Freetown 29th January – The National Secretary General of the Majority Party in Sierra Leone’s House of Parliament , the All Peoples Congress(APC), has said that, the Party, as a democratic political institution, is fully ready to comply with the Bio led government for the judge led commissions of inquiry to go on as planned…, should the government adhere to constitutionality.

Ambassador Dr. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh while addressing a news conference on Tuesday affirmed that the three instruments, which passed into law through the House of Parliament by, contradict Section 150 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.

*Yansaneh said the country, as far as the APC is under Constitutional rule and that the APC will obey the rule of law and not the rule of man. He said the APC having rolled out development projects across every nook and cranny of the country cannot be a party to war rather It is ready to face the full penalty of the law for constitutionality.*

The Party, in a press conference on Tuesday, signed by the National Secretary General, says ”its notes with utmost dismay that the Government of H.E. Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio has today, Tuesday 29th January 2019, launched the Commissions of Inquiry (COI) without taking due note of the concerns raised by the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party and other bodies including the Sierra Leone Bar Association, other Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Inter-Religious Council, All Political Parties Association (APPA) among others.”

”The APC Party hereby wishes to reiterate its concerns relating to the constitutionality or otherwise of the COI,” the release states, highlighting the concerns of the APC which include but not limited to ” That the instruments establishing the COI are not consistent with the provisions of Section 150 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which states “Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the Rules of Court Committee shall, by constitutional instrument make rules regulating the practice and procedure of all Commissions of Inquiry.”

The APC Party is of the view that this committee was not constituted prior to the enactment of the Constitutional Instruments referred to, according to the release.

The release adds: ”What is more worrisome is that in Section 6(1) of the Constitutional Instruments 64, 65 and 67 the Commissioner has powers to modify, adapt and except himself from abiding by the practice and procedure in force in the High Court if he so feels like it. ”

This, according to the release, is in sharp contrast with the provisions of Section 150 of the Sierra Leone Constitution.

The APC Furthermore, according to the release, cited Section 6(2) of the said Instruments, it is stated that “the Commissioner shall not be bound by the Rules of Evidence in civil or criminal proceedings”.

This, the release affirmed, is also against the spirit and content of Section 150 of the Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

”We also note with concern, that Section 149, subsection 4 of the 1991 Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone, provides that “Where a Commission of Inquiry makes an adverse finding against any person which may result in a penalty, forfeiture or loss of status, the report of the Commission of Inquiry shall, for the purpose of this Constitution, be deemed to be a judgement of the High Court of Justice and accordingly, an appeal shall lie as of right from the Commission to the Court of Appeal”.”

”The APC Party is concerned that this provision gives the Commission the status of a High Court which can recommend penalties that are enforceable by law. The Rules of Evidence applicable in the High Court should therefore apply.”

The APC, according to the release believes that the source document for the Commissions of Inquiry, ie, the Governance Transition Team (GTT) report 2018, is replete with tribal, regional and partisan sentiments and incitement and therefore poses a serious national security threat.

”The APC Party is even more appalled that in his statement at the launch of the Commissions of Inquiry, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, who is expected to be the custodian of the Rule of Law in the country, has seemingly taken a partisan position that is firmly consistent with that already taken by the President and his Government.”

The release is concluded by stating APC’s unrelenting wishes to reiterate its position on the Commissions of Inquiry, ”that its membership is ready and prepared to fully support and cooperate with the Commissions if the aforementioned concerns are addressed.”

In related development, Civil society activists who have contacted We Yone this evening have raised concerns over what they described as a disturbing situation.

The civil society activists, who prefer condition of anonymity as that last evening said even the judges that are ferried into the country for the commissions of inquiry have not been briefed.

They are of the view that the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone should be considered given the public has every right to know the academic and moral credentials of the judges, in that, several state institutions of Sierra Leone will be probed. They also cited reference to Section 23 which had to do with the protection under the law. They say anyone going through the commissions of inquires as constituted presently by the Bio led government will not be protected under the law, which they say is a fundamental requirement in any democratic country.

