Deputy Permanent Secretary making sensitizing households at the Gorahun Town, Kenema District Ministry of Energy, sponsors deepen community engagement on the processes, procedures, and utilization of the small mini-grids solar power that had been connected to households in rural communities across the country. EmmanuelJulisa, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy informedcommunities that the small mini-grids are operated by private operators investing in the project to sustain it long term sustainability. Adding that, communities are paying for utilizing the electricity through the different agents. Deputy Permanent Secretary admonished communities’ households not to use heavy electrical appliances on the solar mini-grids because it would consume a lot of electrical power, which in return will cost them more monies to recharge.   The Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP) was developed to support the Government of Sierra Leone through support by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and RREP is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (NOPS) on behalf of the ministry of energy, Hans OseterlooCeesay, Energy Demand Assessment Associate (UNOPS) said.   YusifMohai, Town Chief of Moawoma Town Kenema District extremely commended government for the electricity supply that has been reached at their door-step, and the emergence of the solar electrification at Moawoma town is a crystal justification on how it will touch their lives and improve their daily activities and he expressed appreciation to the government, development partners for such transformation and join their town to a modernize system of living. LahaiSama of Gorahun Town, Kenema District declared that will comply with the processes and procedures of the project to sustain the facility, adding that for far too long, their community has been one of the most deprived communities in Gorahun Town, many times, neighboring communities in the district had been getting benefits from social amenities, but theirs had been exempted from such assistance.  =RATTICLES= Give The Temnes A Break! Fantastic audio…wow! That is why I will always stand for a real, veritable Truth and ==Reconciliation Commission to holistically discuss the issue of tribalism and all the other negative factors that led to our country’s demise. We lack the Truth and not also honest and sincere, but we equally also know, that only the Truth and God shall set Salone free! What are the root causes of tribalism, it’s origin and who are the main players and intensifiers? Let me say that I grew up in an environment where we never discussed tribalism at home or in school or hate speech for any particular tribe; whether as a young boy growing up at Yebaya, Kambia or in Freetown. In Freetown, we lived with the Moses Tucker family at 18 Sanders street, the father of Melvin Tucker of BSL and we grew up with his other siblings including engineer Franklyn Tucker of Salone Brewery and Dudley Tucker  as a family, and our compound was filled with love and good feeling for one another. Our people in Kambia used to talk about ‘ibos’ or man-eaters who lived in the south-east and the word ‘ibo,’ is perhaps a reference to Bo City. Historian and FBC lecturer, JOD Alie wrote about the Simba cannibals who put fear in the south-east by eating their fighters if they refused to pay obeisance to them. After the Mande invasion which also spread to the north and other areas, Joe Allie concluded that the Simbas decided to live in that part of the country. That is why cannibalism is so rife, especially in the border areas between Liberia and Salone. My mother used to tell me how my dad was lodged at a village around Gerehun towards Bo but that the room which was at the back of the house had no door. As soon as everybody went to bed, my father took his bundle and stealthily walked out of the hut to be swallowed by the midnight darkness. My mother said dad was indeed, terribly afraid and decided to take no chance whatsoever. I am aware that most tribes often refer to Mendes as snail or ‘gbaygbay eaters.’ But it was only when the Chinese arrived in Kambia to construct  theKambia bridge that for the first time, I learnt that some people do eat monkeys. People also came from the southeast to hunt them bcos they like the Chinese also love monkey meat.  I never heard of any family that eats monkey in Kambia; it was simply not meat for them. I first chopped monkey meat at Benguema barracks on the invitation of a soja friend.  I also heard about cannibalism during the 67 elections when the APC accused SLPP of  cannibalism. Villagers would scream at dead of night as if being carried by cannibals as they wail in Temne… ‘akayramio! which means they are taking me away or in Krio..dendaekerr me go.. oooo! The SLPP would accused the APC of  propaganda and wicked lies and that it was the very APC that would slaughter sheep and goats and sprinkle the blood on the highway to look as if it was cannibalism. There was also the case of APC minister, AlimamyGhazali who was hanged for ritual murder.  Similar rituals are alleged to take place in Lodges and secret societies. However, in Governor Clarkson’s famous prayer, he called on God to unleash his wrath on our wicked leaders and all those who seek the destruction of Mama Salone; but for God to have mercy on them in the world hereinafter. For with all our abundant wealth, Saloneman still relish human flesh. Indeed, there still exists amongst us those who believe in simbaiism or cannibalism. During the 97 interregnum in the south-east, yamoto or the eating of human flesh was a commonality; the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report confirmed this. An indigene of Kenema district, US-based Professor Jimmy Kandeh once told me that he would never again contribute a single dime to Tegloma when on a research trip to Kenema, he found out that his own people ate human flesh and roast them in bandas as well.

Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to The Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency MorieFofana says Sierra Leone is open for business as President Julius Maada Bio’s government has provided the enabling environment to boost trade with other countries. AmbadsadorFofana was speaking as a key note speaker during the 13th Annual Egypt Economic Forum 2021 organized by Smart Vision under the title ‘’Egypt the gateway to exports to Middle East and Africa after Corona Pandemic’’.  Whilst extolling the virtues of Egypt and their capabilities in achieving the dream of becoming the gateway to trade in Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Fofana envisioned cooperation between the business community in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Sierra Leone. He said Egypt’s palpable support to the growth of indigenous industries, small and medium enterprises and exports in medical products and meeting production targets has been the motivation to their dream of exporting their products. The forum attracted  Ambassadors, Heads of Missions, and Trade Representatives from many countries who shared their expertise on how to support Egyptian exports in the fields of agriculture and industrial products, small and medium enterprises, exports medical products, export brands, textile and more.  The forum discussed all points and solutions to make Egypt the gateway to exports in all fields in Africa and Middle East and how to support Egyptian exports and work to exploit all expected expert agreements between Egypt, the African Union, and how they can benefit from other agreements like the Egyptian-European Partnership Agreement and the Mercosur Agreement. Ambassador Fofanaasked the forum to use the lessons learnt from the Corona situation to develop a more robust post pandemic strategy that will support the agenda to placing Egypt at the position where it wants to be. The Forum ended with presentations of Smart Vision 9th Annual Awards to participants

EPA-SL Engage Stakeholders on ContainigOil Spill The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday (March, 30th) held a one day engagement with stakeholders and civil societies, (MDAs) on guidelines for environmental and social impact of Oil Spill and coastal management Speaking at the workshop organised at the Boxing Memorial Hall at in Freetown, Director of EPA-SL MomoduAlrashid Bah, said the workshop is to train actors of Civil Society Organization (CSOs) on environment advocacy techniques citizen mobilization, alert actions, and raising awareness on issues related to oil and gas activities in our coastal marine environment. “I will like from the outset to express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciations for honoring the invitation participate in the important workshop” he said. According to Mr. Bah land-based activities cause runoff flows to the sea, carrying with its plastics and litters agriculture fertilizers and pesticides, sediments from mining, sewage, industrial and wastewater discharges from cities, the  oil spill from mining car and heavy machinery and accidents, oil tanker operations and other shipping. He stated all these sources of pollutants do not only stress and disrupt marine life but release toxins that kill marine life and affects its entire biodiversity; contaminate coastal marine area and seafood, spreading cholera typhoid and other diseases. He said in our coastal water promotes the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to us, the alga also hurt our local fishing and tourism industry. He added that to prevent or minimize the impact of pollutants from land-based activities on our coastal marine environment, the environment protection Agency with support from the Regional Partnership for the conservation of the coastal and marine (PRCM). He said the theme for the project is entitled “ Sustainably manage the impacts of offshore oil and gas activities in West Africa- Sierra Leone Project” said phase two of the project is about improving knowledge and capacities for citizen mobilization and engagement of decision-makers on issues related to oil and gas activities in our coastal marine environment. He said the workshop will highlight the devastating effects of oil spill on the marine ecosystem and representatives of CSOs would be educated on their roles and responsibilities in preventing or handling incidences of an oil spill the need for cooperation with the EPA to deal with related threat to the marine environment. “ the environment issue of oil gas activities in Sierra Leone, and acquire advocacy tools to support actions to raise awareness and mobilize stakeholders in the country as advocacy guide will be developed for the benefits of civil society actors” He said He conclude that civil society will raise awareness, citizen mobilization advocacy, and ensure effective environment monitoring and provide alert actions with coastal communities and facilities multi-stakeholders consultation on environment issue unrelated to oil and gas activities “This will improve the