The Judiciary of Sierra Leone under the leadership of His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has for the first time in its existence goes digital by launching a website that would serve as a repository of judiciary information. The move, according to the Chief Justice, is geared towards the digitalization of the judiciary and transforming it to match with international best practices by providing a website that gives timely information on all judicial and legal issues in the country. The occasion was also used to launch the maiden edition of the judiciary magazine with the name “The Judiciary”. In his statement, the Hon. Chief Justice said that the launching of the first Magazine christened, “The Judiciary”, will serve as one of the conduits of accountability and transparency to the people of Sierra Leone and to build a reliable relationship with journalists. “The Judiciary of Sierra Leone over the years had been very conservative. Modernization has no room for conservatism in the legal system and justice cannot be delivered in secrecy.” the Hon. Chief Justice stated.  He said the Judiciary under his leadership has expanded full operation to places where it was not known. He mentioned Kabala, Kailahun, Moyamba and Port Loko which have enjoyed the deployment of resident judges for the first time. He stressed that in a deliberate attempt to take the judiciary closer to the people, his administration continues to hold criminal sessions in Magburaka, Karene, Pujehun, Falaba and Mattru Jong. The Chief Justice further noted that the tremendous gains made from the High Court Criminal Sessions prompted the Sudan Judiciary through United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to consult him in trying to replicate same in their country. Crediting the judicial reforms to the support from the Government of Sierra Leone, the Chief Justice disclosed that plans are underway to have resident judges in the Western Area Rural with ultramodern court building. “All these land mark developments are happening because of the financial and other relevant supports from the current government to the judiciary,” he said, adding that we need more support, so I’m calling on donors to partner with the Judiciary in ensuring that justice is delivered in a more effective and expeditious manner.” In his keynote address, the grand Chief Launcher who doubles as the Executive Director, Strategic Communications Unit in the office of the President, Dr. Patrick K. Muana, said that the biggest challenge the Judiciary is faced with is public mistrust. This, he continued, is badly affecting the reputation of the Judiciary. He noted that the Judiciary is the most blamed arm of government when things go wrong. He reiterated that this belief has negativity affected the public perception in believing that equal and fair justice in Sierra Leone are impossible. He stressed that the misconceived public perception about the Judiciary is far from what the reality on the ground is, adding that such gaps were created by the conservative approach of the Judiciary in handling public perception and opinion. “The Judiciary of Sierra Leone is more visible today than ever before and it is appropriate now for the leadership of the Judiciary to affirmatively address this reputation problem through effective, swift public education activities and information dissemination,” he urged. He encouraged the Judiciary’s leadership to ensure that they first break the news to the public and educate them on how certain legal decisions are arrived at, the effective use of social media particularly Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter to name but a few. He went on to note that such move serves as link or source for opinion leaders to get reliable and credible information for effective dissemination at community levels.  He said amid existing opportunities for the Judiciary to train journalists on accurate court reporting, there’s also need to caution them on the rights and privacy of others. Dr. Muana officially launched the judiciary magazine and opened the website to the public with copies of the magazine were distributed to invited guests including the Inspector General of Police, the Acting Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services, Honorable Judges, journalists and other eminent personalities. “At Lifeline Nehemiah Projects we turn around the lives of young people, ” Executive Director Mr. Prince Tommy Williams, Executive Director of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects Mr. Jabba Pessima, Head of Training,  Betteh Tumara Technical and Vocational Institute Cross section of the trainees at Betteh Tumara By Abdul Hassan Fackie The Executive Director of the Lifeline Nehemiah Projects at Kuntorloh in the east of Freetown has said that Lifeline offers young people the opportunity to reclaim their lives and realize their full potentials. Addressing students and stakeholders at the Grand Launching of the Skills Development                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Â&nbs p;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Â&nb sp;    Project at the Hotel 5-10 in Kissy on Thursday, 22nd April, 2021, Mr. Prince Tommy Williams  paid glowing tribute to the Founder of the Lifeline Nehemiah Projects,  the late Rev. Richard Mandewa Cole whose vision for the young people of Sierra Leone he described as prophetic as his work has continued to rehabilitate thousands of young men and women and transform them into useful citizens who are contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. Mr. Williams revealed that since the start of Lifeline in 1996, the institution has provided a home to over one thousand five hundred boys and girls, created educational and professional training facilities for thousands more, most of whom have become professionals and positively impacting their families, communities and the country. He further disclosed that in partnership with Lifeline Network International, the Big Lottery and Comic Relief, under the Betteh Tumara Vocational and Technical Training Institute,  Lifeline has equipped over one thousand, two hundred young Sierra Leoneans with Income generating and vocational and technical skills from between 2012 to 2018. He also revealed that in 2020 Lifeline accessed funding from the World Bank through the Government of Sierra Leone to train about three hundred young men and women in Information Technology, Hospitality, Motor Mechanics, Electrical Installation and Plumbing. Mr. Williams maintained that their vocational and technical training

