BREWERY HOLDS TOP SORGHUM WORKSHOP WITH VISITORS & TOP SORGHUM FARMERS IN KAMBIA DISTRICT

Brewery Holds Top Sorghum Workshop with Visitors & Top Sorghum Farmers in Kambia District

By Ranger

The Sierra Leone Brewery Ltd. (SLBL) on Thursday, 8th December, 2016 successfully hosted and concluded a massive event in Kambia District, northern Sierra Leone.

The event took the form of a well-attended workshop with top sorghum farmers in Sierra Leone at the Rokupr Community Center in Kambia Town, Kambia District northern Sierra Leone.

After formal introductions were made, the team which comprised of visitors Paul Stanger, Director of Local Sourcing AMEE (African Middle east and Eastern Europe) Heineken International, Niels Hanssens, Deputy Executive Director EUCORD (European Cooperation for Rural Development), Wendela Huisman, Policy Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands together with Dr. Dennis Taylor, SLARI (Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute), Mr. Denis Jusu, President Sorghum Farmers Association Sierra Leone, Mr. Albert Ojo Collier, Corporate Relations Manager, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL), Maria Singco, Sorghum Purchasing Manager (SLBL), Mr Unisa Conteh, Corporate Relations Assistant, SLBL and Councilor Bai Sama Bangura of Ward 119, Rokupr, Kambia District were taken on a conducted tour at a SLARI demonstration farm where the visitors spoke with the farmers and took interviews with the local media.

Speaking to Mr. Paul Stanger and Dr. Dennis Taylor, they maintained that sorghum is a dry land crop which matures early. They added however that at times the crop germinates wrongly due to humidity and that for some varieties of sorghum, it takes longer for them to mature. Dr. Dennis Taylor added that SLARI is experimenting with sorghum varieties which are well adapted to the rains and to see how acceptable farmers can cultivate sorghum off season as they do with maize and other crops.

Mr. Paul Stanger said that an exotic variety of sorghum which is harvested in Nigeria and Burundi could be good for Sierra Leone, while Dr. Dennis Taylor mentioned that the sorghum variety used in Sierra Leone came originally from Nigeria.

Mr. Paul Stanger went on to say that he is part of the team to Sierra Leone because Sierra Leone is important to them. He added that he is happy to see that the Brewery is doing well and that it is using more locally produced sorghum which in turn is boosting the economy of the country as making sorghum farmers wealthy. He commended the Sierra Leone Government for changing the legislation to be in favor of local production, adding that he is also happy that government policies and reduction tax is very encouraging both for the Brewery and for farmers to find better varieties of sorghum to increase yields.

He further said that the project initiated by The Netherlands government in conjunction with SLBL and EUCORD for the growth of sorghum ends in 2019. He added that he is optimistic that by then sorghum farmers would have greatly increased their yield and would have been able to be independent. He maintained however that the current volume of sorghum being produced in the country is very encouraging, adding that the farmers should be looking at ways they can better access the market as well as organize themselves better for their overall development.                                              
Niels Hanssens, Deputy Executive Director EUCORD, added that "EUCORD are ready to collaborate and support until 2019".                                                        
In her contribution, Wendela Huisman, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands said that the Netherlands is happy to cooperate with Heineken and EUCORD in improving the livelihoods and food security of the sorghum farmers and their families and communities. She added that the Dutch government has decided earlier this year to extend the project to the end of 2019 and to make extra budget available in order to support the communities in their recovery from the tragic Ebola period. She maintained that at the end of the project the aim is for farmers to be able to work independently with commercial buyers such as the brewery in a way that is sustainable for them and their communities.

Dr. Dennis Taylor from SLARI added that “we have not actually completed analysis, but what we have seen with the locals in the present variety is tends to have superior yields and they would see how it does across Sierra Leone before we could make any recommendation." He added that when they do evaluation they would know what to recommend.

