SLPP UK/IRELAND TELLS MARGAI TO CONSIDER THE GESTURE OF RECONCILIATION

 

Monday September 26, 2005

Mr. Charles Margai, one of the candidates who recently lost the battle for the SLPP Leadership and the Presidential nominee , has been exhorted by the party’s influential United Kingdom/Ireland Branch to accept the gesture of reconciliation extended by the winner,  Vice-President Solomon Berewa .

The Branch also called on Mr. Margai to stay in the SLPP and defend his principles and beliefs .

READ THE LETTER TO CHARLES MARGAI BELOW :.

 UNITED KINGDOM and IRELAND BRANCH

20^th September 2005.

 

      Dear Mr. Margai,

  Following the convention in Makeni the leadership of the UKand Ireland Branch has had time to consider not only the outcome, but also the full implication for the unity and direction of the party.

 

We note your decision to undertake a process of consultation with supporters and members, vis-�-vis your future in the SLPP. Whilst the consultation is going on, the UK and Ireland Branch, acting both as the premier Branch in the Diaspora, wish to make its position known:

 

1. You will recall that the new leader of the party has already extended a hand of brotherhood to you as well as other contenders who were unsuccessful in gaining the endorsement of the last convention.

 

2. We are encouraged by this pronouncement, and hope the call for party unity will be sustained and meaningful.

 

3. It is our collective belief that you should consider this gesture of reconciliation, and exercise the necessary flexibility and statesmanship that was always the trademark of the founding fathers of our great party.

 

4. It was not only your participation that impressed the rank and file of the party, your ambitious agenda for national renewal and development of the Country and party has become infectious, one that will seep deep into the inner recesses of our party. Put simply, the SLPP will never be the same again, because people like you have unleashed the type of reform agenda that will now be difficult if not impossible to stop.

Abandoning such a noble cause will not only make the party poorer, but will put into question the very credential and judgement of those who championed the reform agenda in the first place.

 

5. It will be counter productive on the part of anyone to believe that they can marginalise you in so far as the leadership of the party is concerned, but you should also have the capacity to be a consensus builder, whilst at the same time maintaining your democratic credentials. We have no doubt you have those qualities in abundance.

 

 

 

 

I should end this note by conveying to you the assurances of the Chairman and the entire Branch of our highest consideration, and wish to appeal to you to stay in the SLPP and defend your principles and beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 Harold Saffa

(Secretary-General)

Cc

• Hon. Solomon E. Berewa, National Leader (SLPP)
• Alhaji U.N.S.Jah, National Chairman, (SLPP)
• Mr. J.J. Saffa, National Secretary-General (SLPP)
• Mr Tamba J S Lamina,Chairman, UK and Ireland Branch (SLPP)