The Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO), Ing. George Lamin Vandi has delivered a compelling keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation during the World Water Day Commemoration at an event organized at the Miatta Conference Centre, Youyi Building in Freetown, on Saturday March 22nd, 2025.
The Water Resources Minister and her Deputy were unavoidably absent; prompting MD Vandi to be given the unique opportunity and privilege of delivering the keynote address where he underscored the importance of the commemoration, stating that the global theme of ‘glacier preservation’ and the national theme of ‘water ecosystem preservation’ could not have come at a better time, stating that there is need to apply judiciousness in water usage whiles conserving same.
MD Vandi added that the efforts of government need and have to be commended and that people should also be in position to pay and use government utilities and services whiles taking ‘good and proper care of them’ as well.
Several other statements were made by different personalities including, a representative of NGOs in the water sector, the UNICEF representative, President of the Bottled and Sachet Water Producers’ Union, and a representative (MP) of the Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, all of which were aimed at looking into the challenges of access to water and a staunch commitment on and of how to address same, in record time.
High table – cross section
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyah Ballay remarked about the importance of the commemoration, adding that in line with the medium-term national development plan, her ministry was closely working with the ministry of fisheries and marine resources and the water sector to see that results are fully achieved in time. She added that effective collaboration and coordination are therefore of the essence in making sure that institutions are able to deliver at all levels and at all times.
The SALWACO Boss informed the gathering that he had delivered the keynote ‘’verbatim’’ as prepared by the Water Resources and Sanitation Minister. The event was organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in collaboration with WASH sector partners.
SALWACO was also ably represented at the event by its Director of Planning, Research and Policy, Saffa SK Bockarie, Director of Human Resources, Joe Ansu Foray, Senior Communications, Sheku Putka Kamara and HR Officer, Nancy, among others.