After the team returned to the hall, it was the turn of Councilor Bai Sama Bangura of Ward 119, Rokupr, Kambia District. He thanked the visitors for their support and prayed for their safe return. He encouraged them to continue to assist the SLBL and also encouraged sorghum farmers across the country not to relent but to do more.

In his message of thanks and appreciation, Mr. Albert Ojo Collier, Corporate Relations Manager, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) commended the visiting team for their support to Brewery over the years. He stated that when it comes to Brewery, it is about the entire country, adding that it is very beneficial for both the farmers and the country as a whole to invest massively in growing the best sorghum and coming forward with the best yields. He reminded his audience that the government has put in place laws with encourages local content and therefore encouraged the farmers to continue growing large quantities of sorghum, adding that the more sorghum they grow the better. He also commended SLARI for its scientific intervention at improving sorghum variety which has led to greater yields.

The session climaxed with a question and answer session from the farmers to the visiting team and refreshments followed.

 

 

STAR 60cl BIG BOSS LAUNCHED

Star 60cl Big Boss Launched

By Ranger

Minister of Trade and Industry, Capt. Momodu Alieu Pat Sowe on Friday 2nd December, 2016 launched the new Star Big Boss 60cl bottle.

The auspicious occasion took place at Bintumani Conference Hall, Aberdeen in Freetown. Hundreds of guests drawn from all walks of life were present.

Speaking at the occasion, Capt. Momodu Alieu Pat Sowe described the launchers Sierra Leone Brewery Company Ltd. as very innovative and progressive while contributing to national development. He maintained that when the Local Content Policy was launched by President Koroma he did not delay in supporting the Brewery, adding that the company is important because it is supporting local sorghum farmers. He said he is satisfied that the government has satisfied the general public by way on supporting companies like the SLBL that are boosting local produce and farmers.

He recalled that when all companies were running away the Brewery stood firm and did not leave but persevered through thick and thin. He used the opportunity to call on Sierra Leoneans to come together for the overall development of Sierra Leone and support the Brewery. He said he is honored to have been chosen to do the launching.

Informing his audience about the Brewery’s initiative, the SLBL Managing Director, Willy M.A. Ngana said “Sierra Leone Brewery’s Innovation Agenda is developed to embrace the government’s local content policy. As a result, locally sourced sorghum grains are being used in the production processes of our brands, which are brewed to international standards, including this new innovation that we are launching – the Star 60cl.

According to him, the use of sorghum is not only beneficial to the Brewery but it has helped sorghum farmers in all regions across the country to compete against imported grains, thus stimulating local enterprises, creating thousands of jobs for the local population and increasing smallholder farmers’ incomes significantly, as well as contributing to poverty alleviation.

The SLBL Marketing Manager, Desmond George in his brief statement, told his audience that the Star lager 60cl is a sparkling beverage which is delightful to the drinker and went ahead to give a historical background of Star in Sierra Leone, adding that Star is celebrated across Sierra Leone and that there is hardly any occasion at which Star beer is not served. He reiterated that the Brewery is committed to excellence and that its products are of international standard made from the finest quality of hops and sorghum, naturally brewed with 100% grains, he said, which means it has no added sugar, adding that the new Star 60cl will make Brewery and Sierra Leone as a whole to shine on. He reassured Brewery customers of total satisfaction and that similar launch of Star 60cl would be done across the regions in due course.

“The price for Star 60cl crate of 12 bottles is Le75,000 (seventy five thousand Leones) and Le8,000 (eight thousand Leones) per bottle and that it is available in shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars and clubs across the country,” he said.

The unveiling and sampling of the new Star beer 60cl then took place, followed by a photo session, musical performance by Ackman and Dallas Bantan. Refreshments formed the high point of the event.

 

 

 

 

BREWERY PRE-LAUNCHES NEW STAR 60CL

Brewery Pre-Launches New Big Bottle Star Beer

By Ranger

Sierra Leone Brewery Limited on Wednesday November 30, 2016 launched its new big 60 centiliter bottle naturally brewed 100% grain Star beer.

