Personally receiving the cable, His Excellency President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma expressed thanks to the World Bank for providing the funds for the project. He referred to the occasion as a great moment for Sierra Leone, adding that it’s a further sign of the ongoing transformation in Sierra Leone. He said the fibre-optic cable’s arrival in Sierra Leone will take the country from its limited satellite system of communication in which it operates on presently to a high-speed modern cable communication.
Highlighting the benefits to Sierra Leone, President Koroma said the country will be even more widely opened to the international world and this will create job opportunities, reduce on the present costs of communication, reduce the costs of doing business in Sierra Leone, enhance transparency and accountability of the Government to its people through better e-governance applications, enhance democracy, and above all, open a gateway to improve the private sector especially in areas of agriculture, health and infrastructure, among others.He however expressed concern over obligations to be met for success of the project. Such obligations the President went on includes privatization of the Sierra Leone Cable Limited, the designing of a programme to implement the benefits of the cable for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans and the liberalization of the telecommunications gateway. The President assured his audience that his Government will effect the changes it promised in all areas, while calling on all Sierra Leoneans to make themselves part of the success of the cable which has now landed on the shores of Sierra Leone.
On his part, the Coordinator Sierra Leone Cable Limited, Gilbert Cooper said the facility will start operating in Sierra Leone in 2012 after the completion of all necessary technical and electronic connections would have been met. The National Telecommunication (NATCOM) Boss Mr. Siray A. Timbo expressed satisfaction over what he described as the timely conclusion of the project. He said the success of any national programme is to have a joint and collaborative effort for all regardless of tribe, political affiliation, and religion. He emphasized that the project will help increase the productivity of the country, adding of NATCOM’s commitment to support the enhancement of a swift and affordable ICTsector in Sierra Leone.
World Bank Country Manager revealed that the cable will open up endless possibilities for Sierra Leone, noting that the project will ensure three components such as access to affordable communication, infrastructural development and Government’s transparency and accountability to its people. He expressed hope that the ordinary Sierra Leonean will benefit from the project.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Aruna Turay
Quelle/Source: Awareness Times, 11.10.2011
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