By Alusine Fullah Abacha Street Traders and hawkers have refused to honor a request made by the police to desist from street trading. On Thursday morning, a barrage of police officers stormed the Abacha Street Market to stop the traders from hawking on the streets. In response, the traders vowed to protest while stopping shop owners from opening their shops. Talking to this medium, Salimatu Turay lamented: “They threatened to loot our wares if we refuse to close/ stop selling from Abacha Street…” Abu Kamara: “I think we are not the problem. The problem is there is no other place for us as traders…government needs to provide market places for us before they ask us out…” Mbalu Konteh: “Some of us are single parents and this is the only way we can fend for our families…” Speaking to Assistant Police Commissioner Senesie he urged all the traders from Abacha Street to be law-abiding and respectful. He pleaded them to refrain from any violence. In Freetown, the experiences of petty traders offer a glimpse into the daily reality of food security for individuals, households and communities. In most of Freetown’s urban communities, especially in the central business district, women make up the majority of informal traders. Women also take on responsibility for most household management tasks, including procuring, distributing and preparing food. On top of these unpaid household duties, which sustain urban households, earning money through informal trading helps to reduce income poverty. Conclusively, clash between traders and police is very frequent.

By Alusine Fullah  Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone has on Thursday, July 27, 2023 on the 3rd Session of Face to Face with shared the recent developments in China. In his key note address, Ambassador Wang Qing, started by expressing his gratitude and appreciation to the people of Sierra Leone for the long standing relationship between China and Sierra Leone. Going further, Amb. Qing shared four recent developments in China. First in the list is the Chinese economy. He noted: “During the first half of this year, China’s economy showed sound momentum of recovery with the GDP up by 5.5 percent year on year…the economy’s remarkable resilience, potential and vitality have not changed and the conditions underpinning high-quality development have not changed…” According to him, several international organizations and institutions such as the UN, the World Bank and the IMF have recently raised their forecast for China’s growth. The second recent development according to Amb Qing is the China-Africa relations with fruitful results. In 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched by Xi Jinping, featuring an ambition to reinvigorate the old silk trading route along the East African coast. This should theoretically have seen Chinese investment concentrated in East Africa, but many other African states also sought opportunities through the BRI, making the initiative quickly expand in scope and ambition. Moreover, Mohamed Jalloh, a representative from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources spoke about the hospitality of the Chinese. He expressed: “All my visits in China were very successful and hospitable…the Chinese people are very hospitable and development oriented…” Mohamed Halloh further pleaded to the Ambassador and government of China to put more and more investment in the Sierra Leone fishing sector. Apart Mohamed Jalloh, speakers like Alhaji Mohamed Jaward from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education and Goerge Elliot Sam from Star Radio spoke about the massive infrastructural development of China to Sierra Leone.    Conclusively, On July 29th, 1971, the Joint Communiqué between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations assured that the Chinese Government and people support categorically the Government and people of Sierra Leone in its struggles against imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism, in its efforts to safeguard national independence and sovereignty. In the meantime, the Government of Sierra Leone recognized that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Both governments agreed to develop diplomatic relations and friendly cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, of mutual non-aggression and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and of equality and mutually beneficial peaceful co-existence. 51 years later, we can look back at the successful development of our bilateral ties with pride and determination, as shared prosperity and a brighter future awaits our two nations.

