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Kingho Investment to Employ over 2000 to Revamp Iron Ore Mining

By Abdul Malik Bangura

On Friday 17th July 2020, a group of expatriates from the Chinese owned Kingho Investment Company Limited jet into the country with the motive to revamp iron ore mining in the country’s northern district of Tonkolili. This good information came at the peak of a global pandemic which has ravaged economies of all countries across the world.

Led by the General Manager of Kingho Investment Company Limited, Gilbert Zhao, who together with others flew in onboard a private chartered Chinese flight, the team leader said they are in the country to boost the mining sector and also to boost Government’s revenue. He confirmed that Kingho Investment Company Limited is working on exporting its first (1st) shipment of iron ore from Sierra Leone latest by the 4th quarter (October-November-December) of 2020.

Speaking on arrival at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, Gilbert Zhao thanked His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, the Government and People of Sierra Leone for the confidence bestowed on them. He assured that going forward his investment company is keen on utilizing the local potentials of Sierra Leoneans thus creating a workforce of between two thousand (2000) to five thousand (5000) personnel. He added that his company will do everything possible to comply with all the laws relating to the local content policy in Sierra Leone. Hence, he said, some of the expatriates are sub-contractors who will utilize local Sierra Leone engineers and workers who would be privileged for training opportunities in Beijing, China.

Mr. Zhao further confirmed that the confidence they have in the Government of Sierra Leone is what gives Kingho Investment Company Limited the morale to invest at the restart period millions of United States Dollars into iron ore production in the country.

In addition, Mr. Zhao dilated that job opportunities will be created for every Sierra Leonean irrespective of gender, ethnicity, social origin or religion. He further assured that they will help Sierra Leone achieve more in terms of increased tax and revenue generation. He said for the first time Sierra Leoneans will benefit from Sierra Leone’s natural wealth.

Meanwhile, the places where the Kingho Investment Company Limited will be focusing on Iron Ore mining are Sambaia, Dansogoia, Simiria, Kafe and Tane chiefdoms all in the Tonkolili District of the Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

Also worthy to note is that Kingho Investment Company Limited is a subsidiary of China Kingho Energy Group with headquarter located in Beijing, China. It is seeking to successfully develop the Tonkolili Iron Ore Project in Sierra Leone.

Hence the reason why it has flown into the country a group of expatriates to revamp the Sierra Leone Iron Ore sector together with a whopping investment of millions of dollars.

C/O 12 Battalion Distances Himself from Dalacuru Riot

By Amin Kef Sesay

In an exclusive revelation, the Commanding Officer of the 12 Infantry Battalion Pebu in Kabala, Lieutenant Col. J.P. Koroma, has pointed out that he was not part of the riots that took place in Dalacuru on June 30th 2020 where a Chinli Mining Company vehicle was burnt down by disgruntled youths who alleged that their land has been sold to the Chinese in order to mine gold. “I am very much surprised to read articles and listen to audio messages on the Social Media that I sent  soldiers to Dalacuru to massacre unarmed civilians which  is not true,” he stated further adding that it was the youths in Dalacuru who beat up soldiers and wounded them.

According to him, had it not been for his professionalism in Human Rights ,which he has lectured his soldiers to respect, if not there would have been massive lives lost but no bullets was fired and  nobody killed. He explained that yet still people are saying his soldiers beat-up and massacred youths of Dalacuru during the 30th June 2020, riots. “My soldiers are in Dalacuru to protect the lives and properties of the Chinese including their mining equipments for them not to be destroyed.”

“I have served the RSLAF  for 30 years diligently, with  an unblemished record and have never been founding wanting,” he said.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Lt. Col. J.P. Koroma highlighted, among other things, that ever since he was posted to Kabala (11)eleven months ago cliques have gone underground as before thieves used to attack passengers whilst trying to board vehicles to travel  to Freetown in the early morning hours but that has stopped forthwith under his Command.

He intimated that Sgt. A. F. Kamara was stoned on his right foot and left hand whilst Capt. Alfred Janneh alias Jaga Jaga was stoned  in his left hand  and his wrist watch damaged. Private M. A. Kanu,was stoned on his  forehead and is responding to treatment.

