By Elizabeth Campbell Sierra Leone’s ambassador to the Islamic republic of Iran, accredited  to Armenia, His Excellency Ambassador Alie Badara Kamara, presented copies of his Credentials to the Armenian  Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gorgyan. Talking about the bilateral relations between the two countries, Ambassador Kamara said Sierra Leone and Armenia have a 2 decades relationship, but he observed that the two nations have not fully explored the strong ties that should exist between them, especially in the area of business opportunities for the benefit of all. Ambassador Alie Badara Kamara said that Sierra Leone is open for business and is seeking serious investors who are ready for business opportunities and to partner in ways that will promote Sierra Leone and Armenia. The Sierra Leonean ambassador invited the business community to come to Sierra Leone to invest and he encouraged them to meet with other sectors to see how they can be supported while doing business in Sierra Leone and assured them of a good working environment. Receiving copies of the Credentials, the deputy Foreign Minister Vahe  Gorgyah said it is a historic moment  receiving His Excellency Alie Badara Kamara  for the first time visiting their country. He said they are ready to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. He said the president of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian will be pleased to welcome the ambassador in the presidential palace for the first time. HRCSL Commemorates African Human Rights Day Africa Human Rights Day is commemorated every year on 21st October. This commemoration marks the adoption in October 1981 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which is the founding treaty of the African Human Rights System.  Its coming into existence was a solemn undertaking by member states of the African Union to promote and safeguard freedom, justice, equality and fundamental human rights in the continent. The Africa Charter sets standards and establishes the groundwork for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa. Since the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 40 years ago, it has formed the basis for people to claim rights in an a regional  forum via the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights. It further emphasizes that human rights violations could no longer be swept under the carpet. This year’s event is celebrated under the theme: ‘AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS 40 YEARS AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS. Sierra Leone as a State Party to the Charter should use this theme for self-evaluation and subsequently use this occasion to raise human rights awareness, reflect and recommit to the solemn undertaking by the African leaders and African peoples to respect, promote and protect human rights in the country and the continent at large. The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) as the national Institution mandated by HRCSL Act No. 9 of 2004 to promote and protect the human rights of all in Sierra Leone wishes to use this day to re-echo the obligation of all State Actors to apply rights-based approach in executing state functions and subsequently ensuring that the rights of citizens are protected. Sierra Leone has made many gains in improving the enjoyments of human rights since the end of the brutal civil war. Many laws that geared towards the protection of the rights of vulnerable and special groups such as women, children and persons with disabilities have been enacted; democratic independent institutions have been established; a lot of resources have been invested in the Police and Judicial systems; bad laws have be reviewed and quite recently H.E. the President Julius Maada Bio amongst others endorsed the Abolition of the Death Penalty by signing the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act, 2021 in fulfillment of several recommendations proffered at national, regional and international levels.  HRCSL reminds government to fulfil its obligation under Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which stipulates that Each State Party shall undertake to submit every two years, from the date the present Charter comes into force, a report on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to give effect to the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed by the present Charter. While the Commission acknowledges some of the existing economic, social, civil and political human rights challenges, let us unity in continuing with this trend of human rights development and build upon the gains made so far, as we yearn to see as per the Commissions vision A Sierra Leone where a culture of human rights prevails and the people respect the rule of law and live in peace and dignity’. The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone therefore calls on Sierra Leoneans to take their human rights alongside with their responsibilities as good citizens clearly stated in Section 13 a -f of the Sierra Leone Constitution, 1991 and also in Chapter 2, Articles 27-29 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. Specially, I will touch on Article 7, which encourages  all Africans To preserve and strengthen positive African cultural values in his relations with other members of the society, in the spirit of tolerance, dialogue and consultation and, in general, to contribute to the promotion of the moral wellbeing of society. The Commission will continue performing its statutory mandate by making investigations into incidents of human rights violations, monitoring detention areas, awareness raising and to use all available avenues to ensure the protection and promotion of rights and freedoms in the country. On behalf of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, I wish everyone a happy Africa Human Rights Day As 495 TAs VOTE… NEW PARAMOUNT CHIEF FOR KPANGA CHIEFDOM As the Kaikai brothers battle for the highest political seat in Kpanga chiefdom, the Tribal Authorities (TAs’) of Kpanga chiefdom have on Tuesday afternoon (19th October 2021) in a run-off election, elected Andrew Ibrahim Jaiah Kaikai as the new Paramount chief of Kpanga Chiefdom, Pujehun District. A total of 495 TAs’ voted in

