SLAJ Commends Judiciary of Sierra Leone The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) welcomes and applauds the decision of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone to allow, for the first time in its entire history, the national broadcaster (SLBC) to enter the courtroom with their cameras and tape recorders and report live on the proceedings. For this privilege to start at the Supreme Court, the highest Court in the land, during delivery of a landmark judgment on Election Petition, is in itself not only worthy of commendation but gives an indication of the new thinking of the country’s justice system. “This as a huge boost to freedom of the media to bring important information to the people; and the promotion of transparency and accountability in the dispensation of justice,” said SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla. Furthermore, SLAJ wishes to appreciate Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards for his leadership in adopting this policy, and the role played by the Director-General of the SLBC, Joseph Egbenda Kapuwa Esq., (who is one of us) in convincing the Judiciary to open up to the public. Meanwhile, SLAJ and its affiliate body the Sierra Leone Court Reporters Association (SLCRA), who have also been lobbying the leadership of the Judiciary in this regard, hope that the privilege will not only stop with this election petition ruling, and should be extended to other media houses.   Kailahun Resident Judge Sentences Mother For Trafficking Daughter Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, Luawa Chiefdom in Kailahun Town, Thursday, 22nd April, 2020: The resident High Court judge of Kailahun District, Hon. Justice Francis Banks-Kamara, has sentenced Satta Vandy and her brother for child trafficking contrary law. Accused Satta Vandy, the mother of the victim, her mate-Hawa Bockarie and her brother-Nabieu Vandy were before the Kailahun District High Court Judge to answer to two counts of child trafficking and conspiracy contrary to section 2 (1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005. According to the particulars of offence, the accused persons on the 8th day of October, 2020 at Pendembu town in the Upper Bambara chiefdom, Kailahun District in the eastern province of the Republic of Sierra Leone trafficked Jattu Vandy. The 1st accused Satta Vandy and 3rd accused Nabieu Vandy pleaded guilty. The 2nd accused, step-mother to the victim pleaded not guilty. After the plea in mitigation by the 1st and 3rd accused, Justice Banks-Kamara said he has never come across such a mother like accused Satta Vandy who was so wicked to take her biological daughter for sale. “Child trafficking is an offence under our law,” said Justice Banks-Kamara, noting that it is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, kidnapping of a child for the purpose of slavery, forced labor and exploitation. In his judgement, the Hon. Judge sentenced the1st accused Satta Vandy to five years imprisonment and the 3rd accused Nabieu Vandy sentenced to four years imprisonment. The judge ordered that the alleged purchaser, Sopheana, should appear before him. He also ordered the Exhibit Officer at the Kailahun police division to appear before him and produce the motorcycle that was reportedly used to transport the accused. He ordered that the Officer in Command (Kargbo) at the Pendembu police and wife of the Paramount chief, Madam Lucy Gordon, who was the first point of contact should also appear during the next Court session in May, 2021. Meanwhile, bail was granted to the 2nd accused. NEW U.S AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON ACC COMMISSIONER The new Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone, David Reimer, paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, Francis Ben Kaifala, at his 3 Gloucester Street Office in Freetown, earlier today, Wednesday 21st April, 2021. The purpose of the Ambassador’s visit was to meet with the recently awarded International Anti-Corruption Champion by the US Government and to consolidate the already existing ties between his Embassy and the ACC as a key driver within the governance architecture of Sierra Leone. They also discussed the vision and drive of the ACC, the focus in the next few years, and how the US Government can continue supporting the great work that the ACC is doing. In his statement, Ambassador Reimer congratulated Commissioner Kaifala for his recent recognition by the  U.S State Department as “International Anti-Corruption Champion”, and encouraged him, on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, to continue doing more.  Ambassador Reimer admonished the Commissioner and team to remain steadfast in the fight against corruption, as it is currently producing great results for the country.  He assured of his Government’s continued support to the ongoing fight against corruption, adding that the fight benefits both Sierra Leone and US interests within the framework of the Biden administration and going forward. In his response, the Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala, expressed deep appreciation for the visit of the Ambassador and his team, stressing the need for increased cooperation and support of the US Government, through the Embassy, in the effort to ensure conscientious and lasting corruption control in Sierra Leone. He updated the Ambassador and team on the work, aspirations, current investigations and other activities of the ACC and thanked them for their continued valuable support in ensuring a strong campaign against corruption with visible impact and results. The Commissioner also outlined the challenges that the work of the Commission is faced with, including limited resources, capacity constraints, toxic socio-political environment, etc.; but hastened to add that the Commission will continue doing its very best to keep producing results notwithstanding those challenges. The former Fulbright Scholar ended by expressing further appreciation to the U.S State Department for his recent recognition as an “International Anti-Corruption Champion” which was as a result of the remarkable and result-oriented Anti-corruption campaign that is being led in Sierra Leone,  and assured the Ambassador  that,  “such prestigious recognition will only further inspire me to continue to do more for the country.” He also thanked the United States Government for choosing Sierra Leone