By Alusine Fullah  Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone has on Thursday, July 27, 2023 on the 3rd Session of Face to Face with shared the recent developments in China. In his key note address, Ambassador Wang Qing, started by expressing his gratitude and appreciation to the people of Sierra Leone for the long standing relationship between China and Sierra Leone. Going further, Amb. Qing shared four recent developments in China. First in the list is the Chinese economy. He noted: “During the first half of this year, China’s economy showed sound momentum of recovery with the GDP up by 5.5 percent year on year…the economy’s remarkable resilience, potential and vitality have not changed and the conditions underpinning high-quality development have not changed…” According to him, several international organizations and institutions such as the UN, the World Bank and the IMF have recently raised their forecast for China’s growth. The second recent development according to Amb Qing is the China-Africa relations with fruitful results. In 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched by Xi Jinping, featuring an ambition to reinvigorate the old silk trading route along the East African coast. This should theoretically have seen Chinese investment concentrated in East Africa, but many other African states also sought opportunities through the BRI, making the initiative quickly expand in scope and ambition. Moreover, Mohamed Jalloh, a representative from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources spoke about the hospitality of the Chinese. He expressed: “All my visits in China were very successful and hospitable…the Chinese people are very hospitable and development oriented…” Mohamed Halloh further pleaded to the Ambassador and government of China to put more and more investment in the Sierra Leone fishing sector. Apart Mohamed Jalloh, speakers like Alhaji Mohamed Jaward from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education and Goerge Elliot Sam from Star Radio spoke about the massive infrastructural development of China to Sierra Leone.    Conclusively, On July 29th, 1971, the Joint Communiqué between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations assured that the Chinese Government and people support categorically the Government and people of Sierra Leone in its struggles against imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism, in its efforts to safeguard national independence and sovereignty. In the meantime, the Government of Sierra Leone recognized that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Both governments agreed to develop diplomatic relations and friendly cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, of mutual non-aggression and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and of equality and mutually beneficial peaceful co-existence. 51 years later, we can look back at the successful development of our bilateral ties with pride and determination, as shared prosperity and a brighter future awaits our two nations.

The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) was established by an Act of Parliament to complement the Sierra Leone Police and road safety in the country. Autospect Sierra Leone was awarded the contract for the provision of vehicle and driver’s licenses and number plates as well as the temporary vehicle registration tag. Among others, it appears that it is a sham deal as the government’s Transport and Aviation Ministry and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) have privatized the License Department for Autospect – SL. As a result, many staff members may have been made redundant. The Public Review newspaper has gathered that Autospect is giving the SLRSA a 20% cut from earnings and for all other transactions involving money are done strictly on a cash-in-hand basis.  Autospect does not use the swift system in use in Sierra Leone, it avoids making payments through the banks, which has raised eyebrows, and tongues are wagging about money being laundered the better judgment against of government’s financial policies. Curiously, though, licenses and other registrations pertaining to payment for obtaining vehicles license has scandalously been raised over 200%. The arrangement scheduled for a review of this spooky scheme has been stalled. Since 2016, due to a bad agreement reached between the Minister of Transport and Autospect for his aggrandizement, Autospect, a Lebanese outfit with no track record apart from having raised its ugly head in this country, has been giving a 20% hand shake to the SLRSA monthly. According to sources, Autospectstaff are receiving all monetary transactions through cash-in-hand even though all transactions should go through the banking services. Autospect makes a whooping Le 1 billion daily. It has increased the price for the renewal of vehicle licenses from Le 600,000 old prices to Le 1, 33,000 old Leones for jeep, and TVR from Le 250,000 to Le 640, 0000. This situation at SLRSA is pathetic. Falling short of fulfilling its mandate and core functions for licensing vehicles, the listless problems began soon after bypassing local bidders with a history of a good reputation in that sort of industry only for Autospect to come in with no background checked at all. Autospect Sierra Leone is a Lebanese company that was awarded that contract by the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authorities (SLRSA) through the back door and after failing the local content policy. “It was directed to print, issue and renew vehicles licenses in Sierra Leone,” an angry vehicle owner echoed. According to an investigation carried out by the public Review newspaper, hundreds of customers are unhappy and fed up with the company. Autospect, a backyard company from Lebanon, had already collected monies from unsuspecting customers issue vehicle number plates, licenses, and vehicle fitness examining. To the customers chagrin, they are still waiting hopelessly.   