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Infection Cases of COVID-19 Keep Increasing

By Edward Vamboi

As of 8th May 2020 Sierra Leone continued to experience a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections with 26 new cases bringing the total to 257 cases. The country now has 17 total deaths and 54 total recovered, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications on Friday 8th May 2020.

The highest increase since the country recorded its index case on March 30, 2020 despite wide-ranging measures introduced by authorities to prevent the virus from spilling over to local communities.

“Epidemiological data and other evidence indicate that there is community transmission of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone,” President Julius Maada Bio said in a nationwide address prior to declaring the just concluded three-day lockdown (May 3-5).

It has been noted that one of the difficult challenges the country faces is to slow down the number of cases recorded everyday to flatten the COVID-19 curve at a level where the healthcare system could cope or not be overwhelmed.

According the United Nations, the nation lost as much as over 4,000 lives to the 2014 Ebola outbreak primarily because the healthcare system lacked capacity and treatment centers were overwhelmed.  Almost 100 percent of Ebola deaths (about 11,000 died in West Africa) were recorded in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

President Bio said his administration has decided to intensify contact tracing and detection; scale up testing and isolation; expand treatment, and undertake all other measures necessary to break COVID-19 transmission in the country.

The Emergency Operation Center (EOC), which was established during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, is now active. Flights have been banned and the military deployed to help enforce the closure of its borders with Guinea and Liberia.

A nationwide curfew from 9pm to 6am is now intact as well as restrictions on inter-district movement.

Also, the activities of many establishments including schools, mosques and churches have been suspended indefinitely while social distancing, wearing of face mask in public and frequent handwashing are being enforced across the country.

CARL & Partners Release National Corruption Perception Survey

By Fatmata Jengbe

On the 29th April 2020 a survey report titled “Actions, Hopes and Impediments in the fight against Corruption in Sierra Leone”; was launched at the Anti-Corruption Commission’s 3 Gloucester Street Office in Freetown.

It was the latest National Corruption Perception Survey Report conducted by the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID), and support from Christian Aid (UK), Restless Development and Budget Advocacy Network.

The Report indicates an exceptional approval rating from Sierra Leoneans on the national crusade against corruption and the role of ACC in the engineering of same.

The study which was conducted in September and November 2019 covered a period April 2018 to December, 2019; and sought a bottom-up account from the Sierra Leonean people regarding their perceptions on the fight against corruption; about the institutions involved; about the delivery of public services, and about their own roles and actions in relation to the fight against corruption.

In a bid to minimize marginal error, maximize confidence level, the study targeted a sample size of 2,400 respondents across the 16 districts with an average of 150 respondents per district—with exceptions to Falaba District with 50 respondents and Western Area Urban with 458 respondents—with a marginal error of +/-2%– 95% confidence level.

According to the specifics of the study, 73% of respondents in Sierra Leone regard corruption to still be a challenge; however, a whopping 92% believes the Anti-Corruption Commission under the exemplary leadership of the young Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. is making an uncommon difference in the fight against corruption with his Radical Transparency Drive.

Additionally, the report indicates that the existence of “sacred cows,a phenomenon where a person or thing is immune to investigation, indictment and prosecution has decreased to an all-time low from 57% in 2017 to 47% in this latest survey report. According to the conductors, such validates the Commission’s fierce but fair approach which concerns itself only about what and not who is involved, in its work.

The latest study also revealed a great improvement in the perceptions of Sierra Leoneans on bribery, with only 56% of respondents stating a reduction in the practice of paying bribes to access Government services; compared to 71% of people who alluded that it was common to pay a bribe three (3) years ago.

They said that improvement can be linked to the success of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s “Pay No Bribe” (PNB) campaign which was a DFID sponsored project, but has now been incorporated into the mainstream ACC operations and programs.

It was made clear, under the PNB, the public can call a free toll line to report incidences of bribery in accessing public services. The ACC then makes interventions on these reports by either making referrals to Integrity Management Committees (IMCs) in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), systems and processes reviews conducted by the ACC on the frequently reported institutions or institute full blown investigation and later indictments, as would be deemed appropriate.