In an effort to make way for the free flow of traffic in the Central Business District, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority – SLRSA in collaboration with the traffic division of the Sierra Leone Police has conducted a joint operation to clamp down on lawless bike riders and thus decongest the CBD. The operation is been spearheaded by  SLRSA’s Deputy Executive Director Mr. James B. Bio with support from the Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety, Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Kapri Saidu Kamara. Mr. James B. Bio said the operation is a presidential directive which is in line with SLRSA quest to decongest the CBD for a free flow of traffic. The SLRSA Deputy Executive Direct said the Proliferation of bikes within the CBD has become a security concern and is causing so much trouble for law enforcement agencies like the SLP and the SLRSA. “The proliferation of motor bikes plying the CBD is a serious security challenge to law enforcement agencies. We at SLRSA do have a duty to clamp down on whatever affects our operations and that of the livelihood and safety of other road users.” Mr. James B. Bio said. The Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety AIG Kapri Saidu Kamara said the Mandate of the Sierra Leone Police is to protect life and property plus anything connected thereto. AIG K. S Kamara said as a traffic law enforcement body, the SLP finds the proliferation of motor bikes in the CBD as very worrisome and the situation do pose a lot of challenges in executing their mandate. He maintained that the operation is a presidential directive and that the SLP is mandated to execute it to the later to restore sanity on our roads. Mr. Abdul Karim Dumbuya, Head of Communications and Outreach at SLRSA said the joint operation team on Wednesday 21st April 2021, apprehended about 150 commercial and private motor bikes within the Central Business District – CBD for violation of various traffic laws and each owner would be penalised according to the dictates of the law. He however maintained that the operation is ongoing and the public would be updated accordingly. He said SLRSA is committed to ensuring the safety of all road users. World Vision hands over Water Projects to Guma By Salifu Conteh In complimenting Government’s effort through the Ministry of Health and sanitation and water Resources, World Vision Sierra Leone one of the liable and developmentally oriented Non-governmental Organization, yesterday 21st April 2021 under its Sustainable Water Project (WASH Project) handed over two water projects for Ola During and Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) at Fourah Bay Road and the Macauley Street Government Hospital respectively to Guma Water Company. The Non-governmental Organization also handed over the work plan for the total renovation and rehabilitation of the Macauley Street Government Hospital to God’s Gift Construction and General Services. The symbolic handing over of the project was separately done by the Health Specialist World Vision Saffa Andrew Koroma to the Deputy Director of Guma Ing. Francis Hinga Lahai on behalf of the Director and the Ministry of Water Resources, and also to the contractor of God’s Gift Construction witnessed by the Commissioner for Human Right  Commission, Doctors, Matrons and Nurses of both hospitals. In a laconic statement as a way of an overview on the project, Saffa Andrew Koroma said the sustainable water project for Freetown is a project under the COVID 19 response program and opined that water is paramount in terms of usage. He added that as an International Christian Organization working in relief development and advocacy with a vision focus on life in all it fullness for every child, cannot be achieved unless the child has a wellbeing, therefore it is imperative that every child that comes to these facilities should have life in all it fullness, pregnant women who normally access these facilities for delivery should have access to water without any impediment. He narrated that the project will include a lot of work that Guma would do to ensure perfect completion which would add to the positive actions that comes from the hospitals in terms of child delivery and care. The material cost of the contract is four hundred million Leones (Le400, 000,000.00), he disclosed to expedite the work.   The Macauley Street Hospital which was engulfed by inferno, Saffa said World Vision will not only hand over the Water project but also the work plan for the total rehabilitation and renovation of the Hospital with standard facilities befitting same. On behalf of his Boss the Director of Guma and the Ministry of Water Resources, the Deputy Director of Guma Ing. Francis Hinga Lahai said they are moved by the news making rounds in the past months and immediate dispatched a team of experts who discovered many problems in the Hospitals and key among is the inaccessibility of water, corrode pipes, poor storage facilities and that only one line runs through the hospital hence derailed the swift running of the water.  However with the available support from World Vision, Guma will now connect another line to the Hospitals. He reaffirmed Guma’s committed to the program in ensuring that the issue of water be a history in the country, noting that it is the vision of the President that by 2028  water should be available for all and sundry. The Commissioner of the Human Right Commission, Madam Patricia Nasu Ndanema said issues of health, life and water are human right issues and the commission is deeply concern and will continually monitor the work as it is done. Dilating on the scope of the work Ing. Patrick Gaima from World Vision said they will be doing connections from main Kissy Road to the Hospital at Ola During and PCMH, increase the storage tank, give power to the existing tower, do internal repairs of the ceiling, plumbing, changing the toilet seats, the Air Conditioning, taps and basins among others, and that the work is slated to