management of the risk of pollution from offshore oil and gas activities” he explained      He said significant investment in renewable energy generation will contribute towards the country meeting the Paris Agreement. He noted that the country was determined to contribute to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In his presentation on the guidelines on Oil Spill and coastal management, A senior lecturer from Fourah Bay Collage, Department of institute of marine Biology, Dr Salliue K. Sankoh, said the main objective of the guidelines was to provide information to the project and the steps that needed to be taken for securing and manage Oil Spill in various coastal community is for the government to put proper measured. He said the guidelines will also teach them all relevant environmental and social issues that are to be taken into account at all phases of the project, adding that it will also provide a standardized process for how their people can manage their waist in their various communities and factory He added that if there is an oil spill in sierra Leone, weather be cud oil or refined oil some of the ample effect would be affecting the animal especially fish, noting that if this oil overflow in the sea there will come a time when someone buy a fish it will have a teasted of the wasted oil that has be spilling in the sea He said with the training that they have given the coastal stakeholders he hopes they can go to their various communities and sensitizing their community’s people. He further noted that most of the company that are throwing their waist into the sea should have a place that they will be dumping their waist so that it will have an effect in the feature Abdul K. Dumbuya Conservation society of Sierra Leone, a participant on the workshop, said the workshop is very timely said his organization is also working on awareness rising sensitizing on the coastal community He said the workshop has gave them insight on how oil spill can affected the community, noting that he is very prepared to go out and gave the information to people that are not aware about the effect of oil spill in coastal community He conclude that oil production come with economic boom, so most politician are blinded with such economic boom of oil production in a country, so they are not giving out monetary to these people that are producing this oil. ‘S/Leone: Destination for Sacred Materials Land Minister The Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. TuradSenesie has disclosed that Sierra Leone is a destination for secured investment. He was speaking to a group of power production investo0rs from China, who are currently visiting the country to explore and discuss investment opportunities. The tear-om Shenzhen Energy Group/SunonAsogli Power was led by the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Mrs.Francess Anderson The President of Asogli State Council, TogbeAfede XIV, disclosed to the minister that they were in Sierra Leone to be part of the country’s power supply solution, while requesting the support of the minister for the provision of the required investment land. He disclosed that their

=DIPLOMACY= The War in the Shadows: Challenges of Fighting Terrorism Xinjiang, in the far western land of China, hosted one of the world’s first and most important trade routes known as the Silk Road, which linked ancient Chinese civilization to the West through the Eurasian continent. The land of fortune, however, has not always enjoyed tranquility. Thousands of terrorist attacks from 1990 through 2016 killed large numbers of innocent people and hundreds of police officers. Horrific stabbings and bombings wrecked the land, leaving its people in shock, grief and panic. The damage was incalculable while stability in the region quickly deteriorated. Authorities have been trying hard to restore peace to this land. In CGTN’s first three documentaries on fighting terrorism in Xinjiang, we presented never-before-seen footage documenting the frightening tragedies in Xinjiang and the resilience of its people. The fourth exposé “The war in the shadows: Challenges of fighting terrorism in Xinjiang” – the last of the tetralogy – exposes the extremist thinking and the challenges facing China’s efforts to tackle terrorism inside and outside Xinjiang. It gives answers to these questions: Why has violent terrorism continued to plague Xinjiang? For those who were once known as “Two-faced people” among the legal and political elites in Xinjiang, how much damage have they done to anti-terrorism efforts in the region? How come poisonous education materials alleging ethnic victimization and “Turkic heroes” have been used for 13 years in primary and middle schools? Why must we stop the invisible hand of foreign advocacy abetting violent terrorism infiltrating our country? The documentary reveals the methods used by extremist and separatist forces including the “Two-faced people” among the region’s high-ranking officials, as well as how music and videos advocating violent terrorism and inciting ethnic hatred penetrated the region. Plus, it also tells of the very hardship police officers have been mired in for decades. Over the past four years, violence has largely been contained, giving way to rapid urbanization and economic growth. Safety and tranquility never come easy. But it’s only a preliminary victory in China’s fight against terrorism. The documentary is 55 minutes long and consists of four parts: “The network,” “Enemies within,” “The textbooks,” and “The black hands.” ent 1;\