The ceremony took place at the company’s Wellington Industrial Estate headquarters. In a brief speech, the SLBL Marketing Manager, Desmond George, said that for 54 years brewery had been using the old Star beer bottle.

“Today we are launching the ‘Big Boss’ star beer bottle as we are sharing the brighter life to shine on,” he said. He disclosed that the new bottle star beer was here two years ago but the Ebola outbreak delayed its unveiling. Thus, he said, “Today is a remarkable day for the Sierra Leone Brewery and a big applause.”

The new 60cl Star beer he said will be sold at Le75, 000 per carton and retailed at Le8, 000 per bottle.

In his speech, SLBL Managing Director Alphonse Willy Ngana, thanked the supply chain management and team for the innovation and the consumers. “We can change the market,” he said, adding, “We define the strategies and we need the support.”

On the brewery’s capacity to keep innovating, he said, “We are here to demonstrate that we are young.”

Naturally brewed with 100% grain he said means it has no added sugar. “The boss is presenting value for money, adding that according to the 2017 budget, this is the year for progress.

He recalled that the government had said that brewery should not create scarcity in the market. “We are here to deliver and support the market,” he assured. He thanked everybody for the good work. 

After the MD’s speech, the unveiling and sampling of the new Star beer took place. This was followed by a photo session and a musical performance by Dallas Bantan and refreshment.

IN CORRECTING MISLEADING INFORMATION IN THE MEDIA

PEC APOLOGIZES TO MINISTER OF ENERGY.

The Minister of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley has given audience to the head of PEC Sierra Leone, Mr. Malador Sowe, his executive and Media friends who streamed into the office of the Minister to tender their apology for the current misinformation being published by certain media houses regarding the six months pilot contract between EDSA and PEC Sierra Leone

The Minister, who was very calm but curious to hear from the guests, quickly invited his Deputy Minister, Ing. Alhaji Hassan Barrie, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Zainab Buya-Kamara and the Counterpart Director General of EDSA, Ing. Alhaji Timbo to be part of the gathering.

The CEO of PEC, Mr. Malador Sowe in a state of remorse said; ‘Mr. Minister we are very sorry for the misleading information and allegations levied against you on the issue’. He went on to   expose the unprofessionalism of some media houses when he said; ‘I did not grant interview that they could not have investigated. They just grasped the opportunity to write things based on what they heard’, he stated. The journalists who were also part of Mr. Malador’s delegation, also tendered their apologies to the Minister for the bad press that he received over the said pilot contract.

Commenting on the issue, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Mrs. Buya- kamara stated that the Ministry of Energy is for everybody and that young Sierra Leoneans like Mr. Malador Sowe and colleagues are highly encouraged under the local content policy but must not misuse the opportunity. In an angry mood, the PS continued that the unguided publications and misinformation from various media houses were just used to smear the Minister’s good image. That kind of practice she said is unprofessional. She reminded the PEC CEO that it was this same Minister who took PEC’s proposal to the Board of Directors of EDSA and made a recommendation for them to help young Sierra Leoneans to invest in the energy sector.

Deputy Minister, Hassan Barrie stated that he was shocked by the behavior of PEC and their media friends who could not even ask for the Ministry’s side of the story. He lamented that young investors must have respect for others especially senior public officials in the country.

In his reaction, the humble Minister said he started building his reputation as far back as the 80s and some people are trying to damage it now. He stated in no uncertain terms that the misinformation given to the media must be corrected by the PEC CEO. He said; “the repairs should be done by the same media houses,” adding that the extent to which the misinformation is corrected, will determine whether the apology was genuine or not.

PEC CEO, Mr. Malador Sowe gave assurance that his media friends will try as hard as possible to clean the image of the Minister. He said; “Mr. Minister, for the fact that you felt disrespected, I will do all I can alongside my media friends who published allegations against you during the past three weeks, to clean up your image. It is a promise that we are going to do retractions by whatever means Mr. Minister’, he ended.