Chief Kali Koroma of Dalacuru openly apologized to Col. J.P. Koroma for the action of his youths appealing that such will not happen again.

According to Chief  Kali Koroma if the soldiers sent to Dalacuru were not professionals dozens of youths would have  been killed in cold blood. “While you were trying to make peace  I saw your soldiers were pelted with stones but please forgive us  and  don’t retaliate  as it  will not augur well,” said Chief Kali. P.C. Sheku Magba Koroma III adding that the youths have regretted their actions. He categorically made it clear that what happened in Dalacuru has political undertone saying some people he defeated during his Paramount Chieftaincy election are behind all these trouble in the Chiefdom of Diang.

According to P.C. Magba Koroma III, the Chinese are trying to bring development to Dalacuru but the  youths are causing trouble for themselves. He assured that there is going to be soldier and police presence to maintain law and order. “Very soon a 100 bed room hotel will be built in Diang Chiefdom which will create employment for the youths in the Chiefdom. It will attract tourism and tourists around Lake Sonfon. The Chinese will build a Self- Hydro Power in Diang Chiefdom,”P.C. Magba revealed.

“I am serving the Government of the day as I am not a politician,” he stated underscoring that Fasalie Tarawalie came to Diang Chiefdom through the right channel  and not the back door.

Councilor Francis F. Koroma of Ward 154 in Diang Chiefdom emphasized that as a Councilor there is the need for them to encourage investment  stating how he was the first person to hand over his artisanal licence to the Chinese through the National Minerals Agency (NMA).The town Chief of Dalacuru, Chief Kalil Koroma also  handed over his  artisanal Licence. He called on the youths to support the good work of the Chinese saying they mean well for the people of Diang Chiefdom.

After Former AG’S Embarrassing Treason Trial Failure… Need To Capacitate & Strengthen DPP’s Office  

President Julius Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

The entire law fraternity and sorority must have been deeply embarrassed when former Attorney General going against the grain of her noble profession vainly tried to prove in court charges that were improperly and erroneously investigated in the treason trial of retired Major Palo Conteh. This capital blunder brings up to the fore what the role of the Prosecutor in a matter is, as well as the crying need for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Office to be capacitated and strengthened to avoid such embarrassments in the future

That said, the Prosecutor is an administrator of justice, a zealous advocate and an officer of the court. First and foremost, the Prosecutor’s office should exercise sound discretion and independent judgment in the performance of the prosecution function.

The Prosecutor should act with diligence and promptness to investigate, litigate and dispose of criminal charges, consistent with the interests of justice and with due regard for fairness, accuracy and rights of the defendant, victims and witnesses.

Thus, the Prosecutor’s office should be organized and supported with adequate staff and facilities to enable it to process and resolve criminal charges with fairness and efficiency.

Fundamentally, the primary duty of the Prosecutor is to seek justice within the bounds of the law, not merely to convict. The Prosecutor serves the public interest and should act with integrity and balanced judgment to increase public safety both by pursuing appropriate criminal charges of appropriate severity, and by exercising discretion to not pursue criminal charges in appropriate circumstances. The Prosecutor should seek to protect the innocent and convict the guilty, consider the interests of victims and witnesses, and respect the constitutional and legal rights of all persons, including suspects and defendants.

The Prosecutor should know and abide by the standards of professional conduct as expressed in applicable law and ethical codes and opinions in the applicable jurisdiction. The Prosecutor should avoid an appearance of impropriety in performing the prosecution function. A Prosecutor should seek out, and the Prosecutor’s office should provide, supervisory advice and ethical guidance when the proper course of prosecutorial conduct seems unclear. A Prosecutor who disagrees with a governing ethical rule should seek its change if appropriate, and directly challenge it if necessary, but should comply with it unless relieved by court order.

The Prosecutor should make use of ethical guidance offered by his/her law officers department.

The Prosecutor should be knowledgeable about, consider, and where appropriate develop or assist in developing alternatives to prosecution or conviction that may be applicable in individual cases or classes of cases. The prosecutor’s office should be available to assist address problems that lead to, or result from, criminal activity or perceived flaws in the criminal justice system.

