frozen Foods, one of the leading importers of different types of frozen foods located at the Ferry Terminal, the Committee made a conducted tour of the cold rooms all of which were stocked with frozen foods like Chicken, sourceages, eggs, meat, among others. The Committee was impressed with the impeccable environmental sanitation of the facility, the quality of the products, the state of the art cool rooms, the organization of the different products for easy access and identification and the transportation facilities suitable for the transportation of frozen foods.
The Committee’s other point of visit was All Petroleum Products that signed an agreement with Government of Sierra Leone for the construction and rehabilitation of fuel tank farms at the Kissy Old Terminal and construction of Mega Stations in the East and Western parts of Freetown with shopping malls. The Committee was satisfied with the progress of APP as at the time of the visit the company had completed the rehabilitation of 5 tanks and the jetty. The construction of the administrative building and other facilities were at an advanced stages and the Committee was of the hope that the company would be able to complete Phase 1 by June.
The Committee continued its oversight at the Victory Enterprise at Wellington Industrial Estates. The Committee inspected the machineries of the 100% liquor factory, examined the packaging system, storage facility and water and sanitation which were in good condition.
The Committee inquired into the corporate Social Responsibility of Victory Enterprise and the Committee was impressed by the Enterprise’s work in the Wellington Community in building water wells, schools, among others.
Also in the queue of visit was Vita Foam Factory at Hastings which is producing modern foam mattresses and beddings of different sizes and for different people (able and disable). During the oversight, the Committee physically examined the pillows, foam mattresses (high and low density), beddings and hand towels and the Committee was appreciative of the quality of the materials. The Committee encouraged the Management of the company to consider extending the operation of the company to the provinces.
Guided by the Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s Guidelines for Petroleum Retail Outlets which outlines suitability requirements, approval to construct, license to operate, requirements for issuance of storage and sales license among others, the Committee visited fuel stations with different brand names in the Northern and Southern provinces with the aim to physically ascertain their level of compliance with PRAs Guidelines.
In all the fuel stations visited, the Committee was satisfied with the level of compliance of the managements of these fuel stations and in that regard the Committee appreciates them and extends the appreciation to the Management of PRA for effectively monitoring compliance by petroleum retail outlets.