TOURISM MINISTRY PLAN TO STRENGTHEN SL ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

The Ministry of Tourism & Cultural Affairs (MTCA) in collaboration with the National Steering Committee of all sub groups in the Sierra Leone Entertainment Industry (SLEI) on the 23rd June this year held a day's meeting, which they term as "The National Unity Consultative Conference of the SL Entertainment Industry" at the Miatta Conference Centre with the theme: "Oneness"

The President of the SL Film Council, Mr. Michael Ibrahim Kargbo who doubles as a TV Presenter at SL Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), who chaired the occasion, passionately revealed that the main aim of the said gathering was to put strategies in placd to re-unite all entertainers under a single umbrella. "Even if there is funding from higher authorities, we can't  move forward if we are not united," Preso Kargbo added.

He also cheerfully disclosed that the longstanding rift between his film council and another sub union he described as SL Film Federation (SLFF) has been bridged by big brother Jimmy Bangura aka "Jimmy B"; explaining that the godfather of SL music and true patriot achieved this project by sacrificing the latter for d former.

He further reiterated to the authorities and audience present that they have to form an umbrella in the said industry so that there is control and command; adding that SL is bound to see an explosion in the Entrainment Industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of Lake Production, Alhaji K. Tarawally aka LAJ KAY, Presenter of the African Young Voices (AYV) TV programme called "The Gateway Show", thanked and welcomed all present in such an entertainment manner, and later took to his main duty by introducing the current executive members of the National Steering Committee of the would-be re-united Industry.

In her keynote address, the Hon. Minister of Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Madam Memunatu B. Pratt, former Head of the Peace & Conflict Resolution Department at Fourah Bay College (FBC) University of Sierra Leone, frankly stated that all her comrade Ministers being highly interested in said move were to be here had it not being for the pressing administrative function of a retreat for all Cabinet Ministers; maintaining that with all the urgency attached to said retreat, she could still squeeze to be present at that all-important unity forum to at least make an input. She further confirmed:"If there is the collective will we can do it. You are the ambassadors of tourism being the image sellers of "mama Salone".

Reminding them of their role, the Tourism Minister explained that the entertainers are the actual teachers of society via entertainment.

The Hon. Minister listed many entertainment/tourism infrastructure being put in place currently. Prominent among them, she mentioned are developing a position paper to factor their issue in the subsequent budget, working on their (entertainers') regulatory framework to consolidate their status, marketing them and building their skills and capacity, developing the National Heritage Bill to establish some three major tourism infrastructural areas --- Arts Culture and Entertainment Commission, constructing a national theatre (the multi-purpose Arts Gallery at Aberdeen underway).

She concluded that though Government currently undergoes quite a number of challenges, she would like to advise them to form a ten-man committee that collaborates with the MTCA to meet with H.E. Rtd. Brigadier J.M.Bio on the said issue. She, however, reminded the audience on behalf of H.E. Bio that they should be thankful that such a revival is taking place now when she is the substantive Minister; reiterating that the New Direction would make sure they deliver on their promises to the masses.

Among the class of attendees were both the Permanent Secretary and Director of Tourism of MTCA, Mr. Raymond T. Gbetuwa & Mr. Mohamed Jalloh respectively; Acting GM, National Tourist Board, Fatmata Asagi; Mr. Ishmael A. Kamara, Senior Cultural Officer; a cross section of staff from the Ministry;Dr. Julius Spencer, CEO Premier Media Communications doubling as the Head of Media & Publicity of the opposition National Grand Grand Alliance (NGC) Political Party; Mr. Jimmy B., King Fisher, the Fourth Estate and representatives from the different entertainment groups that constitute larger part of the audience.