HASTINGS AIRFIELD SOLD TO MACKIE BROTHERS

By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)

The deployment of the ECOWAS Stabilisation or Standby Force in Sierra Leone, tagged as ECOMISIL, has ignited homelessness for thousands of Sierra Leoneans in the immediate neighbourhood of Freetown.

As we go to press, the Hastings Airfield in the Western Area Rural District is being cleared of all houses thereon, even places of worship have not been spared, leaving thousands to reel in a state of homelessness, except for a few people alleged to be either high-ranking state officials, or influential businessmen.

But how poor Sierra Leoneans found their way into that airfield land, a state property, to build their houses only to be demolished now to give way to the deployment of ECOMISIL, is the great concern being raised by sympathisers of the evacuated, considering how neck-breaking the cost of land is today, and the highly inflationary trend of building materials.

The Hastings Airfield land, the only mini airport in Western Area of Sierra Leone, was said to have been questionably sold, and a major portion of it allotted to nationals believed to be of Lebanese descent, much at the expense of Sierra Leoneans. The Ministry of Transport and Aviation stood accused, and when contacted for clarification the other day, officials thereat confirmed it all, but told journalists that the purchasers, mostly Lebanese nationals, had presented good proposals, including an objective for industrial purposes, which triggered the sale of that airfield land.

Official sources at the Ministry of Lands had also claimed the decision to sell that land came from the cabinet, but further investigations into the issue unearthed a different kettle of fish altogether, even though the sale of any state property like that of the Hastings Airfield should come from a cabinet decision, resolution and approval.

We even learned that State House had to order for an investigation into the Hastings Airfield saga, after whistleblowers blasted out about the dubiosity shrouding its sale. But though a moratorium was invoked afterwards, what followed had remained a mystery, but massive construction of houses on the site was clearly visible.

However, Hisham Mackie’s name is squarely playing as the kingpin and harbinger for the massive sale of that stretch of land, though other Lebanese business tycoons and Sierra Leoneans, including high-ranking security officers, acquired some plots.

Mackie’s younger brother has built a factory on the piece of land believed to have been bought by Hisham Mackie, while others had since built homes on their acquired plots of land too, with few houses still on construction.

Nonetheless, of great concern is that while the homes of the common people have been demolished, including a Mosque, for the deployment of ECOMISIL, the Mackie factory building, houses of Lebanese business tycoons, an unfinished one owned by a popular high-ranking security official and few, believed to be owned by highly influential people, have been spared.

Before press time, a visit to Hastings unveiled a very pathetic state of affairs, as pregnant women and lactating mothers were roaming about the whole day long under the heavy downpour to find shelter.

“We did not grab those plots of land, but we bought them with the fruits of our labour, with the sweat of that labour we built our houses. Now, you have rendered us homeless and useless, as if we were idle people. God, we leave our case to you!” remarked a victim spoken to.

Stay tuned as we delve into this more in subsequent editions.