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$7 Million Investment by Kings Beverages Factory Commissioned by Trade Ministry

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Dr. Hinga Sandy, Minister of Trade and Industry, has on Thursday 4th June 2020, commissioned the Kings Beverages Factory which produces Water and Beverage at Grafton Village in the Western Area Rural District.

In his address, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Hinga Sandy, commended the Management of the company for the great move which he considers as a move in the right direction and that the Government of President Bio is committed to expand on the production capacity in the Agricultural sector and create the enabling environment for all investors and local business owners to invest in the country.

He disclosed that the 6 to 7 Million dollar investment by Kings Beverages Factory is holistically welcomed by the Government, because it will help in creating more jobs and has the capacity to produce more in order to meet the needs of the local market and export to the West African sub-region, adding that Sierra Leone has signed a lot of Trade agreements within the sub region to continue maintaining trade relationships all in enhancing a business friendly environment stating that Sierra Leone has the space for agriculture and will open the space for competition.

He stated that a vibrant private sector is the driving force for economic growth, income generation, employment and ultimately poverty reduction and that they will promote competitiveness, a fast-growing and liberal economy led by the private sector as it can substantially assist in building the capacity and capability of Sierra Leoneans.

Mrs Frances Piaqie Alghali, Minister of State, Office of the Vice President expressed appreciation to the Management of the Kings Water and Beverage Factory for their investment in the country.

She added that such investment will lead to a corresponding increase in job creation, Government revenue and availability of food, noting that in years gone manufacturing took the lead in Sierra Leone especially at the Wellington Industrial Estate, lamenting that the companies that used to operate there are no longer functioning saying they are happy as a Government is seeing new players coming to invest.

She said that they are aware of the challenges faced by owners of factories in country of which energy is one and disclosed how Government has been working tremendously to improve the Energy sector in the country stating that it could be a reason  why Companies like King Production Factory and others are establishing their businesses in the country.

“As a country we need to add value to our local products through industrialization and I hope Kings Beverage and other companies will use our local products like Mango, Pineapple, Banana and other fruits in order to have beverages from our local Agricultural products,” she suggested.

She ended by calling on Government to actively look for ways to work more closely with the private sector and to create an investor friendly environment. In that regard she said the Government has established the National Investment Board (NID) that is chaired by His Excellency President Maada Bio to change the existing ways of doing business.

Surrender Sigh, General Manager Kings Production, expressed gratitude to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Hinga Sandy, and other Government officials for honouring their invitation and made the event a success.

He said the company at the moment produces Water and Beverage products in the country and they are using the best technology to produce for the local market and also export could boost the country’s economy.

He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to take the business as theirs and embrace the company as their own .

Human Resource Manager, Kings Production, Richmond Somasa, said  the company at the moment has employed over 50 youths within the Grafton community. He added that in fulfilment of their Corporate Social Responsibility within the community they have constructed a mini water dam for the communities surrounding Grafton saying such will reduce the constraints faced by residents to access water especially during the dry season.

He added that in order to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 in the country, the company has supported the community with Veronica Buckets, Hand Sanitizers and Face Masks.

One of the Tribal Authorities within the Grafton community commended the company for the support they have been providing to them like the construction of the Mini Dam which he said is benefitting residents of the community. He also thanked them for the donation of Personal Protective Equipment to the community which includes Veronica Buckets, Hand Sanitizers and Face masks further assuring them that the community residents are ready to work with the company in order to bring more developments to their community.

Telling The Untold Stories of Sierra Leonean Women… Florence Sesay Bags Prestigious 2020 Bronze Award

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Thursday 4th June 2020, one of Sierra Leone’s finest female media practitioners, Florence Njai-Sesay received a prestigious 2020 Bronze Award from the B-Peace Women Forward Organisation based in the USA. She has now become the first female from Sierra Leone to have bagged such an award. The virtual online award ceremony was relayed live via video link from the USA at about 6.00 pm local time.

Chairing the program, which was organised as a surprise to honour her, Madam Finda, another active personality in the Media, expressed pride in the knowledge that women are stepping up and making their voices heard. She maintained that for too long every aspect of society has been male dominated and it is refreshing to see women rising up from their slumber and taking their rightful place in society. She expressed hope that the award will further encourage other women and female journalists to do more to show case their work.

