| HOW CORRUPT IS SOLOMOM BEREWA ?
Friday June 9, 2006 First_Name: MOHAMED By Mohamed Sesay “He however conceded that government vehicles and drivers paid by the government are used. Petrol is also bought with money from government coffers” (Patriotic Vanguard). These are the exact words of the former Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States John Leigh on the campaign trail with Solomon Berewa. Leigh was conceding to the facts we have always been stating. The corruption and desperation of the present SLPP government could not be overemphasized. As Leigh rightly states here, Solomon Berewa is using monies from the coffers of the government of Sierra Leone to further his Presidential goals. Indeed, even the Americans will agree with me that corruption remains the most potent setback to development programs in Sierra Leone as evident in this statement posted in the State Department’s website, “Corruption and incompetence remain serious problems at all levels within the government of Sierra Leone”. Those SLPP stalwarts blind to the truth will continue to argue with foolhardiness in disputing these cogent facts about the excesses and aberrations of the current government. From John Leigh’s statement, it is abundantly clear that the resources of Sierra Leone, provided mainly through donor funds and loans are effectively and abusively used to promote the political agenda of the ruling SLPP government in fighting political opponents to ensure that Berewa wins the elections in 2007. These are the same funds that the international community allocates to Sierra Leone as grants but mostly loans, repayable with high interests. This is how people like Berewa continue to pile the debts of Sierra Leone just to satisfy the greed for power. NACSA is funded by donors for the overall socio-economic and infrastructural development of post war Sierra Leone, but in present day Sierra Leone, when the director of NACSA sneezes, the rest of the government catches cold. The Director is reportedly the wealthiest government agent in the country and his prominence is such that many political stalwarts in the Kabbah led government believe that he is an enigma-the force that is standing in the way of the president’s choice Momodu Koroma in the race for Berewa’s running mate. Owing to the unfettered access to NACSA funds, as reflected in his pseudo-micro credit projects in the North lately, the NACSA boss is indispensable to Berewa’s campaign since funding for developmental projects continue to be diverted towards the campaign effort as evident in John Leigh’s statement. Just recently, the minister of information, Prof. Septimus Kaikai was lashing out at the recent report by the NMJD that seriously implicated the office of the vice president Berewa as a biased report. His argument was based on the fact that the government was able to accomplish 24% of the expected goals of the HIPC projects through the contractors, but fell short of implementing the 76%. Well, the truth is hard to tell and to defend a corrupt servant like Berewa is difficult as the figures speak for themselves. The fact of the matter is that the award of the HIPC contracts as substantiated by the NMJD report was based on partisan considerations and cronyism- a flawed method. The failure started from the day the contracts were awarded under the auspices of Solomon Berewa the SLPP flagbearer.Shouldn’t Berewa be also investigated in the first place for corruption? TAYLOR DRAMATISES FIRST COURT APPEARANCE Monday April 3, 2006 Like the perfect dramatist, characteristic of the man who held a whole continent hostage for over 10 years, Charles Taylor appeared before the Sierra Leone International war crimes tribunal today standing tall and giving nothing away by way of nerves , though he could well be Public Enemy No.1 in Sierra Leone . In sharp contrast to the almost weeping man brought in handcuffed last week after he was captured near the Nigeria/Cameroon border after a brief escape from his exile home in Calabar, Nigeria, Taylor was a picture of confidence, calmness and frills when he made his first appearance before the court which indicted him in 2003 for war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to our reporters, Taylor entered the court ebbuliently , amidst very tough security , after arriving in an armoured van. His face did not give away the stress and anxiety expected from a man who underwent an extremely difficult period during the past few weeks starting with the day his Nigerian mentor, President Olusegun Obasanjo , delivered him the unbelievable news that he had changed his mind and decided to hand him over to his country,( following its return to democratic governance ) and culminating in his dramatic escape last Monday and arrest at the Nigeria/Cameroon border before he was brought to Freetown in handcuffs, via Liberia. He exposed no passion when the 11-count charges were being read to him , but he started giving the sssion a touch of drama when he was asked to take a plea. Taylor refused, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction over him. He spoke confidently : There is an issue here regarding this court , its right to exercise its jurisdiction over me , as the 21st President of the Republic of Liberia. ” Presiding Judge, Richard Lussick, took his time to make it clear to Taylor that the issue of jurisdiction had already been dealt with by the Appeals Chamber and found to have no legal merit. Eventually, Taylor rescinded but he did not take a direct , normal plea . He simply told the court with levity : “Most definitely , your honor, I did not and could not have committed these acts against the sister Republic of Sierra Leone. ” Taylor then surprised everybody when he told the court that he preferred to be tried in Sierra Leone than the Hague. Was Taylor, the dramatist, opting for the color and drama his trial would create in an African city than in far away Netherlands ? For a man who is much despised in Sierra Leone , it is unthinkable that he would choose an environment that even his own countrymen have conceded would be most hostile for his trial. Taylor , before being taken away at the end of the session , blew kisses and gestured to his family and lawyers. He probably still may not have contended with the seriousness of the charges against him.Or like the typical dramatist he is , he was just playacting . However , whether he was just being dramatic or not, Taylor has set the continent talking and his face will continue to adorn the pages of newspapers for a long time to come.
Farmers grab 16 Chinese tractors By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Monday March 29, 2006
Yesterday at the Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building, Freetown, 16 tractors were handed over to the Agriculture Ministry as a donation from the Chinese government. The donation is to help the Agriculture sector achieve President Kabbah’s food security pledge for all by the year 2007; thus, boosting the economy.