By Juliana Vandy The Honourable Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has spoken on good governance at the Young Political Leadership School Africa Cohort 8 program held in Monrovia, Liberia on Friday   The Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLS Africa) is a program that contributes to the formation of a new generation of character-driven, politically and socially active leaders that would be accountable, responsive, and accessible to the needs and interests of their citizens and also help to shape the future of their respective countries in the positive direction. The event is part of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development’s political governance program. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony on October 25 2021 and go ahead to facilitate the first session on the elements of good governance. While in Liberia, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh will meet with Liberian President Dr. George Manneh Weah and his Vice, interact with the Liberian media and engage Sierra Leoneans resident in Liberia. The Vice President’s delegation will include the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Youth Affairs, among other government officials. Meanwhile, organizers of the Young Political Leadership School Africa program have expressed gratitude to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia and the Government of Liberia for their support. The Alumni and Convener are expected to present an outstanding Leadership Award to the   Hon. Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. The event is being supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). Forgotten Scissors inside Patient’s Stomach Removed! A patient Zainab  Kamara who went for a Caesarian operation but lost her baby in  Port Loko District  was experiencing constant bleeding and pain after a doctor that operated her forget a pair of scissors inside her stomach that later moved to her  pelvic girdle. She has been suffering with this pain for 7 years and later an X-ray was done on her and the results showed a pair of scissors lodged in her pelvic area. After 7 years the scissors was finally removed by an expert from another country at the Masanga Hospital. According to WIMSAL President Femi Jarret Coker through a Facebook post she called on the Government, Ministry of Health and Sanitation to investigate the Doctor that made such a life-threatening mistake and called on people with similar issues to speak up. SLRSA Treats Parliament Committee with Levity The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Transport and Aviation chaired by Hon. Ambrose Maada Lebby on Tuesday 19th  October 2021 officially concluded four-day visitations to Ministries Departments and Agencies under its supervisory constitutional mandate; to ascertain compliance in the following areas, status report, procurement plan, challenges, and successes During the four-day engagement with MDAs, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Ambrose Maada Lebby said as a committee they are doing their parliamentary functions to monitor and to ascertain compliance with MDAs terms’ of references whilst underscoring the relevance of parliamentary oversight, cognizant to lawmaking, representation, and oversight. He called on MDA’s to put familiarities apart and deliver in the best interest of the nation. “Put politics aside and work diligently based on the manifesto of President Bio’s administration”, he asserted. Addressing MDAs visited, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie emphasized the importance of Parliamentary oversight and urged Officials manning these MDAs to transmit President Bio’s agenda into reality. First visited was the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority in which Committee members were very disappointed to be treated with levity by SLRSA officials for failing to produce adequate documentation in front of the hearing and based on the seriousness of the offenses a motion was moved to summon the Board of the institution and the supervisory Ministry to Parliament for further deliberations. At the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation the committee engaged officials in which operational overviews and other related probing were done on the financial management for the period   2020 -2021.The General Manager disclosed to the committee that come 2022, thirty brand new buses would arrive in the country to alleviate the transportation issues in the country. At the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the minister and officials briefed the committee on their operational activities, ranging from their successes to the challenges. At the Maritime Administration, the committee observed that revenue generated is spent hugely on overhead costs whilst the committee noticed procurement discrepancies on the internet service provided. Similar visits were made to the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, and Sierra Leone Airport Authority. Overall the committee was very displeased with the documentation presented during the hearings and promised to see that the needful is attained. The oversight functions were climaxed by conducted tours of facilities of MDAs and on the spot visits to the construction site, Search and Rescue Center at Sherbro  Island, Bonthe District to ascertain work fulfilled. The Committee observed that the construction project has stopped considering the timeline and budget disbursed to the project. The Chairman and his team promised to summon the contractor to Parliament to ascertain why the delay in construction.

