KINDLY SEE BANK OF SIERRA LEONE EXCHANGE RATES BETWEEN 1986 AND 1991 FOR A GUIDE

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FINAL REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE JUSTICE LYNTON NYLANDER COMMISSION OF INQUIRY AND THE GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER THEREON

2. The assets of SALHOC consist of 685 units buildings of the Kissy Low Cost Estate; 60 villas at the OAU village, the Barcadi Complex and quite recently 218 housing units at Goderich. In addition the Corporation owns 15.5 acres of land at Juba, south of Kabassa Lodge, facing Regent Road, Lumley. The acquisition of this land is in anticipation of future development.

4. SALHOC also owns land at Goderich just after Milton Margai Teachers College and measuring 57.114 acres.

6.....one bedroom rent at Kissy Low Cost unit was Le10.00 per month.
One bedroom and a parlour is Le16.00.
Two bedrooms and parlour were Le22.00;
three bedrooms and a parlour were Le28.00;
two bedrooms flat with water closet were Le38.00 per month;
three bedrooms semi-detached were Le44.00;
three bedrooms detached with water closet cost Le50.00
and three bedrooms semi-detached brick unit with water closet - Le80.00.

7.....rents were last reviewed in 1983. He explained that the reviewing of rents was within the province of the Department of Housing.....Three years ago, he recommended a 100% increase in rents but this was never quite implemented....when he attempted to effect the increases, the then Minister who was also Vice President asked for his resignation and reversed the increase in rents.

23....told the Commission that though the Kissy Low Cost units were meant for the low income bracket of workers, in quite a substantial minority of cases some middle and upper bracket range of people do rent these units. Some actually live in these houses, while others are absentee tenants. It is hoped that flagrant abuse of these houses will be controlled to the minimum.

26......the Corporation holds an account at Sierra Leone Commercial Bank which stood at Le13,242,987.64 in December 1991. All rents from the OAU villas are paid into this account. The Corporation also operates an account at the Bank of Sierra Leone. The amount held is about Le50,000,000.00

28. ...disclosed that sometimes the General Manager signs blank cheques before leaving the country. The Commission feels this is a very dangerous practice, and must be stopped forthwith. It is an irregularity to sign blank cheques, particularly when it comes to Company matters.

29....The Company Accountant tendered in evidence Exhibit 5A to 5G. On the 1st of July 1991 there is a transaction for Le1,298,375.00 and another on the same date for Le1,691,508.25. He however could not tell the Commission what these monies were expended for.....

THE NPRC GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER

2. Paras. 5 and 41:- RE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOUSING ALLOCATION

The National Provisional Ruling Council notes the Commission's report that allocation of houses in the Kissy Housing Estate is done by the Department of Lands, Housing and the Environment; that though these houses were meant for low income earners, there are some occupants who do not fall within that category.

The National Provisional Ruling Council directs that with immediate effect the responsibility of allocating houses at Kissy Housing Estate should be the responsibility of SALHOC; that urgent steps be taken to evict all those tenants whose economic circumstances make them ineligible to occupy houses in the Kissy Housing Estate; that the Secretary of State for Lands, Housing and the Environment should carry out an investigation into the system of tenancy and administration of the Kissy Lowcost Housing Estate and report thereon to the National Provisional Ruling Council within two weeks following the publication of this White Paper.

3. Paras. 6-9:- RE RENT ASSESSMENTS

The National Provisional Ruling Council commends the prompt action by the Commission to ensure that defaulting tenants at the OAU Village pay up their rent arrears.

5. Para 13:- RE LEASE OF BACARDI INTERNATIONAL CLUB

The National Provisional Ruling Council notes the report by the Commission that in 1983 the Bacardi International Club was leased to....for an annual rent of Le25,000.00; that he...had in fact been paying only Le20,000.00; that the lease should run for 25 years, with a rent review every 5 years; that.....had since reassigned the lease with a rental value of about 200% more that the original rent.

The National Provisional Ruling Council deprecates the rather unwholesome arrangement surrounding the lease of the Bacardi Complex, and the fact that even though the quantum of annual lease agreed upon was ridiculously small, yet .....has not been honest enough to even pay the amount agreed upon that such an action constitutes a breach on....side; that in view of this breach, the The National Provisional Ruling Council directs that action should be taken for the immediate forfeiture of the Lease; that any future tenancy of the Bacardi Complex should be by Public Tender; that .....should pay all outstanding rents owed plus interest at the then prevailing bank rate not later than Friday, 30th April, 1993.

8. Para 29:-

The National Provisional Ruling Council notes the report by the Commission that.......the Company's Accountant, when questioned, could not account for two expenditures of Le1,296,375 and Le1,691,508.25 incurred on 1st July, 1991.

The National Provisional Ruling Council is of the view that......performance as Company Accountant should be seriously called into question regarding the unexplained expenditure totalling Le2,989,883.25; that .......continued service with the Corporation will serve no useful purpose.

The National Provisional Ruling Council directs that......should be ordered to refund the amount of Le2,989,883.25; that....should be dismissed.

12. Para. 39:- RE REGULAR INSPECTION OF PREMISES

The National Provisional Ruling Council accepts the recommendation of the Commission that "Regular inspection by the maintenance team must be made to identify if the residences are being handled, in which events remedial measures will be embarked on".

18. Para 47:- RE PERIODIC INSPECTIONS BY SUPERVISING DEPARTMENT

The National Provisional Ruling Council notes the recommendations of the Commission that "The Supervisory Ministry/Department shall conduct spot checks physically on tenants at least once a year at short notice to SALHOC. By so doing the chances of tenants paying certain sums of monies to SALHOC officials unofficially for unlawful continuation of their tenancy will be greatly reduced".