More importantly, 51% of respondents in the survey indicated that Government’s overall efforts in reducing corruption has significantly improved in the last twelve months referencing the progressive steps taken to amend the 2008 Anti-Corruption Amendment Act (with stiffer punishments for acts of corruption) and the establishment of the Special Anti-Corruption Division in the High Court with dedicated Judges to deal with corruption cases.

These monumental demonstrations of Presidential and political wills in the fight against corruption lends credence to  the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio’s promise of launching a full blown assault on the strongholds of corruption.

A great show of abhorrence and revulsion for the practice of corruption was stated in the report, with respondents demanding for harsher punishments for those convicted of corruption.

This latest DFID sponsored corruption perception survey by CARL, is said to be consistent with other reassuring citizens’ Perception Indexes like the Transparency International Afro-Barometer Perception Survey which placed Sierra Leone 3rd in Africa on Citizen’s Perception in our national efforts to clamp down on graft and unarguably rationalizes the ongoing Revolutionary and Radical Transparency Approach by the ACC in leading the war on corruption that was declared by President Julius Maada Bio, which  Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. is leading and positions the country on an irreversible path to sustainably control corruption; and sets a new trajectory for accountability, effective service delivery, democratic good governance and transformative development.

CHRDI’s Abdul Fatoma Calls for Public Accountability & Respect for Human Rights

Executive Director of CHARDI, Abdul Fatoma

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International-CHRDI, which is a policy advocacy and human rights organisation based in Sierra Leone, has as among its aims to promote public accountability, respect for human rights and the enhancement of safety, security and justice. In those respects the organization has been carefully following the discussions between the country’s security sector, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, RSLAF and Political party member(s).

According to the Executive Director of CHARDI, Abdul Fatoma, the country is in the midst of a global health emergency, which may not seem like the best time to address human rights but stated that the issues across the board surfacing as a result of the crisis are all relevant.

He said they consider it even more important that the principles of justice and respect for human rights, law and order are maintained. “CHRDI calls upon all peace loving Sierra Leoneans irrespective of political views, to condemn and reject all forms of violence during this period of distress as well as any individual and organisation that may try to directly or indirectly justify violence or protect the assailants,” he furthered.

The charismatic and fearless human rights activist maintained how there should be no space for threats of violence or actual violence against citizens and members of any political parties.

He added how they believe this is a time when we should all be working together to face a common threat to our country and its welfare.

“We urge all political parties to strongly remind their supporters that violence will not be tolerated and to take all precautions to ensure the safety of all citizens. We also implore all sides to utilise peaceful channels of engagement and civil discourse to solve problems, rather than resort to violence and uncivilised behaviour,” he appealed.

Fatoma said in the same vein, they also want to register their disapproval over recent events involving the prisons in Freetown going further to say as proponents of criminal justice reform, they are calling for increased efforts to protect the prison populations, including boosting sanitization, supplies and proper protective gear for prison staff.

“We are also calling for an increase in early release of non-violent offenders and those who are still awaiting trial. Prisons have been identified as potential hotbeds for outbreaks of the disease, because inmates live in close, confined quarters,” he enjoined.

The CHARDI guru stated that it is unclear what motivations prompted the recent prison riot, which took away over 10 lives and injured several others, but it is clearly a matter of grave concern.

He averred that in view of the above, they want to strongly urge the Government of Sierra Leone to immediately investigate and make public the circumstances around that tragedy and recommended that anyone involved in the alleged criminal acts, including human rights violations, must be promptly prosecuted.

Fatoma ended by stating that CHRDI is calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to fully and effectively respect the country’s Constitution and honour its mandatory international obligations to protect the human rights of every Sierra Leonean during this COVID19 response period.

 

With Lawlessness, Indiscipline & Violence Rampant… President Bio Failing on Peace Building

President Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

Views gathered from across the broad spectrum of our society indicate that President Bio is not doing too well in the area of peace building and national cohesion’ given the series of political and social upheavals that have taken place in the country since he and the SLPP New Direction Government came to power on April 4th 2018.

