On Successful Completion of Training… NP-SL Certifies & Awards Station Managers & Pump Attendants

January 17, 2022

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

By Amin Kef Sesay

Human resource development is key to the successful operations of corporate institutions. Capacity building of members of staff is very much important in enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of various tasks at workplaces and helps greatly in accomplishing the overall mission of any institution. Without it members of staff will only perform tasks through guess work and trials which sometimes may not work in the best interest of an institution and ultimately lead to avoidable losses in terms of profits and even credibility.

Besides, awarding partners, employees or individuals for commendably accomplishing certain tasks always serves as a reward as well as motivation to continue to do more and for others to follow exemplary examples.

One of the corporate institutions in this country that has been at the forefront of enhancing the capacities of its partners, members of staff, from time to time conducting training exercises is indisputably the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), which is a renowned petroleum importing and marketing business entity.

It also awards Station Managers and Pump Attendants for accomplishing commendable feats.

The company, which, is a household name, for marketing products ranging from petrol, diesel, gas and various lubricants of which the Castrol Oil has been rated as the best for the efficient working of the engines of vehicle.

On the 15^th January, 2022 after a successful training of Station Managers and Pump Attendants, the Shareholders and Management of NP-SL Ltd thought it but fitting to grant Certificates of Completion to the beneficiaries, over 97 of them, during an auspicious ceremony that took place at the Hill Station Club in the West End of Freetown as a way of recognizing or certifying that they have gone through a training programme and completing it geared towards putting them at vantage positions to effectively discharge their duties at their various locations.

In attendance were the Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Kobi Walker, Ing Alhaji Munu, Operations Manager NP-SL Ltd, Ing Vandy Bockarie, Sales Manager NP-SL Ltd, Leon Aboku Cole, Sales Supervisor NP-SL and a cross section of NP staff, Station Managers of different Filling Stations in Freetown and their Pump Attendants and the Media.

In his statement, Ing Vandy Bockarie intimated all present that in November of 2021 NP-SL Ltd conducted a rigours training for Station Managers and Pump Attendants on Customer Care, Safety and on other related areas. He continued that the training was done in order to demonstrate that they consider all under the NP umbrella as a Team. “We consider you very important as you are contributing immensely to the enhancement of the company and the nation as a whole through the duties that you are performing,” he told the beneficiaries adding that the petroleum marketing entity leaves no one behind maintaining that without them there will be no NP-SL Ltd.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Kobi Walker, euphemistically said for the occasion he is not the CEO but rather the Chief Pump Attendant. He said he is excited that the company is rolling out such an important programme maintaining that he is of the conviction that the training will enhance their performance effectively.

He gave a synopsis of the humble beginning of the company saying in 1996 the Government of Sierra Leone decided to withdraw from doing petroleum business and decided to sell shares. “Thirty five former employees, Sierra Leoneans bought shares and that is the way the company started,” he narrated adding that today the company has a presence in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Kobi Walker implored the beneficiaries to conduct themselves in ways that should make the company become stronger and stronger. He said the company is not only appreciating the good work they are doing but also empowering them and will continue to do so.

“As frontline workers you are not selling only fuel but also the NP experience ,” he stated adding that the way they that customers goes a long way in endearing them to continue doing business with the company.

During the course of the programme the Safety Campaign was launched in the form of television and radio jingles containing safety measures all must adhered to.

The award of certificates and gifts to various Filling Stations based on merit formed the highpoint of the programme.

The graduates are now expected to carry out effective service delivery to the numerous and esteemed customers that the company is well known for, that years back earned it the enviable accolade of 1^st for Customer Care.

Legal Aid Board Concludes Capacity Building Training on Child Sensitive Justice Services

January 12, 2022

By Theresa Kef Sesay

The Legal Aid Board has completed a five-day UNICEF-funded capacity building training on child sensitive justice services to children in contact with the law for administrators of Local Court.

The training was conducted in five locations in the country with the first in the city of Bo on 6 December 2021. This was then followed by series of others in Kenema on December 7; Kono on December 9; Makeni on 10 and Port Loko on December 11 respectively.

This is aimed at capacitating the Local Court Administrators on the Local Court Act 2011, Child Rights Act 2007, Customary Law and Practices and Interpretation of same, Traditional/Informal Justice Mechanisms and the provision of justice services to children in contact with the law. The Resource Persons were drawn from Legal Aid Board.

In his opening remarks in Bo City, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Manager of the Board, Mr. Sallu Jusu said the trainings will target a total of 168 participants drawn from fourteen of the country’s sixteen districts. He noted that Western Area Urban and Western Area Districts will not included in the training. He added that participants will comprise Court Chairmen, Court Clerks; Native Authority (NA) Officers and Assessors.

