President Ernest Bai Korma has over the weekend declared that the lowering of the stop-logs and the closing of the left tunnel at the Bumbuna Hydro project site was the beginning of the end of the longest hydro project in human history. The President was delighted that experts have certified the design and construction of the dam as in keeping with international standards. "We can say that it is safe and we have every reason to believe we can proceed from this point to its completion", he said. He assured that by the end of this year, the country would be receiving light from Bumbuna.

He revealed that government would award the contract of running the hydro project to a company in accordance with internationally accepted standards. He appealed to all, including the present contractors and workers, to give the final push for the completion of the project.

The President seized the opportunity to appeal to the local people to be vigilant in safeguarding the site’s equipment from thieves. He asked them to form vigilante groups for this purpose.

The President thanked the donor partners, including DFID, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank "who came to our rescue when the appeal was made for the funds to complete the project." He also thanked the contractors (Salcost) who he said "have had enough of Bumbuna" and should look for other projects to work on in the country. The President said, "Today we are lowering the stop-logs and closing the left tunnel. From this moment, the circumstances of the project will change, Bumbuna will change, and we are entering the point of no return. From this moment, we will be assured that Bumbuna is indeed a reality" The President was with the firm belief that he will have the support of the partners in launching the second phase of the project. He said he wouldn’t want to give himself a breather "until we are in a position of getting 100 megawatts for the country."

The President and entourage visited he site for the occasion on Saturday 29^th March 2008.

Meanwhile, the President was today Grand Chief Patron at the 30^th Annual General Meeting & Educational Conference of the West African Insurance Companies Associates (WAICA) with the theme "The Relevance And Role Of WAICA In The Economic Development And Integration Of West Africa".

Giving the keynote address, the President said as former President of WAICA and a product of the insurance industry, he was having fond memories as he was seeing dear friends, colleagues and lecturers from the sub-region. The President appealed to the insurers to face the challenges of improving the lot of West Africans by creating mergers and mega companies, designing and developing new products to reflect the changing environment, and to help bring the informal sector into the mainstream financial sector. Closing, the President said, "Be assured that you have not lost me. You can always be guaranteed of my personal support. I am still very much a member of WAICA," to a standing ovation.

The President also officially launched the organization’s journal, which carries his citation as ‘Personality Profile’ on page 8.

Also today, President Ernest Bai Koroma made the following appointments:

1. MR. JACOB S. KANU, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY AND

INSURANCE TRUST (NASSIT)

2. MR. ALPHA KHOLIFA KOROMA, CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER

3. MR. WILFRED SAM-KING, CHAIRMAN, SIERRA LEONE INSURANCE

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