The newly appointed United States (US) Ambassador to Sierra Leone  David Reimer has issued words of guarantee to the chief justice of Sierra Leone Babatunde Edwards to support judicial reforms. David Reimer, on his first courtesy visit on the Honourable Chief Justice, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, assured to strengthen cooperation with the judiciary. Speaking today in the Chambers of the Hon. Chief Justice, the US Ambassador said that his visit is part of his familiarization tour to key decision makers in Sierra Leone to foster goodwill and solidarity. He said, “we have a good history of cooperation between the two countries through the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US/INL) program,” noting that he had received reports of remarkable progress made in the justice sector. “Before I came here, I spoke with representatives from INL in Washington and they were pleased with the program and the progress that’s being made and certainly, we would want to continue, if not that particular program, but another program.” He disclosed that his government is open to helping the judiciary address its priority needs. The US/INL program is a US funded project, implemented by other partners such as the UNDP to primarily supporting the “From Prisons to Correctional Project,” improving the institutional capacity of Correctional Facilities in accordance with International Human Rights standards; strengthening the capabilities of Correctional Staff to improve inmates and staff welfare and to ensure rehabilitation mechanisms for suitable reintegration of inmates in society among others. Receiving the US Ambassador, the Honorable Chief Justice stated that the Judiciary’s top areas of priority ranged from improving access to justice and enhancing expeditious trials. He said the Judiciary has established the first Sexual Offences Model Court with huge success stories, noting that plans are under way to replicate same in other parts of the country. He said even though funds are being provided by the current government, their hands are widely opened to receive support to establish the Sexual Offences Model Court across the country.  “The President has waged war on rape and other sexual offences and we should be improving our investigators as well as the Medical Doctors because they provide the evidence that come to court for the successful prosecution of cases,” the Hon. Chief Justice said. He continued that they are in dire need of support to establish the Courts across the country. While commending the US government for their support to the justice sector in reforming the Criminal Procedure Act, providing training for judicial as well as Law Officers and the INL program, the Hon. Chief Justice said they will welcome any support from the US government. The visit was concluded with the handing over of the Judiciary’s maiden magazine to the US Ambassador and the inspection of the Sexual offences model Court and other facilities at the main Law Courts building.   MTHE Engages CJCLDS on Capacity Building The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education formerly intimated Church of Jesus Christ- Later Days Saints (CJCLDS) on its required help from development partners to strengthen the country’s education sector. Deliberating on the purpose of the meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Mr. Gilbert Cooper, thanked CJCLDS for the help they have been rendering to the country over the years, referencing MTHE’s previous engagement trips with them, which led to the Ministry’s realisation of some tools and equipment up to the tune of $20,000. He noted the importance of Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) as far as national economic growth is concerned, adding that people trained in the areas of skills have a better opportunity of employing themselves, which is quite uncommon in the mainstream. The West African Humanitarian Specialist in the Church of Jesus Christ-Later Days Saints, Mr. Mahmud Labinjo, uttered his heartfelt honour to be in such a strategic meeting. He mentioned that Later Days Saints’ Humanitarian Unit was established to provide aid to countries in need, and as a Unit, they have over the years undertaken many projects in Sierra Leone, approximated about $10 Million in the areas of education, clean water, food security, refugee issues etc. He encouraged MTHE to articulate its needs to them in order to how to render support. In her PowerPoint presentation, the Director of Research, Planning and Development, Madam Sia Fasuluku, started off by giving a brief background on MTHE’s establishment, noting President Bio’s prior commitment to dividing the Ministry of Education Science and Technology into two distinct but interrelated Ministries that would be mandated to pay attention to specific areas. She noted that the Ministry would require help in the area of providing the manpower needed for the labour market, providing the requisite equipment and tools to enhance the practical work of the Ministry, ensuring that instructors are well trained, engaging in agro-business, working with the Church to get Rtd. Professors come back to the country and help develop the education sector etc. Agriculture Minister Swears to Serve S/Leone      The New Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Abu Bakarr Karim, has subscribed to the oath of office before His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio during a brief ceremony inside the office of the President. The President congratulated the minister on his assumption of office as the substantive, having served in that capacity before as acting head, adding that the sector was a major component of the Human Capital Development programme of the New Direction government. He further noted that as a country Sierra Leone was struggling to feed its people, and therefore challenged the new minister to make sure that food security was a priority. “Congratulations and I wish you well. You can always count on me for the support that will make us all proud,“ he assured. In his statement, the minister thanked President Bio for the confidence reposed in him to serve the country in the Ministry of Agriculture. He noted that he was aware of the fact that