The three Regional Programme Managers and Legal Aid Counsels presented papers on the primary goal of Local Courts, their jurisdiction, limitations, cases they can hear and determine and those that they cannot hear and determine. Other areas covered include: definition of a child, rights and responsibilities of children as provided in the Child Rights Act 2007; customary rules and practices, referral pathways; diversion process; pre-requisite and eligibility for diversion and offences to consider for diversion.

The participants discussed challenges in relation to cases involving children in civil or criminal proceedings, referrals, Appeals, children caught up in divorce and children affected by inheritance.

Participants were also schooled on data collection tools and case-log forms which will inform policy makers and researchers on the types and frequency of cases involving children handled by the Local Court.

The training was climaxed with question and answer session.

For Inaction Against Combating FGM… Rugiatu Neneh Turay Bashes Religious Leaders & Medical Personnel

January 12, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Chairperson of Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), Rugiatu Neneh Turay, has stated that they at AIM appreciate and thank all those who commented on their first piece whether negatively or positively.

She continued that the many comments were motivations to their work to keep pushing in the right direction, while the negative ones challenged us to do more.

“They created opportunities to look into other areas of work and ensure to address them,” she claimed adding that those that disagreed changed their stance when they engaged them. She argued that such shows that they should engage more, educate more members of communities on Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C).

“There are lots of misinformation peddled out by unscrupulous people so as to cajole the innocent poor girls and young women in an avoidable hazard in the near or immediate future,” she underscored maintaining the position that they need to write more of such pieces to educate and bring more information to the public so that even those sitting on the fence will read the fact and forget the myths.

Madam Rugiatu Turay stated how a lot of people carry on with myths believing that they are right disclosing how people reading the fact from that piece took on social media to educate the others.

“If you are touched take an action don’t just read and comment,” she enjoined stating how a single action will save a life.

“I also want to use this opportunity to thank Duty Bearers who took their time to respond to my message and declared their support and commitment to support the fight to remove the cutting from our Bondo culture,” she expressed gratitude also extending thanks to the wife of a high profiled person for being sincere with her husband by sharing her experience going through the outdated culture at adolescent age.

“Together you took the decision not to have your girls cut,” she said furthering that for standing their ground and not succumbing to family pressure the individual has changed a generation in a family.

“I am sure if all other women are sincere and open to discuss the ordeal with their husbands together they will protect their girls from going through the same ordeal,” she stated adding that failing to take actions have exposed the next generation of that family to the same outdated culture.

According to her, recently, a survey shows that there is an increase in the number of HIV/AIDS amongst women than men. That report, she went on, was posted on social media with comments from different people who happened to read it.

She pointed out that again the high incident of infant mortality rate in the country cannot be over emphasized.

“Our country is one with one of highest infant mortality rates. These two are subjects that need to be investigated by our medical personnel and address them with sincerity to help the womenfolk and not to be ignored,” Rugiatu recommended.

She called on all to visit the Aberdeen Women Center and see the increasing number of fistula patients saying a specific survey has not been conducted but most women at that center are cut.

“Check and find out about sex workers whether they are on the streets or private homes, married or single most of them are cut women and girls which clearly shows that cutting the clitoris of a woman does not stop her from being promiscuous as we are made to believe,” the rights activist argued.

On Cleanliness and FGM or women with clict she said most times people say uncut women and girls are unclean which according to her also is a myth.

Rugiatu argued that cleanliness in a woman has nothing to do with being cut or uncut.

She continued that our medical personnel know that HIV/AIDS can spread by FGM because blood is involved through piecing of the body.

“The medics know shock, suffocation and tetanus from FGM kills, they know the problems and disadvantages from the removal of the clitoris that can lead to obstructive labor which most times lead to Caesarian operation, most women loss their firstborns,” she argued further.

She added how our medical personnel especially the DHMT and the district medical sisters must start doing robust monitoring of MCH Aids who are more involve with communities.

Rugiatu expressed the belief that because of the lack of monitoring those MCH AIDS are allegedly accused of being involved in performing FGM maintaining the position that it will be great if our medical and health personnel focus on preserving lives than getting involved in promoting FGM.

Dilating on influential religious leaders Rugiatu said she wants to draw attention to the teachings of the Holy books on women. She said born and grew up from a Muslim home one thing that she knows about the Quran, which ,according to her, is most times misunderstood and misinterpreted to promote FGM has so much respect for women.

She argues that in fact, a whole Surah is dedicated for women which is also very clear on the instruction not to modify the creation of God.