IS PEC A LOCAL COMPANY IN S/L?

ACC SHOULD INVESTIGATE PEC...

AS THEY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

By Ranger

It is now crystal clear, that PEC is misleading the public to gather public sympathy to continue it bad and unviable contract with EDSA to wreck the energy sector and the government as a whole.

Let me first and foremost set the record straight on the GST which PEC now claims to have cascading effects on the customers.

Firstly, let me state that GST is a law passed by parliament, so how can PEC meters affect it. This is not only consider as a public incitement but also a ploy to prevent the public to comply to GST law.

Secondly, it is also evident that EDSA has lost huge sum of money with PEC, because the lost customers activity due to it inability to charge, poor customer service etc and besides EDSA could not know what was being consumed apart from what PEC told them.

This is where the real fraud was taking place that needs ACC investigation. In a nutshell, it seems PEC is trying to get EDSA to do something illegal, by operating a contract that has expired which is pure dishonesty.       
                                     
Let me also hasten to inform the general public that, the meters that PEC illegally removed were also installed by an indigenous Sierra Leonean company that has successfully installed over 20,000 meters. This shows that EDSA does encourage Local content, but does not condone dishonesty and compromise national progress for the sake of selfish private interests.    
                                            
Following the failure of PEC to answer to the questions asked by the general public in relation to its contractual agreement with EDSA that has tendency to rip off the country of it much needed revenue, the general public is now calling on the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate PEC on it numerous queries raised.

Below are the following questions PEC continues to dodge that need the attention of the President as the country is certainly be on a time bomb if PEC Contract is renewed without adequately answering to these questions;

The public still demand answers to these following questions:

1. Is it true that EDSA does not have accessed to PEC’s system for monitoring and supervision purposes, and could this be one of the reasons why EDSA decided to terminate its contract with PEC?.

2. Is it true that PEC Smart meters are not compatible with the ones installed by EDSA?

3. Is it true that in installing their Smart meters, PEC removed EDSA meters that were already installed without noticing EDSA and without EDSA’s permission, thereby constituting an offence to remove government property? PEC could favour us with the written permission for EDSA to this effect.

4. Is it true that the PEC contract was limited to only the six months pilot project?

5. Is it true that PEC was collecting a whopping 10 percent commission from the bills it collected, while others were collecting 3%?

6. Is it true that EDSA had no access to the transactions done by PEC? If so, is it not a violation of the disclosure agreement reached by PEC with EDSA?

7. Is it true that costumers were complaining that, they were paying and not getting service on time?

8. Is it true that PEC on its own selected areas to install their Smart meters?

9.  Is it true that after the contract expired in June 2016, the meters installed by PEC became the property of EDSA?

10. Most importantly, did PEC receive authorization from EDSA to install their meters? If so, can they produce original documents from EDSA?

These and yet more questions are of great interest to the general public and deserve answers.

As a result of that the are now calling on the ACC to frog match PEC officials to the commission to answer to these following questions and also investigate why PEC being a local contractor which has benefited from the Local Content Policy is collecting 10% commission of it total sales, while past foreign contractors were collecting 3% of their total sales.

This exorbitant commission collected by PEC, they said has some elements of corruption and kick backs, and therefore needs immediate investigation as they had betrayed the Local Content Policy and portrays bad image about the government.

It will interest the general public to know that the much trumpeted 2 billion Leones collected by PEC, PEC has benefited a whopping 200 million Leones from the said amount which constitute 10%.

Consequently, one would want to wonder why PEC is still behaving like a nuisance?

See next edition

PEC IN HOT WATER!

ACC SHOULD INVESTIGATE PEC...

AS THEY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

By Ranger

It is now crystal clear, that PEC is misleading the public to gather public sympathy to continue it bad and unviable contract with EDSA to wreck the energy sector and the government as a whole.