It can be recalled that the New Government set sustainable peace and development as central issues to achieve a just, inclusive and peaceful society, as described in SDG 16. But two years on, everywhere we look, social cohesion at national and regional levels is patchy.

Due to these disrupting events, it has been extremely difficult for the State to engage in meaningful peace-building and State Building processes with political, local, national or international actors.

Even though various approaches and strategies have been set in place, a sustained attention to durable peace at all levels remains wanting. As such, calls are that President Bio focuses on key peace and nation unifying elements such as inclusion and participation in order to achieve national cohesion.

Alongside putting in place a police and justice system that the people can trust and depend on to deliver justice fairly and equitably to one and all, it is important to establish infrastructures and institutions that help build constructive social and political relationships and enhance sustainable resilience of societies against relapse into youth induced violence which lately as we all see has become commonplace.

We recall the President announced plans to set up a National Infrastructure for Peace, an independent National Commission on Peace and Cohesion to help address ethnic and regional divides along political lines across the country as well as to strengthen peace and national inclusion.

Quick actualization of this institutional framework composed of very independent minded senior citizens would go a long way in establishing trust and confidence between antagonistic factions in society, as well as between the Government and its citizens.

The NPC would also function as a bridge between local communities, districts and the Government highlighting issues to be addressed and facilitating timely interventions through it, having structures that reach out to the local levels and build on the existing capacities and systems that support peace.

The envisaged mandates of this envisioned Peace Commission include among others the promotion of a culture of peace; support for the prevention and management of conflicts and enhancing traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.

This inclusive and independent peace infrastructure to enhance national cohesion and development in Sierra Leone needs to be adequately resourced.

The need to make the Commission as independent from the current political climate as possible must be stressed and translated into recommendations for its composition and sustainability.

Indian Community Donates IT Equipment to EOC

Representing the Indian community in Sierra Leone, Harish Agnani handing over the items to an official of the ICT Unit at EOC, Dr. Daniel Adrian Stevens

By Amin Kef Sesay

As the fight against the coronavirus intensifies in the country, the Indian Community in Sierra Leone has on Thursday 7th May, 2020 donated Information Technology Equipment worth millions of Leones to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) which includes 5 Laptop computers, 2 Printers and 10 Packets of Paper. The handing over ceremony took place at the Choithram Head Office on Rawdon Street in Freetown.

Presenting the items, representing the Indian community in Sierra Leone, Harish Agnani, who is also Acting Consul General of India in Sierra Leone disclosed that few days ago they received a request from the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to assist them with Information Technology Equipment and as a community that has been working with the Government of Sierra Leone they decided to donate the aforementioned items to the EOC.

He said recently the Indian community joined hands with the Lebanese Community to donate essential food items to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team including the following items: 1,000 Bags of Rice, 1,000 Gallons of Oil, 1,000 Packets of Sugar, 100 Cartons of Sardine, 100 Soaps and 70 Cartons of Milk as their support towards the covid-19 fight.

He noted that in as much as the country continues the fight against the Covid-19, record keeping is very essential, adding that with these items the EOC will ensure that they have accurate data on Covid-19 in the country.

He admonished all to adhere to the preventives measures in order to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the country saying such will enhance the country’s fight to combat the Covid-19 in the country.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), an official of the ICT Unit at EOC, Dr. Daniel Adrian Stevens, expressed appreciation to the Indian Community for the kind gesture which he described as a timely intervention towards the fight against the Covid-19 in the country.

He assured them that the donated items will be used wisely and for the right purpose towards the fight against the Covid-19. He also urged all to take the preventive measures serious and encouraged them to use face masks, practice social distancing, hand washing etc. when in public places saying such will greatly curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

In fighting COVID-19, Milla Group Product Serves as a Key Instrument

Strengthening water security in Sierra Leone is essential for preventing and combating the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19)

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

It has been established that measures to suppress the Covid-19 pandemic, including hand-washing, self-isolating and lockdowns assume that societies, communities and households have sustainable access to acceptable amounts of adequate quality water; for which one of Sierra Leone’s hardworking and dedicated investors, Milla Group Limited, has provided the solution to having quality water storage facilities that are readily available in the market.