In his speech, Agrculture Minister, Dr. Sama Monde, disclosed that the government of China has spared no effort in assisting the Sierra Leone government in the training of up to 50 Sierra Leonean technicians in China on rice cultivation, aqua culture and mushroom production.
He added that China has also helped in fielding two expert missions to Sierra Leone in September, 2002 and in December 2005, to study the Agriculture sector in the country and in general to examine the possibility of establishing a technical hybrid rice research and production team. He went on to say that this year, China will provide 18 technicians for the Food Security programme on the ?South-South Cooperation scheme’ organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). He added that China has also identified three senior sceintists who will come to Sierra Leone for six months to train high level Agriculture Ministry officials and senior Unversity students on modern rice production methods.
Addressing guests at the ceremony, President Kabbah informed the audience that the tractors will be made available to farmers free of cost and that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is on the lookout for anyone who will attempt to receive or demand money for use of the tractors. He further said that recently, the government concluded distribution of 135 tractors country wide to farmers. President Kabbah thanked the government and people of China for their concern and assured them that the tractors would be used properly.
Formally handing-over the machines, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Cheng Wenju said that the 16 tractors have been installed and tested by a technician. The purpose of the tractors, he added, is to improve the Agriculture sector and help the government rebuild Sierra Leone by developing the economy; thereby maintaining the standard of living in the country. THE NORTH TURNS OUT ORANGE FOR PMDC Friday March 25, 2006 First_Name: J. Alusine BY J. ALUSINE KAMARA When the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) sensitization team spearheaded by Engineer Abubakarr Kamara and erstwhile SLPP Member of Parliament, Mrs. Rebecca Mballu Conteh, now Interim National Women’s Leader of the PMDC left Freetown for the Northern Province on Wednesday, 8th March, 2006, they were unprepared for the effusive welcome that greeted them on every stop on the way. Travelling to Bombali, Tonkolili, Kambia and Port-Loko Districts, they were warmly received by well-organized and targeted groups of opinion makers who lost no time in expressing their gratitude to God for the divine intervention the PMDC had come to represent. For to long, they said, they had been bandied about by the two political Parties presently enjoying center-stage. Corruption and bad governance had, yo-yo like, swung from one discredited party to the other as rogue politicians played ?musical chairs’ with the destin of the country. Recycling of political garbage which had continued unabated was destined to end with the Movement’s promotion of moral tenets of governance. Pa. Alimamy Koroma observed in Binkolo that the change he believes the PMDC promises will be positive and meaningful, with an improved standard of living, equal justice, probity and accountability ending the era of impunity. He had no doubt the Movement was on course to end the suffering of the marginalized people. Engineer Abubakarr Kamara was introduced at every stop of the tour as a progressive and patriotic Sierra Leonean, who is of the belief that Sierra Leone should always come first. Although resident in the United States of America (USA) for over thirty (30) years, Engineer Abubakarr makes a trip home at least twice a year to visit his people, listen to their problems and sometimes solve them as best he could. He was not a ?Johnny-Come Lately’ (JCL) who would, butterfly-like fly in seeking ?political nectar’, and then return when his appetite is not satisfied. As a matter of fact, it was stated that Engineer Abubakarr had at the urging of his mother, constructed two (2) Mosques, one at Back Street, Cassava Farm, Kissy and another at Grassfield, Kissy. This besides being an active participant in the Sierra Leone Relief Agency of California USA, which has an on going development relationship with the Scarcies Secondary School, in Kambia District. After he had sought and lost the leadership for the SLPP together with Charles Margai, Abubakarr had teamed up with him to go on a ?thank you’ tour across the country. This unprecedented move was highly appreciated by the electorate as a singular demonstration of gratitude which was responded to by the masses who then mandated them to form their own party. People were impressed with the PMDC’s sensitization team everywhere they stopped. Significant of note also was the presence of Mrs. Rebecca Conteh in the team. That she had sacrificed the ?sweets of office’ guaranteed political opportunists for a new party was in itself commendable. Speaking in Makeni, the former SLPP M.P. reminded those who knew her well of the fact she would present a party for acceptance by the people only if she believed it offered the best solution to their problems. There were other political Parties one of which she had belonged to but since that same Party had woefully failed the nation, she saw no need to be a part of it. Only fools, she said would fail to change when it is obvious failure stares in the face. While speaking in Magburaka, Alhaji Issa Munu, once a towering figure in the SLPP’s Northern axis said the PMDC portends setting aside the regional divisions that rogue politicians had used to exploit the people. The PMDC, he stressed, would be like a ?combra’ to all as it lives its promise to be always equitable and fair. This sensitization exercise was therefore intended to enlighten the people as well as give them hope. A speaker, who is commonly known as Ta-Taikeh – meaning ?Una lef’, in the Temne language, also told the Magburaka gathering about a proverb which literally translated means, “If a child knows how clean to wash his hands, he will be able to eat with grown-ups.” The PMDC should therefore be groomed in a way that would make it a Party of choice. Mr. Karimu Turay said he had always been allergic to politics until he heard of the PMDC. Politics in Sierra Leone had been a game of round-robin with non-starters. He was thus happy to be at the gathering and would go out and evangelize with the people to tell them a new dawn is born. He had not gotten involved in politicking before due to lack of trust, because as he succinctly put it in a parable, “you don’t hold a stick in your hand and then beckon a dog to come and eat” When the people in Matotoka complained to the entourage that they had seen the water which flows by them directed to Makeni without considering their needs, Engineer Abubakarr told them that the complaint was noted, and would be addressed when campaigning starts. Another complaint from Matotoka was that there