Why is China Opposed to Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan?

August 3, 2022

A Commentary By Ranger

US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan in late night on Tuesday 2nd August 2022 in disregard of China’s strong opposition and warning, for a trip that would make her the highest-ranking American politician to visit the island in 25 years.

According to the United Nations Resolution 2758, the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations were restored. And most countries recognize that there is only one China, and under that policy, the United States of America recognizes and has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which is a breakaway province in the ruins of the Chinese civil war and due to be reunified with the mainland one day.

It must be noted that the One China policy is a key cornerstone of Sino-US relations. However, Washington maintains a “robust unofficial” relationship with Taiwan, including continued arms sales to the island.

The US Government and Congress are fully aware of the sensitivity of the question of Taiwan, but Pelosi still wants to play with fire and insists on visiting Taiwan. Some of the reasons of her visit may be to test China’s resolve of reunification presuming that Beijing will not confront the US with military force.

It could also be Pelosi’s personal graduation trip as she is serving her last term as the Speaker and she wants to leave a political legacy.

A school of thought has expressed the view that it could be a shift of focus from a scandal in which her husband made a huge speculation on chip-related stock before the passing of a bill in support of chip companies by the Congress. By visiting Taiwan, she hopes that the public attention will be shifted away from that scandal.

Pelosi’s visit is a provocative action and it would be a serious incident that means the US has violated its promise.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, “If you play with fire, you will get burned. I believe the US is fully aware of the strong and clear message delivered by China.”

There are possible consequences that may arise for this trip, some would include but not limited to putting at stake China -US relations, there may be military confrontation between the two major powers and China may speed up its process of reunification.

China’s strategic view is far greater than just playing a game of hawk-and-chicken with Pelosi on her so-called surprise visit to the island, as China will use that provocative move by the US to irreversibly change the Taiwan Straits situation and speed up the reunification process, which is actually much more important than a US politician’s visit.

Concerning Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Chinese mainland has enough contingency plans. Over the years, China’s strategy of “gaining mastery by striking only after the enemy has struck” has worked.

For example, the US launched the trade war, and China fought back. The result is China-US total volume of trade and China’s total surplus with the US has in fact increased, instead of falling. The US tech war against China has forced China to become independent in its technology strategy. The US making an issue of the Hong Kong affair has accelerated the enactment of China’s national security law for Hong Kong.

It must be noted that when China was weak in 1950, it was not afraid of the US and fought in the Korean War and drove the US away from its doorstep. Now that China is much stronger and with the support of the majority of the people it will surely fight until it achieves its reunification.

Sierra Leone-flagged Cargo Ship Razoni was the First to Leave Ukrainian Odesa Port

August 1, 2022

The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni was the first to leave port, carrying corn bound for Lebanon. In a statement, Turkey’s defense ministry said other unspecified ships also would depart Ukraine.

Turkey and the United Nations brokered an agreement with Russia and Ukraine in late July to get grain exports going again amid a global food crisis that the U.N. says has been worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The deal calls for safe passage of cargo ships traveling from ports in southern Ukraine through waters in the Black Sea that Russia has controlled since starting the war in late February.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the resumption of exports from Odesa.

“The day of relief for the world, especially for our friends in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, as the first Ukrainian grain leaves Odesa after months of Russian blockade,” Kuleba tweeted. “Ukraine has always been a reliable partner and will remain one should Russia respect its part of the deal.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday the departure of the first ship is “very positive.”

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said ensuring grain can reach global markets “is a humanitarian imperative.”

“The Secretary-General hopes that this will be the first of many commercial ships moving in accordance with the Initiative signed, and that this will bring much-needed stability and relief to global food security especially in the most fragile humanitarian contexts,” Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Dujarric added that the World Food Program plans to purchase 30,000 metric tons of wheat to load and ship out of Ukraine on a U.N.-chartered vessel.

British say Russians make ‘slow progress’

Also Monday, Britain’s defense ministry said Russian forces had made only slow progress during the previous four days as they tried tactical assaults in the area northeast of Donetsk.

The British ministry said Russia is also likely shifting “a significant number of its forces” from the northern part of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine to southern Ukraine.