No doubt that the COVID-19 outbreak poses unprecedented challenges to businesses, the Government and communities in Sierra Leone. Companies like Milla Group are reacting in different ways to ensure business continuity, improve the resilience of their supply chain or pivot to innovative ways to generate revenue. The company is a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and complies with tax payment to meet the Government’s revenue mobilization drive.

This is not only to boost the fight against COVID-19 but also continue to support the Government to earn the much-needed revenue to meet its economic challenges.

One of the key challenges faced by other countries in the fight against the Pandemic is accessing water storage facilities, which Milla Group has made simple for Sierra Leone. Milla Group was incorporated in 2001, and since then it has taken great strides to set up injection molding, roto-molding, blow molding, and extrusion lines.

Being the leading plastic manufacturing company in Sierra Leone with its headquarters on Bai Bureh Road, Fisher Lane, Kissy, Milla Group has other plastic products such as PVC pipes for plumbing, plastic chairs and other household plastic wares.

The company has adapted its plastic products to meet the demands of the local market.

In these trying times of COVID-19, one of the key priorities for Milla Group is to protect its own workforce while keeping operations running as long as possible while serving the nation.

The Government and People of Sierra Leone should count themselves lucky for having investors like Milla Group that is saving the nation the cost of importing handwashing equipment like water tanks had it not been that they are being manufactured in the country.

We now see lots of organizations and individuals are making a mad rush for Milla water tanks that are designed into handwashing stations for effective use in communities, workplaces, and institutions.

Handwashing station designs are now appropriate for the intended use, considering their health benefit to humanity, design features, and local procurement as well as user experience and accessibility in the market; thanks to Milla Group for making this a reality.

The company prides itself on continually striving to achieve the following objectives: ensuring water conservation is prevalent and affordable throughout the geography of Sierra Leone; actively reducing the environmental impact of waste through providing garbage disposal solutions; providing reliable and cost-effective household plastics for the everyday local consumer to use in their homes; creating bespoke and safe packaging solutions for food, water, grains and liquids; facilitating the local agricultural plantations with products that enhance sustainable growth; supplying quality products to an array of construction houses and building material vendors; hence Milla Group is one of the pioneering local manufacturing industries, striving to promote the “Made In Sierra Leone” image; and it is currently working with a host of prestigious global partners in Sierra Leone, to effectively provide solutions of the highest standards.

Clean and secure water conservation has been a key hindrance in Sierra Leone.

In the context of COVID-19, handwashing is critical wherever people meet and touch surfaces, but handwashing remains also a key hygiene practice to prevent many other water-borne diseases. This includes homes, but also public places such as schools, health care facilities, workplaces, markets, places of worship and public transportation hubs, etc. All these areas should be provided with quality water tanks like Milla tanks for handwashing purposes for all, including people living with a disability and children.

With bold branding techniques and unmatched quality, Milla branded tanks maintain to be the number one tank in the market, especially at these trying times in fighting against a common enemy (COVID-19), serving Governmental organizations, hospitals, schools, charities, mining operations, constructors, households, and business houses. Milla Group has a range of sizes below starting from 200 L capacity all the way up to 10,000 L. This allows it to cater for every type of consumer, be it for a small household or for a large scale agricultural project. Milla Tanks are renowned for strength, functionality, and longevity. In order to give an all-rounded customer service experience, Milla delivers on-site within Sierra Leone. Tanks are also available at their partner branch depots (Pee Cee and Sons) in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, and Makeni.

These densely populated cities are benefiting from improved hand hygiene infrastructure at home and in public places with Milla Tanks mostly installed.

NP-SL Has Impressively Mastered the Petroleum Trade

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd).

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has been rated as a very buoyant oil marketing company that has, over the years, mastered the trade of importing and selling various petroleum products to its numerous customers found in every nook and cranny in the country.

Indeed, the company, which was established by 35 Sierra Leoneans, has been exploring reliable sources to secure qualitative and high grade fuel which include petrol, diesel, gas as well as lubricants which have all been proven to be very good for the efficient functioning of various types of engines.