Head of Seidya Group Sierra Leone (SL) Limited and Pavi Forte, a construction company, Alimu Bassie has been described by homeless victims for his part in leading in the destruction of homes and disrupted schooling activities. It is a fact that the Government of President Julius Maada Bio takes education as its flagship programme in order to empower especially girls and women. A letter that was addressed to the Citizen Advocacy Network (CAN) on the 29th September by the aggrieved parties complained that, occupants at the South Ridge Community, IMMAT, in Freetown were barricaded by members of the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police, which in the company of others vandalized structures and rendered over seven thousand occupants homeless. Jespy M. Thoronka, Chairperson of the aggrieved informed the Citizens’ Advocacy Network that, according to the police, they were executing a purported Court Order over which they had no prior knowledge as should be the case, because they were never taken to court to challenge their legal ownership of the land they occupied. The occupants, who now are homeless, are expressing deepest displeasure over the illegal demolition of structures and subsequent eviction of over seven thousand (7000) legal occupants, including women and children at South Ridge Community, adjacent to the Embassy of the United States, Hill Station in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Chairman explained that since they had occupied the said community for the past fifteen (15) years with no interference from individuals they were never invited to court to defend their legal status regarding the land they occupy. He continued that the ‘‘police had acted in favor of Alimu Barrie, who lately laid claim over a community which had been in existence for over fifteen years now, and Barrie hoodwinked the police to believing that the said land belongs to him, albeit occupants have documents to the effect that legitimizes their ownership.’’ Currently, the chairperson lamented that women and children have no place to sleep and the schooling activity of their children has been disrupted by this single act of the police, in cohort with other state authorities who wrongfully backed Alimu Barrie as against seven hundred legal occupants. This medium has proactively spoken to the Citizen Advocacy Network, a human rights defenders, and the institution responded that  they are soliciting the intervention of the appropriate ministries into this matter as it infringes on the fundamental human rights of citizens to own land as enshrined in the constitution of Sierra Leone. OSIWA Urges S/Leone & Guinea to Correct Political Ills Joe Pemagbi: OSIWA Country Officer Joe Pemagbi CEO of Open society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has said in a radio interview that the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and all Citizens of West Africa Civil Society Organizations will come together as a body to reverse the change of some Africa leaders that always try to manipulate the constitution on their favor. The CEO said within the same year he had witnessed several constitutional manipulations in some West Africa countries in the likes of Cote d’lvoire, Mali, Guinea and more. He commended the MRU for doing a good job but that he believes that it is the citizens of some of these West Africa countries that have to put more pressure on their respective governments to support such initiatives for review. Mr. Pemagbi also said that government has always had a key role to play in the security sector and that the democracy aspect for every country has its own electoral management body and that most of them are supervised by their internal affairs ministry and that at the end, it brings the issue of independence and impartiality and guaranty of some of state functions. The CEO added that when the former president of the Republic of Guinea came in power, he compromised many issues and even changed the country’s constitution, adding that all of these issues did not follow the principles of democracy in West Africa. He added that he is very happy with President Bio for his engagement with the current Guinea President, adding that it is because Sierra Leone is a neighboring country to Guinea.    Orange SL Expands Network in SL By Feima Sesay In its desire for the expansion of investment, a project for the construction of a State of the Art Data Centre running into US$15M (fifteen million Dollars) has been launched by Orange in Sierra Leone’s Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone. Orange Sierra Leone is still the leading and biggest telecoms company in Sierra Leone. The launching which took place last week was graced by several dignitaries including the Minister of Information and Communications. The Centre is one of the first in the country, and it came after a lot of studies have been conducted and it has offered an added unique selling proposition to orange over its competitors in the world of communication. After the Centre would have completed, it will complement the other data centre in Freetown. Engineer Manilius Garber, said the centre will be