Monday 22nd April
Up early on computer. Again internet doesn’t work. It is such a challenge communicating here as regularly things break down. Terry had another UK internet version which meant I could get things off. Breakfast and off to see Major Moses and set up meetings with Surveyors.
Yesterday we agreed to meet at 9am but the major actually had a meeting so came at 10am. He knew that all along but because he wanted to please us and we had asked if we could come for 9am so he agreed. He eventually arrived at 10.15! He was quite distressed because he was suggesting his family’s request for an extra 2 million Leones before the surveyor comes on the land was a surprise. We told him of a donor of 1 million which relieved him greatly.
Then on to the Sierra Leone Housing Corporation and met Magnus, an Anglican chorister who is at its head. He told me about their work. They have a mandate to manage low cost housing and have 2 sets of stock – 60 villas which pay massive amounts per month, but with whom they have constant battles trying to collect rent. Indeed ministers occupy properties and fail to pay their rent! However, this largely funds them. They have people whose job is to patrol the area and whenever any informal settlement is attempted they get it knocked down as land encroachment is everywhere.
In addition they have 600 units built about 30 years ago which have all been moved to mortgages, so soon they will not have any left. They have no money to build homes, and indeed only 20 low cost homes have actually been built in Freetown in the last 20 years! They, like NGOs have asked the Ministry of Lands for land but not had any allocated after years of waiting. In theory they would then look for partners to build homes on a commercial basis.
Funnily enough the National Security Trust (which collect tax) has a large amount of money to invest. They have independently built some “low cost housing” they call it but with each unit retailing at $50,000 it’s not really low cost!
Magnus could not be more helpful but it is a sad fact that even in the branch of government set up for dealing with housing, there does not appear to be one initiative in place.
Then met with Heleen of the City of Rest and bought lunch (of cassava leaves and rice) in the YMCA building. Wonderful to see her and what a remarkable job she has done to get the building ready for occupation. It has been empty for a year after we finished it as the original founder will not let go, notwithstanding his loss of memory. Heleen hasn’t wanted to push the move, making it in their time but thinks it is now imminent. In our culture we press the agenda, here there is a patience I am not sure I could master. Left a suitcase of clothes and delivered books on the 12 step approach by alcholics anonymous. Again to b with Heleen who has truly laid down her life for others here, despite huge frustrations, is inspiring.
Then met, Francis, the YMCA leader and a recipient of one third of the Comic relief £5 million coming here. They have applied for 2.5 acres of land at Grafton as a Spanish charity has given them $2,000 per house to build10 low cost homes. Unfortunately, the plans he has drawn up suggest spending $10,000 per house so as the Ministry of Lands has not responded and the house costs too much the project has stalled. They could be very interesting partners with whom to pursue a discussion. Francis agreed to e mail me the plans and bill of materials for his house design.
We then went to see Samuel and Badamassie at a firm of surveyors. They noted a few very helpful things. That 40 acres could not be put in a foreigners name, so the INGO has to come first. That the Ministry of Lands had not signed a single land conveyance since the new Minister took office in January so the backlog was enormous. That actually the government owns all the land in the western area, so unless Moses family has a clear paper with the advance notice on it, they cannot sell us the land as they don’t own it. They also had some enormous price to survey the land.
We then went to the Ministry of Lands to see if we could find who owns the land in the public record. This of course is not available. The people there were so helpful and suggested we come and see the Deputy minister at 8.30 in the morning.
Then returned to the hotel for a game of scrabble with Terry (I got 63 on the first go which sort of finished the game) Staple hotel meal of chicken and chips and bed.