Let me first and foremost set the record straight on the GST which PEC now claims to have cascading effects on the customers.

Firstly, let me state that GST is a law passed by parliament, so how can PEC meters affect it. This is not only consider as a public incitement but also a ploy to prevent the public to comply to GST law.

Secondly, it is also evident that EDSA has lost huge sum of money with PEC, because the lost customers activity due to it inability to charge, poor customer service etc and besides EDSA could not know what was being consumed apart from what PEC told them.

This is where the real fraud was taking place that needs ACC investigation. In a nutshell, it seems PEC is trying to get EDSA to do something illegal, by operating a contract that has expired which is pure dishonesty.                                             
Let me also hasten to inform the general public that, the meters that PEC illegally removed were also installed by an indigenous Sierra Leonean company that has successfully installed over 20,000 meters. This shows that EDSA does encourage Local content, but does not condone dishonesty and compromise national progress for the sake of selfish private interests.                                                 
Following the failure of PEC to answer to the questions asked by the general public in relation to its contractual agreement with EDSA that has tendency to rip off the country of it much needed revenue, the general public is now calling on the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate PEC on it numerous queries raised.

Below are the following questions PEC continues to dodge that need the attention of the President as the country is certainly be on a time bomb if PEC Contract is renewed without adequately answering to these questions;

The public still demand answers to these following questions:

1. Is it true that EDSA does not have accessed to PEC’s system for monitoring and supervision purposes, and could this be one of the reasons why EDSA decided to terminate its contract with PEC?.

2. Is it true that PEC Smart meters are not compatible with the ones installed by EDSA?

3. Is it true that in installing their Smart meters, PEC removed EDSA meters that were already installed without noticing EDSA and without EDSA’s permission, thereby constituting an offence to remove government property? PEC could favour us with the written permission for EDSA to this effect.

4. Is it true that the PEC contract was limited to only the six months pilot project?

5. Is it true that PEC was collecting a whopping 10 percent commission from the bills it collected, while others were collecting 3%?

6. Is it true that EDSA had no access to the transactions done by PEC? If so, is it not a violation of the disclosure agreement reached by PEC with EDSA?

7. Is it true that costumers were complaining that, they were paying and not getting service on time?

8. Is it true that PEC on its own selected areas to install their Smart meters?

9. Is it true that after the contract expired in June 2016, the meters installed by PEC became the property of EDSA?

10. Most importantly, did PEC receive authorization from EDSA to install their meters? If so, can they produce original documents from EDSA?

These and yet more questions are of great interest to the general public and deserve answers.

As a result of that the are now calling on the ACC to frog match PEC officials to the commission to answer to these following questions and also investigate why PEC being a local contractor which has benefited from the Local Content Policy is collecting 10% commission of it total sales, while past foreign contractors were collecting 3% of their total sales.

This exorbitant commission collected by PEC, they said has some elements of corruption and kick backs, and therefore needs immediate investigation as they had betrayed the Local Content Policy and portrays bad image about the government.

It will interest the general public to know that the much trumpeted 2 billion Leones collected by PEC, PEC has benefited a whopping 200 million Leones from the said amount which constitute 10%.

Consequently, one would want to wonder why PEC is still behaving like a nuisance?

See next edition

SIERRA LEONE BREWERY CLEARS THE AIR

Brewery Clears the Air

By Ranger

"We are faced with the situation if Government continues to see as if money is not coming in they wont see the real picture. The real picture is that they (importers of beverage) have imported a huge stock at the old rate and have extended the shelf life of the imported drinks from six months to one year six months to two years and they are selling and making huge profit. They are trying to stifle Government revenue collection to make it seem as if nothing is happening which is wrong."

These were the words of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) officials while reacting to local reports that the newly-introduced Finance Act is causing the NRA to lose revenue.

