Freetown — In my continued search for former SLPP Ministers in the erstwhile government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, I have ended by locating the erstwhile Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr. Chernor Abdul Jalloh, who first served as Minister of Energy and Power in the same government.

First Time It was my first time to have met with Dr. Jalloh since I started practicing the noble profession of journalism. I covered a lot of parliamentary sessions when Dr. Jalloh was a Member of Parliament, but never had a tête-à-tête face-to-face discussion with him until recently when I booked an appointment to interview him on my serialized "Search for SLPP Ministers." Warm Reception The first time I met with Dr. Jalloh was so receptive that one would have though that we had known each other from time on. When he welcomed me to his office this week, the former Minister warmly hugged me and said: "Welcome my brother. It's a pleasure meeting you today for the first time after reading your articles in the papers for quite some time now." "Thank you 'Kotor' (big brother)", I replied.

President Koroma Praised Before the interview commenced, Dr. Jalloh said: "Let me congratulate you on your appointment as Press Attaché. For a Muslim to be posted to a Muslim State is very good. I honour President Koroma for that." "Thanks again Doc!" I said to him.

Like Dr. Sama Siama Banya, the former Fisheries Minister has now returned to his Medical Profession after a transient birth in partisan politics, though. He is currently working at the clinic of a renowned Freetown Gynecologist, Dr. M.B Daboh on 7 Wellington Street , Central Freetown .

Dr. Jalloh told me that as a physician, he deals with medical cases such as gastrointestinal diseases, cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, etc.

11 Years in Politics Dr. Jalloh entered politics in 1996, twelve years after he returned home from Germany where he acquired a Doctorate Degree (MD), after a Doctoral Dissertation on Human Placenta in Pathology at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, West Germany .

But who is this native born of Mateboi, Sanda Tenraren Chiefdom, Bombali District? On the completion of high school at the Government Secondary School for Boys in Magburaka, Dr. Jalloh said he proceeded to Rostovon-Don, the then USSR in 1969 where he started his medical studies.

From USSR to W/Germany Hear him again: "In 1972 I left for Walchensee , Bavaria in West Germany where I first entered a German Language school. After the Germans realized that I had an authority over their language, they admitted me at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg - West Germany in 1973." After completion in 1976, Dr. Jalloh said he was enrolled at the University of Frankfurt-West Germany and in 1980 he sat to state exams where he qualified in medicine.

He said in Germany , like other parts of the world, you can't practice without medical license. Therefore, between 1980 and 1981, Dr. Jalloh opted for Housemanship or internship in internal medicine, surgery as his major subject before he started practicing Obstetrics/Gynecology at the State Hospital , Eshwege - West Germany .

In 1983, he specialized in Internal Medicine. But with the penchant he has for bagging more qualifications, and shortly before his home coming, the erudite medical doctor added to his academic treasure a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Medical Parasitology (DTM + MP).

No Place like Home Back home, Dr. Jalloh chose to serve as Medical Officer at Connaught, Rotifunk and Kenema Government Hospitals between 1984 and 1995. When the political baton changed hands from the NPRC military junta to the democratically elected SLPP Government in 1996, Dr. Jalloh took a shot on partisan politics and became Member of Parliament for the controversial United National People's Party (UNPP) under the Proportional Representative (PR) System.

Vibrant Parliamentarian From 1996 to 2001, the shrewd politician cum Medical doctor became member of various parliamentary committees, including Health and Sanitation, Social Services, Gender and Children Affairs, House Committee and Public Accounts Committee.

Whilst in Parliament, Dr. Jalloh represented Sierra Leone in the 46th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cardiff - United Kingdom in 2000. In that conference, he presented papers at both plenary and panel sessions.

"Due to my successful performance in the UK conference, Dr. Jalloh said with smile, "I was asked again to represent Sierra Leone to the Second General Conference on Population and Development in Amman , Kingdom of Jordan in 2001." In that UNFPA sponsored conference organized by the Forum of African and Arab Parliamentarians, Dr. Jalloh said he tabled a Parliamentary motion for the establishment of a Standing Committee in Parliament on population matters.

Lome Accord I can still recall the aftermath of the signing of the Lome Peace Accord, when Dr. Jalloh had bitter arguments with his colleagues in the Chamber of Parliament, including the then leader of the House; the late Sewa Bockarie Marah, who eventually put out the fire. But was Dr. Jalloh initially opposed to the Lome Peace Accord that brought peace to Sierra Leone ? This is the one-million-dollar question I put to him. "I was not totally against it," Dr. Jalloh said. "Though it was a bitter pill to swallow, we had no choice, but accept the accord. But I emphasized in Parliament that the concession we made for peace was too much; taking into consideration the compensation given to Foday Sankoh and his perpetrators leaving the victims." He added: "Such type of concessions may encourage future upheavals because, they know at the end of their destruction they stand to benefit. But I later realized that for peace and tranquility to rein, you have to lose a lot of privileges." Like Dr. Jalloh, many Sierra Leoneans viewed the signing of the Lome Peace Accord and its attendant concessions and compensations as a pyrrhic victory.

First Ministerial Appointment His political career took a dramatic turn in 2001 when erstwhile President Kabbah used his prerogative to nominate him as Minister of Energy and Power where he judiciously served until the 2002 presidential and parliamentary elections that were conducted under the District Bloc System.

Shortly before the elections, Dr. Jalloh severed his political relationship with the dying UNPP, where he humbly served as its National Organizing Secretary, and pitched tents with the then ruling SLPP. But before he left UNPP, the party leader, Dr. John Karefa Smart, had dragged him and other MPs to court over a constitutional matter.