For several months, Russia has focused its efforts on the Donbas, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, after facing resistance on its approach to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. A reallocation of resources to the east helped Russia claim control of Luhansk in early July.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters struck

In southern Ukraine, a small explosive device carried by a makeshift drone hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet on the Crimean Peninsula on Sunday, wounding six people, local authorities said, while Ukraine said a Russian missile attack killed one of its richest people, a grain merchant.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the drone attack in the port city of Sevastopol, which forced cancellation of ceremonies for Russia’s Navy Day holiday. But the seemingly improvised, small-scale nature of the attack raised the possibility it was the work of Ukrainian insurgents in the territory seized by Russia in 2014, The Associated Press reported.

The drone appeared to be homemade and the explosive device low powered, the Black Sea Fleet’s press service said. Sevastopol is about 170 kilometers from the Ukrainian mainland, but it is unclear where the drone began its flight.

‘Not an accident’

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the mayor of the major port city of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, said a Russian attack killed one of Ukraine’s wealthiest men, Oleksiy Vadatursky, and his wife, Raisa. Vadatursky headed a grain production and export business.

An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Vadatursky was specifically targeted.

It “was not an accident, but a well-thought-out and organized premeditated murder,” Podolyak said. “Vadatursky was one of the largest farmers in the country, a key person in the region and a major employer. That the exact hit of a rocket was not just in a house, but in a specific wing, the bedroom, leaves no doubt about aiming and adjusting the strike.”

Vadatursky’s agribusiness, Nibulon, includes a fleet of ships for sending grain abroad.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

US DFC CEO Holds Discussions with Ministers of Finance & Energy

August 1, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

The Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Scott Nathan. in meetings with the Ministers of Finance and Energy expressed DFC’s interest in investing in areas of Energy, Agriculture, Health, and Environment in Sierra Leone.

Scott Nathan who was in Sierra Leone on an official visit stated that this was his first visit to Africa as CEO but second to Sierra Leone, stating that his presence is to reinforce DFC’s focus on investing in low-income countries like Sierra Leone.

On the 217M US$ Western Area Power Generation Project, the CEO stated that the updates and reports he will get on the ground will be critical to the furtherance of the project.

He said they (DFC) are willing to support a project that is key to unlocking of other key economic potentials.

Dennis K. Vandi, Minister of Finance thanked the CEO for his visit and expressed delight over the interventions of DFC in Sierra Leone; and reiterated Government’s commitment to the project and future investments.

Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, in his statement, said that the Western Area Power Generation Project will enrich the energy base and increase energy evacuation to the East End of Freetown.

Abu Kamara, Chairman of the Project Committee, in his update to the team, highlighted two key issues for the attention of the CEO that needs a no-objection for proposed fuel supplier and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) from the DFC’s team in the US.

The Western Area Power Generation Project provides for the construction and operation of an 83.5 MW thermal power plant that comprises the installation of general electric gas turbines, light fuel oil (LFO) storage and water treatment facilities, a new 33KV indoor substation at Kissy, Construction of 1.3km Fuel pipeline from the new jetty for the landing of the LPG/LNG to the Kissy site, an 8km reinforcement of the 33kv transmission line from Blackhall Road to Wellington substation, installation of additional 33/11kv transformers at Blackhall Road, Portee, and Wellington substations. Jetty for the landing of LPG?LNG to the Kissy site.

Members of Parliament Express Divergent Views on the Local Government Bill 2021

August 1, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

Parliament has on Thursday 28th July 2022 debated the Bill entitled “The Local Government Act 2021”. The Bill seeks to provide for the continuation of local councils, the decentralization and devolution of functions, powers, and services to local councils, and to repeal and replace the Local Government Act 2004, for the governance and development of Sierra Leone.

Presenting the Bill, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Melrose Karmity, said the bill is to strengthen the capacity of Local Government relative to decentralization. She said the draft bill is divided into eighteen parts and used the opportunity to highlight the importance of each part in the Bill.

The Chairman of the Local Government Committee in Parliament, Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma recalled the passage of the parent bill and re-echoed that the bill resonates with the emerging issues and the aspect of deepening decentralization.