Blessed with a crop of selfless shareholders whose main focus is to avail residents in the country timely access to qualitative petroleum products and good managerial teams that always ensure that the entity operates efficiently, the company has been growing by leaps and bounds with a customer base that has been expanding exponentially. From various investigations so far conducted, it came out glaringly that as a result of adopting good business initiatives and implementing them genuinely, meaningful dividends are being realized. Translating organizational policies into tangible realities on the ground have helped transformed a small business entity into a towering enterprise that has well-functioning branches within the West African sub-region.

From what was learnt out there, through engagements with Management and Staff of the company as well as interfacing with its numerous customers, the placing of priority on maximizing customer care, taking it to different levels, has been at the heart of the growth of NP-SL Ltd. As far as it is known, the Management of the company considers their customers as jewels whom must be handled with care. It is a must that their customers should be encouraged to the fullest by taking into consideration their concerns relating to their products as well as the inputs they make. Those concerns and inputs form part of what Management takes into consideration to make informed decisions as to how to keep the symbiotic relationship that has been established between the two parties.

It was against such a backdrop that the Shareholders and Management responded to the dissatisfaction of its customers that they were not getting the right amount of fuel they were paying as a result of lack of transparency. To assuage that concern, the company decided to go in for the latest calibrated pumping machine which could now be found in all their major Filling stations across the country. These machines are capable of pumping the requisite amount of fuel, be it petrol or diesel, into cars or jerry cans, displaying the price as well as the amount of fuel demanded for.  With that new development, the company’s customers started heaving sighs of relief more especially knowing that they were now deriving value for money.

Still within the domain of demonstrating care for its customers, the Shareholders and Management thought it fit to establish mini marts within the company’s Filling Stations where customers could purchase basic goods, in their original forms, for domestic consumption and also for relaxation or socializing purpose. By doing so it prevents its customers from going through the hassle of having to go far in town to get those items. It could be liken to the situation of killing two birds with one stone, that is, purchasing fuel, lubricating oil and basic items in a one stop engagement.

Going the extra mile with the aim of giving satisfaction, the company also introduced NP Gas, a cooking device that has been widely rated as very effective for some type of cooking purposes. From observation so far conducted it is quick to respond to flame, could be adjusted to get the right velocity, is environmentally friendly in terms of less emission of fossil gas and very safe. Its biggest advantage is that the gas it uses form part of the petroleum products that the company markets which therefore makes it very accessible.

“NP Gas is only second to a microwave when we talk of its quickness with regards performance. I am really enjoying using it for cooking and will like to recommend it to all and sundry as you will find it very dependable,” Juliana Moore , an entrepreneur intimated The Calabash.

The company now has what is considered as “fuel on your smart card” which in other words is known as NP Smart Card. This is a chip card or integrated circuit card which in other words is a physically electronic authorization device used to control access to a resource. With NP Smart Card a customer could easily credit it with money and use it whenever he or she is ready to purchase fuel of his or her choice. When fuel is bought the amount used is debited and when a certain amount is loaded then the card has been credited.

Many have acclaimed the Management of the company for introducing what they referred to as a very good initiative saying it is safe for customers’ use and a much modernized way of transacting petroleum businesses.

An outstanding attribute that the company is renowned for is truly maintaining its indigenous posture. Right from its origin, the Shareholders and Management of the company made it a laid down policy to keep the company as an indigenous entity. In that light, it has over the years given employment preference to Sierra Leoneans in all cadres except in rare situations where foreign expertise is needed. This policy is in conformity with the country’s Local Content Policy which has been identified as a sine qua non for development. Such has been helping in providing employment opportunities for many Sierra Leoneans and by extension reducing poverty levels.

In terms of rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), NP-SL has been doing so steadily and progressively. The company has supported many worthy course, thereby complementing Government’s development interventions. The company’s latest intervention was donating the sum of One Billion Leones to the Government through the National Response Committee that is spearheading the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Such was done in the spirit of complementing the efforts that the Government is currently making to contain and combat the virus.

