BETRAYAL!
…PARLIAMENT MUTE AS SHALIMAR PLUNDERS SALONE
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
The highest arm of modern governance is the lawmaking body. In Sierra Leone, it is called Parliament, and supposedly, the fountain of democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and sustained national development.
Parliament does not only make laws but plays supervisory role to ensure its counterpart arms of the government, the executive and the judiciary, including the entire civil service, all function in tandem with the laws of the state to realise official probity and good governance.
Parliament can bring to order any state functionary, and if the need arises, can even pass a vote of no confidence against the president for gross misconduct or egregious violation of the constitution. For this reason, Parliament is the most powerful arm of the government. So, when members of Parliament renege on their reason of being, the entire political system becomes rotten, and the state sits on shambles.
However, concerns are being raised whether members of the Sierra Leone Parliament are representing themselves, an individual, or the state in interest of the masses, by allegedly doing little or nothing when property or assets belonging to their country’s security forces —the Police and Army—are sold out to an individual businessman.
The name, Shalimar, has made frontpage headlines in recent times for questionable deals involving the sale of soldier barracks and police fields to him by high ranking officials. Indeed, we understood Parliament summoned the then Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Lieutenant-General Peter K Lavahun, for questioning. We understood also that Parliament ascertained the sale, and rebuked him for wrongdoing.
While it’s alleged that the sudden retirement of Lavahun came as a result of that act of impropriety, thence Shalimar continues to have firm grip on the assets without any further stringent action to return those to the state. In a country where corruption or greasing of the palms by brown envelops is reported to be widespread, it raises high eyebrows for Shalimar to remain ever emboldened—even refusing to build the quarters he should as per the sales agreement.
For Shalimar, several serious allegations have been levelled against him in relation to his business and personal activities in Sierra Leone, but he has so far maintained sealed lips despite efforts to get clarifications from him.
From allegations of the “illegal” acquisition of the military barracks at Goderich, and of moves to buy a car park (last empty plot), to allegations of purchasing the Wellington Barracks, where he is said to have constructed stores that he’s renting each about 2 million Leones (2 billion old Leones) without paying the requisite taxes, Shalimar remains unmoved by requests for clarification.
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised over his company’s evasion of NASSIT contributions for over 100 foreign workers. What is more is his alleged financial dealings with the Dutch drug lord, Jos Leijddekers, involving the purchase of motorbikes worth $2 million ahead of the 2023 elections, and the financing of construction projects at Spur Road.
Other concerns are Shalimar’s dominance of the motorbike market, allegedly with the powerful and exclusive control over the importation of TVS kekehs into the country from India, thus, obstructing the establishment of a local Kekeh factory.
Reports have further alleged about the tragic death of a child at one of Shalimar’s construction sites at Spur Road, attributed to his brother’s poor engineering work.
Whether Shalimar has been left off the hook amid these serious allegations, or would come clean of his person and company’s activities in Sierra Leone, only time will tell.