The Prosecutor is not merely a case-processor but also a problem-solver responsible for considering broad goals of the criminal justice system. The prosecutor should seek to reform and improve the administration of criminal justice, and when inadequacies or injustices in the substantive or procedural law come to the prosecutor’s attention, the prosecutor should stimulate and support efforts for remedial action. The Prosecutor should provide service to the community, including involvement in public service and Bar activities, public education, community service activities, and Bar leadership positions. A prosecutorial office should support such activities, and the office’s budget should include funding.

 

As Big Sister Season 2 Gains Momentum… Aminata S.F Conteh Set to Empower Deprived Single Mothers

Housemate #24, Aminata S.F Conteh, popularly known as ESSEF

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s most outstanding contestants for the Big Sister Empowerment show 2020, a known personality, a mentor, an activist for Women and Girls and of Housemate #24, Aminata S.F Conteh, popularly known as ESSEF of “Team Go-Getter” fame, has disclosed that she is set to empower deprived single mothers across the country with vocational trainings, health facilities, educational tips, start-up capitals etc. after winning the Big Sister Empowerment show 2020.  She made this disclosure on Wednesday 15th July, 2020, during an exclusive interview with this medium.

Speaking during the interview, Aminata S.F. Conteh disclosed that after winning the Big Sister Empowerment Show, she will establish women Resource Centre as a mechanism to empower deprived single mothers, adding that the Women Resource Centres will be women friendly, where deprived single women can have access to a lot of facilities, which includes cancelling, vocational trainings, health facilities, educational tips, start-up capital and also serve as a voice for them in upholding their rights.

She noted that she embodies the true spirit of a “Go-getter” and that mentality has seen her circumvent all life’s challenges, adding that her “Go-getter” perspective is what has, to a larger extent, brought her to the Big Sister Empowerment Platform.

She said her exceptional potential has already garnered an appreciable fan base that believes in the Go-getter mentality and that she has a mindset of a social as well as business entrepreneur, and that has spurred her entrepreneurial ventures in owning and managing two businesses- CEO of ESSEF mobile Eatery and Sassy Diamond hair, and that through these platforms, contributed towards the development of women and Girls.

Due to her humanitarian activity as founder of Snuggle Charity and equally a founding member of Pragmatic Women, she has been able to reaffirm her untiring commitment towards the empowerment of women in the country.

She pointed out that this could also be visualized in her project on uplifting Single Mothers project, which is aimed at empowering women and girls in order to be self-employed or employed to generate income. She has been working assiduously in order to give support to deprived single mothers, looked down on by society.

She believes that single mothers are very key and can contribute towards the development of any nation, as many believe that once a girl becomes pregnant and gives birth, that marks the end of their lives and most times they are left all by themselves.

She extended appreciation to her supporters who voted for her, culminating in her being among the 35 finalists, adding that with their continuous support, she will become the winner for Big Sister Empowerment show 2020, which will set the platform for her to empower more deprived single mothers in the country.

It would be recalled that the Big Sister Season 2 was launched at the Bintumani Conference Centre in October 2019, by Zedzee Multimedia, amidst high anticipation from fans in Sierra Leone and across Africa. This second edition is meant to include contestants from other African countries. About 20 women will battle for a mega prize of $50,000. This year, Big Sister Season 2 will be focused on women empowerment, hence the theme ‘No Woman No Cry.’

The brain behind this great idea is Sierra Leonean top model, entrepreneur, artist, actress and former Big Brother Africa housemate, Zainab Sheriff.

FCC Alerts Residents of Looming Flood Disaster

By Foday Moriba Conteh

It has been noticed that Social media is currently awash with videos of several communities, roads and valleys inundated by heavy rains in Freetown, threatening to trigger serious flooding and possible mudslide, reminiscent of the 2017 mudlslide disaster that took the lives of over a thousand people, mostly children and the elderly.

As the city continues to be pelted by heavy rains, government ministers from across various ministries, including Water Resources, Lands and Country Planning, Environment, Local Government, and Defence, along with other government officials conducted an assessment tour of the Western Area Rural District of Freetown on Thursday 16 July to evaluate the level of encroachment on protected areas, especially critical areas hosting the city’s water catchments, and to produce mitigating strategy for the  protected areas.

