[June 15, 2011] Lumley Community Sensitised On the Landing of the Fiber Optic Tweet Freetown, Jun 15, 2011 (Concord Times/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Minister of Information and Communications has urged members of the Lumley community to serve as watchdogs in ensuring the safety and protection of the fibre optic facilities, disclosing that the project cost millions of dollars. Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo was speaking during a meeting organized by his ministry at the Atlantic venue, Lumley Beach. He disclosed that two sites were identified for the landing of the fibre optic but that the president had suggested landing it at Lumley. Commenting on the benefits of the project, the minister told members of the community that the fiber optic will bring immense benefit in terms of communication to the country, adding that it will ensure Sierra Leone rank high on the UNDP Human Development Index. He assured his audience that when the project was completed communication will become less expensive and widely accessible. Responding to questions posed by community members on the issue of employment to the project, I.B. Kargbo said his ministry does not have the mandate "to employ people to the project at this point" since the work requires some technicalities. He however assured them that when the project was completed, they will employ qualified members of the community to work in the project. Permanent Secretary in the Information ministry, S.A.T. Tamu - who served as chairman of the occasion - told community members that the purpose of the meeting was to formally inform them about the landing of the fiber optic in their community and encourage them to embrace the project. He said the fiber optic, which will run through South Africa from France, will be landed in Sierra Leone at the Lumley Beach community, saying "this is important to improve communication in the country". The PIU coordinator Julius Kamara told the community that the project was the brainchild of His Excellency the President and was supported by the minister of Information and Communications I.B. Kargbo. He said the goal of the project was to connect Sierra Leone to the international backbone of communication. Mr. Kamara emphasized the importance of the project, saying that the landing of the fibre optic was part of the president's drive to accomplish his 'Agenda for Change'. He said the PIU was set up to coordinate the programme and to ensure that the project realized its aims. Chair Lady of the Lumley community brought to the attention of the minister the lack of schools, pipe borne water and other facilities in dire need in the community. She applauded the effort of the president and the minister of Information and Communications for landing the facility in their community; a development she believes will bring the community under the spotlight for more development projects. She pleaded with the minister to bring the community to the attention of the president as it was a potential site for investment. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]