Investigations also revealed that Autospect Sierra Leone had shut down operations for over 5 days without issuing any notice to the public and its buying customers. It is scandalous. How could they shut down operations without any proper notice to its customers? The increment of licenses fees without noticing the public is tantamount to corruption and corrupt practices by the company warranting the intervention of the ACC. As it stands, since Autospect shut down its operations, there is no statement from the company to ascertain what may have given rise to the shutdown. Speaking to the General Manager of Autospect Sierra Leone Mr. MuhieddieItani said that he did not think there was a problem with his company. He added, “There is no technical problem, but they are fixing a software upgrade that was down last week Friday.” He also advised the Public Review that even though he is the head of Autospect, the reporter should also cross check with the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRA) for further clarifications. When the government of Sierra Leone set up the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), the mandate envisaged was for it to inject fresh regulatory threshold to wedge in the role of the police and road. It is saddened that the nation has observed a deviation in carrying some core functions after it awarded an important task to a dubious contract to a suspicious company- Autospect Sierra Leone. The awarding of the contract was for Autospect to come up with an innovative design of vehicles’ and drivers’ licenses and number plates, which could revolutionise the what is now available and stop scammers from making fakes and issuing them, something that the police have been challenged by for decades. It was also advised that an added task was the issuing of what is known as the Temporary Vehicle Registration Tag. After over a year since the contract was approved, Sierra Leone has seen a worsening of the problems with licenses and TVR Tags. It appears that it is a sham deal as the government’s Transport and Aviation Ministry and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) had made an error in privatizing the License authority by giving Autospect SL a major contract without investigating its background in doing this kind of functions. Autospect has done nothing new and, as such, has destroyed that arm of SLRA’s role in its regulatory practice. The management of Autospect is clueless. Not only that, many of its payroll staff may have been made redundant under suspicious and vindictive circumstances. The Public Review newspaper has gathered that Autospect is giving the SLRSA a 20% cut from earnings and for all other transactions involving money transactions strictly on a cash-in-hand basis.  Autospect is by-passing the new automated bank transfer system, which is the swift system introduced in Sierra Leone to avoid making payments through the banks. This has rightly raised eyebrows. Tongues are wagging about money being laundered, a decision mooted against government’s financial policies. Curiously, though, licenses and other registrations relating to payments for vehicle licenses have scandalously increased over 200% with profits being pocketed under the nose of the central bank and the NRA. The arrangement scheduled for a review of this spooky scheme

Julius is a highly educated and multi-skilled professional with 26 years working experience in both the private and public sectors in various leadership, management and technical roles in the Ukraine, United Kingdom (UK), Sierra Leone and Liberia. He holds two MSc degrees (both with Distinctions) in Geology & Exploration for Mineral Deposits (1992, Ukraine) and Environmental & Earth Resources Management (2001, United Kingdom). He has profound working knowledge, experience and expertise in Geology and Mineral Exploration; Mining; Environmental and Natural Resources Management; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing; Management Information Systems (MIS); Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E); Climate Change (Mitigation and Adaptation); Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; and Health Information Systems (HIS). Mr.  Mattai has a wealth of experience in the minerals sector, having previously served the NMA as Geodata and Information Manager & Director General and provided consultancy services to mining companies and other organizations. Prior he was the Founder/Managing Director of Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) (2011-2019), a multi-disciplinary consultancy firm that provides integrated geo-information; remote sensing; research, monitoring & evaluation; and environmental management services and solutions to various mining companies, private businesses and governmental and non-governmental organizations, including the World Bank, UNDP, UNOPS, UNICEF, etc. He is well versed in mining and related disciplines, including Geology and Mineral Exploration; Mining; Environmental and Natural Resources Management; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing; Management Information Systems (MIS); Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E); Climate Change (Mitigation and Adaptation); Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; and Health Information Systems (HIS). In 2014/2015, Mr. Mattai served as Head of Information Management and MIS/GIS Specialist with the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Liberia, respectively, where he took responsibility for the implementation of strategic plan for emergency and recovery operations and information management. From 2008 to 2011, he worked as a Principal Consultant at AEA Technology plc (UK), where he led and managed various multi-disciplinary GIS and environmental management programmes and projects, including the European Union (EU) Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE), Shared Environmental Information Systems (SEIS), Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), for the EU Commission (Belgium), European Environment Agency (Denmark), EU Joint Research Centre (Italy) and various Central, Regional and Local Governments in the UK. From 2002 to 2008, he worked as the Environmental Data Manager for the London Mayor at the Greater London Authority (London, UK), where he managed and provided leadership over departmental and enterprise GIS and environmental data and information management systems for the development, implementation and monitoring of the London Mayor’s Air Quality, Noise, Energy, Waste, Transport and Spatial Development Strategies, including the London Congestion Charge and the London Low Emission Zone Schemes.Mr. Mattai also worked (1992-2002) as a GIS Data & Information Coordinator and Strategy Officer with the London Boroughs of Camden (UK) and Ealing (UK), respectively. Prior to his career in the UK, Julius worked as a Geologist at the Ingulets Iron Ore Mining & Enrichment Works, Krivoy Rog, Ukraine. Mr. Mattai is very proficient in spoken and written Russian.