By Amara Thoronka
On 4th June 2024, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board issued a warning to all illegal businesses along Lumley/Aberdeen Beach, asking petty-traders, street hawkers and non-registered stationed vendors to desist from selling or operating along the Lumley/Aberdeen Beach with immediate effect.
According to the warning statement signed by Tourist Board’s planning and development manager Mr. Umaru Woody, the “Lumley/Aberdeen Beach area is a designated Tourism Development Area (TDA) that requires sanity, law, order and an environmentally friendly atmosphere,” and as such, unregistered businesses cannot be tolerated there.
However, the tourism ministry and board noted that only registered businesses such as hotels, guesthouses, night clubs, beach bars and restaurants, casinos and related tourism facilities and services registered with the National Tourist Board are allowed to operate.
The Tourist Board and the Tourism Ministry emphasized that all illegal businesses along the Lumley/Aberdeen Beach must stop forthwith, and that failure to comply or adhere to such directive will result in severe fines and/or confiscation of goods/items or even arrest by the appropriate authority, while calling on the public to help in preserving the beauty and scenery of important tourist destinations in Sierra Leon.
Going through the joint statement of the National Tourist Board and Tourism Ministry, it is somehow indicative that such illegal business at the said area have been banned with immediate effect. Knowing the usual general Sierra Leonean response to such decision by authorities, the common question would now be what about the survival of those who have been engaged in such businesses? Some may even polarize or politicize it.
As a nation, we should embrace, nurture and sustain the culture of positive change, even if such change does not entirely favour us. We should endeavor to have the culture of considering the bigger picture, instead of our personal attachments and gains. Granted that those who were engaged in unregistered businesses in that party of the city would be adversely affected, but we should not all the time and only think about what we do and say that puts money into our pockets and purses. We should be asking ourselves the ultimate question; that is, is this my money-making business or action good for the environment and the wellbeing of people and the nation?
In our quest to make a living or accumulate wealth, we should be reminded by our pledge to Sierra Leone which we do frequently any time we recite the National Pledge in which we “pledge our love and loyalty to Sierra Leone; vow to serve her faithfully at all times; promise to defend her honour and good name; always work for her unity, peace, freedom and prosperity; and put her interest above all.” It has been reported consistently that unregistered businesses along the Lumley/Aberdeen beach area have caused and continue to cause huge implications on its cleanliness, sanity and friendly ambience. Do we feel good whenever we see or hear tourists or people from other parts of the world speak unfavourably about the organization and administering of our naturally beautiful attractions? Well, if we are not happy about it, we have a role in making it happen. In making it happen, people and entities would definitely be affected, but we have to sacrifice self for nation. Yes, it pains; but it is painfully necessary.
However, authorities should be fair and unbiased in implementing such ban as selective consideration would defeat the very purpose of maintaining sanity, while they expedite efforts to have more market structures to accommodate street traders.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, June 12th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