But what was the status of the Energy and Power sector when he was at the helm of affairs? Dr. Jalloh said: "Electricity was enough during my tenure. I got commendation from many quarters; football fans can testify that they watched the 2002 World Cup without electricity problem." He added: "I used to go to the field to see what was happening at the various power stations. When I was transferred to the Tourism and Culture Ministry, people grumbled a lot. It's unfortunate that we live in society that is forgetful." Bumbuna Was Dead What he did as an Energy Ministry towards the Bumbuna Project? Jalloh said: "Bumbuna was dead. I with the help of my professionals in the Ministry reactivated Bumbuna.

We went to Abidjan and held a fruitful meeting with the financiers of Bumbuna, African Development Bank (ADB) and the Italian Government where we presented our case on Bumbuna in particular and the energy sector in general." That meeting, he added, began the resuscitation of the Bumbuna Project. He said they held another meeting in Abidjan with the European Union and the World Bank. "I committed them to pour money into Bumbuna project." But at what stage or percentage Dr. Jalloh met Bumbuna and at what stage he handed it over to his successor, Mr. Emmanuel O. Grant? "I met Bumbuna at about 85% and left it at 95%." Afsatu Kabbah But what was his response to the praises the APC Government has been receiving from the public for the adequate power supply in most parts of Freetown, particularly when Haja Afsatu Kabbah, the current Energy and Power Minister, has said on some local radio stations that Bumbuna is 95% complete and that President Ernest Bai Koroma will soon launch the first phase of the project? Dr. Jalloh said: "Since the APC Government came to power, I would say with the greatest respect that, Afsatu Kabbah has not made any significant changes as far as Bumbuna is concerned. She is working with what she inherited." He believes that putting many resources in the power sector means depriving other badly needed areas. "You can't put all your resources in one basket and abandon health, food security, education, etc." On the contrary, though, many people believe that with the restoration of electricity in the city, investors have started coming in with investments to create more employments in a country with over 60% of unemployed youths. However, the former Energy Chief is not a subscriber to that view. "How sustainable is the current electricity," he queried, adding that "the investor will go away if electricity is not sustained".

People Disgusted With SLPP But why was the SLPP criticized for frequent blackout? Dr. Jalloh said: "Most of the people were disgusted with us. They thought a change of regime was the only way out. But I believe with the support of my professionals, HAB Fofanah and others we succeeded in the Ministry; so their criticisms were just out of hatred." Second Ministerial Job Between 2002 and 2005, Dr. Jalloh also served as Tourism and Culture Minister. But what did he do to improve the tourist industry? He said: "Though the war was over, Sierra Leone was still perceived to be a no-go area. But I tried to make Sierra Leone a tourist attractive country." Third Cabinet Job After the SLPP Makeni Convention in September 2005, former President Kabbah made a mini reshuffle thus prompting him to make a swap. Dr. Jalloh was transferred to the Fisheries and Marine Resources Ministry whilst the then substantive Minister, Mr. Okere Adams, became the Tourism and Culture Minister.

At the Fisheries Ministry, Dr. Jalloh said he inherited the Artisinal Fisheries Development Project and that the Sierra Leone Government and ADB were the financiers of the project. The project, he went on, helped low-scale fishermen through a micro-credit scheme.

For the Industrial fisheries, he said it was suspended due to some alleged financial malpractices, but was later resolved under his tenure, thus culminating in the lifting of the suspension by ADB.

Advice to New Minister Asked what advice he would like to give the current Fisheries Minister towards improving the fishing industry in the country, the former Minister said: "APC should try to construct a fishing harbour which will cost between 50 and 60 million dollars.

Asked about the importance of the fishing harbour, Dr. Jalloh said: "It helps prevent trans-shipment at the high seas and it ensures repairs, maintenance of fishing vessels thereby creating employment facilities." Commission of Inquiry Asked about the much talked about Commission of Inquiry set up by government to investigate former government officials; he said: "I have no fear about that. People were assuming that corruption was rife in my Ministry. That's very wrong".

He argued that the Director of Fisheries was responsible for the issuance of vessel licenses and they never took cash. "If you apply for a license and you are granted, you have to address a cross check to the account of Central Bank and, in fact, an NRA official was always there to monitor such transactions. So, everything was done in a transparent manner." Asked about if he had no regrets serving the nation for 11 years; Dr. Jalloh said: "No. I served my country diligently. I thank God and President Kabbah for giving me the opportunity to serve in three respective Ministries." SLPP Leadership Although he is 6 years old in the SLPP, I asked whether he intends going for any executive position in this year's SLPP Convention, such as the party leadership, he replied: "For now, I have no ambition for that. Leadership comes from God. My opinion for now is that, the leadership should be shelved. It's premature to talk about it now. This is a time to unite the party; from that point, the leadership should emerge." Message to APC About his message to the APC Government led by Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, Dr. Jalloh said: "As a brother and a long time friend, I want President Koroma to let the people know that he is indeed the President. He should be a firm president. Sierra Leoneans do not like a soft president." He added that the government should give priority to peace and security. The Army and Police, he said, should be embraced. "Massive sacking of SLPP and replacement of APC is very bad. Ernest is the President of Sierra Leone and not President of APC. He is my younger brother and I respect him and his Government", he concluded. In my next article, read opinions, comments, criticisms and commendation of readers.

The writer is the Press Attaché Designate to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia