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Lady Felicia Concert in the United States Gains Momentum

May 6, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s most outstanding female musicians, Lady Felicia Grant, popularly referred to as the Princess of Sierra Leone is set to host a musical concert, scheduled to take place on the 7^th May, 2022 at the Royal Banquet Hall 6355 Rolling Road Springfield, Virginia, VA, 22152.on the theme: “Love Mom Celebrate Women”. The musical concert will feature other top Sierra Leonean musicians in the United States of America.

Lady Felicia used to be part of the “Ladies Day Out” (LDO) of which her songs include ‘No Condition is Permanent’, ‘Jesus Me Lajor’, ‘Home Salone’, ‘Homeless Children’, ‘Sweet Salone’, among others.

Speaking to this medium during an online interview, Lady Felicia Grant said that the concert will feature other top Sierra Leonean musicians in the United States of America.

She added that hosting such an event is geared towards celebrating women disclosing that she’s not alone on it but alongside other supportive organizations including the Sound Management Company also maintaining how proceeds from the concert will be donated to support the works of the “Sick Pikin Project” and the “Sierra Leone Autistic Society”.

Currently, she owns a Charity Foundation known as the Lady Felicia Charity Foundation with the motto: “Building Hope and Shaping the Future.”

Worthy of note is that Lady Felicia Grant in 2018 established her Foundation to support and promote child related activities, rights and welfare (Findings) and now she is a veteran musician per honour based on her long experience in music.

She started creating music sometime in 2000 with a group called, “Ladies Day Out” before she went solo into producing and releasing her two greatest songs respectively: “Song for Mama” and “Sweet Sierra Leone” which were indeed great hits.

Justice Adrian Fisher’s Judgement… A Victory For Political Party Democracy In Sierra Leone

May 6, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

Henceforth, all registered political parties in Sierra Leone shall be legally bonded to ensure that they elect, not select their leaders. This is the most significant import of Justice Adrian Fisher’s ruling on the constitutional matter brought by Alfred Peter Conteh against his own party, the All Peoples Congress (APC) and its now defunct National Executive.

The ruling is important for the conduct of affairs in our political parties because it also significantly maintained that political parties must be guided by the democratic tenets of the country’s 1991 constitution and their own constitutions which must also be in consonance with the democratic ideals of the national constitution.

This is against the background that our political parties since their formation have been searching desperately for a workable paradigm for political order, which answers to the challenges of having shared political ideals.

We must admit that, of all the political doctrines, none has been as universally successful and triumphant as the idea of democracy. The cry of the American revolutionists, in the war against Britain, that there will be “no taxation without representation” has passed into popular human political folklore. Democracy has become the political God of our times.

In our own case, during the course of our political history, from the days of colonialism to after independence, democracy in its true sense of Government of the people, by the people and for the people was denied, challenged, but also wooed and cultivated, by various groups and peoples – including the late Dr Siaka Stevens who was one of the founders of the All Peoples Congress just after independence in 1961 as an antithesis of the then ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) of Dr Milton Margai.

It is the view of The Calabash newspaper that democracy and freedom, both at the individual and collective levels of social life, will remain infectious political doctrinal potions for the coming generations if it is not practiced within well recognized and acceptable bounds.

If the experience of human history is anything to go by, we can say, without fear of contradiction that different peoples and societies will seek to give different interpretations to the notion of democracy, as it fits their own convenience. This variability which can be historically and exhibited both diachronically and synchronically is what caused SLPP when it was in opposition to spend a lot of time in court, and now the APC.

The beauty of internal party democracy, just as it fits into the national political structure, is that it permits the coexistence of contrastive views of how social life should be ordered without suffocating relatively inferior constituencies.

It allows a hundred flowers to bloom and a hundred schools of thought to contend. It is the structure, par excellence, of political pluralism in modern bourgeois society.

It permits policy options to contest for popular support in order to be governmentally adoptable.

Today, it is generally accepted that human and civil rights are crucial issues to modern humanity and closely allied to the idea of human rights are the related notions of democracy or representative Government.