By Mustapha Dumbuya Circular Road Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the central part of Freetown and has faced serious challenges over the years as encroachment and dumping of waste has been daily activities by people leaving around. RugiatuMansaray councillor constitution 124 word 428 in that part of Freetown an exclusive interview said that as a councillor her role is to make sure that she work closely with the Freetown City Council in monitoring the activities of the people and provide sanitation for them. She reaffirm that “I have meet with all of the people that have built houses within the cemetery and when asked some reply to me that they have a list agreement with the Freetown City Council (FCC)” Cancillormansary  also said that she have quiet aware of people dumping cabbages within the cemetery and that she has been giving series of warning resident leaving within that environ. She express the fact that she has faced with series of interview with regards of people dumping waste in that part of the cemetery adding that she has also be engaging the mayor of Freetown on that issue. She also said that she has asked write a formal letter chief administration of the Freetown City Council and copy the Mayor of Freetown and the mayor has assured her that very soon they will erect fence from that part of the cemetery. The councillor intimated that the only solution is to erect fence and that would only solve the problem and assured that with the help of the mayor she will make sure that they solve all the issues surrounding the cemetery. She also clarified allegations that some grave diggers were requesting money from the people after they have paid the sum amount of twenty thousand Leones (Le20,000) for grave digging but which she said such allegation  is baseless and it has never happen. She explained that when you have corpse you will only go to Cauncil and they will asked the individual to pay the sum of Le20,000 and a receipt will be issued to that individual which you will be taking to the Clark at the Cemetery for grave digging. She called on the government of Sierra Leone that they should support the Mayor of Freetown on her flagship program Transform Freetown and improve sanitation. She said that quiet recently the Russian government gives over 160 cabbage trucks to the government of Sierra Leone to improve the sanitation of the country and hope to see the distribution of those trucks to enhance their work efficiently. Alie mammie kamara is the Clark of the cemetery said that the dumping of the waste from the unknown people has been a major concern to him. Mr.Kamara said that he has been monitoring all the time hoping to see some of this people engaging to this activities but seen anyone of them. He said both the Freetown mayor and the Councillors have given him hope that some part of the cemetery will be fenced very soon.

ERNEST KOROMA & OTHERS TO BE VERIFIED Mid-Term Census Goes Ahead Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000182 EndHTML:0000044916 StartFragment:0000021005 EndFragment:0000044876 SourceURL:file:///C:\Users\Mr.%20Sesay\Desktop\TUESDAY%206TH%20STORIES.docx The Biometric Verification of Government Pensioners, Personal Details in Sierra Leone, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) is going ahead with collaboration of the Ministry of Finance and the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) will undertake a Biometric Verification of Government Pensioners whose Personal Details have been provided by NASSIT and the Accountant General’s Department. The exercise started on 6th April and will run through 22ndApril, 2021, from 08:00am to 5:00pm daily. The purpose of the exercise is to sanitise the Government Pension Payroll in order to make it transparent and accountable. The Verification exercise will be done simultaneously at all NASSIT 33 Pension Pay Points and NCRA Offices across the country. For Pensioners in the Western Area Urban, Verification will be done at the Sierra Leone Police Officers’ Mess, Kingtom Freetown. The Authority further wishes to inform the general public that this Verification exercise will target all Government Pensioners (Civil/Public servants) that includes: – Former Presidents and Vice Presidents – Retired Ministers and Deputy Ministers – Retired Members of Parliament – Retired Judges – Retired NEC Chairpersons and Commissioners – Retired Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of NaCSA – Retired Military and Police Officers on Government Pension Payroll – Retired Custom Officers on Government Pension Payroll – Beneficiaries of Military Officers Killed in Action (KIAs) & Wounded in Action(WIAs) All Government Pensioners paid through the Bank Therefore, all active Government Pensioners are encouraged to go to their usual NASSIT Pension Pay Points and NCRA offices in their respective Districts for Verification. Sick/bed-ridden Pensioners who might have changed their locations or addresses, are advised to send their Wards/Aids either to the nearest NASSIT Pay Point and the NCRA Offices in their locations during the exercise to update their contact addresses.  