The MP stated that the bill is not political and went on to call on all to support the process. He recalled the consultation process stating that the Non-Partisan and educational qualification clauses for elections of Chairmen and Councils have been removed from the bill, relative to level playing field in representation of all including women. The MP pointed out the removal of certain criteria amongst others. The composition of the Bill, in light of women’s representation he said is very laudable as it proposed a 50% women inclusion in the Local Government Service Commission and the composition of Ward Development Committees.

He spoke about the proposal of political, administrative and fiscal support for new councils. According to him, the bill is proposing some MPs to sit at Council meetings to strengthen development collaboration at local level ,adding that the bill is creating ethnic cohesion in the Western Urban and Rural as Tribal Heads and Village Headmen would participate in Council meetings at Freetown City Council and WARDC. He informed Parliament that the Local Councils elections are to be run in tandem with the general election. He went on to say, the bill is also creating a balance of powers, proposing that, if the Chairman comes from one area, the deputy would come from another and both would be running on a single ticket. The bill ,he said, would empower councilors to monitor development, through their ward committees. He expressed proposal for the bill to provide benefits and pensions for the chairmen and mayors. He questioned the inclusion of a disqualification provision that prevent councilor aspirants from contesting when they are professionals. He suggested that, councils should collaborate with the Paramount Chiefs to raise revenue and a share to be given to the latter. The uncertainty affecting council staff members, he assured would be addressed.

He emphasized on the harmonization of recruitment, transfer to and from the national Government institutions. “If the council staff can now be transferred to another, let the staff cadre be stated or treated at par,” he informed the House and went on to say, devolution must be commensurate with budget in light of service delivering. The Chairman expressed that when they devolved services, let adequate resources be there. He suggested to Parliament to create a proviso between the councils and their devolved functions to ensure control of Local Councils over their staff. He advised the Minister and colleague MPs to look into all concerns, in order to pass the bill into law.

Hon. Joseph Bash Kamara recalled that, the parent Act was a working document and is now obsolete and underscored the modern trend.

The Deputy Whip of Opposition, Hon. Zainab Catherine Tarawally recalled his working days at the Decentralization Secretariat and the turbulent sail of the process. She spoke about the collaborative efforts of many, spanning eighteen years ago.

The Deputy Whip advanced concern over the share of market dues with the chiefs and advised the House to do some amendments, in light of the position of the Affirmative Action on gender. Several issues, she said would be addressed in line with the Gender Empowerment. “This is the bill for Sierra Leoneans” she stated and encouraged all to join them in the process.

An Independent MP from Pujehun district, Hon. Shiaka Sama expressed happiness over the inclusion of Members of Parliament in the Council meeting. The MP expressed hope that, when the bill gets to the Committee Stage let there be a strong position for oversight and also a time limit for convictions on council contestants just like others. “Let us give room for people to confess,” he maintained.

Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Deputy Chairman of the Local Government and Rural Development Committee in Parliament, recalled the intention of the parent document by those lawmakers who passed it into law, adding that its improper implementation had affected MPs.

He said money allocated to councils for devolved functions or services are not adequate and went on to say, councils are not receiving money to do proper service delivery on monitoring.

The Deputy Chairman said if, the people want community professionals to represent them as councilors, it is good. The transition period during elections, when Chairmen are not in the councils, the MP said caused improper accountability and suggested that, chairmen should remain in office to handover after election.”Having them to create checks and balance is good,” he stated.

The Deputy Chairman informed the House that they need to create more rooms for Councils to generate funds.

Hon. Dr. Munirr Turay said the laws are there but the system is not. He made reference to the parent act and compared it to the bill and asked rhetorically for the position of the councils in tandem with the support received. He pointed out issues including the relationship between the Chairman and Chief Administrator in terms of responsibilities and cohesion. Ministerial holding of devolution, he said is an issue and made reference to circumstances. “Is the council entrenched in our Constitution?” He asked and informed the House that the councils would not be able to deliver without entrenched laws.

Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Bum Kamara said the bill is an opportunity to strengthen the Local Council, in order to be able to deliver services. He said the bill was a good one, but they need to look into the document for some amendments. Highlighting some of the issues, he suggested that, Senior District Officers (SDOs) are supposed to sit in council meetings just as proposed for MPs. The MP also suggested the strengthening of the professional councils’ heads to be able to deliver and chairmen and councilors to serve as checks and balances. The capacity building, he stated is very essential and also said that, education and health were key areas that need to be supported for service delivering. The MP expressed that, some ministries need to let go some of the devolved functions to the councils. “Let all the primary schools remain with the Councils and secondary with the Ministry,” he stated and went on, “Let all the clinics remain with the councils and hospitals with the Ministry,” he revealed.