Sierra Leone has received pledges of support from the leaders of the highest governing bodies of football in the world and in the continent of Africa to develop the beautiful game in the football mad nation.  President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA, Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino and the Confédération Africaine de Football, CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, have called on His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and promised to improve on the country’s football infrastructure to be able to host the African Cup of Nations. The vows to develop the game from the football giants came against a backdrop of acrimony and animosity that has rocked the football family in Sierra Leone in the past decade.   Sierra Leone’s Minister of Sport, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, welcomed the delegation from the football world governing bodies, saying that it was history in the making that the country was hosting the sitting presidents of FIFA and CAF for the first time. “I am not surprised. You must have heard about government’s assiduous strides and relentless efforts at developing and supporting football from the grassroots to the national level,” he noted, adding that the present government had supported sport, particularly football, more than all others in the history of Sierra Leone. While introducing the visitors, the President of Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA, Isha Johansen, said that their visit was as timely and historic as it was meaningful to the country. She thanked them for choosing Sierra Leone as one of their three Africa nation tours, the others being Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.   FIFA’s President Infantino told the gathering that it was an honour and a pleasure to be in Sierra Leone, saying that they were very committed to helping and supporting Africa shine in the world. “We know how important football is in Africa. Football is talent, football is passion in Africa. In Sierra Leone, in particular, football is not just a game, football is life. I think the time has come where we have to move forward and look into the future. “FIFA and CAF stand for due process, for integrity, for democracy and to make sure that we can once again put aside all negativities that have tarnished the image of football in the country in the last few years. Let us move to promote a positive and united approach because we need unity in this country,” he urged.  The Swiss and Italian national, who has been president at FIFA since 26 February 2016, also called on all stakeholders to work together to make football very attractive and a way of life. He said everyone needed to work together for the development of the country, particularly in Sierra Leone where football was much more important. CAF’s President Patrice Motsepe first thanked President Bio for his honesty, integrity and brotherly exchange of ideas, before calling on all to work together and with him in the best interest of football and a beautiful country. He confessed that the President represented a new breed of leadership not just for Sierra Leone but for Africa, adding that the country had also produced exceptional football players and expressed hope that it would continue to produce great players. He pledged CAF and FIFA’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone with the requisite infrastructure to host the African Cup of Nations in the not-too-distant future. In a brief statement, President Bio welcomed the Presidents of FIFA and CAF to his beautiful country, noting that football remained a fashion that the people of his country loved and cherished. “It is one of the uniting forces in Sierra Leone. We are a very polarised when it comes to politics, but when it comes to football you can see the passion, you can see the joy. It is a different Sierra Leone, especially with football,” he assured. He also stated that normally when passion clashed, there were always bits of challenges, but emphasised that the country looked forward to an SLFA leadership that would move the country as a nation. He advised that the people should not be deprived of the game that every Sierra Leonean loved. President Bio further stated that besides the politics of football and the few challenges with regard to infrastructure, the people of his country were friendly and good. He called on the leadership of the two world football governing bodies to invest in the infrastructure of the game in the country. “On behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone, I want to thank you and would like you to come again. Thank you for coming and you are welcome to Sierra Leone,” he concluded Orange SL Introduces 4G+   By Feima Sesay Orange SL the leading telecommunication company in the country has Introduced a new 4G+ internet service for its customers that could double twice the speed of the 4G service. This new service has further given Orange SL a competitive advantage over all telecoms operators in the country through the launching of the unique 4G+  The disclosure was made by the head of legal and corporate affairs for Orange SL Madam Haffie Haffner during a press briefing held at Hill Station in Freetown. She further told journalists that while the company looked forward to launching 5G network, it had taken the lead to introduce the new service to ease internet communication. Madam Haffner also informed journalist that over 30 sites in Freetown have got the service, and customers could access it adding that Orange had come a long way in the corporate world and that within five years, they have achieved the highest quality of service in the country. Madam Haffner said when Orange SL took over in 2016, the company was faced with number of challenges, but they had been surmounted through committed leadership. She also touched on the viability of the company`s public relations portfolio, adding that  Orange SL took pride in an elaborate and viable Cooperate Social Responsibility(CSR) which had been transformed into a foundation headed by