A true manifestation that it is a serious business entity is evident in the fact that it has successfully established branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia and Ivory Coast , The Gambia, NP-SL Ltd has taken the petroleum trade beyond the country’s borders where they are diligently delivering services. In all those countries indigenes are given priority in terms of employment opportunities. Besides, they are paying huge taxes to the Governments which is contributing to revenue mobilization to be used fund various development programmes.

In a nutshell, NP-SL Ltd is really a successful company that is committedly and really contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic developments of the various nations where it is operating.

From Incitement, Subversion to Newly ‘Portrait Evidenced’ Crime… Sierra Leone Police in the Spotlight

Ambrose Michael Sovula, AIG of Police – North East

By Amin Kef Sesay

Personnel of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police on the 6th May 2020, empowered with a search warrant, break into the Cockle Bay residence of controversial female activist, journalist & medical doctor, Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, on the pretext of conducting a search for evidence(s) that will substantiate the trump-up charges of incitement and subversion for which the popular and controversial national figure was arrested on the 1st May 2020.

This medium reliably learnt that after hours of painstakingly ransacking every nook and cranny in the house the Police claimed that they got certain evidences relating to the aforementioned charges, according to Superintendent M.K Alieu, who led the team of investigators that conducted the search.

In addressing some journalists of the African Young Voices, whom the Police solely invited on Wednesday 6th May 2020 at Dr. Sylvia Blyden’s Aberdeen residence, after the search has been conducted, Supt. MK Alieu informed that one of the evidences they discovered was a portrait furthering that the alleged suspect will now have to tell them at the CID Headquarters whose portrait it is, whose President it is on that portrait. He further informed that certain documents and one laptop computer were retrieved further underscoring that those evidences are related to the arrest of former Defence Minister, Rtd Major Palo Conteh.

The portrait referred to by Supt M.K Alieu is that of former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

When this medium went out on the streets to sound the views of certain individuals relating to Ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma’s portrait as an item of evidence this was what some had to say:

“Is it a crime for someone to have the portrait of erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma hanging in his or her house? The CID Officers are really not serious as they should now concentrate on enforcing certain measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country instead of intimidating individuals that the current political class is not comfortable with,” a renowned Political Commentator opined.

Another Sierra Leonean, residing in the United States of America, Mohamed Fofana, maintained that the Sierra Leone Police is a big disgrace referencing certain recent excessiveness that the Police stand accused of in dealing with recent tense situations adding that for peace and national cohesion to hold then the human rights of individuals must be respected.

“This is the most laughable comedy I have witnessed in my life to regard a portrait of someone as an evidence in a matter that has to deal with alleged incitement and subversion,” the Chairman of the Rawdon Street Traders Union intimated furthering that what are happening now in the country is not good in the best interest of the country.

“Dr. Blyden has served this country in various capacities including being a Cabinet Minister in the past Government, so why should the photo of the past President hanging in her private home be an issue with the Sierra Leone Police?” a Senior Citizen, who preferred anonymity also quizzed adding that it reinforces the suspicion Sierra Leoneans have that Dr. Blyden was arrested because she is a member of the opposition rather than for incitement.

It could be recalled that Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden was arrested and detained at CID on Friday, 1 May 2020 after, according to her, she was waylaid for several hours at her residence. Three phones and three laptop computers were retrieved from her for examination and analysis.

She is said to be investigated for “incitement to subvert the authority of the State, based on articles she has published from April 2018 to date, criticizing the Government of Sierra Leone. However, the Investigating Officers did not specify any article or material that she has published which amounted to ‘incitement’. Dr. Blyden refuted the allegations and among other things, referred the Police Officers to Section 11 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone No. 6 1991, which places an obligation on her as a journalist to hold Government to account for the people.

As we go to Press it is now over 72 hours since she has been in detention without granting her bail contrary to the 1991 Constitution but the Police say they are still investigating her.

When the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla and the Secretary General of the same Association, Asmieu Bah went to the CID few days ago to find out why she was detained, Dr. Blyden said she was “kidnapped” and never informed why she was arrested.