the company’s engine, which will enhance the capacity for ‘‘information to be transmitted from one point to another, an engine is needed. The centre, Garber assured that it would be stuffed with access control, CCTV systems and other services. The project, he went on, would go a long way in creating the necessary environment for Orange to continue to lead in the telecommunications industry. In her address at the ceremony, CEO Aminata Kane Ndiaye said she had chosen the Bo District because it is strategic and safe to do business. “I am happy that the second city is hosting a big project after the best personnel have been chosen,” she said. In the identification process, local skills were chosen with the support of Orange International Group. The Orange CEO also spoke about the relevance of a fast and sound internet system for information and data sharing. “If you don’t have Internet, data is a problem,”

On arrival in Moscow, the Sierra Leone delegation to Russia paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo and briefed him on the purpose of their visit to Russia. Madam Ngozi Beckley-Lines, the Director of Projects at the Ministry of Energy, conveyed greetings from the Honorable Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, to HE Yongawo and staff of the Mission in Moscow. Dr. Patrick Tarawalli, Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Energy, emphasized the government’s priority of Energy. “We are here to engage Russians on the electricity partnership with Sierra Leone, from the generation of electricity to transmission, distribution and supply of electricity to the final consumers,” he said. Executive Chairman, Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma, informed Ambassador Yongawo that petroleum products are essential to the production of energy, “and there are a lot of opportunities Sierra Leone can benefit from the Oil and Gas industry in Russia”. Ambassador Yongawo welcomed the delegation as the government representative in Moscow. The Ambassador reminded the visiting delegation of President Bio’s Sochi meeting with Mr Novak the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia who doubles as the Minister of Energy. The primary outcome of that meeting was an agreement on the formation of an Energy working group. The latter had their maiden zoom conference in 2020. Ambassador Yongawo informed the delegation of the several meetings his mission has lined up in the energy and petroleum sector. Following the meeting, the Ambassador led the delegation to a potential Russian business tycoon, who has links with several companies in the fields of Energy, Petroleum, medicine, agriculture, construction. Important presentations were made, including that by OCTA LIGHT; with particular focus on the area of generating electricity through human waste, solar power system and hydroelectricity. The Sierra Leonean side agreed with OCTA LIGHT the need to consider a memorandum of understanding after the Minister of Energy would have been briefed, The delegation met with the CEO and President of the International Lighting Engineering Cooperation and staff. At the company’s office, a senior staff took the Sierra Leonean visitors on a tour of the exhibition of electrical works, which included, street lights, stadium lights, traffic lights and other types – stage lighting and lighting for residential homes. The CEO informed the delegation that he had already contacted four different companies in the Energy sector and also informed the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Federation about his interest in Sierra Leone, and that further discussions will be held on the visit of the Energy Minister, Alhaji Kanja Sesay later this year. On Day two of the Russian Energy Week, the Sierra Leone delegation attended two events: one dealing with Energy and another, dealing with the Oil and Gas industry. Thus, the Chairman of Petroleum Regulatory Agency Dr. Kororma  attended the Deriving Benefits from the Digital Transformation of the Fuel and Energy Sector programme while Dr. Tarawalli, Technical  Adviser at the Ministry of Energy and Director of Projects Madam Beckley-Lines, attended the one dealing with the Development of Electric Power: *Maintaining Reliability while Improving Technological Performance The delegation further engaged influential Chief Executive Officers and investors in the Energy, Oil and Gas industry in the Russian Federation. These meetings were organized by His Excellency Ambassador Yongawo and the Sierra Leone Embassy. Dr. Koroma expressed his delight in the meetings held and applauded HE Yongawo for all the good work and his love for Sierra Leone, promising that his country’s Oil and Gas industry will tap into the available opportunities to improve on the quality and quantity of supply in the Petroleum sector under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio. Dr. Patrick Tarawalli and Madam Ngozi Beckley-Lines thanked Ambassador Yongawo and the  Embassy staff for making themselves available and for organizing fruitful meetings with potential investors. The delegation promised to advise the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, of their successful engagements and the urgency of taking advantage of the opportunities presented in addressing Sierra Leone’s energy problems. 