By: Melvin Tejan Mansaray
As Members of Parliament, we should not forget the plight of our constituents, they are the people that make and can unmake us, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament Pujehun District, Constituency 101 and also doubles as the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament said.
Hon. Tunis made this statement in response to this Writer’s question as to why he embarked on constituency tour and making donations of cash and kind to women, youths, security, medic and ordinary constituents.
It is worth noting that Hon. Tunis since his ascendance to the throne as ECOWAS Speaker has had little or no private time for himself or his constituents, due to the nature of his workload in an era of Covid-19.
” I have been having one virtual meeting to another on a daily basis, each of these meetings are dealing with high profile diplomats, foreign government officials, which involves protocols and other consideration, so I have been a very busy despite still working remotely from my country for now,” Hon. Tunis said.
In a bid to maintain a common touch with his people amidst an heavy workload, Hon. Tunis embarked on a three days (27th-30th June,2020) reminding his people that had it not been for the trust and confidence they reposed on him to represent them, he could not have been at the position he is now, thus, acknowledging that it is his duty to do past lawmaking or oversight but to be an adequate representative of his people, sharing their pains and joy, equally.
Hon. Tunis said although his elevation comes with more responsibilities of travellings and all, that is no excuse for him to neglect or ignore his constituents.
“No matter how busy or preoccupied I am, I must always know that you are my direct employers and therefore this is the purpose of my visit; to know what is the situation like on the ground,” Hon. Tunis said.
According to residents, Hon. Tunis constituency tour brings hope for change to the well-being and livelihood of the people of constituency 101, in Makpele and Soro Gbema Chiefdoms, Pujehun District.
With a rapturous welcoming
by local authorities, government officials, women, youths and a modest media coverage, the constituency erupted in jubilation, cautious awareness of the Covid-19 measures though with high expectations, which one youth said at the end, was not dashed at all by Hon. Tunis.
On the health status of constituency 101 redidents, Hon Tunis donated Ten Million Leones (Le 10,000,000.00) as a quick response for the rehabilitation of Sulima Community Health Center (CHC) which was in a dire state. He said the medical needs of his people must not be left in the current state and therefore announced that he is in discussion with the Government of Sierra Leone and the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) to effectively enhance the rehabilitation of the Sulima Health Center and the implementation of further development programs such as the SSNP to bail the people out of extreme poverty.
As one of the longest serving Lawmaker, he said the role of the security forces cannot be understated stressing that the District has several border crossing points to Liberia putting the constituency and district at health and security risk.
He however gave the sum of five Million Leones (Le 5,000,000.00) each to the Command Center at Jendema and Zimmi, to enhance their regular activities in consonance with sensitization and awareness raising on the prevention and fight against COVID-19, and other related matters affecting border communities.
At the Wai Community Health Centre Moiwubu, Hon. Tunis recalled that he supported the facility in 2018 campaign period with the sum of USD $2,000 (two thousand US Dollars) and also USD $1,000 for the construction of a Youth Centre at Wai Village, Soro Gbema Chiefdom.
Hon. Tunis said the plight of his constituents in the rainy season is made difficult by hunger, towards this end he donated three Hundred (300) bags of 25 KG rice to ameliorate the plight of tornado victims of Soro Gbema Chiefdom, who were affected by heavy rains which destroyed many properties and plantations.
Hon. Tunis also used his tour to visit all the communities that were affected by the tornado promising to explore additional means of mitigating the status of tornado victims through government and donor supports.
“I cant come and go without visiting my party office,” Hon. Tunis said, reminiscing on how he was awarded his party symbol.
He however assisted the Zimmi Makpele SLPP Executive with one hundred bags of rice to be used as small business, so that they too will be engaged in promoting trade activities in Zimmi Makpele and also donated one hundred (100) sets of modern and sustainable solar radio sets to the best performing pupils in selected schools within the Zimmi community.
Use the radios to follow the government’s radio teaching program so that you can make up for the lost time in school due to Covid-19, Hon. Tunis encouraged students and parents.
As an intervention on the plight of women, Hon. Tunis made a cash donation of five Million Leones (Le 5,000,000.00) each to the women of Zimmi and Dumagbay Towns, this he said, he hope will increase their agricultural productivity and other livelihood activities.
“I believe this assistance will help to enhance effective and efficient farming system, for increase in rice production and productivity as planned by the New Direction Agenda under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio,” Hon. Tunis said.
He also donated Five Million Leones (5,000.000.00) to the people of Gofour community, for the completion of their Court Barray which has been in a state of dilapidation.
Honorable Tunis also assisted the Youth of Makpele Chiefdom with thirty Million Leones (Le 30,000,000.00) to establish a youth-led business initiative, so that the Youth of Makpele Chiefdom will be able to develop their enterprises through business management skills and trainings.
Paramount Chief of Soro Gbema Chiefdom, P.C Mustapha J. Massaquoi and the youths of Constituency 101 expressed appreciation to Hon. Tunis for working the talks and promises of his reelection.
The Paramount Chief implored his subjects to entreat the almighty God to guide and protect Hon. Tunis so that he can be a conduit of more tangible developments to his constituents.
They nonetheless appealed to Hon. Tunis not to relent in doing more in the health, education, road infrastructure and youth unemployment aspects.
Hon. Tunis however promised not to forget about the peoples concerns in both chiefdoms pledging an unflinching commitment to the vision of the party and president to usher in a new direction in the lives and livelihoods of his electors.
In conclusion, Hon. Sidie urged colleague MP to keep a right metric on constituency and other activities.
“It is so true and essential that every MP keeps a right balance between work at Tower Hill, the national politics and the affairs of the people that voted us into office,” Hon. Tunis said while thanking God and everyone that made his trip and gestures a success.
