By Jane B. Mansaray.
Some personnel of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Force have complained of an eight months backlog in the supply of their monthly bags of rice.
The complain was made by personnel deployed at various divisional sections within the capital city of Freetown.
Police sources claimed that for eight months now they have gone without their monthly supply of rice.
The eight months backlog supply, according to Police sources, started in 2020 to date. “Not that the supply of rice is not coming, but the SLP Management Board are very selective in the area of distribution,” Police sources painfully revealed.
Among the divisions that are mainly benefiting from the regular monthly rice supply are the Police Headquarters (PHQ) on George Street, Central Police Divisional on Wallace Johnson Street,ย Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) on Pademba Road, Kingtom Police and Lumley Police Divisions, all in Freetown Central and West.
Police personnel in other divisions particularly in the East and other areas in the West of Freetown have been sidelined in the monthly rice distribution and other welfare facilities.
“Whenever the issue is brought to the attention of the Police authorities, instead of talking to us politely, they will threaten us with suspension without pay if anyone raises the issue in public,” the officers alleged.
The anonymous source revealed that the delay in the supply of rice started during the regime of former IGP, Dr. Richard Moigbeh.
But with the appointment of the current IGP, Dr. Michael Souvula in 2021, he has managed to clear all backlog supplies by offering four bags to personnel, even though they are still being owed more. “Dr. Souvula has stated that he is committed to ensuring that personnel get their rice supply at the end of every month”, the anonymous source revealed.
Dr. Michael Souvula is a God-fearing man, some of the junior Police personnel informed the Global Times. His appointment by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is a blessing to the SLP, especially in the creation of annual leave for personnel; something that has never happened. “Personnel can now go on leave with a month`s salary without any tax deductionโ a junior Police officer anonymous boasted.
