President Bio Consoles Family of the Late MD of SLCB

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has called at the residence of late Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank to console the family of Abdulai Fidelis Turay, who passed away on 15 August 2021.

The late Mr. Turay was appointed Managing Director of the Bank on 12 September 2018 by President Bio. He died at the age of 57.

He had over 23 years experience as a banker, starting his career at the Meridien BIAO Bank (SL) Limited as a Clerk, and then the Union Trust Bank Limited Sierra Leone where he left as Assistant Director, Credit Administration & Risk Management before joining the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank.

“On my personal behalf, I am here to console you to wipe your tears in this difficult moment. I pray that God grant him merciful judgment,” President Bio told the family.

AT HASTINGS COMMUNITY…

HUMAN SOLIDARITY CAPACITATES 50 YOUTHS

National Coordinator for Human Solidarity, Gibson Idriss Mansaray and participants

A Community Base Organization (CBO), Human Solidarity hasorganized  a one day training workshop for fifty (50) young people within Hastings community in the Western Area Rural District (WARD) on capacity building.

The event happened at the Twin Hall, Hastings community on Saturday, 28^th, August 2021 with the theme “Youth perspective on civil society space for sustainable development”.

Welcoming participants to mark the official opening  ofthe trainingHeadman, of the Hastings community , Mr. Cecil Wright described Hastings as a big community with increasing number of inhabitants, noting  that the training would allow participants to discuss relevant developmental issues.

He encouraged participants to disseminate vital information to all those that were not fortunate to be part of the training program, adding that the issue of capacitating or empowering young people with necessary skills and messages to foster development was not an easy task.

Mr. Wright said that Government and his community leadership could not do it alone, dilating that if young people could come together and organize themselves accordingly, development would flourish in their various communities.

He saidcommunity electricity, bad road network, water and sanitation, unemployment are issues needed to be discussed among youths to enhance a resolve on the challenges affecting the country .

 He mentioned that youth development and community issues are voluntary work; he highlighting the fact that the training, in particular  was all about finding ways to decentralize development among the working population.

Mr. Wright advised his audience against lawlessness because, according to him, it will hinderprogress; he frowned against the use of invectives in public by some young people. He said the security issue of Hastings community had been improving unlike in the past.

In his presentation, National Coordinator for Human Solidarity, Mr. Idriss Gibson Mansaray said that his organization was found in 2013 at Hastings Village, but came into full time operations in 2014.

He explained thatHuman Solidarity registered with the Western Area Rural District Council (WARD C) and other line institutions; recalling that they had carried out lot of community development activities, including sensitization on teenage pregnancy, early marriage and others.

Mr. Mansaray noted that they have received funding from the British High Commission to work with women in leadership positions, noting thatlast year they brought together women parliamentarians in leadership positions from four political parties .

The Youth Chairman for Hastings Village, AbubakarrKamaraexpressed delight to Mr. Mansaray for organizingtraining; he emphasized that development is the desire of every individual in society.

He said the training would teach participants important lessons to foster sustainable development in communities, adding that Hastings community is far behind in terms of development.

A female participant, Isatu Boyah prayed for the continuation and sustainability of the initiative and called on fellow women to work as a team in the interest of development of Hastings community .

An indigene of Hastings, Mr. Emmanuel Scott described the youths as foundation in any society.

Military Officer committed to High Court for murder

By FeimaSesay

After the testimonies of four prosecution witnesses, followed by the closure of the prosecution’s case, Magistrate Mark Ngegba, presiding at the Pademba Road Court No.2, on Thursday,  2nd September,  2021, committed one SahrDaramy, 48, a former military officer to continue his  trial in the High Court for allegedly killing Abu BakarrConteh.

The accused person had made seventeen (17) appearances before he was committed to the High Court.

Before the committal, Magistrate Ngegba narrated that the accused person was before the court on one count of murder contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

He said the police had alleged that the accused person on the 19th December, 2020 murdered one Abu BakarrConteh.

According him, the prosecution called four witnesses including one factual plus the police investigator who was cross examined by Lawyer C.I Williams.

The Magistrate noted that in a preliminary trial, the prosecution needs to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt, as well prove the existence of concrete evidence in the matter.

He said he had gone through the evidence before him, and that  he was satisfied that the accused person has a case to answer in the High Court.

It could be recalled that Police prosecutor, Sergeant 11223 Baindu Bona, had alleged that the accused on Saturday, 19th December, 2020, at Borbor Village, Peninsula road, Freetown, murdered one Abu BakarrConteh.