The Freetown City Council (FCC) called on residents, especially those who are living in communities prone to flooding, to remain alert, as heavy rain is forecasted over the next three days.

Residents living in lowlands and flood plains along the coast of Freetown have been advised by the Council to be vigilant, especially at nights, as they have an increased risk of flooding and other environmental disasters.

The FCC is calling on individuals to report a disaster or contact the Office of National Security (ONS) on 076 612775.

FCC says that, with support from several partners and the central Government, it will continue to collaborate with the military to implement the City’s 2020 Flood Mitigation programme, as they have done in the last month in 52 communities across Freetown.

According to the FCC, their interventions, which include clearing of blocked culverts, drainages and silted gutters and waterways, help reduce incidence of flooding in certain vulnerable communities.

However, the Council says that the current practice of building along waterways and in flood plains in parts of the city; leaves many residents vulnerable, and that its flood mitigation activities cannot effectively address the land use planning challenge.

Lamenting on the looming flood disaster awaiting several low-lying communities in Freetown this rainy season, Dr. Sillah Kargbo, former presidential adviser – Water Resources and Water Infrastructure, wrote:

“I don’t know what is wrong with our politicians. I wrote a flood management project and while I was at State House, we hired an American Engineering Consulting firm to do the first part of the study. The government of Sierra Leone still owes that firm $1,300,000 so that they could complete the design of the drainage system.

“I am made to understand that the SLPP government say it is an APC debt. Now people are suffering from avoidable floods and possibly mudslides. Freetown is the wettest country capital in the world, with an average of 5000 mm of rainfall per year. Are the authorities going to sit down and see such devastating flooding every rainy season?

“I gave a copy of Freetown Stormwater Management Report to the Mayor and Ministry of Finance and pleaded with them to pay the consultants to complete their work and nothing has been done. Most of the city’s flood waters are coming from the hills that have been deforested for uncontrolled and unplanned housing constructions.

“The proposed flood Management system includes the construction of 29 cascaded ponds to temporarily hold the large volumes of flows coming from the hills and released in a controlled way through specially designed weirs into the also proposed overland drainage network. The proposed Stormwater system also includes a subsurface storm sewer system to prevent the street flooding we are seeing in these videos.

“Government should be continuity. SLPP please you cannot ignore projects initiated by the previous government, meant to protect the lives and property of our people, you need to complete this project for God’s sake. People are suffering.

“Your government also has the Rokel River Water Supply project I submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources to address the water supply problem in Freetown. Please be patriotic citizens and implement those two projects for the good of all.”

Successive governments have paid lip service to the problems and dangers of deforestation, climate change, and flooding in Freetown, and there is no indication of a concerted action to effect real change anytime soon.

SLICOM Pays Working Visit To SLRSA

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Arthur N. Yaskey Commissioner of Insurance led a three (3) man delegation from the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission on Wednesday 15th July 2020 to pay a working visit to Mr. Ibrahim Sannoh, Executive Director, Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority – SLRSA at his Kissy Road Office in Freetown.

Welcoming the delegation, Ibrahim Sannoh said he was pleased to receive the delegation from the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission for the first time, since he took office as the Substantive Executive Director of the Authority. Mr Sannoh said the role of the Insurance Industry should not be overemphasized, noting that there is urgent need for Public Private Partnership in the Authority’s road safety drive.

Ibrahim Sannoh expressed concern over proliferation of insurance brokers (Agents) within the SLRSA premises whom, he said, do engage in some dubious insurance dealings.

Mr. Sannoh called for effective collaboration with the insurance industry in terms of Road Users Education on the Role of the Insurance Industry in Sierra Leone and that of Compensation to accident victims. Mr. Sannoh said he called on the Commissioner of SLICOM to set up a working group that will be charged with the responsibility to coordinate collaborative efforts between the SLRSA and the Insurance Industry

Arthur N. Yaskey, Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission (SLICOM), congratulated Ibrahim Sannoh and  James Bio on their appointment as Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director respectively, of the SLRSA.