Section 23 is a rigid entrenched clause in the constitution which cannot be changed by anyone not even the President or Parliament. Section 108 of the same constitution clearly states so.

They stressed that the right to fair trials as in Section 23 of the 1991 Constitution is also an absolute right that is recognized in international and national human rights laws.

”In no circumstance can any Sierra Leonean be subjected to an unfair trial as fair trial is the hallmark for Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Laws in the world,” they concluded, while calling on the judiciary to save the country from what they described as constitutional crisis.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has paid a working visit to the Bunumbu Teachers College and assured that his Government will start the reconstruction of the college, as part of his ongoing thank-you tour in that part of the country.

The institution and Government Technical Institute are constituents of the Eastern Polytechnic in Kenema, with a third campus in Woama, Kono district. It’s legacies in teacher training and origin date back to 1924 with the opening of a Catechist Training Centre in Bunumbu by the Methodist Mission.

In his welcome address, Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Cyril Foray Gondor, said they were excited to receive the President for the first time since his assumption to office last year. He said President Bio was a visionary and God-sent leader who was ready to deliver on his promises, adding that was why the people of Kailahun district overwhelmingly voted him.

He said the Bunumbu Teachers College was the second oldest higher institution of learning in the country that had produced lots of reputable citizens in the country and therefore commended the Government for wanting to take the bold step to revive the institution.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Gbakima, said the President had promised, in his New Direction manifesto, to increase the number of qualified teachers in schools, adding that it was, therefore, imperative on the Government to restart the college and to offer quality training for teachers across the country.

He disclosed that the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) was in consultation with the Government of Sierra Leone to reconstruct the college, while assuring the gathering that classes were expected to commence in the next academic year.

In his keynote address, President Bio said his Government had placed priority on education because it was the foundation on which to improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans. He noted that the college had contributed a lot to the development of the country and therefore needed the urgent attention of Government.

He also said that the people of Sierra Leone had suffered for far too long and that the only way to change that narrative was through the provision of quality education for the future generation.

“This year, we will start the reconstruction process and we hope that classes will start in the next academic year. We want to give the necessary skills to our children to enable them navigate this difficult and competitive world. We are giving our children everything to make sure that they succeed in life,” he assured.
In another engagement at the Kailahun mini-stadium, President Bio said he was thankful to the people of Kailahun for always standing by him and the Sierra Leone People’s Party. He said his main motive of visiting the district was to say thanks to the people for overwhelmingly voting him into office.

He mentioned that Kailahun was a neglected and deprived district within the country that lacked basic social amenities, saying that his government was into a series of negotiations to bring development to the district.

President Bio also noted that the Pendumbu-Kailahun road project had delayed because his Government did not meet funds for the project but said that the Ministry of Finance is working out modalities to restart and complete the project.

“As a caring Government, we are doing our best to better the lives of our citizens. This, we are doing through offering quality education, providing improved healthcare services and food security for our people. This year, we will start the rehabilitation of the Kailahun Government Hospital and the Nixon Memorial Government Hospital to improve the healthcare services in this part of the country,” he assured.

Chairman of the Kailahun District Council, Kekeh Sahr, said that the people of Kailahun were grateful to President Bio for introducing free quality education for the first time in the history of the country. He added that Kailahun was a deprived district but expressed optimism that with the new administration, the district would be able to catch up with the rest of the country in terms of development.

Already the writing is on the wall depicting that Big Brother 2019 is going to bie a big and very interesting social event in the entertainment landscape of this country. Currently, free voting is competitively ongoing to convince the judges to select the deserving competitors that will take them to the final stage. As of now 40 of them have been shortlisted but when the voting comes to an end it will be 20, 10 male and 10 female, who will qualify to enter the House on 14 February 2019.
It worthy to note that, for transparency sake, the organisers of this Big Brother TV Reality Show decided to avail the general public the opportunity to participate in the selection of the 20 contestants who should enter the House by voting through the Africell Sierra Leone TOLL FREE LINE – 5500.
When voting comes to an end the first twenty participants with the highest number of votes will emerge as winners to enter the Housemates Salone 2019 House. It is important to note that voting, via 5500, is absolutely free.