Speaking at the ceremony, Florence Sesay, conveyed appreciation to her colleagues for the surprise, but stated that had it not been for the COVID-19, she would have loved to share the award with the women of Sierra Leone. She disclosed that her work with women across the country contributed largely to her eligibility for nomination by her expatriate boss and the story she told of Sierra Leonean women, captivated the attention of the Judges who then decided to award her the bronze award.

In her view, the award is for all Sierra Leonean women, as it is their story (the untold stories) that she told. She recalled working with women on FGM, sexual and reproductive health issues and other socio-cultural issues, even at personal risks and expressed satisfaction that the ‘Sowies’ (Mammy Queens of the FGM practices) are coming on board, albeit cautiously and slowly. Madam Sesay further disclosed that the setting up of the ‘Girls Camp’ in the country has contributed greatly to awareness raising among residents in rural communities and remote, hard-to-reach areas in the country.

The aforementioned camp has a group of young girls who are now spreading the messages to their peers and other women folks. COVID-19 has not stopped this activity, as the girls are now using tablets and their phones to pass on messages to their compatriots.

Elaborating on the BPeace Award, Florence Sesay, said that the award is given to 20 women across the world and this year, out of the over one hundred nominees, she was lucky to be among the twenty and is proud to be the first female Sierra Leonean to bag an award from the organisation. She admonished her colleagues in their organisation, Media Matters For Women (MMW), to step up and lead women on the speed lane.

According to Mariam Khai Fornah, who is the Chairperson of  Media Matters For Women had this to say :  “Mrs. Njai-Sesay’s work with MMW-SL has enabled the organization to efficiently expand its efforts into new geographical areas within Sierra Leone so more women and girls can access critical information. Florence is an excellent mentor who has helped many in our organization reach their full potential both personally and professionally. She greatly deserves this award and we are pleased that she is being recognized for her efforts.” She and some members of the organisation offered congratulatory messages to the awardee and prayed for good health and long life to continue to lift the plight of women high on both national and international stages.

In his brief statement, Chairman of the Guild of Editors in Sierra Leone, Donald Theo Harding, expressed pride in the development seen in female journalists and encouraged them to hold the fort and make the organisation proud. He congratulated Florence Sesay for her achievement, which he described as no mean feat, but a giant step in putting female journalists in the country on the international stage.

The ceremony was climaxed by the cutting of cake by Florence Sesay and other Executive members of the MMW.

Media Matters for Women-Sierra Leone (MMW-SL) works to build innovative communications networks in Sierra Leone to bring valuable information to women and girls. The organization first came to prominence during the Ebola crisis for its solar-powered, Bluetooth transmissions of podcasts produced by a team of female journalists that educated entire remote villages on how to prevent the spread of the disease. MMW-SL currently distributes critical Covid-19 health information in three districts and it also produces the popular radio drama “Mamie and Omo”.

FAO Heightens Efforts to Combat Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated fishing

By Amin Kef Sesay

The fisheries sector is bedevilled by Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) issues. It has been determined that the three  ultimately jeopardize the whole of the fisheries sector as they can destroy the livelihoods of fishing communities, harm food security and nutrition, damage fair local and international trade, and often give way to unsafe and indecent working conditions, sometimes even crime.

It is stated that IUU fishing includes everything from fishing without a license and not accurately reporting catches to fishing in prohibited areas or periods and catching or selling protected species. IUU fishing undermines regional, national and even international efforts to make fisheries sustainable, important for ensuring that marine resources are available in the future, that livelihoods are protected and that species survive. Several countries around the world are combating IUU fishing with FAO’s support and making noteworthy progress.

In marking the International Day for the Fight against IUU fishing on the 5th June 2020 highlights of progress were made:

In Sierra Leone which has one of the richest fisheries in West Africa a large number of artisanal fishers rely on fish for their livelihood and a significant percentage of the population depends on fish as a source of animal protein. Yet, since the 1980s, Sierra Leone has allowed increasing numbers of foreign vessels to target fish stocks in their national waters, substantially increasing the pressure on these fish stocks.

In order to ensure the sustainability of its fisheries, Sierra Leone has been increasing regulation of the sector. In 2018, Sierra Leone became a party to the PSMA, an important step to ensuring that foreign vessels entering their ports are not conducting IUU fishing. With the support of FAO and other partners, Sierra Leone has also been working to implement this and other international agreements through legislative reviews, stepping up monitoring, control and surveillance capacities and increasing interagency cooperation.

As a supporter of States in this fight, FAO is continually developing tools to help countries eliminate IUU activities. One such tool in development is a global information exchange system, key to the functioning of the PSMA, allowing countries to exchange information on the compliance of foreign vessels seeking entry and using their ports. Together with the up-and-running Global record of fishing vessels, refrigerated transport vessels and Supply vessels, a one-stop shop for certified information on vessels, these tools will be indispensable in supporting States to combat IUU fishing.

Through efforts like this international day and the Sustainable Development Goals, there is a growing awareness about this serious issue and international momentum to combat these unsustainable practices.

As many of these efforts illustrate, a strong commitment at the national and regional levels is a critical first step, but effective implementation and enforcement of measures, capacity development and international cooperation are essential in turning the tide against IUU fishing.

Non-Governmental Organization Appeals for Support to Karene District

By Foday Moriba Conteh

To scale up the support to Karene district in the fight against Covid-19, Craving 4 Development, has called on obligated groups, organizations and the Government to cater for the needs of residents if the district is to sustain its resilience and continue to record zero Covid-19 cases.

Craving 4 Development focuses its “Covid-19 Stops With Me” Campaign in Bonthe, Kailahun, Moyamba and Tonkolili saying their attention has been drawn to the fact that Karene District has 114 unofficial borders with Guinea adding how they are struggling on a daily basis to control the incoming traffic from Guinea and also to mobilize, sensitize and support their inhabitants.

It says the ECOWAS Youth Council is doing a great job in raising awareness along with other Government bodies, INGOs but expressed the need for Karene District to be reinforced with experts in the field of emergency and risk communication, safety and prevention around Covid-19.

The organization states that teenage pregnancy, Gender Based Violence, mental health, malaria, hepatitis and food security among others, are issues that must not neglected during this crisis especially when they add to the existing burdens of the health systems, vulnerable populations and low-income communities.

According to them, an assessment conducted by the District’s Social Mobilization Coordinator (DSMC), Bai Sesay, identified the immediate needs of the district stating that they are calling for the responsiveness of the various stakeholders that are engaged in the fight against Covid-19. It said these needs include:

-Communication tools and means for district social mobilization coordinators experiencing difficulty in reaching out to social mobilizers due to lack of megabytes and inadequate network coverage.

-Logistics for movement such as vehicles, motorbikes, fuel etc…

-Support for community sensitization on Covid-19 (Veronica buckets, hand soaps, hand sanitizers, face masks etc and continuous media engagements on Covid-19.

Members of the Organization expressed the view that without the requisite support, the actors on site are likely to be discouraged in their relentless efforts to bar the road to the pandemic. “This battle cannot be won without the concerted efforts and support from organizations as well as Governmental bodies, district stakeholders and actors in the field of development,” it furthered.

Govt. Registers Commitment to Invest More in Mental Health Issues

By Amin Kef Sesay

At the commissioning ceremony of  the renovated Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital (SLPTH) Complex at Kissy in Freetown on Thursday 4 June 2020 President Bio registered that mental health intervention is within his Government’s overarching human capital development priority.

“Here is why all this matters. Our country has been bludgeoned over the last three decades by traumatic event after traumatic event – from the bloody violence and chaos of the civil war, to catastrophic natural disasters like the mudslide and flooding, through the Ebola virus disease epidemic, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All these events and beyond have induced conditions from post-traumatic stress disorder and grief, to anxiety, depression, psychosis, acute stress, and harmful substance abuse. Combine this with autism, epilepsy, bipolar and psychotic disorders, intellectual and cognitive disabilities, and more, and we recognise that as a nation, we must act now. We must invest heavily in mental healthcare.

“We believe, as a Government, in harnessing the full potential of every Sierra Leonean. We believe that improving and promoting mental health care is an essential part of achieving Universal Health Care coverage with positive outcomes for the physical health of our citizens,” he stated.

He also added that they believe that elevated investments in mental healthcare would have positive implications for human and socio-economic development in the country because it would protect human rights and reduce social and economic disparities.

“In our 2018 manifesto, we committed to ‘developmental health treatment and care facilities in Freetown and build new facilities in the provinces’. We made our commitment against the background of decades of neglect of mental health care and the premier psychiatric hospital in the country.

“This was an unsanitary site of unspeakable neglect and abuse. Nothing seemed to work- from ramshackle buildings with broken toilets, broken windows, empty pharmacies, no water supply, to insecure perimeter fencing that was regularly breached by patients. Mental health care was still offered within an out-dated century-old mental health legislation and evidence abounds of inhumane isolation and chaining practices and overall poor outcomes for patients. This institutional neglect was complicated with little to no dedication to staff training or to modernising mental healthcare practices. For us, the burden of doing little to nothing hung on our conscience like a millstone.