Yaskey said the Road Traffic Act makes it mandatory on all vehicles plying the roads to be insured with a valid Insurance Policy and the SLRSA, being the lead agency in promoting road safety in Sierra Leone, is the custodian or enforcement wing of the said law.

He said the Safety and Enforcement Wing of the SLRSA have been doing extremely well in enforcing Traffic Laws and Regulations. He assured of his institution’s commitment in working with the new dispensation at SLRSA.

The Deputy Executive Director, James Bio, in his brief statement urged SLICOM to join the road safety bandwagon and thus change the narratives on the roads.

British-Lebanese On The Prowl

Lebanese-British citizen, Adnan Antar

By Amin Kef 

This medium would like to bring to the attention of the British community that one of their citizens is sullying the good image of British civility and decorum in Sierra Leone by launching what is nothing short of a concentrated campaign of calumny against the entire Lebanese community resident in Sierra Leone.

Adnan Antar, a British-Lebanese resident in Britain, has resorted to broadcasting via social media and his facebook page inciting messages against prominent well respected members of the Lebanese community in Sierra Leone that has become a matter of great concern to both the Lebanese community, whose image of being very law abiding residents, is being presented by Adnan Antar in a very bad light, and the Sierra Leone government maintains that Adnan Antar is breaking the law.

Adnan Antar has launched an unprovoked and very vicious attack on very prominent Lebanese contributors to the Sierra Leone community, namely:The President of the Lebanese community in Sierra Leone, Samir Hassaniyeh, Musa Antar, Faisal Basma, Hussein Jaward, Samir Hashim, Ibrahim Antar, Hassan Kabala, Oussama Zayyat, Sheik Tejan Sillah (Imam of Central Mosque), Faisal Antar and the Lebanese Ambassador, to name but a few.

Adnan Antar has been broadcasting inflammatory voice and video messages when the Lebanese Community was evacuated via a chartered aircraft, alleging that they want to fleece them of their monies.

Adnan Antar’s behaviour has been described as that of an extremist bent on sowing the seeds of discord among and blackmailing the Lebanese community in Sierra Leone. He has been analysed as an abuser of women, whose hate of Lebanese in Sierra Leone is pathological.

Social media is awash with his past proclivities in using very caustic and unprintable adjectives against people and getting away with it.

Lebanese have described him as a shame and disgrace to them, as he daily uses unprintable words and invectives against his own brothers and sisters. He has become nothing but a nuisance that the British authorities need to caution, based on his unethical voice and video messages that reek of hate and xenophobia.

The premise of this attention drawn publication is for the British authorities to be aware that posting hate messages on social media is an offense by law, which Adnan Antar, as a British citizen, is doing with reckless abandon and impunity.

Disgracefully, Adnan Antar, has also been raining unimaginable abuses against the wife of Samir Hanssanyeh, Mariam Bittar, with all kinds of unprintable language.

This medium holds no brief for the Lebanese community in Sierra Leone, but only wants the British authorities not to be insensitive to an unscrupulous Adnan Antar’s antics to pull down others purely based on hate and malice.

Adnan Antar’s outrageously immoral utterances against targeted members of the Lebanese community deserve the attention of the British authorities.

Chief Minister Reaffirms Pres. Bio’s Vision to Protect The Environment

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On 16th July 2020, Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis, reaffirmed President Julius Maada Bio’s Commitment to protect the Environment through the newly established Ministry of the Environment, under the astute leadership of Professor Foday Jaward, while addressing Western area stakeholders at Hotel Cabenda in Freetown, on the need to amend the National Environmental Laws in Sierra Leone, in order to meet today’s growing Environmental Challenges across the globe.

The Consultative Seminar organized by the Ministry was to tap on the knowledge of locals and to allow them access in making input to the future laws that will guide the management of the environment.

According to the Chief Minister, the establishment of the first Ministry of Environment by the President Bio is a demonstration of his Commitment in tackling environmental issues. Stating that, President Bio is concerned about the future of the environment.

He said the review of the environmental protection agency act of 2008 and 2010 amendment, the National Protected Agency Authority and the Conservation Trust Act of 2012, the Forestry Act of 1988, the Wild Life Conservation Act of 1972 and the National Environment Policy of 1994 were all eminent; and that all these will now be under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment.