495 TAs ELECT NEW PC FOR KPANGA CHIEFDOM As the Kaikai brothers battle for the highest political seat in Kpanga chiefdom, the Tribal Authorities (TAs’) of Kpanga chiefdom have on Tuesday afternoon (19th October 2021) in a run-off election, elected Andrew Ibrahim Jaiah Kaikai as the new Paramount chief of Kpanga chiefdom Pujehun district. A total of 495 TAs’ voted in the run-off election between Andrew Ibrahim Jaiah Kaikai and his younger brother Alhaji Moijue Kaikai, Former Minister of the then Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs. Announcing the Kpanga chiefdom Paramount chieftency result at the Native Administration (N.A.) Court Barry in Pujehun town, Moses Gbettu, the Provincial Secretary South declared Andrew Ibrahim Jaiah Kaikai as the Paramount Chief of Kpanga chiefdom following the Kpanga chiefdom run-off election between the two Kaikai brothers. “Andrew Ibrahim Jaiah Kaikai haven scored 309 out of 419 votes cast have been declared winner of the run-off election for the position of Paramount chief for Kpanga chiefdom.” He revealed. Conversely, Alhaji Moijue Kaikai who yesterday lead in the first round pool with over twenty five percent (126 votes of 509 votes among 19 candidates) has been defeated by his elder brother the father of Sierra Leone Immigration Boss, Andrew Jaiah Kaikai haven scored 179 votes with 7 invalid votes. KINGHO INVESTMENT NOW LEONE ROCK METAL GROUP By Anthony Vandy The management of the Kingho investment group has formally announced the change of name of Kingho Investment Company to Leone Rokel Metal Group. The company was first established in Sierra Leone in July 2010. The change is to localize the company with a name that gives it a Sierra Leonean identity. Leone Rock Metal group as at now according to Gilbert Zhao CEO Leone Rock Meta Group says is one of the largest resources investment companies in west Africa He said LRMG remains the parent company of Kingho Mining Company and Kingho Railway and Port Company which he says are part of an integrated iron ore Mining- Railway Port handing and Export Group

By Bampia James Bundu  The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has over the weekend launched the World Food Day celebration at the Ansaru Boys Secondary School Field in Kono. The ceremony which was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security in partnership with Sun Secretariat was graced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ministry of Trade and Industry, FAO, Helen Keller International, UN Family, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Ministry of Development and Economic Planning.  In his keynote address, the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh expressed thanks and appreciation to farmers across the country that traveled from their various regions to grace the wonderful celebration. He commended the Ministry of Agriculture and line ministries who came together to ensure that the celebration was a success. Dr. Juldeh Jalloh stated that World Food Day celebrations have been observed for decades but this one is special and very important as it is the only celebration that urged the United Nations to hold Food Summit in New York to deliberate on the effects and possible solutions to food shortage in the world, and to also set a road map on how to make the world food self-sufficient. He maintained that opposition parties have been blaming the government for the increase in prices of commodities in the country knowing fully that such increments are caused by global price hikes. He described food production as an important component in alleviating poverty in a country, that was why His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio focused his key priorities on Human Capital Development targeting Agriculture, Education, Health among others. The Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh disclosed that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the world seriously. “We have to grow what we eat and eat what we grow. It’s hightime we stopped depending on other nations for the importation of food; the world is starving today due to crisis in food during this pandemic,” he said. The Vice President used the forum as an opportunity to catalogue the successes the New Direction government has attained over the past few years. He revealed that this government has invested a lot in Health, Education, Agriculture, Economic Transformation, Corruption among others. The Chairman Kono District Council Mr. Solomon Gbondo praised the Vice President and other stakeholders for choosing Kono as the venue to host this year’s World Food Day celebrations. He stated that it is high time Sierra Leoneans started to grow what they eat and eat what they grow as with that food security will be attained. He revealed that food production is not the problem in Sierra Leone but post-harvest challenges, as immediately after harvest, farmers eat almost all that which they planted. He appealed to the farmers and the authorities to continue to put premium on agriculture and pleaded with the President to do more to make Sierra Leone food secure. Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security Dr. Theresa Dicks expressed her appreciation to the farmers leaving their various areas to travel to Kono to celebrate the day. She thanked the Vice President who graciously accepted to celebrate with the farmers. Dr. Dicks described this year’s celebration as strategic as the world all over is working towards ensuring that food self-sufficiency is attained. She maintained that the Agriculture Ministry alone cannot provide food for every Sierra Leonean that was why the ministry has had a policy shift in partnering with the private sector. “Private sector partnership will give even farmers the opportunity to benefit from whatever the government is involved in,” she said, adding that government has invested a lot in agriculture over the past three years and they are committed to do more. She assured the Vice President and other stakeholders of a wonderful celebration and urged the delegations to visit all the booths and enjoy the wonderful products of Sierra Leonean farmers. In his address the Deputy Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Mr. Ibrahim Turay described the theme for this year’s celebration “Our action are our future, better production, better nutrition, better environment, and a better life” as timely and could not have come at a much better time. He revealed that fish is the largest source of animal protein in Sierra Leone, which is why the government of President Bio is putting premium on the fisheries sector with a view to improving food and nutritional security and diversification of country’s economy. “We have an opportunity as a country to change the narrative and bring back our once prosperous agriculture and fisheries to an ecologically sustainable and economically efficient level in the country,” he said. Further statements of solidarity were made by members of the UN Family, and other stakeholders. APC LAWYERS, SYLVIA BLYDEN AT LOGGERHEADS                                                                           By Feima Sesay Lawyers representing the All People’s Congress party have called on Justice Adrian Fisher of the High Court of Freetown, to strike out the affidavit filed by the former Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children Affairs Dr. Sylvia  Blyden. They made this submission after Dr. Sylvia Blyden filed an affidavit at the High Court of Sierra Leone in Freetown to be a party of the case filed in by Alfred Peter Conteh, with regards to the alleged illegality of the current executive of the APC. The Court was flooded with supporters and stakeholders of the All Peoples Congress party to listen to the hearing, including Ibrahim Bundu, Sidi Yayah Tunis and the party’s Deputy Chairman Minkailu Mansaray. Dr. Sylvia Blyden a few days ago filed an affidavit at the High Court of Free Town to be a party of the case filed in by Alfred Peter Conteh, with regards to the alleged illegality of the current executive of the APC. First defendant in the matter Ernest Bai Koroma’s Lawyer Ibrahim Mansaray said that most of the paragraphs of Dr. Blyden’s affidavit were scandalous and

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David John Francis on 21st October, 2021, presented to Parliament an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Government of the Russian Federation on Visa-free travels for holders of Diplomatic and service passports. The Memorandum of Understanding which was signed by the Minister and his Counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, during the one day state visit to Moscow will strengthen the already existing relationship both Countries have enjoyed over the years. When approved by Parliament, the agreement will not only provide practical benefits, but also  help in creating a sense of acceptance and inclusion,  maintaining a high level of bilateral support, offers  access to knowledge, exchange of experiences and directly shapes Cooperation in all segments. 5 Years Jail For Circulating Sex Video One of the Judges presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court, Hon. Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens (JA), has imposed five years imprisonment on Ahmed Issa Kamara popularly known as Joshua or to pay eighty million Leones and a mandatory twenty million Leone as compensation to the victim. The accused Ahmed Issa Kamara was before the Court on four counts ranging from making indecent material, contrary to Section 18 (1) (a); Circulating indecent material contrary to Section 18 (1) (b); Possessing indecent material, contrary to Section 18 (1) (c) and circulating indecent materials on various dates contrary to Section 18 (1), all of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, Act No. 12 of 2012, as repealed and replaced by the Sexual Offences (amendment) Act 2019, Act No. 8 of 2019. According the particulars of offence, the convict on a date unknown between the 1st day of March to the 2nd day of April, 2020 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone made an indecent material of the victim when performing oral sex. On Count two, the convict circulated a nude video of the victim to the victim’s fiancé overseas. In his judgment, Hon. Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens said the accused person was charged with four counts of sexual related offences and he pleaded not guilty to all counts as charged. He noted that the Prosecution made a successful application for the accused person to be tried by judge alone pursuant to Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1965 as amended. He continued that the Prosecution presented three witnesses and were able to prove that the phone that was used to do the sexual activity was owned by the accused. He added that the activity itself was done without the consent of the victim. According to Justice Stevens, two videos were played in closed court, one was where the victim was sucking the accused and the other was where they were having sex. He said both the accused and the victim had been in a domestic relationship. Hon. Justice Stevens said the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt which is the standard in criminal law, stating that the accused is found guilty as charged in all four counts. In his plea mitigation, C. Taylor-Young Esq. representing the accused said he (accused Ahmed Issa Kamara) is a first time offender and a young man that has prospect to grow affirmatively. Referencing Section 18 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, he pleaded with the judge to either sentence the convict or to fine him. In his allocutus, the accused appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy. In his defence, the accused (Ahmed Issa Kamara) told the Court that he had no witness but relied on his statement to the police. Delivering his sentence, Hon. Justice Stevens cautioned that men should be mindful in treating women as they should be well respected. “Circulation of sexual video is uncalled for and unacceptable,” he said, and therefore sentenced the convict to five years each for all the count charges or to pay twenty million Leones for each count. In addition, he said the convict should pay a mandatory compensation fee to the victim in the sum of twenty million Leones on or after he had completed his sentence of payment of fine. He said the accused should either pay the fine plus the twenty million Leones compensation fee or be imprisoned for five years.  Pres. Bio Receives Biometric Driver’s License His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has received his new biometric driver’s license from the Executive Director of Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, SLRSA, Ibrahim Sannoh, as part of the symbolic launch of their newest product, now available to the public.     Sannoh recalled that the process for the country’s first ever biometric driver’s license started some nine months ago, as part of the many efforts in recent years, to restructure the entire biometric system and rebrand the authority. He added that the new driver’s license had 9 features, including a smart chip, which can be accessed via QR Code, security features, all currencies features those other nations had and it is considered the next generational license. “Most important of its features is the fact that the license is synced with the national identification number of the holder who is registered with the National Civil Registration Authority, adding more authenticity to the process of acquisition,” he said. In his brief statement to the visiting SLRSA team, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio expressed delight at the innovative efforts of the team and praised its leadership for ensuring that the licensing system was being upgraded to meet international standards. “This is development. For the most part in Sierra Leone when we talk about development, we are only talking about that which we can touch. But this is one quantum leap towards safety and sanity on our roads. “We had a faulty system, with people who will create mayhem on the road…without the requisite documentation. But I believe that with this now we will be able to control all that,” he said.   FOREST GUARD JAILED 5 YEARS By Feima Sesay  A thirty four

Seidya Group Sierra Leone (SL) Limited has led the destruction of homes and disrupted schooling activities. It is a fact that the Government of President Julius Maada Bio takes education as its flagship programme in order to empower especially girls and women. A letter that was addressed to the Citizen Advocacy Network (CAN) on the 29th September by the aggrieved party complained that, occupants at the South Ridge Community, IMMAT, in Freetown were barricaded by members of the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police, which in the company of others vandalized structures and rendered over seven hundred occupants homeless. Jespy M. Thoronka, Chairperson of the aggrieved informed the Citizen Advocacy Network that, according to the police, they were executing a purported Court Order for which they had no knowledge, because they were never taken to court to challenge their legal ownership of the land they occupied. The occupants, who