“However, human beings have taken tradition and culture so important than the words and commands of the creator,” she stated arguing that performing FGM on women is like telling God He has done a bad work.

“I am not a preacher of the gospel nor an Imam but I believe that God is a perfect God and can’t make mistake,” she argued adding how He has placed the clitoris on women for a purpose and that is why He said we must enjoy sex.

She expressed the view that Sex is meant to be enjoyed stating how it is been done for pleasure but a lot of women who are cut don’t enjoy sex rather they live in pretense to maintain their relationships.

Rugiatu maintained that marriages today crumble because of starvation of sex.

“The appetite of sex in most women is reduced because of the pain during sex, it is not every sound that your partner makes during sex that signify pleasure, most times its pain but we can’t speak, we are shy to speak about sex even to our partners,” she maintains adding that she will leave all with these questions: Why do women still want to put their daughters into the same ordeal they faced?

What difference do they want to leave with their daughters?

Do they wish their girls happy homes and relationship?

Rugiatu said our religious leaders are suffering too as they are human beings with flesh and blood.

“Speak to them and hear their stories about sex with their wives yet they are quiet about the practice of FGM,” she said saying most will argue that the Hadith says cut small but argued that it is like Shylock, the Money Lender in the Merchant of Venice, “ I will take a pound of flesh”.

“Our religious leaders and medical personnel don’t need votes. All they need is to save lives. One saves it physically and spiritually and the other physically and emotionally. Our work and words will change the narratives. Speak to the politicians. Let them know you are now aware of the dangers so you will stand to speak the truth to save lives,” she concluded.

Winner of Best Teacher Award Shares Her Experience in the Teaching Profession

January 12, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

Tucee Sarah Kollie, the teacher who emerged as the Best Teacher in Sierra Leone in the recent past has revealed how she started as a community school teacher in 2011 without a salary or stipend further mentioning how her passion for the classroom was the beacon that kept her going.

She continued that in 2019, she was among the more than 4,000 teachers approved by the Government of Sierra Leone and later went on to win the Presidential Best Teacher Award in October 2021 with a Cash Prize of Le 30 million.

Last December, she joined the Minister of Education for Basic and Senior Education to attend the Wise Summit in Qatar and the RewirED Summit in Dubai, both which are among the biggest Education platforms in the world.

“I felt overwhelmingly happy when I was informed about traveling with the Minister at an international conference. That moment I realized that gone are those days when teachers are left out and when the teaching field was just seen as a waiting ground for better jobs. I realized that the Government has overturned that. This is a turning point in my life and the turning point in the teaching profession,” said Tucee Sarah Kollie.

According to the Minister of MBSSE, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, one of the things that they aim to do as a Ministry is to include teachers in the work that they do.

“When the Ministry went to Harvard University and the World Bank for Strategic meeting in September we brought a teacher that was recommended to us by the National Council of Head Teachers. So when we have another opportunity to go to the Wise Summit in Qatar and the RewirED Summit in Dubai we invited the Presidential Best Teacher 2021 to accompany us,” said Dr. Sengeh.

Tucee started nurturing the dream of becoming a teacher when she was in Secondary School as she found joy in dictating their lesson notes to colleague students. She highlighted an instance in which she admitted to one of her teachers that she would like to become a teacher in the future and her teacher was astonished and regarded Tucce’s ambition as a novelty in her teaching career.

According to Tucce, she is not just a teacher she is an educator and a role model to children, so she doesn’t limit herself to the classroom.

“There was a time when I became a nurse. Imagine teaching in a school without special facilities for children with special needs. I took up the challenge of engaging an organization called Vision Aid to screen the eyesight of pupils and provide those with severe sight problems with lenses,” she said.

For Tucee, her service as a teacher doesn’t stop at the school but at the community as well.

“I am even going into the homes because you cannot teach or educate the child and leave the parents/guardians behind. So I was involved in community sensitization on how parents should care for their children’s education and health,” she said.

“Tucee is my hero, not just because she served her school every day for 8 years without being paid as a teacher and caring for thousands of pupils; she did it because she was committed to service and her community. She would visit the homes of pupils and ensure the less privileged were also included. After winning the award (which she proudly hangs in her living room), her school asked her to now teach Class 3 because it is a critical transition grade. Be like Sarah. Be a hero!” the Minister said.

Teachers make up 40% of the entire Government payroll and more than 4000 teachers have been placed on their right pay grade. More than 300 school heads have been regularized. Last year alone Government recruited 1,000 teachers. There are more than 36,000 Teachers on the government payroll and there are plans to add this number to 37,500 in the next two years.