“So, the argument to make is simple. We know that persons with mental health needs and their families, in cases, are subjected to severe discrimination, stigma, harassment, and victimisation. Their constitutional rights and their security are not guaranteed. Because of cultural insensitivities, children are often not educated and abandoned to a life of vagrancy, abuse, and early death. They are also susceptible to other chronic physical disease conditions, unhealthy diets, unsafe living conditions, and most often, early death,” he said, adding that Government’s commitment remain not only to guarantee the rights of every citizen, but also to protect and nurture every citizen to their fullest potential.

The President noted what other speakers had said before him, highlighting initiatives the leadership of the SLPTH had undertaken, and the collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, with support from partners, and the professional services of Dr. George Eze, who was singled out in Dr. Jalloh’s statement for his profound impact.

He emphasized that professional membership organizations and efforts by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to designate the hospital in Freetown as a Centre for International Collaboration and Research are highly commendable.

“My Government, through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation will also pursue the ECOWAS Commission’s agreement to establish the first drug treatment and rehabilitation centre here in Sierra Leone. My Government is ready to support and promote the SLPTH in its mission to deliver quality care to its patients. In order to augment and support the training of an indigenous medical workforce, my Government fully supports the establishment of a separate Department of Psychiatry in the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences to train mental health professionals such as nurses, occupational therapists, addiction specialists, and more from diploma to postgraduate levels,” he assured.

Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, said that the event was special because it reflected the preparedness of the Government and, in particular, President Bio to take leadership in starting the process to destigmatise mental health. He added that mental health is key in achieving universal health coverage.

Executive Director for Partners in Health, working on access to quality health care, John Lascher, said that the facility was a pragmatic example of how nongovernmental organisations could partner effectively with Government and the people of Sierra Leone. He added that Sierra Leoneans should be proud of the response and leadership in the COVID-19 fight.

Psychiatrist-in-Charge, Dr Abdul Jalloh, said that the hospital is the face of mental health in the country, established in 1820 for recaptives and those with physical and mental illness. He said that with support from the Government, Partners in Health and other organisations, they had improved on services of the hospital in line with international best practices. He also encouraged the Government to establish a separate department of psychiatry in the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences to produce homegrown specialized staff.

Supreme Executive Officer Launches National Tree Planting Project on World Environment Day  

By Theresa Kef Sesay

At Mortomeh, Regent Village in the Western Rural District ,where World Environment Day was observed on the 5th June 2020, President Julius Maada Bio, after delivering a comprehensive address, kick-started a national tree planting exercise and also launched the National Tree Planting Project within the context of mitigating the impact of climate change and fulfilling the Government’s commitment in the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan.

“In general, the project is aimed at planting 5 million trees in approximately 14,706 hectares of degraded lands and coastal areas in the entire country. The project is expected to last for four years and the planting of trees will be done in 5 Phases. Phase 1, which commences this year, will end in June 2021 with 1.2 million trees planted. Phases 2 to 5 will start in May 2021 and end in June 2024 and 3.8 Million trees will be planted.

“The co-benefits from health, agriculture, employment, water conservation, to economic development, are too numerous to name in this brief statement. It will initially target 10,000 youths comprising at least 50 percent women,” he said

President Bio further revealed that the National Reforestation and Afforestation Project, which was included in the 2020 budget, would benefit the whole country, adding that it would be pursued along with Government’s commitment to creating jobs in rural communities.

“This project is critical for various reasons: It will increase forest cover, enhance the capacity of carbon sequestration and biodiversity, and help reduce the adverse impact of climate change on the country; it will prevent the displacement of populations caused by flooding, as the trees will curtail water from heavy downpours; it will reduce early and erratic rainfall patterns leading reduced flooding and windthrow hazards.

“The national tree planting exercise will provide other ecosystems support functions such as water conservation; it will help to combat soil erosion along hills and slopes and aid soil conservation in agricultural areas; and finally the project will contribute to addressing several UN SDGs, the AU Agenda 2063, and Cluster 7 of our country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan,” he said.

The President recalled that in his inaugural speech to Parliament in 2018, he stated that Sierra Leone was ranked the 3rd most vulnerable country to climate change in the world or the 3rd country in the world with the least capacity to respond or adapt to environmental change. He, therefore, reiterated his campaign pledge to focus on the protection of the environment and the prevention of natural disasters in the country.