It is important to note that the Big Brother Reality Show is going to be first in this country but paradoxically despite the name, Big Brother,, it will be a combination of male and female housemates in the House that will exhibit their talents in different ways.
Every housemate will receive Le100, 000 for every day he or she stays in the House with the exception of the winner but the criterion for staying in the House depends on the amount of votes for a housemate polls.

For now housemates are encouraged to spur their fans and supporters to be in readiness to cast their votes for them if they fall in the number of the 20 housemates selected to be in the House.

The competition is going to be captivating and interesting especially after Sierra Leoneans have enjoyed a successful Big Sister Salone and saw the handing over of the star prize to the eventual winner.

The show is another opportunity for the Africa Young Voices Media Empire (AYV), one of the organisers, to not only entertain, but to empower young people to showcase their talents and at the same time create new millionaires among Sierra Leoneans.

After the just concluded auditions, the Judges of the Housemates Salone 2019 Television Reality Show released the list of Top 40 contestants.

Below are the names of the 40 shortlisted contestants out of which 20 will be finally selected:.
1. Abu Turay
2. Affise Odubella
3. Alusine Kamara
4. Amina Konneh
5. Aruna Lamin
6. Bintu Kaba
7. Derick Kelvin
8. Diana Decker
9. Dwight Smith
10. Dyllis George
11. Emmanuel Coker
12. Enid Boston-Jones
13. Fatmata Sankoh
14. George Wyndham
15. Habbi Jalloh
16. Hassan Hallowell
17. Henry Fonah
18. Monica Yeani Ghaliwa
19. Ibrahim Shuhab
20. Ibrahim Sorie Barrie
21. Isata Marion Musa
22. Ishmael Mauzi
23. Jalikatu Conteh
24. Jennifer Jabba
25. Jonathan Fitz John
26. Kenchine Palmer
27. Kariatu Mansaray
28. Magdalene T Williams
29. Marvina MK Davies
30. Mohamed Alie Jalloh
31. Moriana Walker
32. Precious Kamara
33. RaIford Rollings-Bull
34. Rashid Dyfan
35. Regina B Jombo
36. Saheed Komkanda Bangura
37. Salamatu Kargbo
38. Salim Sahid Kamara
39. Sebatu Bright
40. Suad Koroma