Speaking at the Wellington Industrial Estate office in Freetown on Friday, 4th November, 2016, Sierra Leone Brewery officials on conditions of anonymity confirmed that the Finance Act was introduced in March this year, alledging that it did not come into effect until six months later in September this year.

The said officials added that during that period, importers of beverages took the opportunity to import very huge stocks into the country and also extended the shelf life of these imported beverages. It was also mentioned that it was done by these importers of beverages in order to make it seem as if they are currently not importing anything when in actual fact, they are now selling their old stocks at the new prices and making profit but presenting a picture as if nothing is happening and they are not importing anything.

On the other hand, it is implicated that the SLBL is losing out because since the Finance Act was introduced they have been fully complying by paying all the relevant taxes and levies to the NRA, the Freetown City Council etc. Again it was learnt that these importers are giving the impression as if Brewery is unable to supply the market and also unable to pay revenue in order to force the Government to overturn the Act simply because they had a field day during the six months before the Act came into force to bring in huge quantum of imported beverages to sell and make profit for at least two years.

This medium is of the understanding  that in the case of Brewery, it ran down its old stocks and brought in new stock of Heineken which is sold at Le292,000 (two hundred and ninety two thousand Leones) while other importers sell much lower their own stocks of different brands. It was also intimated that Brewery after the introduction of the Act, paid the new rate in taxes and duties as high as Le500, 000,000 (five hundred million Leones) for two containers.

The officials continued that Brewery pays Excise duties, and that Brewery can challenge them (importers of beverages) that they are not even paying EPA and other levies to the Government. I can boast of this because we have records to prove this, one of the officials told this reporter.

They are calling on the authorities (NRA) and others to conduct a spot check on warehouses of importers of beverages to see whether what is said is not the truth. SLBL officials challenged the general public to also enquire whether the SLBL has not been actively engaged in providing massive employment for the entire country. They added that the SLBL is responsible for providing thousands of direct and indirect employment for distributors, transporters, bar owners and other people, adding that over (10) ten thousand farming families who are engaged in growing sorghum are benefitting directly because Brewery is purchasing  sorghum from them only during the harvest season. We work with them and give them target during the planting season, another official informed.

“We cannot continue importing all the time,” they said furthering that “anyone who loves Sierra Leone should come and open their own factory, so that importing beverages would stop or be reduced drastically."                                       They went on to say that Brewery is paying import duty for Heineken and Cider, (Strong Bow); raw materials (malt etc), spare parts, packaging materials for example empty bottles, crates, crowns (stoppers), labels etc.

They added that Brewery also pays Excise duties for all locally produced drinks based on the volume produced; that is, the more produced the higher Excise duty paid.
These officials added that the Brewery also pays PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn) for its entire staff, NASSIT fees, and pays annual EPA fees, plus import duty and levies taxes comprising 4.07 Billion Leones is payment for August September and October, 3% advanced income tax, output GST, excise duty for local production, excise duty  for imported beer, import duty and levy tax.

They maintained that unlike others, Brewery is thickly into performing its corporate social responsibilities (CSR). A top official of the company said Brewery is building schools toilets, water wells and the are building two (2) hospitals, one (1) in Calaba Town and one (1) Wellington Communities, which cost the company a little over 1.5 billion Leones in Constituency 98 ward 350 and in Constituency 97.

The officials called on the Government to understand the case of the Brewery and to inspect the records of importers at the Customs to see that they (importers of beverages) actually took undue advantage of the system to make it seem as if Brewery is unable to cope with the Finance Act which is entirely untrue.

They added that, they also want to educate the Government on the fact that the period to analyze the Brewerys performance with regard its compliance with the Finance Act is too short, taking into consideration the above reasons and unfair completion practiced by importers of beverages which the Government needs to investigate and not wait until their huge stockpiles hurriedly brought into the country in March are depleted.

“Let them show evidence of their real stocks imported. Let the government check with Customs and the truth shall be revealed, the SLBL officials challenged.