“We have taken proactive measures toward effective environmental governance, ecosystem conservation, the management of forest resources, and environmental education. We have established a stand-alone Ministry of the Environment and we are passing progressive legislation and policies to mitigate and manage environmental risks,” he said.

He also called for transparent and accountable national spread during the implementation of the programme and instructed the Minister of Environment to ensure that they strictly adhered to that.

“No one organization should apply for segments of this project in more than 2 chiefdoms of the same district; no one organization should be awarded contracts to provide or plant more than 10,000 seedlings; CBOs/NGOs should only be awarded contracts for areas in which they have worked before or have personnel who have abundant knowledge of the local area; only persons ordinarily resident in their respective chiefdoms shall be employed for the tree planting activity,” he warned.

Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis, who chaired the event described it as the symbolic start of the national tree planting exercise and also welcomed the guests as they commemorated the United Nations World Environmental Day to encourage global awareness and global action for the protection of the environment. He said that by the launch of the tree planting project, President Bio had answered to the UN Global call to protect the environment.

Country Representative for the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Samuel Doe, said that it was auspicious that Sierra Leone was marking the launch of the tree planting and afforestation project. He noted that the UNDP was standing with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure the planting of trees to regenerate the planet and the environment in Sierra Leone, adding that humans were obligated to sustain the environment.

Executive Chairman for Environment Protection Agency, Dr Bondi Gevao, said that the ongoing climate-related impacts were reminders of the need to take responsibility to preserve their forests and wildlife habitats. He added that trees and forests play an essential role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and assured of his agency’s commitment to operationalizing the vision of the Government’s agenda on protecting the environment.

As it Celebrates 49th Year Anniversary…   SLAJ President Cautions Media Practitioners

SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 5th June 2020, the umbrella body that has the mandate to champion the interests of journalists in this country, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) celebrated its 49th anniversary.

In his address to members of SLAJ and the wider citizenry to mark the day, the erudite President of the Association, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, congratulated members, more especially the surviving founding members in the persons of Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Mrs. Bernadette Cole, Mr. Christo Johnson and others.

He also congratulated senior colleagues in the Veteran Journalists Union (VEJU), whom, he said, have blazed the trail before the current crop of journalists.

The President further remembered departed colleagues, especially those who left recently- Chernor Ojuku Sesay, Rod Mac Johnson and others.

He noted that because of the COVID-19 SLAJ held its first virtual general meeting on 17th May, 2020 where it was agreed to postpone the Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2020 until such a time when the COVID-19 restrictions, especially the ban on public gatherings, will be lifted.

Nasralla maintained that as we celebrate SLAJ’s birthday in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, members must be proud of the Association’s history and the strides made to ensure we protect and promote freedom of expression and of the Press and the public’s right to information that is helping practitioners make informed decisions in their daily lives.

He said with SLAJ’s current standing and profile the future can only be bright further imploring all to work towards having one united SLAJ. “We must take SLAJ very seriously and contribute to its development at all times,” he enjoined.

The SLAJ President revealed that even before the country recorded its index COVID-19 case, they had formed the SLAJ Coronavirus Response Committee (SLAJ-CRC) to coordinate the Association’s response to the fight against the virus.

He underscored how the SLAJ-CRC immediately went to work by producing public sensitization jingle and video on the preventive measures against COVID-19 which continue to be broadcast by the media. “This was followed by national simulcast programs on radio and TV, especially during the lockdowns instituted by the Government,” he continued adding that all those were done without any outside support.

He said the SLAJ-CRC continues to interface with the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the NACOVERC to support the Government of Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 national response program.

The pragmatic SLAJ President stated that on Sunday, 19th April, 2020, they also officially launched the ‘Wear A Mask’ campaign to support the Government of Sierra Leone in encouraging everybody in the country to wear a face mask when going out in public also revealing how SLAJ is now having trainings on COVID-19 reporting for journalists.

Dilating on Press Freedom he said because of the COVID-19 SLAJ could not celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom day as usual, but they were able to mark the day with a virtual seminar on the topic: ‘The Media and the COVID-19 Pandemic’.

He expressed hope that media practitioners are coping with the challenge of ‘infodemic- fake news and misinformation and disinformation.

Touching on the Criminal Libel he said despite the recent withdrawal of the repeal bill in Parliamentary proceedings media practitioners continue to be hopeful for the law to be expunged by the country’s Honourable Members of Parliament.

He said to strengthen advocacy and engagement SLAJ is in the process of forming a SLAJ Criminal Libel Repeal Lobbying Group to engage key personalities in the Legislature to get their buy in.

