Logistics ( Oil & Gas / Construction)
Diamond country
On the way back fromKazakhstan and the sub zero conditins of the Caspianthere was a short term project surveying a war damaged oil jetty at Sierra Leone. The 11 year was had ended but the devastation remained. War trials were in progress and descetely armed guardsprotected high court judges as local men and boys held out theirhand and begged on the streets. The terrorist army chopped off a hand or arm from many of the male population to prevent future resistence.
Structural examination of the jetty above and below water showed considerable corrossion, siezed pumping equipmentv and dusfunctional electrical systems. We could plan to re-instate the jetty but in reality where was the funding coming from ?
The fuel shortage created by thejetty being out of service caused long queues of people carryingfuel cans or pushing cars to the gas station. Fuel was rationed.
I was offered diamonds for cash as the secret vendor cut the glass of my hotel window to prove they were real. There seemd to be endless opportunities in developing this country starting with the oil jetty to get the country mobile againbut funding was unlikely.
A sad experience and maybe one day funding to develop this country will be available but for now, it was time to go home.