Hardly anybody who is a democrat today will deny, like Hitler and Mussolini did the validity and need for human rights and representative Government.

Working in tandem with the institution of the rule of law, it provides a generally effective basis for the watch on human rights adherence.

However, it has been most unfortunate and calamitous for the development and well-being of our people that Africa’s experience of the practice of multi-party democracy in State politics has been checkered and tortuous.

It is a fact that during the past 4 – 6 decades of Africa’s post-independence experience, the search for a sound and viable formula for governance and democratic institutionalization has largely eluded Africans.

Many administrations on this continent started off with pious resolutions swearing to the intention of maintaining democratic systems but with time quickly fell prey to autocracy and authoritarianism.

In many countries on the African continent, the only elections that have been very free and without any taint of vote rigging or unfair electoral practices within multi-party systems have been the elections, which ushered in the first post-independence Governments.

In many instances, subsequent elections have been manipulated to produce results favorable to incumbent regimes.

It is against this background that we should, as democrats, understand the wisdom that informed Justice Adrian Fisher’s judgment which clearly sets the benchmark for future conduct of all internal political party elections – They must conform to the dictates of the national constitution.

NP-SL Positive Strides Ensures Timely Availability of Petroleum Products

May 6, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

NP Sierra Leone Limited (NP SL-Ltd) is very prompt in engaging oil producing companies in business discussions, to always ensure that supply is continually flowing in. This pro-activeness, on the part of the company, has made it quite possible for stocks to last over periods of time in order to avert the occurrence of shortages.

NP-SL is a 100% indigenous company to the letter and it has weathered various storms that could have dwarfed it or left it to extinct save therapeutic intermittent Managerial injections that kept it upright and on the right course.

Demonstrating its true Sierra Leonean identity the company has maintained a policy of strictly adhering to the Local Content Policy ensuring that it has a maximum of indigenous staff in its employ. What this actually means is empowering our brothers and sisters to access employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

As a matter of fact some of its members continue to benefit from various trainings that have afforded them the conduit to imbibe useful skills to efficiently carry out certain tasks. If we are counting the number of companies that have upheld the Local Content Policy, without any iota of doubt, NP-SL could be seen at the top.

This intrinsic nationalistic posture of the company runs through and it is a sine qua non to overall national development. If such a compliance rate should have been followed by other local companies, willingly, without any pressure from the relevant authorities then indisputably this country should have been miles away in its development trajectory.

Business Management experts have made it abundantly clear that the way and manner in which customers are cared for in terms of talking to them, making them feel at ease go a long way in attracting them. Such should be done sincerely in order to make them more important. NP-SL for a very long period now has mastered that art and executing it so well which definitely is paying dividends.

1^st for Customer Care was earned by the company because it has been widely acclaimed by many for solidly executing such.

In its drive to optimize customer satisfaction the company went the extra mile to install calibrated pumping machines which are not only modern but trustworthy, as opposed to old pumping machines which certain unscrupulous individuals used to cheat unassuming customers.

This is helping to repose confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent entity. The friendliness of their pump attendants is very impressive and they are always there to timely respond to various concerns.

Still within the purview of 1^st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honoring their obligations.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it and such will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is a secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). NP is one biggest tax payers to Government and it has been honouring its obligation timely.

The company stands exceptional in terms of having branches within the West African sub-region in countries such as Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all those countries, the company is operating in the same as it is doing in the parent country, Sierra Leone. It is upholding the Local Content Policy in those countries, considering nationals first in terms of employment as a means of giving empowerment in various forms.

NP-SL Ltd is indeed a source of pride to many Sierra Leoneans for operating branches in the aforementioned countries, an accomplished feat which can only be made by serious minded people who are focused on enhancing development in various ways. Sierra Leoneans always feel proud in those countries to see such an investment.

Equally too, the company has really made meaningful headway in expanding its operations in areas or communities within the country considered to be hard to reach areas. In partnership with entrepreneurs, more Filling Stations have been opened in those places and such has contributed in reducing energy poverty. Besides, such has reduced the constraints commercial motor drivers, bike and Kekeh riders were facing to access petroleum products. Also the opening of those new Filling Stations has contributed greatly in providing employment for residents in those places who were hitherto finding it difficult to make ends meet. With decent jobs their lives and those of family members have been greatly improved.

