20th September 2005.
Mr Vice President,
I write on behalf of the Chairman and the entire membership of the UK and Ireland Branch in once again congratulating you on your election as the new national leader of our party, the SLPP.
1. We have followed with keen interest your actions and pronouncements including your recent olive branch to your brothers who sought and failed to gain the endorsement of the delegates to be leader of the party.
2. Now that the convention is over; we must hit the ground running in anticipation of 2007, when we will once again seek the mandate of the electorate. Such a formidable preoccupation should only remind us that the convention was essentially an in-house exercise; the real battle now lies ahead.
3. Your decision therefore to address the internal difficulties in the party as evidenced by your overtures is not only appropriate but timely.
It is our firm belief that any moves towards reconciling our internal differences must not be cosmetic, but sustained, meaningful and comprehensive. The diverse skills and strengths of the other contestants will enrich our Party and benefit our nation enormously. Hence, the need to tap them productively.
4. We want to appeal therefore for the call for reconciliation by you to be followed by a face-to-face meeting between you and your brothers to have a frank exchange of views, and ultimately close ranks in the supreme interest of the party.
5. Those who sought the esteemed position as party leader together with you are also stakeholders whose contributions cannot, and should be air brushed in the history of our Country and party. Their continuous participation in the party will not only be seen as a sign of tolerance and stability in the party, but also as a justification for the nation to once again entrust us with the management of the affairs of State.
6. As leader of the party you do not need further convincing that we have to earn the trust of the nation if we want to continue to be the governing party. This therefore calls for a critical self analysis of not only the internal arrangements of the party, but also the implementation of the sort of national development agenda that our nation so desperately needs. You now lead a party that has national reach, yet impatient for a meaningful change in the direction of the Country.
7. The United Kingdom and Ireland Branch has previously called for a root and branch reform of the party that will enable it to meet the challenges that face our Country. This reform can only be achieved if all hands are on deck for the unique purpose of forwarding a progressive agenda.
8. As a Branch party, we stand ready more than ever, in supporting the parent body in all its programs but believe that key stakeholders within the Party should not be ignored in this process. We therefore admonish you to reach out more particularly to those individuals whose personal effort will help in fortifying and strengthening our Party.
Let me end this note by restating our support and loyalty to the Party and wish you good luck as you grapple with the twin tasks of Party and State matters.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Harold Saffa
(Secretary-General)
Cc
1 H.E. Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
2 Alhaji U.N.S.Jah, National Chairman, (SLPP).
3 Mr. J.J. Saffa, National Secretary-General (SLPP).
4 Mr. Charles F. Margai
5 Rtd. Brig. Gen. Julius Maada Bio
6 Mr. John Ernest Leigh
7 Chief Sam Hinga Norman
8 Mr. J.B. Dauda
9 Mr Tamba J S Lamina, Chairman UK and Ireland Branch (SLPP)
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