Speaking on recruitment, especially of professional staff members he suggested that, it should not be done by councils.

Leader of NGC in Parliament, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella said the bill is very good, but requires a lot of money and capacity building. The MP raised concerns and questions over constructive relationship between the Councils and devolved Ministries, as to how would the latter get the money and the transparent movement of the budget from the latter to the former.

The Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, while responding to question and concerns raised by the previous speaker, recalled how functions were devolved and explained how money are budgeted and programs implemented. He revealed that direct development grants stop going to the council in 2010 and reference best practices in other countries to be implemented in Sierra Leone.

The bill he said is important and related the country’s rebel war to lack of decentralization and recalled why councils came into being in 2004 and why they were dissolved in 1972. He said bill has created a technical committee that would report to the Inter Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Vice President to enhance action due diligence. The Leader said the bill is inclusive in terms of governance said and went on to say, it approves benefits, gratuity. According to him, diagonal transfers from Local Councils to Central Government are possible. He spoke about revenue mobilization and raised concern that there was no clear Term of References for the Deputy Chairmen and pension for Chairman and Mayors. He advocated for former mayor to be given retroactive benefits and proposed for strong penalties be levied against defaulters of home source revenue. This bill he said had settled several lacunas in the old law.

Hon. Moses Jorkie said if, the bill is properly amended, it would be a good document and would support the governance. The crying of women, he said is properly addressed with the allocation of 50% power to them at ward committee. Spoke about the lethargy affecting communities and the collaborative effort of all including the Paramount Chiefs. He underscored positivity of the sale of cost recovery drugs in some hospitals by some Councils to be emulated by others.

In rounding up the debate, Acting Leader of Opposition Hon. Hassan Sesay said efforts had been made by all and expressed hope that attention would be paid to various concerns raised by MPs would be addressed at the committee stage. “When we come to the committee stage I am sure we will do justice to the bill” he reaffirmed.

In concluding the debate, the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie thanked all including the Minister and Deputy. He recalled the passage of the parent act and related it to the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He spoke about the de-politicization of the council and expectations of development from MPs. He said it is timely to have professionals at the councils to reverse the expectation of the constituents that MPs are solely responsible for development, which is the responsibility of the councils.

He said many MPs were judged on platform. He expressed the view that they as MPs need to popularize the bill, especially on the functions of the councils.

“This bill when once enacted is removing development from us to the Councils,” he stated and went on to say the bill would spell out the roles of the Councils. He said the huge turnover of the Members Parliament had been as a result of the lack of explaining the functions of the Councils and stated that the bill is a good document but needs to be amended.

Legislators Debate the Customary Land Right Act 2022

August 1, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

Parliament has on Wednesday 27^th July, 2022 debated a Bill entitled: “The Customary Land Right Act 2022”, for the development of Sierra Leone.

The Customary Land Right Act 2022 seeks to provide for the protection of customary land rights, the elimination of discrimination under customary law, and the management and administration of land subject to customary law, and other related provisions.

Presenting the Bill, the Minister of Land, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie said the object of the bill seeks to give rights to all Sierra Leoneans to own land anywhere, irrespective of their tribes. He informed the House that, with the passing into law of the bill, the Creole would own land in the provinces. He emphasized that the bill would promote gender equality and land ownership to be registered by marriage couple. He said social conflict about land would stop. The Minister told Parliament that, title to land would be registered with family names and collective consent will be granted before leasing land.

“We want to ensure that, the rights of all families are respected,” he maintained. According to him the bill properly defined the communal ownership of land and wetland, as well as virgin land, would be protected. The Minister went on to say, they want to ensure that investments on land are protected. “The community and country would benefit as they are going to be properly defined,” he revealed and underscored several investment opportunities. The number of cases, the Minister said would be reduced in courts and structure would be created to reduce conflict. He emphasized that the Bill, when passed into law, would engender national development and women would be giving the opportunity to have land in the provinces.