The Government of President Bio should not turn blind eyes to the long standing palaver between the land owners of Sahn Malen Chiefdom in Pujehun district and SOCFIN; a matter which so far mediation by both Vice President Juldeh Jalloh and President Bio has failed to resolve.
Sahn Malen where the palm oil producer – Socfin is located, has become a ghost town as local people flee for their lives, after the death of two young men in the community.
It is still not certain who committed the murder. Many in the community accuse the police of shooting the two men, but others – including the Paramount Chief, say they were killed by men belonging to the traditional Poro Society with instigation from Independent MP Hon. Siaka Sama who has all along championed the cause of the people who maintain that Socfin has robbed them out of their only means of survival by expropriating to itself virtually all the communal lands that they own for their huge plantation. Hon. Sama was detained, is now out on bail.
However, it has emerged that the recent eruption of violence in Sahn Malen has little to do with Socfin and accusation of land grabbing, but a battle for the assertion on power between the Paramount Chief and the local MP. This is unconfirmed though.
Meanwhile, Socfin has made a statement. Excerpts…
“The management of Socfin Agricultural Company Sierra Leone wishes to inform the public on the events which took place over the last few weeks on the Socfin plantation and surrounding areas in the Malen Chiefdom in Pujehun District.
On Wednesday 16 January 2019 the Company’s Agricultural Department closed down just after the arrival of the Member of Parliament for constituency 104, due to no workers turning up for work.
Workers informed management that they would not come to work due to the intimidation from gangs of youths, many fuelled with drugs and which many were not from this Chiefdom.
These gangs were planning to invoke the secret society in various parts of Malen without the authorization of the Paramount Chief. Havoc and chaos pursued over the following days and during all this period mass organized fruit theft continued and many areas of the plantation where no-go zones even for the police.
On Sunday 20 January the Resident Minister came to Sahn Malen to look into the elevated issue of a dispute on a plot of land in Sahn town, which the Member of Parliament wanted to build a constituency building on his private land. The Minister’s visit was a result of the tension that had escalated to such a high level and required his intervention.
On Monday 21 illegal and misuse of the secret society, which has revealed after investigations that a large number of illegal processing mills are placed within the secret society bushes. By the afternoon a huge gang of youths attacked the military and police stationed at the Socfin installation at Jao Junction in upper Malen, which is encompassed and protected by a strong fence with gates.
The attacking gang pushed and damaged a section of fence, broke all windows of the office complex from stones and other objects being thrown and set fire to the security post within the installation. As a result of this unfortunate incident two people died and one member of the police was seriously wounded from being shot at from within the gang attacking the installation.
The injured policeman was conveyed to Bo hospital using the Socfin ambulance stationed at the medical clinic in Sahn town. On the same day, a statement from the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development issued an instruction to all Resident Ministers nationwide making an immediate ban on initiation by secret societies.
Socfin has now started to resume operations, however are concerned these issues do not repeat themselves and that these gangs in weeks prior to this incident who were intimidating workers, resisting and blockading police movements, having organized operations stealing and processing fruit and taking out hundreds of 20 litre containers (batas) of palm oil each day, are stopped.
The management of Socfin want to thank his Excellency, President Maada Bio, his Government and the law enforcing organizations for stepping in and restoring law and order and look forward to a peaceful path ahead, to allow Socfin to continue to grow and contribute to the development of Malen and the country, creating employment, revenue generation from taxes and precious hard currency earnings through exports.”

One of the outstanding indigenous companies that is doing remarkably well in this country, the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL), is doggedly poised and highly determined to give its numerous customers qualitative services in this new year, 2019. This disclosure was made by the Public Relations Officer of the company.
It is indisputable and undoubtedly that SLBL is taking giant steps in its production line that are indeed positively impacting on the country’s economy.
In a bold step of maintaining continued growth in its chain of producing alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages, the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) commendably ventured recently into introducing, for the first time, canned drinks such as Star Beer, Guinness, Mutzig, and Maltina. The production of these favourite drinks in cans is being successfully rolled out across the country since it was officially launched on Thursday 20 September 2018 at the company’s headquarters in Wellington in the East End of Freetown.

The vast majority of Sierra Leoneans have admirably commended the Managing Director for the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Daaf Van Tilburg and its partners for taking such a bold step since the inception of the company in Sierra Leone some 57 years ago, Undoubtedly, Brewery has been supporting growth of the country’s economy and the people.

Spending over 200 billion Leones on the canning project is something which is highly impressive and clearly reveals how determined SLBL is to continue to contribute to Sierra Leone’s economic development.

It is worthy of note that out of that colossal investment , the Brewery procured state-of-the-art equipment to detoxify its waste water that is emptied into a stream nearby; fermentation tanks, canned packaging plant among other important machinery or components.

One good thing that has made SLBL stand out tall is its symbiotic relationship with sorghum farmers across the country. They have been able to patronize them to the extent that the number of sorghum farmers has increased exponentially within a short period from 10,000 to over 25,000. These farmers supply the raw material, sorghum that is mainly used in the production of some of its popular beverages. This has greatly helped in poverty reduction and is making it possible for Government to derive or mobilize revenue from the company.

