9th October, 2013
Blunt and eloquent, Dr. Sarah Bendu heads an establishment that regulates the licensing of vehicles, drivers and the prescription of roads for passengers and goods. An engaging personality, she is set to reform the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority, SLRTA, into a modern entity worth emulating. She spoke with ABUBAKAR HASHIM on the challenges she is facing, her achievements so far and plans for the future
You have recorded some successes despite the enormous challenges you inherited when you assumed office. What are the policies you embarked upon?
The Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority became a reality in 1996 when it was established by an Act of Parliament to regulate and develop road transport industry in the country. We have a mandate to regulate, coordinate and promote efficiency within the road transport sector. These include licensing of vehicles, drivers and prescription of roads for passengers and goods.
I took up this job in October 2011. We immediately embarked on certain reforms. First is road safety, to match up with the UN global call to reduce by 50 per cent, road accidents by the year 2020. Our major challenge is that we don’t have statistics to be used as baseline to assess this trend. We therefore involve other agencies, like the police and the hospitals, to harmonise records to meet these challenges. The World Health Organisation had helped us develop the National Road Safety Policy and strategy in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.
The strategy was prepared in line with the five pillars of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. These include road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, road user behaviour and post-crash care. A robust system to address these challenges is needed. We presently lack facilities. We have only one fitness centre equipped with state-of-the-art equipment in the entire country.
A team of senior officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Nigeria was in Sierra Leone recently. An MoU was signed. Could you explain the outcome of the visit?
The FRSC came in to help. We want an image like the FRSC. We want a replica of the FRSC, where every vehicle and staff will be uniformed, for easy identity. I was in Nigeria very recently, to further strengthen this relationship. Another area of cooperation with the FRSC is capacity-building and training of staff. Our staff strength is concentrated in Freetown. Our presence is minimal in the provinces. We want to instil discipline in our staff, which should be reflected to the public.
We understand the FRSC team will be here again, soon. What measures are in place for a smooth working relationship?
We will make them feel at home. During their first visit, I took them around to all stakeholders, including the President and his deputy.
How does the future look for the SLRTA?
The future is bright. The SLRTA will become the most enviable in the country, to be emulated by other institutions. We have the benefit of the political will of the President. He is steadfast and focused.