The Chairman Lands Committee in Parliament, Hon. Quinton Salia-Konneh said the passage of the bill is historical and stated that the document is not contentious. He informed that, they were anticipating the arrival of the bill and underscored that, the merit of the bill would protect the right of women to own land. He told colleague MPs that, the bill is in Parliament to eradicate the negative discrimination against women, citing instances surrounding customary law. “This bill is timely,” he noted and pointed out some importance of the bill. “It is a crime for women to be discriminated against,” he said and went on to say, the bill criminalizes discrimination against others, especially women. According to the MP, the bill stops marginalization and injustice and trends on inclusivity among others. He spoke about series of positive development in the document.

The Leader of C4C in Parliament, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina said the bill has fulfilled the age-long dream of Queen Masarico who led the Mane Invasion from Mali to Sierra Leone in search of land and commended the Minister for bringing reforms. He informed the House that, the bill is guaranteeing the right of all and made a declaration of intention. He described the bill as a progressive bill, but raised some concerns, in light of amendments on mining related matters. The bill the MP said has attempted to settle many problems, but did not settle the perennial cry of cattle herdsmen and crop farmers. He also expressed percentage-wise and cited Sahn Malen situation and other issues.

The Leader concluded that, the Minister has restored the dignity of the traditional leaders.

Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma said the bill has to do with the empowerment of women, especially those in the rural communities and went on to commend the Minister for his dynamic step as well as his relationship with CSOs. The Honourable Member raised series of concerns including investing agricultural companies to give some percentage of their share to the locals and as well as profit. He asked the House to draw a line between mining and agriculture, in term of land acquisition. He supported the out-growers scheme and the consultation of Paramount Chiefs with others.

Hon. Hindolo Moiwo Gevea stated that with the passage of the bill the Creole would now own land in the provinces. The bill, he said would protect the ecosystem and reduce lease years and minimize the large and long period of lease of land. He also threw light on the right of women to land and underscored reinstatement and reaffirmation of the authority of the chiefs. He categorically stated that discrimination against women and others would be eliminated on land ownership.

In rounding up the debate, the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Chernor RM Bah underscored women’s rights, entitlement, and elaborated on gender equality. The Leader reiterated that, irrespective of one’s tribe as long as he or she is a Sierra Leonean he or she must have the right to own a land everywhere in the country. He insisted that, compatriots must take charge of their destiny by coming together to invest in agriculture, as foreigners are investing in the country. He informed that, they would continue to support gender equality in the bill and went on to ask for some amendments.

In conclusion the Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said addressing gender disparity and affirmative steps in the bill are necessary, citing the Presidential Speech that predicated on addressing gender equality and gender empowerment sectorial. He related gender issues to the helm of affairs and other affirmative action. “Today I am proud of Sierra Leone, that women are now given the space,” he stated and recalled their previous passage of laws that are empowering women and went to insist on the practicality and implementation of those laws. He commended the Chairman of the Committee and applauded the Paramount Chiefs for their position on the duo bills and urged the Minister to maintain and respect their dignity. He described the current Parliament as a very progressive one and went on to heap praises on all.

SLAWIJ Launches Report on Threats Against Public-Facing Women in Sierra Leone

August 1, 2022

By Mary Kabay

The Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ), with funding support from Internews (US), has launched a Report titled “Threats Against Public-Facing Women in Sierra Leone” on Thursday 28th July at the New City Hall in Freetown.

The research project began in January 2022, with specific objectives: to establish whether women journalists and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) face harassment; to identify some of the types of (online and offline) harassment and/or threats experienced by women HRDs and women journalists; to explore the Legal Landscape and identify existing laws and/or legislation that relate to both online/technology-facilitated and offline violence against women and girls; to explore the Programmatic Landscape in Sierra Leone, and to identify opportunities that exist for further protecting, addressing, responding to or deterring threats against public-facing women in the country.

64% of women journalists and activists consulted by SLAWIJ said they have personally experienced at least one form of threat. According to the participants in the research project, the three most serious threats against Public-Facing Women in Sierra Leone include harassment, verbal insults, and verbal threats.