NP-SL remains undaunted, unperturbed amidst certain unfounded criticisms it had faced and still faces, from time to time but conscientiously but the company is steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of the country as well as positively changing communities and lives.

For Housemates Salone… Members of the Public Express Enthusiasm to Participate in the Voting Process

May 6, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

The most frequent question now on the lips of many young people in the country is: “Have you voted for your favourite candidate to enter the House?”

I was in town yesterday at a busy business community when the question was asked and surprisingly a middle-aged lady standing close by turned to me and sought clarification relating to the above question.

As she was eager to learn from me I took my time and patiently explained to her that it all has to do with an entertainment TV Reality Show which will be presented courtesy of AYV Media Empire and Africell Sierra Leone.

I continued that this will be Season 3 with the slogan “Di Game Get Yagba, If You Nor Able Na for Pull Hand”and will feature twenty-two young people placed in a House for a considerable period of time with no contact with the outside world except during certain periods when they will be having visitors who will teach them new things. That while in the House they are expected to display their innate talents and do certain things that will be entertaining to viewers who will be watching the show. Some of those things, I went on, will be dictated by an unseen person who will also be taking stock of their performances as well as grading them.

It was when I mentioned that what these twenty-two young people will be competing for, which is a Star Prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le 250M) plus a round trip to Dubai and that one of the sponsors of the Reality TV Show, Zarlux Car Rental, has revealed that a brand new car will be given to the winner of the Zarlux Car Rental task that will be performed by the Housemates in the House during the course of the show that the middle aged woman shouted , “What!!!” and became more interested.

To directly answer her question I told her that many opted or applied for the show and an audition was done. After the audition, sixty of the applicants were shortlisted for public voting through Africell. I went on to inform her that all the sixty applicants have their unique numbers which members of the public must use when voting.

I intimated her that members of the public should vote by sending them via SMS to: 5500 or Dial *5500#. That for International voting an individual can call: +23299005500.

“Also, members of the public are at liberty to cast their votes via Afrimoney through the voters’ Africell lines by dialing *161*10#* plus the Numbers of their favourite contestants from any Africell line,” I said to her.

For her information and by extension members of the public there is also a new online voting platform and a brand new website for international voters across the world to vote using credit or debit cards by just visiting: https://housematessl.com and/or visit: https://www.africell.sl.

I additionally told her that once Housemates Salone Season 3 commences on the 22^nd May 2022 it will be shown live on AYV Entertainment Channel 34, 33 and AYV on DSTV Channel 399.

For the benefit of the lady and others the entertainment is slated in such a way that the youth empowerment show is slated to be really competitive as it is geared towards bringing out the best in the Housemates in terms of their performances in carrying out assigned tasks delegated by a certain Chief or Madam Chief.

When our chat was about to end the lady profoundly thanked me saying she really enjoyed my explanation, said she was impressed and would get onboard. “I am going to tell anybody I know to support at least by voting for any of the competitors to enter the House.

Since the Housemates will be interacting in a very conducive atmosphere within the House, these Housemates are to exhibit real life situations where one sees them courting friendly relationship, cracking jokes, gossiping, engaging in animated discussions to the point of even going into blows. The episodes, during the course of the Reality TV Show, are expected to bring out attributes that should be really captivating and fun packed to evoke laughter among viewers.

If some of the Housemates will appear sexy by the kind of dresses they wear then that must not come as any big surprise simply because they are expected to display nudity.

Again, if sometimes they talk harshly then it is because they are to intermittently use strong language and act funnily as the expectation is for them to of be humorous. Manifestation of these traits is what will really make the Reality TV Show very interesting to watch, providing some form of comic relief for viewers and serving as a therapy to reduce stresses.

In actual fact, the Reality TV Show will serve as a conduit through which the Housemates are taken through mental and physical exercises that will end up to mould and shape their characters.

