By Melvin Tejan Mansaray
Honourable Robin Faley, who is a seasoned United Kingdom (UK) trained Forensic Mental Health Practitioner with over twenty years clinical experience, has cautioned Sierra Leoneans to be prepared for the mental, emotional, psychological, physical and financial impacts that will accompany the coronavirus pandemic across the country and world.
He made that call during the famous “Opin You Yai People’s Parliament” radio programme aired on Friday 12, June 2020 on Skyy Radio FM 106.5, where he was speaking on the UK experience of coronavirus, its impact, the need for opening up and lockdown across the world, among several other issues.
“I will be doing a disservice as a mental health practitioner if I fail to talk about the emotional, mental and psychological damage that the coronavirus pandemic is already causing and will continue to have on the lives of people. The journey ahead is going to be bumpy emotionally, mentally, psychologically and this is because of the huge economic decline, joblessness and famine,” Hon. Faley expressed.
The mental health nurse cum eloquent former (2007-2012) Member of Parliament said, “things are difficult now and at the end of the day it is going to be even more difficult.”
This is not only affecting Sierra Leone, where poverty is rife but Governments all over the world, Hon. Robin said.
“To young men and women, brace up, things are going to be difficult and bumpy, put on your seat belts. The economy is not good, poverty is rife, farming is not happening, people must brace up and be ready to work or else it is going to be difficult, that’s my message.”
On the political front, Hon. Faley, who doubles as Deputy Publicity one of the main opposition APC party beckoned the opposition against abusive politics while urging the Government to refrain from a politics of vendetta.
On the global quagmire on when and how to open up countries from lockdown, Hon. Faley said in the UK where he resides, Government is worried about easing the restrictions but also looking at improving the GDP which is badly hurt, a dilemma and situation that is very hard to balance right for the Government like other countries. “But the UK Government is trying to ease things gradually though with new measures such as use of facemasks being made compulsory now,” he said.
Parliamentary wise, the former firebrand debater and stilt politician, Hon. Faley said the state of emergency was very necessary but sadly, “the Attorney General failed to accompany it with the regulations as per Section 29.13. She should apologize to the people of Sierra Leone.”
He described the current political atmosphere in the country as volatile and tense compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
He noted that these are the worst moments for the main opposition APC which he said needs urgent in-house cleaning.
“It is not necessary to wish evil for our leaders, preaching tribalism, hate, revenge and grudges. The ruling Government must also forget about retributive justice and provide jobs and food on the table for the ordinary people,” Hon. Robin Faley noted.