During the launch, a panel discussion was held on the conclusions and recommendations in the report. The panelists; Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Marcella Samba Sesay (Campaign for Good Governance), Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawallie (Gender Committee Chairperson, House of Parliament), Chernor Bah (Purposeful), and Mariama Sowe (Media Trainer) highlighted the impact of those threats on women. Personal experiences from online and offline harassment and bullying by the female panelists and solutions moving forward formed a key part of the discussion. The Chairperson of the event, Naasu Fofanah, called on women not to relent in doing their work but rather accelerate efforts to get more women in public life even in the highest office in Sierra Leone.

In her keynote address, the Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr stated that the report is timely and noted that those attacks are not only coming from men but other women also participate in such acts. She noted that women should stand by each other as “what happens to public facing women mirrors other women in the country.”

She also stated that individuals should not allow the impact of the insults to go unpunished or swept under the carpet.

The Mayor formally launched the Threats Against Public Facing Women in Sierra Leone Report 2022.

29-Year-Old Technician Sent to Life Imprisonment for Sexual Penetration

August 1, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

High Court Judge presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown, Honourable Justice Manuela A. J. Harding has on the 29^th July 2022 imprisoned a 29-year-old Technician, Umar Bai Kamara, to life after being found guilty of sexually penetrating an 11-year-old girl.

Umar was before the court on a one count indictment of Sexual Penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act No. 12 of 2012 as repealed and replaced by Section 4 a (ii) of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act N0.8 0f 2019.

State Prosecutor, O. V. Robin Mason Jr alleged that the accused on a date unknown in 2020 sexually penetrated a child below the age of 18.

Upon his arraignment, the accused denied the allegation and the trial by judge alone application made by the State was granted by Hon. Justice Harding.

The State Prosecutor led in evidence four witnesses in support of his case including the child victim and her father.

In her Evidence in Chief, the 11-year-old victim recalled that on a day in 2020, she and her sister were watching television when the accused entered their house and joined them in the parlour.

She continued that because her father doesn’t usually allow strangers to sit in the parlour with them, she asked the accused Umar to leave but he told her she was unable to drive him away.

She went further to tell the Court that as soon as her sister left the parlour, the accused laid down on top of her and put his finger into her vagina which she immediately resisted and asked the accused Umar to stop but he refused.

The 11-year-old victim stressed that at another incident the accused came again into the parlour, lay on the parlour chair and pretended to be sleeping. As soon as she walked in, he grabbed her saying, “now I have got you, you are now alone, with all the noise that you have been making.”

The victim said that while he was speaking, he threw her on the chair, removed her pants and had sexual intercourse with her, adding that she reported the incident to her parents and was taken to hospital and medically examined with a certified medical report endorsed by a Medical Officer.

The 3rd Prosecution witness, Dr Olabisi Claudius Cole told the court that she is a Medical Doctor attached to the Rainbo Medical Centre at the Cottage Hospital in Freetown.

She recalled examining the victim and found out that her hymen was completely ruptured.

At the close of the Prosecution’s case, accused Umar Bai Kamara elected to rely on his voluntary caution statement made at the Police Station and called no witness.

In his Voluntary Caution Statement, the accused admitted that he sexually penetrated the victim who was eleven years old at the time of the incident but denied doing same to three other Juveniles as alleged.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Harding stated, “I must conclude that taking the totality of the prosecution’s case, the prosecution, in this case, has established the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt and to support the prosecution’s case the accused admitted to having committed the offence charged.”

She declared, “therefore I find the accused Umar Bai Kamara guilty of the offence of Sexual Penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act as repealed and replaced by Section 4 a (ii) of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act No: 8 of 2019.

In his allocutus, the convict Umar Bai Kamara pleaded for mercy.

In his plea in mitigation, Defence Counsel from the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone, K. Khanu pleaded that justice be tempered with mercy and asked the judge to take into consideration the time spent in custody.

To that, Justice Harding stated that she had taken into consideration the fact that the aggravating circumstances in the case outweighed the mitigating circumstances.

She said the act of the convict would have psycho-social effect on the victim and especially in an African Society as ours where a child who has been known to be sexually abused is exposed to stigma and or ridicule by the Society.

Justice Harding reiterated that the victim will also lack the confidence a child ought to have when mingling with her peers in the community.

“I sentence the accused Umar Bai Kamara to Life Imprisonment (which gives the Correctional Centre the opportunity to implement the Prison Ordinance and compute the time the accused should serve the imprisonment term as a term of life imprisonment).”