was an uncoordinated influx of miners in the area who were without proper documentation. The turn-out in Binkolo was very heartening as it comprised enthusiastic leaders of thought in the community. They wished the entourage to know that the days of, ?Mi papa im party’, tribalism and other societal ills were over and that what they wanted was the refreshing beginning the PMDC epitomized. As a cross-section of elders, youths and women listening with rapt attention, the ideology and conception of the PMDC was lucidly explained as being borne of a desire to meet the crying need for positive change. Even though the team had not scheduled a stop at Mafaray – a town some 5 miles away from Binkolo, it was prevailed upon to make the trip, where a very pleasant surprise awaited it. As the crowd rushed to greet, the team was presented with a freshly cut palm kernel bunch, and two brooms – which are representative of the Party’s symbol. This act said it all even without singing and rejoicing with a song, which translated from the Limba dialect meant, “what God has destined, no man can ever change” Speaker after speaker in Mafaray went out of the way to emphasize that as a people, the Limbas were very hard to make up their minds but, that once they do so, they keep to their vows. They were confident, according to one Mr. Abdul Bangura, that the negativism that once plagued the body-politic in present day Sierra Leone would be no more. Although the task force arrived in Kamakiwe in the evening a sizeable crow of opinion leaders quickly assembled to hear Engineer Abubakarr admonish them to have faith as they await a new beginning. Hon Rebecca Conteh recounted that her decision to be a part of the Movement was based on convictions about its orientation. With an ideological bent focused on patriotic honesty of purpose, she said, what the PMDC stood for was what factored her decision. J. Alusine Kamara, also a member of the task force then went on to dramatically explain the distinguishing difference separating the PMDC from malfunctioning political entities prevailing in the country. Spreading out the two(2) brooms and the bunch of Palm Fruits thoughtfully provided by the people of Mafaray to outline the Movement’s symbol, Kamara observed that unlike other Parties’ symbols such as the APC’s red sun, the SLPP’s palm tree, PDP’s stars etc, the PMDC’s symbol features what can be physically carried around and handed over to supporters to touch and partake of its fruit. All were then invited to ?experience the difference’ by coming forward to touch and feel an integral part of it. This was done with relish. N’Daimoh Turay prayed for God’s guidance as the Movement and its leadership promote the good governance Sierra Leoneans yearn for. She was optimistic that the PMDC will not prove ungrateful and uncaring as some other party she would rather not mention had been. Kabala people, she promised, were waiting for final registration of the Movement for them to show the world what they could do. Moseray Sawanneh, alias ?JP’ a former strong man of the SLPP in the District, and who while shifting his allegiance to the PMDC had dramatically pronounced, “As of midnight last night, I was an SLPP member, .. As of 8:00am to-day, I still was,.. But, as of now,… I AM PMDC”, was again at his eloquent best. He had been under undue and unrelenting pressure to rescind his decision with threats about relieving him of his Justice of the Peace (JP) status. Although being a JP accorded him the right to adjudicate over his people’s litigation he was willing to sacrifice all as it would in the long run turn out to be worth the sacrifice. On the way to Kabala from Makeni the team had a vehicular breakdown at a town called Gbomsamba. A Young Generation activist in the entourage, Tommy Kargbo, approached a lady in the town with a view to sensitizing her about the Movement. The lady drew a blank stare until she was informed it was the Charles Margai-led Movement. The reaction was immediate and electrifying. She started jumping up and down, screaming for others to join her by saying “Dem don cam! Dem don cam!” In no time at all a small crowd had converged, wanting to be fed the good news. As in all gathering however, there was one dissenter who claimed he would remain an APC diehard till death. Others in the crowd assured the team he would be converted in due course. IS SIERRA LEONE FIT FOR SELF-RULE ? Thursday March 9, 2006 First_Name: ISSA We cry for changes always but gets worst because we get we are not sure.We cried for war to change the situation which was the worst sierra leones ever did.At the begining we called it tribal war then people who wants to still then it became militery and rebel strength then went back to militery and kamajor war and finally ended as a joint militery rebel friendship.The worst was that all these fighters forgot the reasons for taking arms and started going out of the way to damage the ordinary people.There are thousands if not millions living abroad but what are we really doing,thinking of our country ratherthan just writing our openions?What about all sierra leoneans living abroad raise money select our heads,then we go with our honest ideas gained from overseas open a big comp. and provide good jobs for the rest of our brothers back home? There is no govt. to come in the next 50 years to solve to employment affairs in that country.We are all just guessing heads for the country but not sure.CHARLSE,ERNEST,BEREWAH,PAUL,ZAINAB who can really justify that they will be be the best or worst?I suggest we think of the worst for each so that we will be suprised when they do good.We have had so many heads of states but we only talk about one good one who is Milton but but who knows maybe we would have killed him if he stayed for long.We are seeing whats going on in the overseas country we are with just 5% curruption among the citizens but helping the govt. to reach the top.The police ,Army ,judges ordinary citizens have no brother,friends,father-inlaw ,mother-inlay etc when they think about justice.We talk true when we are far from the point but the moment we reach,things,ideas etc. authomaticcal changes to the worst.LETS CALL THE COLONIALS MASTERS IS MY SUGGESTION I GUESS. WEP targets feeding 1.7 million refugees this yearBy Chernor Ojuku SesayFriday February 24, 2004As the media and the humanitarian community focus on the spreading drought in the Horn of Africa, the United Nations World Food Programm is deeply concerned that more attention is needed to highlight the persistent problems faced by the world’s refugees- most of them in Africa. WFP is aiming to feed 1.7 million refugees this year and is facing major challenges in raising sufficient resources to do so. “The world often forgets the refugees who live in camps far from home who depend on us for their very survival. Even a daily meal in the best, well organized camp cannot be taken for granted. A refugee’s life is far from easy,” said James T. Morris, WEP Executive Director.
