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Dr. Peter Saidu Turay is an Engineer/Agronomist with a Phd in Agriculture and his area of specialty being Tropical Crop Production and Soil Management - Integrated Natural Resources Management.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Dr. Sam Sesay, it would want to seem is hell bent on not only frustrating Dr. Peter Saidu Turay, but also in the process, causing immense harm, damage and retrogression to Sierra Leone's onward march to development and prosperity.
Because of the Agriculture Minister's seeming suppression of Dr. Peter Saidu Turay's aim, desire and dream to see Sierra Leone move forward in real human progress and not just in political deeds of words only in false and foul propaganda, he, Dr. Turay, has written a strongly worded letter of complaint to the Ombudsman for his attention and action. See published letter…
Because the Agriculture Minister claimed to be the main impediment or obstacle to Dr. Peter Saidu Turay's patriotic dream to see this country move forward, the World Bank has sent a query to Dr. Turay to clarify why the Sierra Leone government has still not yet applied for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) membership status.
That membership entitles Sierra Leone to full funding of the implementation of the Readiness Phase of the REDD - Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation.
The REDD programme was presented by Dr. Peter Turay, Consultant & Technical Adviser on the programme to H.E. the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, in June, 2010.
Of course, the programme was approved by President Koroma; and the Technical Adviser, Dr. Turay, was assigned with the task of implementing it in the Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Ministry.
A request was sent for an extension of Dr. Turay's Sabatical Leave to his employer, Ealing - Hammer-Smith in West London College in the United Kingdom.
On commencement of the work at the Agriculture Ministry, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Sam Sesay, HALTED the services of Dr. Peter Saidu Turay without any just reason.
After consideration of Dr. Turay's report of the matter to STATE HOUSE, an approval was again released by H.E. the President6, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, for transfer of the programme to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.
It is now sixteen (16) months without Dr. Turay receiving a single cent as salary.
It is claimed that both the Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security/Energy and Water Resources Ministers/Ministries are the principal agents frustrating the zeal and dream of Dr. Peter Saidu Turay to apply his knowledge and expertise to move this country forward.
The President is daily, nightly and eternally preaching the dire need for Attitudinal and Behavioural Change, but it would very much seem that even some of his closest disciples - that is to say, some of his Cabinet Ministers are not ready and willing to change their attitude and behavior in the very best interest of mother Sierra Leone.
If we as a nation must be seen to make a U-Turn for the progress and prosperity of this country, practices must be seen to consort with preachings, and actions too, consonant with beliefs. Failing which, there is no way forward for Sierra Leone.
Please read Dr. Peter Turay's complaint to the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsman
UN Building
Siaka Stevens Street
Freetown
Your ref:
June 20th 2011
Dear Madam/Sir,
COMPLAINT: OBSTRUCTION OF WORK; DEPRIVATION OF SALARY AND WORK-RELATED BENEFITS; ABUSE OF POWER AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISMAL
I refer to the above subject and submit, in evidence herewith, self-explanatory documents in support of my complaint against the Ministers of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), Dr. Sam Sesay, and Energy and Water Resources (MEWR), Prof. Ogunlade Davidson, whose treatment of me and my services to the Government of Sierra Leone could in no other way be interpreted as gross disrespect for, and insubordination to, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, who in June last year approved of the National Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) programme and assigned me with the task of its implementation in the country.
I have obviously been at the receiving end of the above mentioned maltreatment or abuse, hence, the submission of this complaint but there exists an even bigger offence - that of deterring national development by way of obstruction, deceptions, insinuations and innuendos but above all showing absolute disregard for the mandate of the President of our country and his authority and power as Head of State. I attach letter dated 12th August, 2010, for your consideration. Contrary to the mandate of the letter, these two Ministers have unscrupulously executed a plot to kill the REDD programme by manipulating, with the support of the Secretary to the President, the formalization of the assignment and constructively dismissing me from office. This is not just an abuse of power but an offence against the interest of Sierra Leone. Regardless of this treatment, I continued work on the assignment, mostly using my very own resources since September last year, having obviously been deprived of the use of office space and the relevant resources. In addition to this, I have been deprived of my salary (and DSAs for international trips) for over a year and counting. The impact of this treatment is now adversely affecting me and my family in the UK and I seek an immediate redress. Please see the attached document entitled: "The Sierra Leone National REDD Programme - a Brief Report", for your consideration.
It must be noted that this is not the first time Minister Sesay has dismissed me from my assignment - a power I know very well that he does not have. I was in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December, 2009, desperately negotiating (a skill in acute shortage in Sierra Leone) the climate change treaty on behalf of our beloved country when this minister circulated a memo requesting for my removal from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) without any justification but was deterred by the then Minister of Presidential and Political Affairs, Hon. Joseph Koroma, who informed him that he had no such mandate, as I was on a contract sponsored by foreign donor and on sabbatical from an employer in the UK. Notwithstanding this advice, Minister Sesay went on w3ith the withdrawal of the government vehicle assigned to me and a stoppage of phone credits and fuel supply even when I started using my own private vehicle. This went on for seven months before he finally ousted me out of the Ministry; and, this was after the President's approval of the National REDD Programme in June last year.
I mentioned earlier that I was on a one-year sabbatical (from February 2009 to March but was extended for another three months till May 2010). It must therefore be noted that I was recalled, with three extra reminders, by my employer in the UK - Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College - a beacon of excellence in the provision of higher and further education. President Koroma, personally, pleaded, through his secretary, with my employer for an extension of the sabbatical, to allow for the implementation of the REDD programme that Sierra Leone so badly needs to fulfill her international commitment and generate much needed income for sustainable economic growth and development. Documentary evidence in support of this statement will be produced later but the reality now facing us is that this wise effort of the President has been seriously undermined by these two Ministers whose actions warrant no less a thing than a resignation. I seek a redress of this matter now.
In other developments these two Ministers have willfully withheld monies due to me for over one year (MEWR) and two years (MAFFS), respectively, I am seriously convinced that these incidents are not a coincidence and therefore seek the indulgence of the Office of the Ombudsman in not just expediting the payment of these monies but in asking them to explain the reasons for, or causes of, this draconian attitude and action of theirs against me.
In concluding, you will see from this letter that it is not just my salary that has been withheld; and, this has to be dealt with separately with the involvement of State House; DSAs by both Ministries for a total of two years and professional fees for consultancy work conducted for a total of two years and professional fees for consultancy work conducted for the MEWR in early 2010 (prior to my posting to this Ministry) are also still outstanding and there appears to be no willingness on the part of these Ministers to release my money. Please see supporting documents for your perusal and consideration.
You will be made to understand from this letter and supporting documents that Minister Sesay colluded with Minister Davidson to not only derail my programme but to put pressure on me through the causation of financial hardship and frustration that will eventual force me to abandon the assignment and flee to the UK. Sadly for them, this has not happened.
I trust you will consider this complaint urgently and hopefully bring this matter to a close.
Yours faithfully
Dr. Peter Saidu Turay
Consultant/Technical Adviser
10, Josiah Drive
Lumley
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Mob. 078-311-063/077-957-191/033-953-315/088-632-874
E-mail:
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