He thanked the UNDP for providing financial, logistical and technical support to the Ministry of the Environment to help address the challenges and overlapping mandates and lack of coordination and supervision that leaves the environmental agencies in the hands of unscrupulous politicians.

Professor Francis called for a clear, proactive and strategic engagement with all the environment related agencies to make sure they work together through coordination and consultations, so that the end product will be reflective of what the Ministry and the President’s vision stands for. He thanked the Ministry of the environment for taking the lead in the whole process.

Parliament Commits Media Bills To Legislative Committee

Parliament of Sierra Leone

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Thursday 16th July 2020, exhaustively debated and committed the Bills entitled: “The Public Order Amendment Act 2020 and The Independent Media Commission Act 2020”, to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.

The Act is seeking to amend the Public Order Act of 1965 (Act No.46 of 1965) by repealing Part V, which deals with defamation and seditious libel and to provide for other related matters.

Piloting the Bill, the Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, said the objective of the Bill is to amend the Public Order Act of 1965 (Act No.46 of 1965) by repealing Part V, which criminalizes defamation and seditious libel.

The Minister said among other things that the repeal would enhance the development of the media and noted that for far too long the criminal libel law has been in our law books and has hugely affected and deterred the growth of the media in the country. The Minister also said that a repeal of this law would encourage the private sector and provide them the opportunity to invest in the media landscape, and allayed the fears of citizens by referring to existing laws that would serve as safeguards in the light of protecting their hard earned reputation.

Contributing to the debate prior to committal, Hon. Hindolo M. Gevao of SLPP supported the repeal process and said journalists would want to perform their work without fear for their lives and referred to criminal libel law as an old law that has strongly affected the development of the media industry. He praised President Bio for his commitment to rescind the criminal libel law, as promised in his manifesto dubbed “The New Direction or The Peoples Manifesto”.

Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo of APC recognized past journalists who had contributed to the development of the media landscape. He said the 1965 POA is evident of sending prominent people to jail, and recalled the efforts of media practitioners who had earlier championed the repeal process. He said that as an opposition party, they are in total support of the repeal process and praised President Bio and the Minister of information and Communication for, what he referred to as, “a positive work done”.

Chief Whip of Parliament, Hon. Dickson M. Rogers also supported the repeal process and urged colleague MPs not to politicize it, but to support it, because it is not contentious and is aimed at the development of the media. He encouraged the Mass Communication Department at FBC to step up and compete with other Departments for the professional development of journalists in Sierra Leone after the repeal process.

Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama, an Independent MP from Pujehun, supported the repeal and observed they are not doing favours to the media, but as MPs, they are serving the interest of the people. He commended the President and the Minister for standing by their manifesto promise to repeal the criminal libel laws, which other governments have failed to accomplish.

Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally of APC said it is a momentous day for the media and praised the hard work of SLAJ and the Government for the repeal process, adding that it is a unique day for the media and urged media practitioners to do the needful in executing their duties.

Hon. Abdul Kargbo of APC said the law which criminalizes seditious libel should not be part of the democratic governance of the country. He said even though Parliament is willing to repeal the obnoxious law, he called for the rights of the citizens to be protected and respected as provided by law.

Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara of APC said posterity would judge those who enacted the criminal libel law and observed that the quick repeal of the law must take into consideration the protection of the rights of the citizens.

Hon. Samuel Panda of SLPP said there are good laws as well as bad ones. He said to repeal the law, Parliament should be cautious and ensure the laws of the state are respected and honoured.

Hon. Mohamed Bangura of APC said it is a memorable day for the repeal of the law and noted that they are in full support of it, because the law has affected the APC so badly. He commended the Government for the initiative to eliminate a bad law in the governance system of the country.

The Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, said during the campaign, President Bio promised the people of Sierra Leone to repeal the bad law in the books of our country. He commended the President for the efforts made thus far to deliver on his promise to the people through the repeal of the criminal libel law in our books. He urged the media to carry out their work with a deep sense of responsibility.

Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Leader of NGC, said that as a party, they are in support of press freedom and acknowledged the tremendous backing of MPs in the repeal process. He called for the safeguards of the people’s rights to be protected, preserved, respected and not to be blackmailed by journalists.

Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, said his party is fully in support of the repeal process and commended the Government for taking a bold step to decriminalize seditious libel.

Leader of Opposition, Hon. Chernor Bah, commended the Minister and his team for achieving significant milestones in the process of repealing the criminal libel law. He also commended the past Presidents of SLAJ for championing the process and also applauded former Presidents Kabbah and Koroma’s administration for championing and developing the media industry in the country. He also supported the repeal and urged the Government to address the issue surrounding dual citizenship.

Concluding, Leader of Government of Business, Hon. Mathew Nyuma, commended his colleague MPs for what he referred to as “a positive debate on the Bill”. He recalled how he was lambasted by media practitioners for withdrawing the Bill on procedural grounds. He said he did so for the smooth governance of the state. He commended the past governments for initiating the repeal process. He also said that as a Government, they are committed to fulfilling the promises they had made to the people for the development of the country. He remarked, “we are making history to see that the media houses live up to expectations”. “This is not the time for politics, but the time for development”, he stressed. He warned media practitioners to uphold the law and avoid any form of premature publications.

In another development, the Parliament of Sierra Leone has also debated and committed the Bill entitled: “The Independent Media Commission Act 2020” to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.

It is an Act that provides for the continuation of the Independent Media Commission, to provide for the registration and regulation of the mass media institutions in Sierra Leone, licensing of persons and institutions engage in radio, television or direct to home digital satellite service broadcasting and registration of persons and institutions engaged in the publication of newspapers, magazines and newsletters in sierra Leone and to provide for other related matters.

Presenting the Bill, the Minister highlighted its importance and stated the position of Government in the light of protecting its citizens. He said the Bill is divided into eight parts including its preliminary, continuation of the commission, objects, functions and powers of commission, administrative provisions, financial provisions, licensing and registration, newspapers, magazines and newsletters, obligation to employ registered journalists, editors and station managers and miscellaneous provisions.

MPs who spoke to the motion acknowledged the efforts of the Government to promote the media, as well as protect and safeguard the rights of the citizens.

Other MPs who spoke to the motion referred to the Bill as serious and critical and called for total adherence to laws for the safety of the citizens.

Leaders of Political Parties commended the initiative of the Government to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected, and observed that enormous powers have been given to the IMC.

In summation, both media related Bills have been read the second time and duly committed to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.

Pres. Bio Calls for Collective Collaboration to Fight Rape

By Amin Kef Sesay

Speaking during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at State House on Tuesday 14 July 2020, President  Bio  encouraged parents and  community residents to support the Government’s efforts in tackling rape, early marriage and all forms of violence against women and girls in the country.

The President said that it is the responsibility of Government to protect the lives of everyone, adding that such could only be achieved with the involvement of parents and members of the community. He emphasised the need to end all harmful practices that are affecting the growth of women and girls in the country.

The President also used the occasion to commend the Rainbow Initiative for their tenacity in doing a very difficult job and for standing for survivors of rape and sexual violence. He noted that the statistics around rape in the country were grim, adding that it was why he declared a national emergency on rape and sexual violence in February 2019.

“Rape is unacceptable because it is about the future of our children. The parents and communities need to stand up because it is better to work towards prevention. Parents should be attentive to raising our children. There is a need for a multi-sectoral approach and coordination to get rid of impunity,” he said.

First Lady, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, said that they were meeting to brief the President on the task given to them regarding the “Hands Off Our Girls”, (HOOG) campaign and how they could find solutions in dealing with rape, teenage pregnancy and early marriage in the country.

She noted that they had gone right across the country to engage relevant stakeholders and to raise awareness about the dangers of rape and sexual violence against women and girls. She also said that since the launch of the HOOG, they had achieved a lot, but would still need the cooperation of everyone if they are to achieve their goal.

Executive Director of Rainbow Initiative, Daniel Kettor, said that there has been a lack of support from the community to survivors, saying that such is affecting the fight against rape. He recommended for the acceleration of the functionality of the One-Stop Centers, to assign medical staff to those centers and to establish more safe homes across the country that would minimise the rate at which society and parents compromise on rape matters.

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