She said she was being asked “why I was so critical of the Government and writing to incite the populace”.

In another development into the same matter, during a Sierra Leone Police Press Conference on Thursday 7th May, 2020, Director of Crime Services of the Sierra Leone Police, AIG Mohamed Brima Jah, disclosed that when the first search was conducted at the residence of Dr. Sylvia Blyden they discovered three computers but said they also received another intelligence that some unknown individuals have taken computers to her residence which he stated presumably will be of essence to their investigation.

AIG Brima Jah disclosed they informed Sylvia Blyden that they wanted to conduct another search at her residence and wanted her to assist them in the proposed search further adding that when they conducted the second search in the presence of the media they discovered two computers, a Digital camera, a Tablet and a portrait of former President Ernest Bai Koroma. According to him the portrait is of no essence to the Police investigation.

He further said that the said items will be handed over to the Cyber team in order for them to gather all relevant information that will assist them in their investigation.

Sylvia Olayinka Blyden

Over Tombo Riot… Police Declares Alpha Kamara Wanted

Alpha Kamara, Zonal Secretary of Zone 5 of the main opposition party (APC)

By Foday Moriba Conteh

 In the aftermath of the riot that took place in the fishing village of Tombo, Western Peninsular of Sierra Leone, on Wednesday 6th May 2020, where some 7 people were shot dead by a joint Police and Military team, Police sources say that they are looking for some alleged perpetrators of the riot, prominent among is one Alpha Kamara, Zonal Secretary of Zone 5 of the main opposition party (APC), who is also a fisherman living in that coastal village.

Tombo is a known opposition party stronghold. According to our source, the police say that the list of the alleged perpetrators given to them by the Sherbro Tribal Chief for Western Area , Michael K. Benka, puts Alpha Kamara as one of the ring leaders of the riot. According to the spokesperson of the SLP, Superintendent Brima Kamara, some of the alleged perpetrators are now in police custody, but that few others have escaped and are being sought after by the police, with the help of some youths and the tribal authority.

It could be recalled that on the 6th May 2020, fishermen fishing in the famous fishing village of Tombo staged a peaceful protest over the action of the Government to allow only 10 fishing boats, out of a total of 88 boats, to go out to sea to fish, as part of the COVID-19 containment measures. This infuriated the vast majority of fishermen, who, after several pleas with the authorities to increase the number proved futile, decided to stage a peaceful protest in the village, during which they matched to the district official’s residence and the police station to register their discontent.

Things got out of control as some irate and disgruntled youths joined in the protest. Superintendent Kamara confirmed that the incident happened in the morning and that “some guys came from the wharf and attacked the station. They were told only ten boats should head out to fish. This made some of them aggrieved and decided to go on a rampage. We cannot confirm the death toll, nor the number of those arrested at the moment. The investigation is ongoing to verify those claims.”

According to our investigation, the Police called for reinforcement, and a team of police and military officers, armed to the teeth, descended on the village from Freetown, turning the said peaceful protest to a riot, resulting in a barrage of tear gas canisters fired, as well as live bullets by the security forces. Road blocks were mounted by the fishermen.

According to eye witnesses, some youths, believed to be ruling party operatives, are said to have accompanied the police in the search for the suspected ring leaders of the protest.  A curfew was hurriedly declared to avoid gathering and members of the Sierra Leone Police, (SLP) Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Operational Support Division (OSD), the armed wing of the SLP, were patrolling the streets of Tombo.

According to the Chairperson of the District Youth Council, Marie Bangura, whilst strongly condemning the act of violence that took place, she maintained that there were rumblings and a tense environment after news of the said restriction of boat was made public, indicating a riot might happen.

Things got sour when armed police officers stormed houses of residents and gunning down youths in the presence of their families. One youth, displaying a bullet wound on his back, alleged that an OSD and soldiers came to their house and shot them. It was further disclosed that this sparked more violence, as angry youths then descended on the police station and destroyed properties there, but did not take away any fire arms. A running battle then ensued between the security forces and the angry youths, as they resettled and launched attacks on the armed officers, who were firing indiscriminately on people.