The opposition leaders of the All peoples Congress (APC)National Grand Coalition(NGC)and the Coalition For Change party(C4C) in parliament  has on Friday 23rd April, 2021 issued a press statement over the humiliation of some leaders of political parties as they delivered a letter to the president of Sierra Leone. The press statement continued in pinpointing that peaceful events such as the delivery of letters to presidents are regular occurrences in working democracies.  In furtherance, the parties with representation in parliament urged the ruling SLPP government to inculcate the principle of inclusive dialogue and consultation in its governance strategy. The release added that the ruling government should always dialogue and engage in consultation with political parties especially on critical issues of immense national interest. Below is the press statement.                      At a Wedding Reception…   Pres Bio Lauds RCB Managing Director President Maada Bio has praised the managing director of Rokel Commercial Bank at a matrimonial ceremony of the Deputy Managing Director(DMD) Mr. Emmanuel Sahr Borbor, which was organized at the Bintumani Conference Center in Aberdeen, Freetown.  The President was conspicuously in attendance to grace the wedding ceremony of a very eager and anxious looking bride and bridesgroom. The ceremony was very colourful with all the pomp and pageantry one would expect from the carefully planned occasion. It was a beautiful ceremony and graced by elites from around the Country. It was during the reception ceremony that the President was called upon to make a statement to address the Bride and Groom. Being a man of few words, he wasted no time in admonishing the couple and wishing them a happy married life together. At this juncture, Mr. President decided to break away from tradition and turn his focus on the Managing Director (MD), Dr.Ekundiyo Walton Gilpin of the Sierra Leone Rokel Commercial Bank.  His Excellency commended Dr. Gilpin for turning the fortunes of the Bank around from what had become a failing Institution to now a profit making bank in such a short space of time. He acknowledged that the Bank was on the brink of collapse until it was rescued a few years ago by the current MD, Dr. Ekundiyo Walton Gilpin. He went on to address him personally referring to him by his first name with his gaze firmly fixed on him, as he thanked him and spoke of how very appreciative he was of the work he had done and continues to do unabatedly. He emphasized on his robustness in helping fulfilling his dream and promise to the Nation “for mek Salone beteh”. He ended by stating how proud he was of the Teamwork the two men had exhibited and hope that they would continue to work together to take the Bank to even greater heights. He expressed hope that other Institutions would follow in their footsteps to make this Country great again. Few people ever hear these incredibly genuine words “I appreciate you”. Therefore coming from the first gentleman of the Country at such an August event was indeed a testament to the hard work, zest, passion and commitment shown by Dr. Gilpin since he assumed office, which his able and supportive Deputy MD draws inspiration from. “We wish him success, God’s guidance and direction; and implore him to continue to press on and not be distracted by naysayers as your work speaks for itself”. The president entreated.   MTHE Bids Farewell to Malaysian Scholarship Awardee As part of his unwavering commitment to strengthening the country’s human capital, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, has, at his Ministry’s Conference Room officially presented traveling tickets and passport to Ellie Joseph Cooper in pursuit of a BSc. Hons. in Business Administration at the Albukhary International University in Malaysia. This formal presentation was preceded by series of applications received by the Ministry, of which five applicants were fairly nominated, three for BSc. Hons. in Business Administration and two for a degree in Elementary Education. Ellie Joseph Cooper ended up being successfully selected by Albukhary International University. According to Prof. Wurie, Joseph Cooper is going to Malaysia to serve as an Ambassador for Sierra Leone, and therefore, he encouraged him to make the country proud. The Minister admonished the candidate to be cognizant of the diversified cultural backgrounds of other international students who will as well be pursuing academic programmes in the country, urging him to be in a position to adapt in such situations. Ellie Joseph Cooper thanked the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education for providing him with such a life-changing platform, noting his full commitment to the course and his dedication to coming back as a Business Administrator to contribute to national development. Analyzing hate messages on social media and our reactions?  By Sahr Sewa Apparently, most of us can’t overstate how profoundly gullible our society has proven itself to be. We find ourselves trapped by the hook of politically-motivated inciting messages. Our minds tend to be passive when much is needed from us, and we only become active in a bid to hide behind the mask of patriotism. We become extremely active when we want to exhibit how quickly we can be tricked into upholding what is detrimental to Sierra Leone’s democratic foundation. Social media have in recent times been clustered with very unwarranted messages aiming at influencing our responses and reactions to situations in a negative fashion. Consequently, very unfavorable outcomes are what we usually get. We have become so entrenched in ideological shackles to the point of ignoring what binds us together as a country. We often listen and adhere to whatever resonates with us, even if it is at the expense of national peace and stability. Currently, a good number of our population is in frequent use of social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc.) Before now, our reliance was mainly on professional media outlets to get updates on current happenings. Now, whatever happens spreads on social media within the quickest time-frame as possible. And only few