Freetown — Presidential nominee for the post of finance minister in the latest cabinet reshuffle, and former governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, has dismissed claims that he was demoted.

Dr. Samura Kamara, who was answering questions Wednesday from members of the committee on appointment at the parliament building on Tower Hill, said he could not make an assessment of the appointment given to him by the president.

He said that the two institutions, finance ministry and central bank, share the same responsibilities because they work together.

He said Sierra Leone was not the only country to contend with the current economic slowdown; adding 2009 and beyond would be difficult years for other countries that depend on donor funds.

He was cautioned by one of the members that he should state on his declaration form the value of his assets that he has earlier entered in the ACC form.

Dr. Dennis Sandy, nominee for the ministry of country planning and the environment said with God all things are possible, citing Proverbs 16:16.

If approved, he said one of his tasks would be to prepare a review of the current act and identify state lands and private lands within the country.

He was also asked on what he makes of such problems affecting the country's water system with people building houses around the catchments and watershed areas.

The presidential nominee further disclosed that the people would be sensitizing them on the importance of taking care of the environment.

Other presidential nominees who faced the committee included Sylvester Osmond Hanciles for deputy minister of transport and aviation; Sylvester Goba deputy minister of lands, country planning and the environment; deputy minister of agriculture Novel Thomas; Moijueh Kaikai, for the position of deputy minister labour and industrial relations; minister of energy and power Prof. Ogunade Davidson were also interviewed.