now are homeless, are expressing deepest displeasure over the illegal demolition of structures and subsequent eviction of over seven hundred (700) legal occupants, including women and children at South Ridge Community, adjacent to the Embassy of the United States, Hill Station in Sierra Leone. The Chairman explained that since they had occupied the said community for the past fifteen (15) years with no interference from individuals and they were never invited to court to defend their legal status regarding the land they occupy. He continued that the ‘‘police had acted in favor of Alimu Barrie, who lately laid claim over a community which had been in existence for over fifteen years now, and Barrie hoodwinked the police to believing that the said land belongs to him, albeit occupants have documents to the effect that legitimizes their ownership.’’ Currently, the chairperson lamented that women and children have no place to sleep and the schooling activity of their children has been disrupted by this single act of the police, in cohort with other state authorities who wrongfully backed Alimu Barrie as against seven hundred legal occupants. This medium has proactively spoken to the Citizen Advocacy Network, a human rights defenders, and the institution responded that  they are soliciting the intervention of the appropriate ministries into this matter as it infringes on the fundamental human rights of citizens to own land as enshrined in the constitution of Sierra Leone. OSIWA Urges S/Leone & Guinea to Correct Political Ills Joe Pemgbi CEO OSIWA Joe Pemgbi CEO of Open society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has said in a radio interview that the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and all Citizens of West Africa Civil Society Organizations will come together as a body to reverse the change of some Africa leaders that always try to manipulate the constitution on their favor. The CEO said within the same year he had witnessed several constitutional manipulations in some West Africa countries in the likes of Cote d’lvoir, Mali, Guinea and more. He commended the MRU for doing a good job but that he believes that it is the citizens of some of these West Africa countries that have to put more pressure on their respective governments to support such initiatives for review. Mr. Pemgbi also said that government has always had a key role to play in the security sector and that the democracy aspect for every country has its own electoral management body and that most of them are supervised by their internal affairs ministry and that at the end, it brings the issue of independence and impartiality and guaranty of some of state functions. The CEO added that when the former president of the Republic of Guinea came in power, he compromised many issues and even changed the country’s constitution, adding that all of these issues did not follow the principles of democracy in West Africa. He added that he is very happy with President Bio for his engagement with the current Guinea President, adding that it is because Sierra Leone is a neighbor country to Guinea.     ‘Intolerant’ Minister Wrecking Health Ministry     Judging by correspondences traded between the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Rev. Canon Dr. Thomas T. Samba and the Permanent Secretary, Morie Momoh there is a simmering war of words over postings or no postings going on at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. This latest development comes as a very big slap and disappointment to the Bio-led administration, taking into consideration that top officials in the ministry which is supposed to be in charge of health services in this country, are instead busy fighting themselves over postings. In a letter dated 23th October, 2021, the Minister of Health, instructed the Permanent Secretary to “rescind all postings and appointments by the Chief Medical Officer in October 2021,” adding that “all officers should revert to their original positions on September 30th 2021.” He stated further in his letter that “there would be an appropriate review and consideration of all postings in alignment with the national vision for healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone.” On the same date, 12th October, 2021, the CMO, Rev. Canon Dr. Thomas T. Samba registered his dismay over the Health Minister’s letter in a query letter. In his query letter to the Health Minister, the CMO stated among other things that: “for over six months, a number of critical vacancies have existed in key Directorates and other and other relevant areas within the MoHS.” He maintained that “the postings were presented to the Postings Committee in the MoHS which is co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary and myself and subsequently, presented to the Ministerial Team for concurrence before popularization.” In his letter the CMO told the Health Minister: “You vehemently blocked the postings as we struggled to explain the rationale and legitimacy behind the postings. Again, as far as I can testify, you were the only one in the leadership team that was averse to the postings under reference. For you,