To Complement the FQE… Africell Launches ‘Teach Mi’ Service for School Going Pupils

May 6, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

With a view to complement the efforts of the Government headed by President Julius Maada Bio in the implementation of its flagship programme which is the Free and Quality Education , one of the country’s vibrant telecommunications companies, Africell-SL, has on 29^th April 2022 launched a service known as “Teach Mi” at its headquarters on Wilberforce in Freetown.

During the launch, it was spelt out that the “Teach Mi” Service provides easy access to lesson notes on all subject areas, quiz questions and answers for JSS1 to SSS3 school-going pupils without using the internet.

Madam Josephine Saidu, who happens to be the Chief Executive Officer of “Teach for Salone”, expressed profound delight for the launch of the mobile platform for school going pupils which she said, will greatly aid education and technology in the country.

She revealed how Teach for Salone has a vision in the nearest future to examine and help school going pupils to achieve their full potentials irrespective of their geographical location, socio-economic status and gender.

Madam Josephine added that they are committed to complement the efforts made by the Government by continuing to bring innovative solutions to the educational sector of the country.

She also disclosed that her organization had trained over two hundred exceptional graduates not only in hard to reach primary schools in eighty-eight communities but also across nine districts in the country, adding that this year they will add another two hundred to continue making the necessary impact in different schools.

The Representing the Country Representative of UNICEF to Sierra Leone, Anne Aster Ghebreab, praised Africell for its commitment in supporting the advancement of education in Sierra Leone through technology.

She disclosed that the partnership between UNICEF and Africell will ensure the effective use of data for decision making on education related issues adding that Africell has contributed by giving out a toll-free line which is providing an open channel for all complaints and concerns in relation to educational issues in the country.

Anne furthered that they have the strong conviction that the power of technology will eradicate educational poverty, noting that in 2021, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Senior and Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the Teaching Service Commission, UNICEF supported the training of six thousand nine hundred teachers across the country to complement the Government’s Free and Quality Education programme.

She appealed to Africell and other businesses to continue their support for the education of children in Sierra Leone, noting that UNICEF is committed to support the Government on educational programmes.

UNDP Country Representative to Sierra Leone, Sayed Sada thanked Africell for their support toward education, stating that education is the backbone for sustainable development.

He said those who invested in education around the world never regretted it pointing out that he is proud that UNDP is part of the project and will continue to support education for a sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Africell, Joe Abass Bangura disclosed that ‘Teach Mi’ offers lessons; quizzes and live teacher interactions to help pupils participate through an SMS led system.

He said that the Teach Mi Service is affordable and accessible to all with an easy form of subscription to *4910#.

“You don’t need to have internet to go through this. Learners will know their performance and interact with teachers at any time and this programme is approved by the MBSSE,” he said.

Joe continued that they will create more contents for pupils to benefit from the learning platform and ended up thanking Eneza, a Kenya based IT Company in Sierra Leone and Teach for Salone and other education partners for working with them to ensure that the “Teach Mi” programme becomes a reality with the slogan is “Skool na mi Fone.”

Electoral Commission Makes Clarifications On Circumventing Process in the Award of a Contract

May 6, 2022

Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).png

By Amin Kef Sesay

The practice of circumventing the process in the award of contracts to the wrong entities or individuals is an integral aspect of institutionalized corruption that has permeated public institutions for donkey years now. As a matter of fact the negative practice has been one of the factors responsible for the underdevelopment of the nation as contracts are awarded to the wrong persons or institutions. The resultant effects have been conspicuous in the production of sub-standard works, poor service delivery and wastage of public funds.

Of course it is an open secret that most times when donor funds are given for the implementation of certain projects or Government allocates funds for same there are public officials who are tempted to tamper with such funds out of personal aggrandizement or avarice. They will cleverly devise means by circumventing bidding processes just at the end of the day awarding such just to achieve their selfish desires,.

Well it has not yet been properly established as that is what is currently transpiring at the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL)with regards the process leading to the award of an important contract to bidders.

However, according to documents in the possession of this medium it seemingly appears that the country’s institution that is charged with the responsibility of conducting elections, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone has allegedly manipulated the process that will lead to the award of a contract to one of the companies that bid for the implementation of a contract as against others that showed interest.