Food shortages can severely hamper the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee’ (UNHCR) ability to protect refugees and to find lasting solutions for them. Hungry people who lack economic opportunities often turn to desperate measures like crime or prostitution to support themselves and their families. A lack of adequate funding during 2005 for some refugee operations resulted in WFP having to cut refugee rations; it has been forced to do the same in 2006 Current refugee operations facing the most critical funding shortages include those in Zambia, Chad, Kenya and Uganda as well as assistance for Sahrawi refugees in Algeria, recently hit by torrential rains.
The situation in Zambia has been particularly dire. Due to insufficient funding, WFP was forced to have rations in January to 72,000 refugees living in remote camps and settlements in Zambia. The impact has already taken its toll: growing numbers of refugees have been leaving the camps and entering local villages in search of work or food. With drought affecting 1.4 million Zambians this year, villages do not even have enough food for themselves, leaving refugees little option but to go further afield. Some have been arrested for leaving the camps without the required permits.
The situation has been relieved slightly with contributions last week from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and USAID. However, it takes several weeks for in-kind donations as well as locally purchased food to reach the camps. A shortfall of US$4.6million must be addressed immediately to ensure refugees do not face further ration cuts later in the year. Makeni Town Council Chairman ResignsBy Chernor Ojuku SesayThursday February 16, 2006The embattled Chairman of the Makeni Before Mansaray was forced to resign, the entire Makeni township was yesterday reportedly brought to a total standstill due to a peaceful sit-down strike organsied by the Civil Society in Makeni. No commercial vehicles were allowed to ply from Makeni to anywhere, petty traders refused to sell their wares, market women abandoned their goods, schools refused to open all insisting that until then Chairman of the Town Council resigns they would not resume their normal business. This presure forced Mr. Mansary to tender his letter of resignation as he realised that he was no longer acceptable to the people who voted him in. Scrap metal dealer duped Le30m
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Tuesday February 7, 2006
One Daniel Dudubok was over the weekend refused bail at the Freetown Magistrate Court No.3 presided over by Bankole Shyllon. The accused person allegedly obtained money by False Pretense on 14th January this year at Andrew Street in Freetown, in the sum of Le30m, from one Mr. Vincent, on the pretext that he will supply him scrap metals.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohamed Jobe who is prosecuting the matter, objected to bail for the accused. He further said that the prosecution has experienced a lot of problems in matters of this nature where the accused is granted bail but later runs away. He added that the accused is a Nigeria with no fixed abode. However, when Magistrate Shyllon asked the accused for his address, he told the court that he is every where supplying scrap metals. The matter was adjourned to 8th January this year.
Though the matter was heard and adjourned by Magistrate Shyllon of court No3, it is actually being tried by Magistrate Sam Margai of Court No1, but did not sit on the day question. The matter comes up again in court no1 on the adjourned date. Safroko Chief accused of abitrary use of power
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Thursday February 2 , 2006
Youth groups in the Safroko Chiefdom, Bombali District have accused their acting Paramount Chief, Moses Kanu of using abitrary powers to depose the Youth Leader of Binkolo Town, Isedor F. Kanu and replace him with an individual described as the acting chief’s puppet.
Speaking to this press, the youths maintained that the relationship between the Youth Leader and the acting Paramount Chief became sour following criticisms by members of the youth group in the chiefdom and councillors over the continuos refusal of the acting Chief to reside in chiefdom and carry out his duties.
Even though the conflict was later reconciled by the intervention of ENCISS officials of the Bombali District Youth Council and other chiefdom elders, the acting Paramount Chief allegedly decided to settle old scores with the Youth Leader by removing him for a purported youth leader in the township.
This has provoked some angry reactions from the youths who demanded the unconditional reinstatement of Isedor as Youth Leader. Chiefdom elders and other interested groups continue to pile pressure on the acting Chief and he is expected to meet with these groups shortly to find an amicable solution to the current criss. $ 28M DOLLARS FOR AGRICULTURE MINISTRY SOON
Thursday January 26, 2006
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
The African Development Bank (ADB), has budgeted another $28m for the re-establishment of agricultural activities in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security. The Director of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Patrick Hammer, disclosed that the ADB has budgeted $28m for planning including the re-establishment of agricultural activities while at the same time another $9m has been budgeted for tree crops to produce palm-oil and other products. The Director also said that the $9m is coming from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). Mr. Hanmer further said over the weekend that, he would sign the necessary documents for the project at the Ministry of Finance and that the project would start in two month’s time.
COMIUM millions at stake
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Wednesday January 18 , 2006 The Commercial Manager of COMIUM mobile tele-company, Joe Amara Bangali (Jr) yesrterday informed journalists that as part of the company’s First Anniversary bonanza to its over 100,000 (one hundred thousand) subcribers, the company is launching a weekly raffle draw this week for a period of ten weeks.
