By KABS KANU :
New Jersey, the Garden State and one of the epicenters of Sierra Leone’s diaspora politics , is ready to receive thousands of partisans and well-wishers of the ruling All People’s Congress ( APC ) for this weekend’s epic APC-USA Convention , which starts tomorrow at the Clarion Hotel in Somerset, NJ.
Speaking to your favorite Cocorioko newspaper this afternoon, the President of the New Jersey APC Chapter, Hon. Alimamy Turay, said that the chapter, in collaboration with the national branch in Washington DC , has concluded all accommodation arrangements and hotel rooms have been booked across the township for the delegates and partisans storming the State for the monumental convention on August 12 and 13.
MR. ALIMAMY TURAY : PRESIDENT OF APC-NEW JERSEY
The Leader of the APC Women’s wing, Mrs. Bomposseh Namina Kossay , also acquainted Cocorioko with the hard work the women working under her supervision have been undertaking to provide food and refreshments for the delegates. She lauded the women for their dedication and commitment .
Mr. Alimamy Turay said that the Chapter has held a series of meetings with members and the national branch to ensure the success of the whole program. “The momentum is there among members to give support and work towards a successful convention.” He also told Cocorioko that golf-like APC pollo shirts have been specially prepared for the convention and will be worn by all members of the chapter on Saturday .
The APC-USA will also be publishing a special bumper souvenir which will feature comments, messages and articles from the various chapters and members and this project has been undertaken by the National Organizing Committee of the Convention.
MR. IBRAHIM SANFA KAMARA
Mr. Turay also intimated to this newspaper that APC -New Jersey members will be in readiness to assist delegates with rides from the airport to their respective hotels. Also, at least 3 members of the branch will be assigned to each chapter to assist their delegates with local needs like transportation , direction, information food service and the like. Chapter Presidents have also been advised about whom to coordinate with while they are in New Jersey . “They must establish contacts with them because they will be responsible for serving their needs during their stay in New Jersey .”
AMBASSADOR BOCKARIE STEVENS
The Chairman of the APC-USA , Hon . Ibrahim Sanfa Kamara has called on all members of the APC attending the convention to be in one accord. “One of my main goals since I became Interim Chairman has been to secure peace and that was even the theme when we went to Ohio : ‘Forward With Peace ‘. I am appealing that whoever wins on Saturday must be embraced by everyone and let us work together towards the peace of the branch and our party ” , the Chairman added.
MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY LEEROY WILFRED KABS-KANU ( RED CAP ) AND APC-NJ PRESIDENT ALIMAMY TURAY WITH MANAGEMENT OF THE CLARION HOTEL, WHERE THEY HAD GONE TO CONCLUDE ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DELEGATES
MR. SULIMAN KARBGO , THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF APC-NJ -IN RED- AND MINISTER KABS-KANU AT THE CLARION HOTEL WHERE THEY WENT TO CONCLUDE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR THE DELEGATES
FROM LEFT : MINISTER KABS-KANU , MR. PAVI JALLOH AND THE MANAGER OF ONE OF THE HOTELS BOOKED FOR THE DELEGATES
Mr. Pavi Jalloh, Chairman, APC USA 2016 National Convention Organizing Committee, had this to say about the event : “The 2016 APC USA Convention scheduled for this weekend in New Jersey is more than just an opportunity to discuss the current state of the APC party and transition to a new national leadership in the USA. We also plan to work on enhancing the strategies that have made the APC the successful political party it is today – accomplished through the direct focus on meeting the needs of Sierra Leoneans and elevating their standard of living.”
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the U.S, His Excellency Mr. Bockarie Kortu Stevens, called on all partisans of the APC-USA to put behind them all the rancor and problems of the past three years or so and “Let us go to the Convention as one family.” Ambassador Stevens said that the Convention is very important and the whole world is looking up to the branch , which is one of the most important of the ruling party , to be good examples of true fellowship and sustainable peace and democracy as the nation heads into the 2018 Presidential, Legislative and Council Elections.
Meanwhile, the APC “alagbas ” ( Big Whigs ) from Sierra Leone, who are here to oversee the whole process will arrive in New Jersey tomorrow. They were expected in the Garden State today, but the trip has been scheduled instead for tomorrow.