The said contract is the one that deals with a tender that was put out by the electoral body for LOT 1 of the 2022 Biometric Voter Identification/Update project which could be identified by procurement number: NEC/DMVR/ICB/G/2022/0063.

The Calabash was made to understand that a notification has already be sent to one Laxton Group among all the bidders of the contract informing about the intent on the part of the electoral body to award them the contract even though it has been contested that the entity, Lexton Group, failed to sign their Bid Form attached to its official submission.

So far from what was understood with regards bidding for contracts of such nature is that an unsigned Bid Form renders its submission non-compliant as it is mandatory for such to be done to such a document before submission.

The one million question that springs up in one’s mind is: Was the Laxton Group granted the opportunity to do so after submission? As far as this news outlet is concerned, if the company erred in doing so, it was at that preliminary stage that the Laxton Group should have been disqualified.

Besides, it is also alleged that the Laxton bid price at the time of submission, as recorded on the 21st March, 2022 was $1,954,000.00 USD.

However, it was further understood from an official Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone document, dated April 29, 2022, which was sent to all vendors who bid on NEC/DMVR/ICB/G/2022/0063 that Laxton tender bid price was pegged at $2,247,100.00 USD which represents a price increase of $293,100.00 USD.

What is unfathomable and very paradoxical about all this stage in the bidding process is that there was no officially published post-original submission re-bidding opportunity availed to interested parties through the usual communication channels like newspapers, the radio and other platforms?

As far as this medium was informed the specifications were not changed by the electoral body and making that known to the public including the bidders. The other big question is: Where does this $293,100.00 USD increase come from and why was Laxton granted the opportunity to adjust their price while no other company was granted the same opportunity?

When this medium, however, contacted the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone for their own side, the Director of Procurement, Sheku Loleh, first made the clarification that the contract has not been awarded yet to any of the bidders. He explained that it is only a notification of intent of the award of the contract that was sent out to all the parties involved underscoring that at this current stage in the process they will encourage any protest by any of the bidders relating to how the process has gone this far before the contract is awarded.

The Director furthered that when initially an advertisement was put out related to the contract it was open for three weeks but continued that when the interested parties asked for an additional time they granted another one week making it four weeks.

He continued that on the day when they were opening the bids his Deputy said Laxton’s bid document was not among but upon cross checking with the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) it was discovered that it was there and it was signed.

With regards the inflation in the bid price of Laxton Group from $1,954,000.00 USD recorded on the 21st March, 2022 to at $2,247,100.00 USD as of April 29, 2022, he said such was as a result of the inclusion of Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was originally not included.

In terms of the credibility of any of the companies that will be awarded, he said such will be predicated from the institution’s profile and past performances.

Importantly, he said at this stage bidders are still at liberty to make their concerns known assuring that they will be objectively looked into.

What was not really clear in his explanation was when he said that the inclusion of GST was communicated to all the parties when on the other hand it is being bitterly contested that other bidders were not aware of that change. This aspect actually smelt of a foul play which this medium will further and thoroughly investigate to bring out the facts.

However, of concern also to this medium is the effectiveness of Laxton Group’s software and hardware they used in their quotation. It is the candid view of this medium that to avoid what occurred in 2012 and 2018, in terms of technical failures, the Election Commission for Sierra Leone should ensure that while evaluating an open international tender such as the one in context they are comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges.

In order to update their voters list effectively, the ECSL must choose an election expert with high-quality software and high-quality hardware that presents a technically and financially compliant bid at the time of submission.

Sierraloaded Celebrates One Year Anniversary, Re-Affirms Commitment to Digital Transformation of Sierra Leone

May 5, 2022

Sierra Leone’s frontline news and entertainment platform, Sierraloaded has on May 5, 2022 marked one year its website, www.sierraloaded.sl was re-launched.

Sierraloaded which was originally founded in 2014 was re-branded and re-launched in May 2021 with the goal to become a one-stop platform for Sierra Leone Music, Videos, News, Sports, Entertainment and more.