He said the draw will be held on a weekly basis where attractive prizes including Deep Freezers, Coloured TVs, DVDs, Bicycles, Gas Cookers, Generators etc will be won. The Star Prize draw which will be held on April 1st this year is a whooping sum of Le 90m (ninety million leones) plus two consolation prizes of Le 30m (thirty million leones) and Le 15m (fifteen million leones) respectively.
Mr.Bangali added that for a subcriber to qualify for the weekly draw, he/she must have recharged his phone to at least 500 units before Friday midnight of every week and for the Star Prize, the subcriber must have reached an accumulated recharge of up to 2000 units. “The more you recharge, the better your chances to win. It is an opportunity to reward our valuable customers”, he stated.
COMIUM Marketing Manager, Shiaka Mansary added that the company decided to offer a cash prize to the star winner because “we want to give the people the freedom and liberty to do what they want and not to restrict their choices” He went on to say that restricting the choice of a winner is not encouraging, since that may not be the winners choice. He added that all the prizes that are on offer are non-taxable. ABASS BUNDU IS THE KIND OF ROLE MODEL OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD TRY TO EMULATE Wednesday December 14, 2005 First_Name: Hashim Comments: Dr. Bundu has shown the caliber of public servants we all should .I was once in a priviledge position to assert that from the outset, Ngor I may not personally like Abass Bubdu ,but for his symbolic sense of openess and To conclude, Sierra Leone intellectuals especially the higher institutions
‘CHARLES MARGAI DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SPLIT OUR VOTES’—Berewa says Thursday November 24, 2005 The Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Mr. Solomon Berewa , has said that the leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change ( PMDC ) , Mr. Charles Margai , does not have the capacity to split votes and prevent him from winning the 2007 General Elections. Mr. Berewa made the assertion yesterday when he spoke with COCORIOKO in an exclusive interview about the hostile action to him at the Christ The King’s College campus last weekend by people believed to be loyal to Margai. COCORIOKO wanted to know from the Vice-President whether Charles Margai will be his nemesis in 2007 and whether Margai could split the votes in the Soth/East , thus making the opposition APC win. Mr.Berewa stated emphatically that Margai did not have the ability to do so. “He is not an organized man with a capacity to accomplish what you are asking. All Margai depends on is violence’, Berewa stated. The Vice-President accused Mr. Margai of using children to put up last weekend’s acts of lawlessness. Mr. Berewa He lauded his security for heeding his appeal to them not to react to the lawlessness going on. “If they had reacted , it is the kids and innocent people who would have suffered. ” Since the crises in the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) peaked this year with Mr. Margai resigning and forming his own party , there has been lots of speculation in Sierra Leone online forums and public gatherings that the incident would cause a disastrous split in the party that could create a 1967-like scenerio with the party self-destructing and allowing the opposition APC to win. Mr. Berewa did not think that such a scenerio was ever possible because as he said, Margai did not have the capacity and the organizational ability to adversely affect the votes.
IT WAS A DAY OF WOE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT BEREWA IN BO Monday November 21, 2005 For all intents and purposes, the Sierra Leonean Vice-President , Mr. Solomon Berewa , will not forget in a hurry the hostile reception he received in Bo last Friday. Our Provincial correspondent , Soribah Kalokoh, who has been following up the story , said that throngs of people in Bo did go all out to prove to the Vice-President that he was not welcomed on Friday. Berewa left Bo on Saturday still stunned and traumatized by the reception he received. Though he entered Bo in high spirits on Friday, determined to sell his candidacy for the Sierra Leone Presidency , the Vice-President was in the doldrums when he left Bo last Saturday . KALOKOH REPORTS : Many residents of Bo are still worried about what they saw and heard on Friday when the Vice-President drove through the streets in Bo. Certain people went out of their way to make catcalls at Mr. Berewa. It seemed that they had developed some deep-seated resentment against the Vice-President. The climax of the hostile treatment was at the Christ The King’s College .Mr. Berewa , an alma mater of the school, was invited to serve as the Guest of Honor and to distribute the presents at the school’s Prize-Giving ceremony for which he was also invited. However, hundreds of people barricaded the school gate and prevented the Vice-President’s motorcade from entering the school. The crowd really misbehaved to the Vice-President . The Police escort travelling with Mr. Berewa wired the Bo Police headquarters for reinforcement , but the crowd was determined to defy even the troops that were sent to disperse them. The standoff escalated into a clash later between the Police and the crowd and many arrests were made. Only by teargas was the Police able to break up the crowd. The infuriated Vice-President later retired to the Resident Minister’s Lodge at Congo Valley where he held an important meeting with dignitaries of Bo and members of the SLPP. Charles Margai , whose supporters put up the angry demonstration, was then arrested and brought to the Police Station. The tension, which had cooled down, escalated once more when the crowd learnt about this latest development. They came to the Police station to demand the release of their party leader and more trouble started. Central Bo Town looked like a war zone But the Police was able to contain the situation well. Statements were collected from Mr. Margai who was asked to leave later, but he must appear at the Bo Magistrate Court No. 1 on Tuesday to answer charges of Public Misconduct and Disorderly Behavior.
