Bala Amarasekaran, Director, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Bathurst village in the Western area Rural District, has said in an interview that he is optimistic that the famous chimp Sanctuary will benefit from the recent electricity supply at Bathurst village.
The Programme Manager was speaking from his sanctuary office on Thursday September 3,2020, when visited by this medium to ascertain the possibility of his sanctuary home benefitting from government’s electricity facility provided for Bathurst village, where the famous chimp Sanctuary is located.
“I am very happy with the present provision of electricity in the village which I hope will soon reach my location,” he said, adding that electricity has been a major constraint in the animal home. He is just coping with mini solar panels and a small generator that can’t supply the much needed power the home needs.
He said the road leading to the sanctuary needs constant lights because it is covered with trees that make it looks dark even in the evening.
“We are looking forward to develop the home to advanced status which can’t be possible without efficient power supply,” he noted, adding that the advancement of the home will positively affect the Tourism Industry in the country.
“It will provide employment for Bathurst community and bring income to the country thereby adding monumental value to the centuries old Bathurst settlement,” he said.
Amarasekaran expressed gratitude to government through the Ministry of Works for its recent maintenance on the main feeder road that leads to the Chimpanzee sanctuary.
“The road was very deplorable three months ago, and had it not been for the timely help of the Ministry of Works, by now vehicle could not have been plying it,” he disclosed. He added that the Ministry of Works has promised to upgrade it to a trunk road.
The Sanctuary is a home for rescued Chimpanzees which is now declared as Sierra Leone ‘s National Animal and face of Tourism. Such renowned destination must benefit from the government’s development drive. It’s a landmark every Sierra Leonean should be proud of.
By Isaac Unisa Kamara
07/09/2020 ISSUE NO: 7903