In her compensatory Order, Justice Harding stated, “I hereby order the accused Umar Bai Kamara to compensate the victim herein in the sum of thirty million Leones pursuant to Section 37 of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act N0. 12 of 2012 as amended for Cost of necessary transportation, temporary housing and child care.
The cost, she added includes the emotional distress, pain and suffering incurred by the victim of the sexual penetration.

Mohamed Kamara Cautions Against Foul Play in Mange Bureh Chieftaincy Election

August 1, 2022

By Sulaiman Bull Hassan

In the forthcoming Paramount Chieftaincy Election slated to take place in Mange Bureh Chiefdom, Port Loko District there are four contending candidates. However, from what this medium learnt, three out of the four candidates have expressed doubts as to whether the election will be truly free and fair because of the conviction that the process will be skewed to favour a particular candidate by the name of Mohamed Morry Kamara.

The leading contender whom many describe as The People’s Choice, Mohamed Morry Kamara, has so far vented suspicion of an impending foul play though it has been established that several opinion polls put him ahead of his main rival, Daniel Morry Kamara.

“I believe in my people, I have done tremendous work in Bureh Chiefdom and they are in high sprit to elect me as Paramount Chief to give them a solid representation this time round but Government is planning to manipulate the election in the Port Loko District, Mange Bureh Chiefdom, ” Mohamed Kamara expressed reservation.

He called on the Government to play by the rules of the Chieftaincy Act of 2009 adding how it made it clear that in any Paramount Chieftaincy election the responsibility of the Government is limited to only the facilitations of the process so as to ensure that the election is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

Mohamed Kamara added that no Government Minister, other official or political party shall promote or show support or preference for the candidature of any particular constant in a Paramount Chieftaincy election.

On the other hand, the other contender, Daniel Morry Kamara, has denied claims that he is strongly supported by the Government and that his opponents are just making frivolous claims because he has become popular among the youth and the elders in Port Loko describing such claims as false.

“I do not trust the Government but I will personally call on credible institutions like AYV, The Watch and The Calabash Newspapers to cover the forthcoming Chieftaincy election,” he stated adding that whoever has a dubious plan to take what rightfully the people want for their Chiefdom he will call for a protest especially if the process is not conducted in a fair manner.

He further called on Civil Society Organizations, the Anti Corruption Commission and the National Elections Watch (NEW) to be very vigilant in the upcoming Chieftaincy Election in Port Loko District and advised the Government to let the choice of residents of Mange Bureh prevail.

Chinese Embassy Supports ECSL with Furniture & IT Equipment

August 1, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

Led by Charge d’ Affaires, Li Xiaoyong, a team from the Chinese Embassy on the 28^th July, 2022 paid a courtesy call on the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone and handed over some office furniture and IT equipment to the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh.

The Charge d’ Affaires stated how the donation represents a sincere gesture from the Chinese people to support Sierra Leone in its electoral process further expressing optimism that with the joint efforts of the Sierra Leonean people and the international community, the Electoral Commission would successfully carry out its sacred duty to conduct free and fair elections.

He pointed out that there has never been a single democracy model that fits all countries, and that China’s socialist democracy is based on its own reality disclosing that the people’s status as masters of the country is its real essence.

Li Xiaoyong said that since the 18th Community Party of China (CPC) National Congress in 2012, the Party has gained a deeper understanding of China’s path to democracy and the appropriate political systems to apply adding how the Party has developed whole-process people’s democracy as a key concept and strived to translate that concept and relevant democratic values into effective institutions and concrete actions.

He revealed that today the Chinese people are enjoying more democratic rights than ever before maintaining that China’s democracy is thriving alongside those of other countries in the garden of civilizations.

“China stands ready to contribute its strength and experience to global political progress through the means of cooperation and mutual learning,” he stated adding that the Chinese people are willing to work together with the fraternal Sierra Leonean people and other friends around the world to bring to fruition the common values of all of humanity: peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner, on his part, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese Government for its long-time support to Sierra Leone and to the Electoral Commission in particular stating how the gifts will further bolster the Commission’s capacity to conduct a peaceful and fair election in the coming year.

