SLIEPA Assures Sierra Tropical (SL) Limited and the People of Lugbu Chiefdom of Its Continued Aftercare Services

The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) on Saturday, 14th March 2020 facilitated a high-powered aftercare visit to Sumbuya, Lugbu Chiefdom in the Bo District to the operational site of Sierra Tropical (SL) Limited (STL).

The delegation comprised the Chairman Bo District Council Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi, The Chief Executive Officer SLIEPA Mr. Sheku Lexmond Koroma and the Legal Representatives of the Landowners/Landowning families (Bangura and Co). Also, in attendance was the General Manager of STL Mr. Patrick Blake, the Regent Chief of Lugbu Chiefdom, Modibo Fofanah, Chiefdom Speaker, Section chiefs, Land owners and other stakeholders within the Lugbu Chiefdom.

In his welcome statement, the Regent Chief expressed his delight in the way STL has related with them over the years and looked forward to more collaboration with the company for the benefit of the company and the people of Lugbu Chiefdom.

Chairman Bindi who also served as Chairman of the occasion appealed to the community people to look at the STL company as a priority project of the Government of Sierra Leone and should do all within their powers and responsibilities to enhance the smooth operations of the company and advised the company to continue to upholding their corporate responsibilities, especially in the respective communities where the operate.

The Chief Executive Officer of SLIEPA, Sheku Lexmond Koroma reiterated his institutions continued services of providing specialised aftercare services to the company and people of Lugbu to ensure that there is a cordial and win – win situation for both parties. Mr. Koroma also stated that as the government agency charged with the responsibility of promoting Sierra Leone as a destination of choice for investors SLIEPA will do its utmost to ensure STL succeeds and the people of Lugbu chiefdom are happy.

The Legal Representative for the Community informed the people that they have reached a consensus with STL to proceed with the signing of about 650 leases for parcels of lands already identified by the company. This process, the Legal Representative went on, will start in the next few days with intense community engagements on the draft lease documents; and will end by June this year.

The General Manager of STL Mr. Patrick Blake assured the people of Lugbu that STL remains committed to investing in Lugbu and announced that the company will start the construction of roads within the community and an agro-processing facility to produce tropical fruits which will create additional 200 -300 more jobs in the coming months.

The meeting was climaxed by the formation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Committee and the Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) Committee to address concerns within the project operational areas and implement social projects respectively within Lugbu chiefdom.

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