Additionally, NCRA Verification Roaming Teams will visit all sick/bed-ridden Pensioners at their respective contact addresses submitted by NASSIT. For Military Officers Killed in Action (KIA), beneficiaries/ survivors must come along with their Discharged Books and all other relevantdocuments. Furthermore, Pensioners resident abroad are requested to provide a notarized Life Certificate bearing the name, Pension Number and any authentic internationally recognized Legal Identity details with a recent passport size photo of the member. The aforementioned documents should be scanned and sent via email to info@ncra.gov.sl or send hard copy to the Director General, NCRA, 2 Walpole Street Freetown. Government Pensioners currently resident in Sierra Leone are requested to present Government Pension ID Card and any of the following documents for the Verification: – Voter ID Card – Government Pension Payment Receipt – Bank ID Card – Cancelled Cheque leaf (for those with Current Bank Accounts) – NCRA Registration Certificate – Retirement Letter from Pensioner’s last institution of work or Discharged Book for Military Officers All Government Pensioners are encouraged to cooperate with the NCRA in order to have a successful Verification exercise. Pensioners who fail to present themselves for the Verification may not be considered for inclusion into the cleaned Government Pension Payroll. Mendes FindingColleague Mendes As‘Irksome’ Op-Ed by Oswald Hanciles “The style of the release, its unusual length, reads like that of students at university flaunting their jingoistic intellectual prowess; and worse, it reeks with that individual and collective egoistic-ism of too many of the Mende-speaking educated elite who dominate in the SLPP – that which non-Mendes do find so irksome.  Mayor/SLPPVs. Ignorance/Enlightenment I was bemused and amused after reading the March 31, 2021 “Press Statement” by the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), with the pedantic word in its title “Incendiarism”, accusing the Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, of “Hate Speech”.  What triggered my mirth the most were these words in paragraph 3: “After keenly listening to the five different audios, transcribing the words into English, having our own team of Linguists, Psychologists, Anthropologists, Sociologists, Political Scientists and Security Experts analyse the contents….”  The style of the Release, its unusual length, reads like that of   students at university flaunting their jingoistic intellectual prowess; and worse, it reeks with that individual and collective egoistic-ism of too many of the Mende-speaking educated elite who dominate in the SLPP – that which non-Mendes do find so irksome.  If it is a political document, it sure is unlikely to win over new supporters to the SLPP from ‘the other side’.  Of course, the Release has very strong points against the Mayor – and I hope it can be better put into context and translated into key indigenous languages like Krio, Temne, Mende, Fullah, Limba. My disdain for the intellectual-sober- rating of the Release has been the SLPP claim of assembling a  “team” of  “…Psychologists, Anthropologists, Sociologists, Political Scientists…” How come such a “team” exists, and the economy has been crimping; poverty has been deepening; inflation has been spiking; environmental degradation worsening…? I now throw a gauntlet down to both the SLPP and the APC. The APC should also come up with their own “team” of psychologists, sociologists….etc.  And, both parties that have governed Sierra Leone since Independence in 1961  should also include among their teams the ‘Tiffman-logists’; and put in the current, and past, commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the mix – to ferret out the many ‘TIFFMAN dem’ in both parties.  The SLPP Release metaphorically tries to put the “Mayor of Freetown” on a therapy couch; in forgetting to bring out the historicity and  the symbolism  of “FREETOWN”, it is the SLPP that has gone on a therapy couch.  Freetown is the capital city (and commercial nerve center) of  Sierra Leone.  The city was founded by British naval Lieutenant John Clarkson, and freed  American  slaves from Nova Scotia (modern Canada) in the late 18th century. “Freetown” evolved from the idea pushed by famous  abolitionist, William Wilberforce, to send to Africa freed slaves from the Americas who were roaming the streets of London pathetically poor. The first groups of blacks, about 400 Londoners, arrived in Sierra Leone in 1787, and established