The items donated include over five (5) Huawei Pads, one (1) conference table, twelve (12) conference chairs, one (1) office table and chair and two (2) printers (P1106) with the aim of helping the Commission carry on with its good work and commitment to free and fair elections in the country.

The donation came as a result of a promise made by the Chinese Ambassador to the Commission on the 14th of June 2022 after the ECSL made a formal request for assistance to the Embassy during a courtesy meeting between the Commissioner and the Ambassador.

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NP –SL Takes Pride in Marketing Qualitative & High Grade Petroleum Products

August 1, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

NP –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) continues to make meaningful inroads within the petroleum landscape of this country. Based on effective and efficient service delivery, the result-oriented company has drawn widespread commendations from near and far for holding the fort for too long, weathering various storms.

The company, formed years back by certain selfless Sierra Leoneans (thirty-five of them), has grown by infusing business-oriented initiatives that have helped in transforming it into a buoyant and towering company within the business landscape of this country and even in the West African sub-region where it has vibrant operational branches.

One major thing which these local investors considered very paramount that will catapult the company is the premium being placed on optimizing customer care, which, they believe, will put the company in a very good stead to widen its customers’ base. Maybe they foresee how that could work the wonders for the company and properly harnessing it such is yielding fruitful dividends.

It was against such a backdrop that they decided to import and install calibrated pumping machines at the company’s various Filling Stations, which are very capable of churning out the right quantity of fuel and at the same time display the corresponding price.

The introduction of these machines was a big welcome to many, as it is constantly instilling the feeling that they are getting the right quantity of petroleum products, petrol or diesel as well as lubricants, against what is being paid for. Hitherto, the old pumping machines were not so sophisticated and created leeway through which certain unscrupulous pump attendants clandestinely cheated customers by not pumping the requisite quantity of fuel requested for. However, with the latest calibrated machines, such became a thing of the past, making petroleum transactions at the company’s Filling Stations very transparent.

NP-SL made it a laid down policy to have a whole Customer Care Department that is charged with the responsibility to address the concerns of its customers and by extension members of the public. The inputs from members of the public are, most times, taken into consideration whenever meetings are convened, out of which resolutions are adopted that are tailored to give satisfaction in terms of responding to concerns and embracing certain recommendations.

The buoyant oil marketing company is the premier and sustainable indigenous business entity in this country, as it is hundred percent owned by Sierra Leoneans. One thing that they laid emphasis on is to give preference, in terms of employment, to exclusively Sierra Leoneans instead of considering bringing foreigners on board, except in instances where local expertise could not be sourced.

This stance on the part of the company is in sync with the country’s Local Content Policy, which underpins making use of local human and material resources in the production and service delivery chain. By giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans, the company has been positively contributing towards poverty alleviation and availing individuals the opportunities to live improved standards of living. The policy is truly in tune with fulfilling one of the pillars of the national economic agenda.

With regards rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, NP-SL has been doing so steadily and progressively. The company has been giving institutional support to certain institutions..

Besides, the company most times has responded to disasters and other emergencies by providing the required support at its disposal like it did when Ebola and Mudslide disasters struck as well as the COVID-19. The gestures it extended were highly appreciated and the company was commended for its timely responses.

The company’s introduction of a Smart Card to purchase fuel has been widely applauded as a very good initiative. A particular customer, with money in his or her NP Smart Card, could easily put in for the quantity of petrol or diesel that he or she wants and the supply is facilitated, after which the amount of money expended is deducted from the card. It is a very convenient way of doing such transactions in a cashless manner. Its biggest advantage is that it creates room for a customer to budget for fuel purchase over time. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are presently using it, saying they prefer it than using physical cash.

Some users of NP Gas that this medium spoke with, intimated how it is a very good device which has a high speed performance and very environmentally useful and friendly. Manufactured in different cylinder shapes, it is portable and affordable. NP Gas could be secured at all the company’s major Filling Stations, where the gas to refill it could be accessed.

The company has really exhibited that it is poised to expand its operations, a determination that has been manifested in opening branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all those countries, those NP branches are doing extremely well in terms of service delivery and payment of taxes to the home Governments.

Indisputably, there is no way that we can talk of a very successful company, amidst challenges encumbered along the way, without mentioning NP-SL because the company is greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of nations.