It was revealed that Alpha Kamara’s house was stormed by irate ruling party operatives that had come from Freetown and was being tortured, when he was rescued by other youths in the community. It is also believed that the motivating force behind the actions of those youths from Freetown, who accompanied the security forces via a series of jeeps, was a post on social media by the First Lady that mob-justice will be taken against any perpetrator of violence in the country.

One eye witness, who spoke to this medium on basis of anonymity, said that the Sherbro Tribal Chief, Michael K. Benka, a known ruling party member, gave a list of those he claimed to be the ring leaders of the riot to the police. Acting on the list, with the advantage of the curfew in place, and residents being confined to their homes during the day and throughout the night, the security forces then embarked on arresting alleged perpetrators in accordance with the said list.

They are said to have raided homes identified by youths, who were also ruling party operatives in the village, and effected the arrest of so many youths, in some cases violently, including shooting down of doors, often injuring occupants of the said homes. Thus, homes of opposition party supporters were targeted, and youths in those homes were either shot or arrested on allegation of being behind the riot.

As news of this development spread, Alpha Kamara, the Zonal Secretary of the main opposition party and a fisherman, whose activities provided food for his siblings from his late father’s boat, had to flee the village, after being rescued by his friends in the community from his assailants during the attack on his residence.

Many youths, including female business people with gunshot wounds, were taken to the police station in Waterloo, and some of the injured taken to the hospitals after video footage of wounded victims were shown on social media. However, the police have mounted a man-hunt for Alpha Kamara and others and have declared them wanted. Meanwhile, a bounty has been put on the head of Alpha Kamara for any information that would lead to his arrest.

As we go to Press, family members of Alpha have confirmed to us that their home has seen regular visits from the police and ruling party operatives, including threats of physical attacks if they refuse to disclose the whereabouts of Alpha, but the family members interviewed say that the whereabouts of Alpha Kamara is still unknown and are fearful that he may have been shot dead by the police and dumped in the bush, and all the threats from the police are mere cover-ups to fool the public that they do not know about his whereabouts.

Orange-SL is Compliant With Health Safety Measures

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The leading telecommunications company operating in this country, Orange Sierra Leone is committed to ensuring the health safety of people in Sierra Leone, company authorities have stated, adding that “there is no risk for health posed by our masts across the country”. Orange-SL is largely credited for making major strides possible through investments in infrastructure, such as towers or masts. With the growing demand for mobile phone services coupled with the growth of new technologies, it is necessary to further increase the infrastructure available to ensure an acceptable level of network coverage and Quality of Service and Quality of Experience.

On the back of these developments fueling the efficiency and productivity amongst citizens is a growing myth and concern the company’s towers and masts constitute a danger to the health and safety of people.

“We are using equipment compliant with international standard and manufactured by international recognized vendors like Ericsson. Radiation measurements were conducted last time for Metuchen complaint and we were far below of international standard (radiation very low),” the company states and added that “we are not saving money by deploying less tower (mast saving protocols). We have more masts in the country and we are continuing to invest for the benefits of our customers. Orange is a Worldwide Company and we strictly follow ITU recommendations.”

Masts make use of electromagnetic radiation (a form of energy which have both electric and magnetic component and is propagated through space) in transmission of this signal.

What is comforting though, is that right from the start, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is the environment regulating agency in Sierra Leone, is strict and very professional with where and how Orange-SL masts should be built. This has helped in a great way to dampen whatever harmful effects might now have become obvious.

Investigations conducted state that there has been no convincing evidence of Orange Masts posing health challenges.

Orange-SL has become a vital part to its customers’ lives and livelihoods. It has made it so much simpler, easier and cheaper to transact business, move money, conduct research for school or work, and manage relations with families and friends.

Orange-SL was acquired in July 2016 and has recorded a very large customer base in Sierra Leone, making it the most preferred network due to its quality and affordable products and services.

Sierra Leoneans are of the view that Orange mobile company has been central in making services available to large sections of the population, although much remains to be done to increase the penetration of mobile services, particularly in rural areas.

 

 

 

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