SLPP NEW YORK BRANCH CHAIRMAN APPEALS TO CHARLES MARGAI AND DISSIDENT MEMBERS Tuesday October 12, 2005 Mr. Mohamed Tunis , the Chairman of the New York Branch of the SLPP, has appealed to Mr. Charles Margai and other dissident members , who have left the party to bury the past and return to help develop it and seek the good of the Sierra Leonean people. Mr. Tunis made the appeal during an exclusive interview with COCORIOKO yesterday Mr .Tunis also called on them to accept the new leader of the party, Vice-President Solomon Berewa , and work along with him for the betterment of Sierra Leone. He described the SLPP as a mass national party that was diversified and was home to all the tribes in Sierra Leone. Mr. Tunis said it would be very difficult for any party to just come in and defeat such an established political entity like the SLPP. He asserted that while he believed that Charles Margai had many supporters from the new and old vanguard, he felt that they would succeed in electing him as a person , but not the party. “Charles has supporters but it is only Charles they are supporting, not the new party. An individual does not own a whole party .A party is a diversified body and one man cannot be a political party”, Tunis philosophied. Continuing, Mr. Tunis stated : “If you want to be a leader, it does not mean that you must leave the main party and form your own party to be able to become a leader. I am appealing to my brother, Charles Margai, not to form his own party but stay within the party and wait for his time ” . He described Margai as a good, progressive and astute person who still has a place in the SLPP , but he warned that forming his own party was not the best solution for him. He challenged Margai to return to the SLPP so that the party’s rivals would not defeat it in 2007. About the members who are defecting from the party, Mr. Tunis said that he was working round the clock to talk to dissatisfied members .He informed COCORIOKO that he spends a lot of time on the phone talking to disaffected members in Sierra Leone. Philosophysing once again, Mr. Tunis intimated that the wounds were still fresh and when a wound is fresh , it does not start responding to a cure immediately. He said it will take some time but that peace will be restored in the SLPP. Mr. Tunis told COCORIOKO that since he became the New York Branch Chairman he had worked very hard to unite the other chapters.
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND MONITORS START ARRIVING IN LIBERIA TO MONITOR ELECTIONS Wednesday September 28, 2005 International observers and monitors have started pouring into Liberia as the October 11 polls draw near, according to reports from the capital, Monrovia, yesterday. So far, 70 representatives from the European Union ( EU) are in the country , while 175 international monitors from different nations are breezing in, all of them to monitor the elections. The EU Chief Observer Max Van Den Berg , is among the dozens of international monitors expected to be in full attendance during the elections. The French News Agency, AFP, quoted him yesterday as saying that :Fraud cannot be avoided , but we have to reduce it as much as possible, by watching the various actors in the process “.. There are 22 Presidential candidates but according to our man on the spot, Jlateh Doe, most of them are briefcase contestants with their parties existing only in their briefcases. The hottest favourites for victory are veteran female politician, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity Party ( UP) and former World Footballer of the Year George Oppong Weah of the Campaign For Democratic Change ( CDC).
SUCCESSION WORRIES NOW EASED, SLPP MULLS PROBLEM OF BEREWA’S RUNNING MATE Thursday September 8, 2005 With the ship now stilled and the tempestuous succession dispute hopefully behind them, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) is said to be mulling the next problem, which is the choice of a running mate for Presidential candidate, Solomon Berewa. A political insider told COCORIOKO yesterday that the SLPP has acknowledged the fact that Berewa’s running mate was central to victory for the party in the 2007 General Elections. The SLPP was said to be giving special attention to the the problem of creating a tribal balance in the monumental task of appointing Berewa’s running mate. The SLPP always enjoyed massive support in her traditional stronghold of the South and Eastern Province but for any party to win an election in Sierra Leone it has to penetrate its rivals stronghold and wrestle significant votes from there. This explains why parties always strive to ensure that their election mantra had a tribal balance. Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora who participated in thrilling post-convention debates online yesterday also discussed the SLPP’s next dilemma–Berewa’s running mate. The political insider who spoke to COCORIOKO agreed with Sierra Leoneans online about some of the names they mentioned as likely candidates for Berewa’s running mate. The most prominent name among the speculated choices is Minister of Foreign Affiars and International Cooperation, Mr. Momodu Koroma, who, according to the insider, is one of the most loyal ministers to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. During the 1997/98 standoff in the nation following the AFRC/RUF military coup, Koroma stuck closely to President Kabbah and was Minister of Presidential Affairs in the SLPP government in exile. Infact, the insider went on, he was one of those who stood firm that the government should not treat the intrasigence of Junta leader Johnny Paul Koroma lightly. Another name mentioned was the Minister of Country Planning and the Environment, Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay. The former top official in the Ministry of Education before he entered politics, Sesay was described by the insider as a man carrying a lot of clout and who could help the SLPP immensely to prise some significant votes from the North. Also named was the Deputy Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action ( NaCSA), Mr. Justin Bangura who is said to have very impressive credentials and experience , having served in many important capacities in the Northern Province and the capital. Inquest into Editor’s death starts
Friday August 19, 2005
Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown
The enquiry into the death of journalist Harry Yansaneh started yesterday with the Coroner Magistrate Adrian Fisher calling for the observation of a full minute silence in respect for the dead man.
Admonishing journalists to stick to the facts of the case and avoid speculation, the legal battle started with Counsel watching the interest of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and the family of Harry Yansaneh, Blyden Jenkins-Johnston applying that the venue be changed and for recording equipment to be installed, so that proper record of the proceedings will be made.
He was supported by lead counsel watching the interest of the State O.B. Robin-Mason though he questioned the time it would take to install such equipment. Enquiries were made and it was found that it would not be possible, and in the words of Magistrate Fisher “We have to make do with what is available”. What was available was a stenographer who started recording the address by O.B Robin-Mason to the Jurors.