“This group will consist mainly of members who have access to the corridors of power, so they also will use their influence to build support for the repeal,” he gave optimism but admonished all to practice strictly by the rules.

He talked about how they have reconstituted and strengthened the SLAJ Disciplinary Committee as one of the self-regulation mechanisms saying the DC is headed by one of the founding members and doyen of journalism, Mrs. Bernadette Cole.

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla in talking on the Mediation Committee on the WIMSAL impasse, he said, SLAJ is in the process of finding a pathway to heal the division in WIMSAL. He humbly appealed to all WIMSAL members to choose peace and sisterhood over hate and unforgiveness.

He further disclosed that SLAJ and the Mass Communications Department at FBC, USL decided to launch the Virtual Seminar Series as a platform to discuss key issues relating to the development of the media. He said three presentations have been made so far and the seminar series are also open to members and the general public.

With regards Land for SLAJ HQ he noted that in his most recent address to the Sierra Leone Parliament, H. E. President Julius Maada Bio reiterated his commitment to provide land and help build an ultra-modern headquarters for SLAJ.

He stated how the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning took them around Freetown to identify a plot for the proposed SLAJ Headquarters, but they are yet to locate a suitable one saying they will continue to search for a suitable plot within the CBD and other easily accessible locations.

On Finance, he said, SLAJ is financially constrained highlighting that they have not even raised money to pay for the auditing of the Association’s books for this year –(Baker Tilly). “We are also in arrears for the day to day financial management services provided by FNL (Freetown Nominees).

There’s also the rent for the SLAJ HQ at Campbell Street coming up.

We pay Staff salaries, their NASSIT and NRA every month.

We have requested for the Government Subvention for 2019/2020 and we hope to receive that in due course. Part of this money will go towards paying of rent for the SLAJ HQ and independent regional offices. We are expecting revenue for ongoing SLAJ-CRC corona programs. However, this money will just pass through our accounts and go to the media houses. SLAJ needs to think about ways of generating revenue,” he proposed.

 The President stated that the SLAJ Executive has received a donation of six laptops from the US Embassy which will be used for the resuscitation of the Association’s resource center with reliable internet facility.

He urged media owners to adopt gender policies in their respective media houses and invest in gender sensitive reporting to advance the rights of women and girls in Sierra Leone.

He concluded by assuring that they shall work towards reviewing the governance and operational structures of the Association’s affiliate bodies and make them more efficient and effective.

As First Ever Female DIG Appointed… A Look At Accountability In the Force For Good

SLP

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Police Force in all countries has the primary responsibility of protecting lives and property as well as maintaining law and order. In conducting these functions, it must do so with absolute respect for the rights of citizens.

Where a Police Force performs its functions independently, it becomes a very strong instrument for enforcement of law and order in society which makes it win the trust and confidence of citizens that they can depend on it for justice to be done when rights are violated.

Otherwise, if the force is unprofessional and behaves corruptly, it will have adverse implications for the safety and security of persons, the investment climate and the country’s human rights credentials.

Citizens observe that notwithstanding various reforms by three regimes after the war to spruce up the sullied image of the Police, there are still widespread allegations of their violations of human rights, mostly allegedly carried out on the orders of politicians and well to do people in society.

Torture, extra-judicial killings, prolonged pre-trial detention and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment by the Police reportedly occurred on a regular basis.  However, it is noteworthy that the Management of the Force has not been blind to these aberrations from correct policing and have from time to time being taking strict disciplinary actions against erring officers in a bid to inspire public confidence and trust.

Unfortunately, recent allegations of unlawful killings and other serious human rights violations by the Police have raised questions about the commitment of the leadership to foster accountability within the institution. The public believes that until a mechanism that truly holds Police Officers to the same standard of accountability as civilians is established, the public will continue to have serious doubt about the commitment of the SLP’s leadership to bring the institution in line with the requirements of modern policing.

Impunity breeds illegality, which in turn fuels violence. Across the globe, the vogue is to promote accountability within the Police and encourage increased civilian monitoring of the institution.

The body that looks into complaints against the Police, the Complaint, Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID), consists exclusively of Police personnel.

While it has periodically taken disciplinary action against officers for professional misconduct, it has never truly investigated and published its findings on any of the serious human rights violations catalogued above.