In a statement, Sierraloaded Head of Business, Alhaji Gamanga (Med Spark) described the team’s achievement in the past year as remarkable while affirming that Sierraloaded is now Sierra Leone’s biggest digital platform.

“From May 2021 to April 2022, we have published over 4,000 Contents and our website has attracted over 1.6 million users, 8.2 million sessions and 24.6 million page views. We are arguably the biggest digital platform in Sierra Leone with the largest numbers, a verified Facebook page and robust social media presence

“We are extremely proud of the impact we have made within this short time and we cannot but thank our users, partners, team members and well-wishers”, He said.

While making a case for enhanced digital media practice in Sierra Leone, Gamanga called on the government of Sierra Leone and other Stakeholders to provide a safe environment for digital media to thrive through cheaper and better Internet services and promotion of digital skills in all sectors especially schools and tertiary institutions. He also urged media practitioners in the country to embrace Digital media because it is the future of the media industry.

“As an Independent organization, We will continue to play our role in the digital transformation of Sierra Leone while keeping our audience informed, educated, entertained and engaged.”, He said.

Gamanga further debunked comments that Sierraloaded is owned by the opposition political party. He said that the Sierraloaded Team consists of independent, young and vibrant minds who are committed to promoting digital media.

END.

Fifty-Nine Afro-Americans Subscribe to Oath to become Citizens of Sierra Leone

May 4, 2022

By Esther Wright

President Dr Julius Maada Bio on the 29^th April, 2022 conferred citizenship on 59 Afro-Americans after they subscribed to the oath of allegiance to become citizens of Sierra Leone and encouraged them to be positive ambassadors who will rebrand and promote the country.

“Some of you are in the process of acquiring your very own slice of beautiful Sierra Leone and planning to relocate families. Some of you have immersed yourselves in local communities and cultures of your heritage.

“Always be positive ambassadors who will rebrand and promote Sierra Leone. Make this, your home, a destination for investment. Promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and invest in areas and at rates, you can afford. They do say life can turn on a dime, and here, there are great opportunities to make dollars out of dimes,” President Bio said and encouraged them to leverage their contacts and skills to support inclusive growth and sustainable development in the country.

Leslie Dotson, who spoke on behalf of his compatriots, expressed great gratitude, appreciation and commitment to Sierra Leone and its people on behalf of everyone accepting the citizenship of the West African nation.

“In this room, we have many talented, educated and well-connected people. Many resourceful relationships that are formed over many, many years are now being bridged here at this time in Sierra Leone to support the country’s cause in the best interest,” he said.

He added that to name a few of the resources that comprised the 59 people in that room alone were people with backgrounds in tourism, education, engineering, human resources, and there were scientists, waste management experts, lawyers, doctors and nurses. He also noted that there were people in the real estate business, people who understand farming, hospitality, finance, project and corporate management and sports professionals.

“Your Excellency, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what you have done and for giving us the opportunity to be able to serve this beautiful country called Sierra Leone and our new home. We also give special thanks to the African DNA programme and the trip counselors for their time and efforts,” he said.

Parliament Ratifies Zoodlabs Agreement

May 4, 2022

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Parliament of Sierra Leone has, on the 28^th April 2022, debated and ratified the Zoodlabs agreement for the development of Sierra Leone.

Before the agreement, between the Ministry of Information and Communications and Zoodlabs (SL) Ltd. for the Management of the Cable Landing Station, was ratified by Parliament the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Solomon Jamiru Esq. presented it

He said the agreement is geared towards the operation and maintenance of the landing station of the fiber cable adding that the process of awarding the contract was in the competitive bidding process and it was a cabinet decision for the unbundling of SALCAB in order to have effective internet connectivity.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Information and Communications, Hon. Boston Munda stated how the agreement has a lot of opportunities for the people of Sierra Leone adding that the liability that was incurred by the SALCAB Management has been paid by the Management of Zoodlabs.

On his part Hon. Latiff Sesay said he is one of the people who were in opposition to the dismantling of SALCAB, but after realizing the bad shape of latter, he concluded that Government took the right decision in awarding the contract to Zoodlabs. He commended the Management of Zoodlabs for improving internet connectivity in the country.