He explained that in normal court the jury bench would contain 12 people but they are six because it is an enquiry, “to look into the issues surrounding the death of Harry Yansaneh.” He announced that the Chief Justice had appointed Magistrate Adrian Fisher as Coroner and admonished the jurors to “arrive at a decision that would satisfy the public.” Mr Robin-Mason also announced that he intended to put forward about 20 witnesses.
The first witness Inspector Edward Aiah Samadia relayed how he was informed by the police communications that a fracas was taking place at Short Street. He disclosed that he went there with a team and found a crowd of people. After identifying himself he said a woman emerged from the crowd who introduced herself as Hon. Dr Fatmata Hassan, who told him that some journalists had assaulted her son and daughter, and they had been taken to a hospital, which she did not identify.
From the crowd he said somebody pointed out a man who was believed to be involved in the issue, but when he asked the man, he was told by the man that he was not a party to the fight, but had witnessed the son and daughter beating up journalist Harry Yansaneh. The Police Inspector recalled how at that moment he heard Dausy Kuyateh a journalist in a tensed mood talking at the top of his voice saying, “You feel say dis nar force for pwell, dis nar force for good. U nor go tell policeman for cam arrest me.”
The Police Inspector said he went to Dausy and enquired why he was so furious. Dausy he said told him that Lawyer Osho Williams had instructed the Police to arrest him. He said he pacified Kuyateh, telling him that no arrest would be made at that point. Inspector Samadia who is attached to the Operations section at the Central Police Station explained how he dispersed the crowd and later went to the Central Police Station where he met Harry Yansaneh sitting infront of Woman Police Officer 7998 Rachel Abubakarr who was issuing a medical report to him. He said he questioned Harry Yansaneh, who told him that he had been beaten up by the son and daughter of Dr Fatmata Hassan. He said Yansaneh even showed him his mouth which had blood stains.
He said he then took the two parties, Yansaneh and Dr Fatmata Hassan to his boss the Local Unit Commander Kalia Sesay. He said Kalia Sesay admonished both parties to hold their peace. The second witness WPC 7998 Abubakarr narrated how she issued a medical form to Harry Yansaneh on the 10th of May and the form was returned to her on the 12th may, which was when she took a statement in Krio and written in English from Harry Yansaneh. Next in line was Inspector Ismaila Samura Crime officer, who said his duty was to read all the files and give follow up instructions. He explained how he sent investigators to No 1. Short street on several occasions and found the building closed. So they could not get in touch with Yansaneh nor the son and daughter of Fatmata Hassan.
Later he said the investigator met Mrs Paul Kamara who told him that Yansaneh was not idle to go to the Police station any longer. When the investigator went to the No 77 Thunder Hill residence of Hon. Fatmata Hassan he said she claimed Parliamentary immunity and asked the investigator out of her house, telling him to report her to the Inspector General of Police. The Crime Officer who disclosed that he has been in the force for 13 years agreed with Magistrate Fisher that it was not the normal procedure that any case he has before him he would send the file to the Director of Public Prosecution for advise, as he claimed to have done in this case.
He denied Counsel Jenkins-Johnston assertion that he had failed woefully to perform his duty by doing nothing between the time the report was made and the death of Yansaneh, even though he had a file with statements of witnesses and even a medical report. He also denied that he had been cowed into doing nothing, because of the threat by Dr Fatmata Hassan. The last witness was the exhibit clerk who tendered in evidence the white pull-over that Yansaneh had been wearing that day showing the part that was torn around the collar. The enquiry was adjourned to today. APC CONVENTION SET FOR SEPTEMBER 1 -4 , BUT FEARS IT COULD BE DERAILED The party’s problems hopefully behind it now, the All People’s Congress has slated September 1-4 as the date for its convention, to decide on the team for the 2007 General Elections. The convention will be held at the Bai Bureh Memorial Hall in Port Loko. However, party stalwarts are apprehensive that factions opposed to present Leader Ernest Koroma might throw a spanner in the works . According to some supporters in New Jersey , the Eddie Turay-Serry Kamal faction could stir up another court battle, thus leading to the cancellation of the convention. However, many APC fanatics who talked to COCORIOKO believe that the leaders of the party were not seeking the interests of the people and should try to be united now so that they would challenge the equally-fragmented ruling SLPP in the forthcoming General Elections. Many of these supporters , some of whom were undecided at first, called on all supporters of the APC to give Ernest Koroma, who eventually prevailed in the marathon court battles , a chance to re-invent the party .They expressed tremenduous confidence in Ernest Koroma, whom they described as young and dynamic and brimming with lots of progressive ideas .