Taking the force into the modern era, legalists opine that it is necessary to reform the legal framework of the Police and amend the Constitution, as according to them, the Police Charter of 1964 is obsolete, and that the Management structure of the Police as stipulated in the Constitution is not compatible with the demands of modern democratic policing.

To ensure the independence and impartiality of the force, opinion is that, as long as the Vice President continues to preside over the Police Council – the highest decision-making body of the police – with the Internal Affairs Minister acting as his Secretary, it is hard to imagine the Police functioning as a truly independent body.

Meanwhile, efforts at establishing an independent Police Complaints Panel, whilst laudable, many said yet to been seen operating effectively and impartially as an arbiter between the force and the public that it serves.

Opinion is that, if it is established and allowed to function as a truly independent complaints board, it could help tighten the impunity gap and restore public trust and confidence in the Police.

As He Embarks on Nation-Wide Donations…   Pavi Fort Joins Bonthe District to Fight COVID-19

By Amin Kef Sesay

Pavi Fort –Sierra Leone, the country’s leading indigenous road construction company, has on Friday 5th June 2020 donated a huge  consignment of hand sanitizers, five thousand clinical face masks, 50bags of rice and a cheque of ten million Leones (Le10, 000,000) to the District Emergency Operation Centre (DECOVERC) in Bonthe District.

The gesture of donating the aforementioned materialized out of the patriotic passion of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Alimou Sanu Barrie, to give support to the Government during these crucial moments when dogged efforts are been made to combat the spread of the coronavirus which is maliciously capable to wreck economies.

Presenting the items to officials of DECOVERC in the Bonthe District, CEO Alimou Sanu Barrie expressed profound appreciation for the consistent and impressive efforts they have been directing towards scaling up the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in that part of the country.

He added that as a construction company they are very keen to complement various development initiatives that are geared towards improving lives.

He admonished residents in that part of the country to strictly adhere to the precautionary measures that have been outlined by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation as well as other health partners. “Let us continue to wash our hands, practice social distancing, wear face masks, avoid touching dead bodies, call 117 if we experienced symptoms of having contracted the virus,” the CEO pointed out.

The donation of the aforementioned items and cash will benefit residents of Tihun, Sogbini and other chiefdoms. As an individual who strictly believes in the country’s tradition the CEO also extended his kind gesture to the Paramount Chiefs of Bonthe district with the sum of five million Leones and ten bags of rice.

Receiving the items, the DECOVERC Southern Regional Coordinator, Joseph Moigboi Kamara, stated how the support came at the right time especially when the district has been challenged by certain constraints adding that the gesture will create a great difference. He also called on other well-meaning Sierra Leoneans to follow the footstep of CEO Alimu Barrie who has decided to embark on a nationwide distribution of food items, Personal Protective Equipments and cash as his own support to other districts in the fight against COVID-19.

Joseph Moigboi Kamara highlighted that resource mobilization is very key in the fight against the COVID-19 underscoring how he believes that such a support from the company could be helpful especially at this decisive moment.

It has been established that the lack of face masks and the denial of the non-existence of the virus  among certain residents of Bonthe District remain major hindrances in the fight against COVID-19 especially in Jong and Imperi chiefdoms.

It could be recalled that recently Pavi Fort Construction Company Sierra Leone on the 27th May, 2020 donated the sum of fifty million Leones (Le50, 000,000) and PPEs items including 5,000 face masks, 100 gallons of hand sanitizer (1 gallon) all worth  Le, 120,000,000 to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in a bid to complement Government’s efforts geared towards combating COVID-19 in the country. The handing over ceremony took place at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) situated at SLFA compound in Kingtom, Freetown.

Again, on Saturday the 30th May 2020 as part of its commitment in response to the fight against COVID-19 in Koinadugu and Falaba Districts, Pavi Fort Construction Company  donated forty million Leones, five thousand Face masks, fifty gallons of hand sanitizers to the Koinadugu and Falaba District Emergency Operations Centers and ten million Leones to both the Paramount Chiefs of both districts at a ceremony held at the Koinadugu District Youth Council Hall in Kabala.

It is on record that Pavi Fort Construction Company has stood by the side of the Government of Sierra Leone during trying times as it did on August 14th 2017 when the mudslide occurred at Regent. The company was among those that donated relief items which included five hundred bags of rice, Le25 million Leones and provided three excavators to clear the rubble and also built fifty two (52) houses at 6 Mile to address the housing problems faced by the victims in the aftermath of the mudslide incident.