With regards Brewery’s Corporate Social Responsibility, it is on record that it has been keeping up with its obligations and has been able to support the communities in its operational area in health care, sanitation, education and other sectors.

Brewery is indeed one of the few company’s operating within the country that have been praised by President Bio as is evident when the Management of SLBL paid a working visit to him at State House sometime last year.
The President thanked the Management team for holding the fort in the business community amidst trying times. He also assured them that his Government is open and ready to work with investors who had plans to boost the economy of the state.

Notwithstanding the fact that SLBL is a private manufacturing company one thing that stands out clearly is that the company has been timely honouring payment of taxes to Government and it falls under the bracket of being a Large Tax Payer to the National Revenue Authority (NRA). It is no secret that Government depends on mobilized revenue to implement various development projects and SLBL’s drive towards providing such has not only been timely, positive but shows that it is really here for serious business.

In a recent snap interview with the company’s Corporate Relations Manager, Albert Ojo Collier in his office at the Wellington Industrial Estate said: “We are quite aware of the various challenges that we are going through as a company but I want to assure all that we are highly determined to ensure that we expand on our existing production base in order to give our esteemed customers the best in terms of quality and affordable prices.”

He noted that SLBL will continue its good relationship with sorghum farmers right across the country and will ensure that it is strengthened by giving these farmers the necessary support and empowerment that they require in order to make sure that they deserve benefits from their farming activities. “This is in line with SLBL’s stance in enhancing the country’s Local Content Policy and we believe we are treading on the right path,” he underscored.

Most people are showering praises on SLBL for this latest innovative move of producing canned drinks which has made drinking safer in the sense that the risk of broken particles pints has now been hugely reduced.

SLBL is very much resolute to roll out other creditable innovative products and promotions this new year and beyond that will definitely create a win-win situation for the company and its numerous customers.

With a serious intention to combat waste in the Freetown municipality, the Freetown City Council has installed street bins around the capital for the purpose of depositing waste.
This was disclosed on Radio Democracy FM 98 by Mayor Aki-Sawyer where she mentioned that there will be garbage collectors who will be collecting garbage from houses and take them to the transit points for onward transfer to the dumping sites.
The Mayor admonished residents to always deposit their litters in those dustbins and not on the streets. She frowned on residents who do not deposit litters in the street bins close to their residences but put them in shack bags and wait for garbage collectors, though for a small fee.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer also admonished citizens to abide by the bye-laws of the FCC and ensure a clean environment for all. “A clean environment will yield a healthier society,” she stressed.
She further disclosed that moves are underway to get another dumping site in the Western Area Rural District (WARD), as in her opinion, the sites in the capital are few and an alternate site is therefore needed. The Mayor said the dumping site would also serve the WARD which lacks dumping facility.
On the control of waste disposal by market people, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer disclosed that market dues have increased from Le500 to Le1,000, adding that the move will create the enabling environment for special garbage collectors to collect all the garbage amassed during hours of trading and ensure a clean environment for trading every day.
While recognising the problem of sanitation in municipal schools in respect of toilet facilities and water supply, the Mayor said the Council is in consultation with the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) for the supply of water to those schools. She also spoke on subvention for fees which, she said, are being taken care of by the Government, noting that the money would be used to provide facilities like furniture for pupils.

In a recent development Russia and Sierra Leone have agreed to take additional steps to cement the trade-economic and humanitarian ties. This disclosure was made by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after negotiations with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alie Kabba.