In the build-up to the end of April 2020, there were concerns that the Government might not be able to fulfill its commitment due to the emergence of the ongoing Corona virus pandemic that forced many nations to reduce budgetary support to education. But the Government kept the promise and paid the 30% increase for up to 34,350 teachers across the country. The increment at the time meant that the payroll for teachers increased by Le 13,45 billion, from Le 42.95 billion in March 2020 to Le 56.40 billion in April 2020.

More than 500 Principals and Vice Principals have also been appointed between August 2020 and November 2021. All were previously either Acting positions or vacant. The Government is investing in school management and leadership.

“I am a community teacher and I taught for over five years without salary, and in 2019 I was fortunate to be among the more than 4,000 teachers that were approved by the Government. Six of us were approved in my school and that served as a motivation to us. Also, the learning materials they gave to us as a result of the FQSE make learning very easy for the kids,” explained Alhaji Mohamed Sesay, a teacher at Konta Kuma Senior and Junior Secondary School Port Loko District.

Meanwhile, Tucee regards the decision of becoming a teacher as the best she has ever taken and remained grateful for the leadership of MBSSE.

“The children don’t believe in what you know until they believe that you care for them, especially beginners in primary schools. Dealing with beginners, they need to have confidence in you and truly believe that you care for them to foster easy and quick learning,” Tucee said.

Chief Justice Calls on Magistrates to Be Effective & Efficient in Administering Justice

January 12, 2022

Chief Justice of Sierra Leone Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards.jpg

By Elkass Sannoh

The Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, has on the 10^th January 2022 called on all Magistrates across the country not to be static but to do better in the effective and efficient administration of justice.

“It’s a new year and I want the wheels of justice to be running smoothly, effectively and efficiently,” Chief Justice urged Magistrates, adding that, “I want new things aimed at making significant progress in giving justice to the people.”

In his first meeting with them in 2022, the Hon. Chief Justice admonished all the Magistrates to know that their discretion is within the law, whilst cautioning them to desist from doing their jobs any how or outside the prescribed laws.

Addressing the issue of committals, the Hon. Chief Justice noted that the time between transfer of cases from the Magistrates’ Courts to the High Court is too long which amounts to unnecessary waste of time and delay in the completion of cases.

Chief Justice Edwards also encouraged them to be diligent in handling committals and depositions in view of the fact that their decisions are being tested by summary reviews.

He used the occasion to implore them to consider themselves as people trained to be Judges someday, to know the Act on sentencing in respect of specific offences, to be compliant to the directive on monthly returns, cross-check and double check bail documents and to deal with recalcitrant Court Registrars within the law.

“You should be men of honesty, integrity and stout character in protecting the Courts,” the Chief Justice stressed, urging them to help in protecting the integrity of the courts which will enhance the smooth administration of Justice in the country.

Sierra Leone Ranks 21 out of 52 Places in World Tourism Destination

January 12, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The New York Times has listed Sierra Leone as the 21 out of 52 places in the world to visit in 2022 for its Ecotourism. It could be recalled that in the 1980s, the sandy, palm-fringed beaches of Sierra Leone used to attract high-flying tourists from Europe and beyond.

Lamentably, visitors disappeared when the civil war broke out in the 1990s, and today — after nearly 20 years of peace and nearly six years after an Ebola outbreak ended — most have yet to return. But this small nation has an enormous amount to offer adventurous visitors, and authorities hope that tourism will be a more sustainable resource than diamonds or gold.

Visitors who make the trip can spend the night in a jungly eco-lodge at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary enjoy a cold beer and fresh lobster on the beaches of the Western Peninsula; learn about a painful chapter in history on a tour of the ruined slave fort on Bunce Island; and make the three- or four-day expedition to the top of 6,381-foot Mount Bintumani, the country’s highest peak.

Irish Embassy Supports Concern Worldwide with €100,000 to Respond to Wellington Fire Explosion

January 12, 2022

By Esther Wright

The Irish NGO, Concern Worldwide, has received €100,000 in funding to respond to the ongoing needs of victims of the Wellington fuel tanker explosion.

It could be recalled that in the immediate aftermath of the fire disaster, drawing on their experience during the Ebola pandemic, Concern Worldwide, assisted the Government and municipal authorities to bury the victims, provide medical supplies and transporting DNA samples to identify remains.

The support from the Embassy of Ireland will enable Concern to continue their work and respond to the needs of burn patients and their families. In particular, it will facilitate Concern to provide nutritional support to patients, hygiene and other equipment to key hospitals in order to help them maintain quality and safe healthcare and has also enabled financial support to be provided to the family of victims to subsidize burial costs.