NP-SL: Doggedly Steadfast in Timely Importation & Marketing of Petroleum Products

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum – Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has bagged widespread commendations from various quarters in and out of the country for its unwavering stance and commitment to be on top of situation in terms of importation and marketing of various petroleum products including fuel and lubricants.

Since its establishment by 35 Sierra Leoneans years back, the shareholders and various management teams have infused and implemented sound entrepreneurial initiatives that have contributed greatly towards the growth of such an enterprising business entity.

One of those fine initiatives relates to taking Customer Care to a higher pedestal out of the strong conviction that without giving utmost satisfaction to customers in the line of efficient service delivery then growth will be stunted. Against this backdrop, it was decided to create a conducive atmosphere for business transactions by building state of the art Filling Stations right across the country and installing modern calibrated pumping machines. These stations are so attractive and contribute to woo many to the company in order to procure petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants, all assured to be of high quality.

Added to that, the mere fact that these automated calibrated pumping machines are capable of churning out the exact amount of fuel requested for and simultaneously displaying the prices as per litre always gives customers the ultimate satisfaction that they are getting their monies’ worth.

In a country that has been for a very long time grappling with the issue of high unemployment rate, especially among young people and having a company like NP-SL Ltd that has as a laid down policy to give employment preference to Sierra Leoneans is no mean feat. Strictly adhering to the country’s Local Content Policy, the Shareholders and Management are very firm in foremost considering indigenes when it comes to offering of jobs unless in rare situations where the need arises to source expatriates to undertake or perform certain tasks.

Inasmuch as it has been agreed that it is not only Government that should have the onus to provide jobs for its citizens, for a private business entity like NP-SL Ltd to firmly implement the Local Content Policy is indeed commendable. This is because by offering jobs to indigenes, who were formerly unemployed, speaks volumes as it has helped greatly to improve lives and give the feeling to beneficiaries that they are very relevant in their contributions towards the country’s development trajectory.

With the avowed aim of making cooking very safe and easier for many, again the Shareholders as well as the Management, thought it very prudent to introduce the use of NP Gas. It is a cooking device that can be refilled with gas that could be bought at the company’s Filling Stations, has been confirmed to be environmentally friendly with high performance precision. Many whom this news medium interviewed with regards NP Gas attested that it is very good to have at home. As at this material moment it has been confirmed that NP Gas is going like spicy hamburgers. However, assurances were given that they will be made available at all times at the company’s Filling Stations and could also be secured from its authorized dealers.

Modern States are now striving to operate cashless transactions one of which includes purchasing goods online, using our smart phones to conduct business activities. As a company that moves with time, NP-SL Ltd thought it fit that to make the purchase of fuel quite easier then its esteemed customers should be given the opportunity to do so by making use of NP Smart Card. This is a chip card which has a physical authorization device that controls access to resources. When credited with money it can be activated whenever a customer wants to purchase fuel at a Filling Station and the required amount to be expended is stated. The amount used will give the exact amount of fuel requested for. When the amount gets low then it could again be credited for use at another point in time.

NP Smart Card gives the user personal security as the data implanted in the card is unique to the holder and could not be easily hacked or fabricated. It also makes provision to properly budget for the purpose of fuel purchase in the sense that a particular customer could load his card in advance of the stipulated amount of fuel he may wish to secure at a later date. Besides, it gives the holder an air of importance within the context of popular perception that it is only the “big guys” that can venture into putting in for NP Smart Cards. But that perception is just a mere myth as NP Smart Card has become trending and many are enjoying the benefits associated with the use of it.

Within the realm of rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility the company has never faltered as long as it is believed such is in the best interest of improving lives and deepening socio-economic development. With such a strong business ethic and principle, the company recently donated the sum of one billion Leones to the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and by extension the Government of Sierra Leone as its own humble contribution to build up fortification against the spread of COVID-19.

The company also, towards the end of last year, spent millions of Leones to construct a state of the art water facility at the Kissy Branch of the National Fire Force (NFF) in order to well capacitate the institution to access water to be used for the extinguishing of fire within Greater Freetown. With accessing of water becoming very difficult, especially during the rainy season, for the NFF to have such a water facility constructed for it by NP-SL Ltd has been interpreted by many as a big boost.

With vibrant and well-structured branches in neighboring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia, it tells the good story that indeed NP-SL Ltd is a serious company that is very determined to expand its investment base or portfolio. It is a testament of a successful indigenous that is continuously growing.

Indeed, it can be said with all amount of certainty that NP-SL Ltd is a towering business entity that is improving economies, lives and giving hope to many.

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