“Russia and Sierra Leone have mutual interest in the development of cooperation,” he pointed out. “It firstly concerns the trade-economic and humanitarian component of our ties. We agreed to undertake additional steps to start the implementation of promising projects in such areas as metal mining industry, energy industry and fishing, and we value that during this visit Mr Kabba will visit the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Agency for Fishery and the Health Ministry.”
The Russian Foreign Minister reiterated that last year Russian experts held a seminar for the training of medical staff for Sierra Leone. “Today, we discussed that the science center of epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases which has operated in Guinea since 2017 and was created with Russia’s support may spread its programs to the neighbouring countries, including Sierra Leone,” he added.
The Russian Minister also pointed to the need “to enhance the quality of cooperation in the sphere of fishing.” “In the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown there is a corresponding institute and there are opportunities to help in the organization of the educational process and the advanced training of the corresponding specialists,” he noted.
In addition, he said, the common task is “the creation of favourable conditions for the activity of Russian business circles in Sierra Leone for direct communication between businessmen from the two countries.”
Lavrov said in conclusion that the sides “also agreed to continue cooperation in the preparation of national personnel for Sierra Leone in Russia’s higher educational institutions.” “A total of more than 2,000 Sierra Leonean citizens graduated from higher educational institutions of our country,” he said. “Yesterday, immediately upon the arrival to the Russian capital the Minister met with Sierra Leone’s students who are studying in Russia.”

During a Press Conference organised by the Office of the First Lady on Spur Road it was disclosed that deaths in the country caused by cancer are alarming.
In her presentation Fatima Bio underscored that she would not mince her words but rather is determined to speak vociferously and passionately about the plight of cancer patients in the country. She vividly pointed out that the country does not have the facilities to treat cancer patients and the situation, she said, has and is still costing a Sierra Leonean cancer patient US$15,000 to travel to Ghana and other countries to get treatment. “Such a situation should not be tolerated,” Fatima Bio highlighted.
She emphasised that she would continue to raise her voice until the country gets a well-equipped cancer centre to deal with the disease maintaining how she would never be ashamed to ask for assistance on behalf of those that are affected.
Fatima Bio updated the media that on 4th February 2019, Sierra Leone will join the world to celebrate World Cancer Day with the theme: ‘I am and I will’ at the Bintumani Conference Hall in Freetown, adding that the campaign will continue throughout the year.
“There’ll be a sensitization tour of the entire country to raise awareness about cancer and how early treatment can reduce the risk of death,” Fatima Bio revealed going further to state that, “Many people do not know about the disease or its causes and symptoms”.
She mentioned that the awareness campaign would bring to the fore all necessary information citizens need to know in order to be equipped in the fight against the disease. Mrs. Fatima Bio disclosed that about ten medical doctors would soon leave the country for specialist training in the fight against different diseases affecting the country.
Khadija, who is the Surveyor of Cancer, averred that many people do not know about cancer or its effects to human beings. She observed that when symptoms of cancer manifest in some people, they deem it as witchcraft and often visit native doctors for treatment and only go to the hospitals when it’s too late.
Khadija reiterated the First Lady’s call for awareness raising campaign to spread the relevant information about the disease, noting that the campaign should be sustained for ordinary people in the remote parts of the country to understand the dangers of the disease.
She pointed out that there are various types of cancer like prostrate, lung, cervical and breast cancer. She disclosed that from 2015-2018, over 3,000 people died of the disease. The primary cause of cancer, she said, has been attributed to the types of diet people eat, due to the proliferation of fast foods and take-away.
The Surveyor of Cancer furthered that these foods are doctored and lack the necessary ingredients that are seen in home food. Cancer, she stated, is in every human being and is only waiting to be triggered by something, like tobacco, etc.
The commonest case of cancer is that of breast cancer, Khadija said, stressing that not all lumps in the breast constitute a cancer symptom. She maintained that with medical examination it could be diagnosed as a lump in the breast. If untreated, she said, it later develops into something like boil and produces a liquid that is given out through the nipple of the affected breast accompanied by an offensive odour.
Khadija said patients in this state are usually stigmatized and abandoned by their families and relatives, warning that they should not be abandoned or discriminated and stigmatized, but they should be referred to the hospital for early treatment.
As a Survivor of Cancer, she explained that she knows the pain that people go through during that period, adding that many women, children and men have died of the disease as autopsy reports would show.
Question and answer session climaxed the news conference.