Hon. Joseph William-Lamin spoke on the standard performance of Zoodlabs and applauded their operational activities in the country.

Hon. PC Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III questioned the operation of Zoodlabs, prior to parliamentary approval of their agreement and went on to decried certain aspects of the agreement.

Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said the idea of the agreement is to improve on the technology of the State and used the opportunity to give a historical background of the landing of the fiber optic cable in Sierra Leone. He commended the Ministry of Information and Communications for providing an alternative that is geared towards the improvement of internet connectivity and noted that the agreement is “non-controversial”.

Hon. Dr. Mark Momoudu Kalokoh commended the Zoodlab’s agreement and referred to the agreement as “a good one”.

Rounding up the debate, the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Chernor R.M. Bah, said there are no perfect agreements, but reiterated that Zoodlabs agreement is a good one. He encouraged the Minister of Information not to delay agreement of this nature in the future. He said since there are clauses in the agreement that talk about reviewing; he requested the Deputy Minister to inform the House for any future challenges, in order to address them.

In concluding the debate, Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma commended the opposition Party and colleagues MPs for mounting pressure for the laying and approval of the Zoodlabs agreement in light of its procedures. He accentuated the positive effects of the agreement on the socio-economic development of the State, whilst underscoring a proper oversight on Zoodlabs operations.

Padi Provides 3,000 Bread with Padi Mayonnaise spread for Muslims after EID Prayer

May 4, 2022

By Millicent Senava Mannah

Padi business entity, a manufacturing company that produces assorted food items and toiletries in partnership with the One Deen Foundation offered 3000 loaves of bread, with a spread of Padi Mayonnaise, to Muslims, and 50 special packages of Padi products to Imams and dignitaries, and Padi biscuits and sachets of water to children after the Eid prayer which was observed on the 2nd May, 2022, at the National Stadium in Freetown.

Apart from their amazing products, Padi, as a company, is well known for its charitable work and for also promoting local artists of the country’s entertainment industry.

The Public Relations Officer of the company, Wahida Sesay, intimated that as the name implies ‘Padi’ means someone who is friendly underscoring that the kind gesture is a clear demonstration of the love that the business entity has been extending to the people of Sierra Leone and a reminder that the company is strongly with them.

According to her, it is not the first time that the company has undertaken such a venture adding that they have done a lot of other charitable work.

She also dilated on how the company has tremendously supported the entertainment industry stating how it was very prominent in supporting the just concluded Big Sister Show and also mentioned the signing of famous artists in the country in the likes of Drizilik, Krack Twist and Samza to undertake the promotion of the business entity.

According to her, they have done a lot in terms of education citing the dishing out of packages to pupils in different schools in the country.

“We have partnered and sponsored different organizations in the country,” Wahida also disclosed.

“As a way to show how we respect religious tolerance and extend love to our Muslim brothers and sisters we decided to offer this token of love to them. As we give, we believe the blessings are coming back to us,” She asserted.

The Public Relations Officer further maintained that they are not only receiving profits from business transactions but they are also giving back to society.

” We will continue to show love and support to the people of Sierra Leone,” she assured.

Sheikh Alie Kallay, the National Public Relations Officer of the Sierra Leone Muslim Congress said, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed appreciation to the company for what he described as a kind gesture stating that the products are Halal , which according to him means things not harmful to human beings.

He continued that they are happy to receive the packages which will benefits them and their loved ones.

Amadu Jagitay, the Managing Director of One Deen Foundation, said it is not their first time that they have partnered with the company maintain that as a Foundation they have the platform to market the products of the company.

He challenged that beneficiaries who will for the first time taste the Padi Mayonnaise will definitely go in search for it and the other products that the company produces.

Rugrats Kamara, one of the beneficiaries, said she is impressed by the laudable venture of the company and expressed gratitude for benefitting giving assurances of always purchasing products of the company.

Another beneficiary, Fanta Kamara, said on behalf of her kids, who also benefited from the gesture, they are grateful to the company for what they did saying for those who rushed to the Stadium to pray did so without eating but said when leaving they ate as a result of the offer by the company.

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