Ref No UNAMSIL/PIO/PR242 /2005
Freetown -- The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Sierra Leone, Ambassador Daudi Mwakawago, today inspected on-going projects at the Wilberforce Military barracks in Freetown.
The project work which is been implemented by officers of the Pakistani Engineering Battalion 4 (PAKBAT 4) includes provision of water and water storage facilities, the construction and maintenance of a seven kilometer track road, rehabilitation and provision of modern toilet facilities, and the rehabilitation of the barrack's primary school as well as football and volley fields.
Ambassador Mwakawago who was received on arrival by UNAMSIL's Force Commander, Major-General Sajjad Akram and Sierra Leone's Deputy Defense Minister, Joe Blell, expressed delight at the rate of the work already carried out within a very short period.
He applauded the partnership between the RSLAF and the PAK ENGINEERS and said it should be nurtured so that it can grow even bigger and better. "This is a legacy that is being left behind and it is up to the RSLAF to continue to do what should be done after UNAMSIL has left," he said.
The SRSG stated that the partnership was better than the dependency syndrome and advised the RSLAF to prevail upon the government to assist them in the maintenance of the facilities in order to ensure their longevity.
Earlier, the Acting Commanding Officer for PAK ENGR IV, Major Mukatr Mahmud Turrabi, told the SRSG that the old water system in the barracks dates back to the colonial era and had outlived its usefulness as there was little or no water supply in the barracks.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Major-General Sam Mboma thanked the SRSG and UNAMSIL for the construction and rehabilitation work and promised that they will sustain the culture of maintenance in order to preserve the facilities.
Similar projects are soon to be carried out at the Juba, Benguema, and Kenema barracks.