RSLAF

TURNING OF SOD CEREMONY FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HOCKEY PITCH AT WILBERFORCE BARRACKS

On Tuesday 7th November 2023, Mr MB Daboh Director General Ministry of Defence, welcomed all members present on turning of Sod Ceremony for the reconstruction of the Hockey Pitch at the Wilberforce Barracks. He remarked that they are there to translate the vision of His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the RSLAF in transforming the entire area into a state of the art. He said the total cost for the project is Thirty Million new Leones (NLe 30 million) and will be executed in phases starting with pitch, followed by the pavilions and ablution facilities to be undertaken by the Armed Forces Engineering Regiment. The Hockey Pitch project is expected to end by the first week in February 2024 and will be put in to use at the next Armed Forces Day Celebrations on 18th February 2024, he concluded.

Lt Gen PK Lavahun CDS-RSLAF making a Brig Gen AB Conteh ACDS Trg/Doc

statement. delivering the Vote of Thanks.

In his submission during the Ceremony, the Chief of Defence Staff- RSLAF Lieutenant General Peter K Lavahun asserted that the Hockey Pitch is the main parade grounds dedicated to military drills, parades and public ceremonies. However, for nearly fifteen years, the sacred ground has not been merited it eminence as the main parade ground for the Armed Forces. He also pointed out that the Senior Management of the Ministry of Defence resolved on a self-help project to reconstruct the Hockey Pitch as an honour to the RSLAF and in alignment with Government of Sierra Leone infrastructural development. He acknowledged Government’s investment in new facilities recently constructed across the RSLAF including the newly constructed Warrant Officers Mess at the Wilberforce Barracks. He further expressed his deep appreciation on behalf of RSLAF to His Excellency the President and Commander- in-Chief of the RSLAF.
The Deputy Minister of Defence Col (Rtd) BM Massaquoi in his statement affirmed that the project was conceptualized by the Senior Management of the MoD/RSLAF. The implementation phase is undertaken by RSLAF Engineers Regiment using equipment acquired by the Government of Sierra Leone. He recalled that the Hockey Pitch had a long and interesting relationship with the RSLAF. During the Colonial Era, the Pitch was used as a recreational center for Service Personnel and their families and now to its current state as parade ground. Since the departure of the British Forces in the country, the game of hockey ceased to play due to it unpopularity which led to the transformation of the pitch to parades and ceremonial functions he explained.

Deputy Minister of Defence Turns the Sod Minister of Labour and Social Security

. Turns the Sod.

In his key note address, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Mr Abdul Raman Swarray Representative of His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the RSLAF Brigadier General Dr Julius Maada Bio, expressed that the new Warrant Officers’ Mess stands as a testament of His Excellency’s unwavering commitment to cater for the dire needs of Service Men and Women who on a daily bases compromised personal comfort and safety to safeguard the country. He assured all RSLAF Personnel that they will continue to cater for the wellbeing of Soldiers in order to boost their morale for the security of the nation. He pointed out that since they took over the mantle of leadership the country has witnessed a steady and sustained development of military infrastructure that includes the (6) state of the art Forward Patrol Bases, the Myohaung Officers Mess, Warrant Officers and Sergeant Mess, the acquisition of construction equipment and massive construction projects ongoing at the 34 military hospital by courtesy of the First Lady, he concluded.

Distinguished Invited Guests

Credit:
Directorate of Public Relations and Information
Ministry of Defence
Tower hill
Freetown

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

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