SPECIAL COURT WITNESS THREATENED, 5 IN HOT SOUP AND RUF INDICTEES BOYCOTT TRIAL By Tamba Borbor in Freetown Wednesday May 4, 2005 Special Court indictees of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Front (AFRC)- Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara, Alex Tamba Brima aka Gullit and Santigie Kanu aka 55 have boycotted court proceedings since the start of this week. In a letter, which was presented in court on Monday, the three indictees stated that they would not come to court until their demands are met. The demands according to them include the issue of the suspension of one of their investigators and banning of some members of their families from entering the public gallery. On the 29th April this year the Trial Chamber issued a decision ordering the prosecution of five individuals for contempt of court. They were alleged to have revealed the identity of a witness thereby threatening a protected witness . The five persons include Brima Samura, who was charged with contempt under Rules 77 (A) (ii) and Margaret Fomba Brima, Neneh Binta Bah Jalloh, Anifa Kamara and Esther Kamara who were charged under Rule 77 (A) (iv). This Rule states, “the Special Court, in the exercise of its inherent power, may punish for contempt any person who knowingly and wilfully interferes with its administration of justice including any person: [.] threatens, intimates, causes any injury or offers a bribe to, or otherwise interferes with a witness who is giving, has given, or is about to give evidence in the proceedings before a Chamber, or a potential witness.” In the light of the above, it was alleged that the investigator, Brima Samura for the accused Alex Tamba Brima on the 9th March 2005 revealed the name of witness TF1-023 to Margaret Brima and Neneh Binta Bah Jalloh outside the public gallery. The two women said they knew where the witness lived and that they were going to attack her place. It was further alleged that later on in the day, while the witness was being escorted from court, the four women called out her name and told her in Krio that they knew her and uttered words whose effect was to threaten and intimidate the witness. An investigation was set up and according to reports; the Trial Chamber found out that there were sufficient grounds to proceed against the five persons for contempt. An independent Senior Trial Attorney has been appointed to prosecute the matter and a Judge of Trial Chamber 1 would hear proceedings at the Special Court. The maximum penalty for contempt is seven years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Le 2 million or both under Rule 77 (G). Meanwhile, Defence Counsels for the three accused disclosed yesterday that they no longer wish to continue representing their clients, except there is a change in their decision. In her ruling Presiding Judge, Justice Teresa Doherty said that Defence Counsels should make their submission in writing which must be submitted on Thursday. She added that the submission must be confidential and under seal. The court was adjourned to Friday. __________________________________________________ SYKE STREET TO BE RENAMED Monday April 18, 2005 By Tamba Borbor in Freetown The Archbishop of Freetown and Bo- Bishop Henry Ganda has declared that Syke Street should be renamed Pope John Paul II Avenue, in remembrance of the deceased Pope. The Archbishop made this declaration during a memorial mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, held last Friday for Pope John Paul II. During his homily, Archbishop Ganda said that the Pope’s death has become history turned upside down. He said, ” this is the first time in the history of the world when over four million people filed past the remains of one man.” the Archbishop maintained, ” it would also be the first time in the history of mankind that two hundred Presidents, Royalty, Heads of State and Representatives of Governments and other Dignitaries are coming to one place for the burial of the Pope, who is also a Head of State.” Archbishop Ganda also stated that the Pope visited over a hundred countries to spread the message of love and peace, in a world where we are experiencing so much violence and war. He said he was the first Pope to step foot in a mosque and in a Synagogue, not for show, but to stress the human dimension of man, “one God, who is the Father of us all- a truth that transcends all religions.” The Archbishop admonished the congregation to copy the Pope’s example; “a Pope that taught us all, especially Christians that suffering is part of the Christian life.” President Tejan Kabbah, was present at the Mass while Vice President Solomon Berewa, read the second lesson. Dignitaries later signed the book of condolence at Santanno House.
First_Name: Joseph S. Mr. editor, On the issue of President’s kabbah vistit to Cuba, now that the world has one super power since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war, political ideology and alliance is insignificant and has no more part to play in the economic survival of any country. Nevertheless, President Kabbah should know that Fidel Castro is the only surviving autocratic and authoritarian leader who still defies the United States and democratic nations in terms of ushering democracy and tolerance. No one can boast that the United States has a perfect democratic system, however, the amount of tolerance in freedom of expression and association without intimidation, supersedes most developed countries in the world more so communist Cuba. Sierra Leone being a sovereign nation, President kabbah can solicit aid and forge an alliance with any country that he wishes, however, he must be careful not to eat with two hands especially with a country like Cuba that is with odds with the United States. This reminds me of the Liberian scenerario, when the late President William R. Tolbert forged an alliance with the eastern bloc (Russia, Romania) and Communist China, in defiance with the United States policy towards these countries, the result is a military coup that ushered a military dictatorsip. The late President Ronald Reagan supported the military government at the time which resulted to the horrendous civil war in Liberia that spilled over in Sierra leone. Sierra Leone cannot afford any other distabilization, 11 years of brutal civil war is enough for the suffering masses of that country. Whatever benefit Sierra Leone will gain from President kabbah’s romance with Fidel Castro, he should exercise caution in order not jeopardize his friendship with the western world. Cuba is one of the country labelled by the international human rights organiztions as having the worst human rights records and refusal to adhere to reforms. Eventhough, I do not believe in the policy of isolationism which Cuba is suffering today from many countries in the western world, President kabbah should know that his quest for the development of Sierra Leone from any source should not betray the trust that the western world has for him by not reading the writting on the wall. Recalcitrant leader like Muhammad Kadafi of Libya, have read the writing on the wall and decided to take a new direction to be part of the committee of nations, indeed he succeeded. Today his country’s stigma of being a belicose nation and training camp for terrorists has faded. The policy of Cuba to maintain its old-aged philosophy is outdated and creating more hardship for its citizens. Infact, Fidel Castro being in power for over four decades should send signals to any democratically minded leader that he has outlived his usefulness to govern and a dangerous person to do business with. About the Author: Joseph S. Sherman was an erstwhile Broadcast Journalist with the ELCM Community Radio, now Radio Veritas, Monrovia Liberia, and former General Editor of the defunct Footprint Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone. At present he is the Director of a Multi-Cultural Adult Education Center in Washington, DC.
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