On pledging their support, the Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Claire Buckley said: “I was shocked and saddened by the events of 5 November in Wellington, a tragedy which has had such a devastating impact on hundreds of already vulnerable families here in Sierra Leone. The victims of this tragedy require our intensive support as they adapt to life-changing injuries. Ireland is glad to support our long-standing partners Concern Worldwide in delivering their meaningful work to the victims and their families, as well as the wider communities of Sierra Leone.”

Concern’s Country Director for Sierra Leone, Austin Kennan said: “The oil tanker fire disaster in November was a huge shock to us all – affecting hundreds of families, including some of our own staff colleagues. We are extremely grateful to the Embassy of Ireland and the Irish public for their generous and timely support to Concern Worldwide’s response which we hope can help to alleviate the trauma and suffering of survivors and the families affected by this tragedy. Concern Worldwide has worked in Sierra Leone since 1996 and we hope that the experience and the relationships we have developed over the last 25 years will assist us help those impacted by this tragedy.”

Ireland is one of a number of European Union Member States to join Team Europe’s response in supporting the Wellington victims. Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria were among those to contribute a variety of essential services in the aftermath of the fire including provision of burn specialists, support towards rehabilitation care and enhancing the capacity of the health sector in Sierra Leone.

For Convenience Sake Use NP Smart Card to Procure Fuel at Filling Stations

January 12, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

Fueling your vehicles by using NP Smart Card at various Filling Stations in the country has been exclusively made possible by the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd).

To start with, the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), is an indigenous petroleum importing and marketing company, owned by thirty-five Sierra Leoneans, that has over the years grown to become a towering entity with branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia. Out of sound managerial initiatives, the company has been providing qualitative services to its numerous customers within the country and the West African sub-region in a professional way to the utmost satisfaction of many to such an extent that it earned the covetous accolade of being 1^st for Customer Care.

As a dynamic business entity, the Shareholders and Management of the company have always been keen to move with modern trends in as much as fusing such in its daily operations will give utmost satisfaction and make transactions very convenient for dealers as well as customers. It was along such a line of thinking that sometime in the distant past the use of the NP Smart Card was introduced. This is a card with an inbuilt memory chip, which could be credited or “topped up” just like a sim card in a mobile phone and once that is done it becomes ready to use or functional.

Based on the amount of money the holder of the NP Smart Card credits will determine the amount of fuel that could be bought when the card is slotted into a Smart Card POS at a particular Filling or Gas Station. The holder of the NP Smart Card is at liberty to demand the quantity of fuel he or she wishes to procure. From time to time, the holder will credit the NP Smart Card, ready for the next purchase. Simply put, it is a cashless way of conducting transactions at NP Filling Stations.

Although the NP Smart Card has been in vogue for quite a while now, however, the Smart Card POS was not available or found at all NP-SL Ltd operational Gas or Filling Stations in the country. The good news now is that the Management of the multiple-award winning petroleum business entity has facilitated the installation of Smart Card POS at various Filling Stations in Bo, Makeni, Kenema, Moyamba, Mile 91, Western Area Rural etc… Customers can now conveniently procure fuel in various Filling Stations across the country by using NP Smart Card. They do no longer have to go through the hassle of having to move around with huge physical cash meant for the purpose of procuring fuel. Moving around with big cash is in itself a risk as there is the tendency of armed attacks.

Besides, it is very advantageous for big entities like construction companies, some of whom Managements had been having issues with dishonest drivers who will prefer not to buy the exact amount of fuel for which money was given. With the NP Smart Card, it tells exactly what has been deducted and what is remaining.

Another important advantage is that holders of the NP Smart Card can properly plan their fuel budget. An individual will decide that he or she will credit the NP Smart Card to last over a certain period, for example the first, second and third purchases which will help in avoiding gaps and inconveniences.

With the same aim of making things very convenient for its esteemed customers the company is also retailing a gas cooker known as NP Gas. This device or gadget, it has been certified, is not only environmental friendly but is very quick in terms of high performance. Gas that is used to refill any NP Gas falls among the petroleum products that the company imports and markets which make it advantageous to possess. From feedback, it is quick, fast and clean far much better to use than charcoal which emits poisonous emissions. They come in different sizes and sold at affordable prices at all NP designated Filling or Gas Stations.

Make use of the NP Smart Card now for your convenience and enjoy the experience.

Why the US is So Obsessed on Playing the Xinjiang Card?

January 12, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

One of the established United States Companies, Tesla Inc., formerly known as Tesla Motors, an American manufacturer of electric automobiles, solar panels, and batteries for cars and home power storage, was founded in 2003 by American entrepreneurs Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning and was named after Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla, recently opened a new branch in Xinjiang and that has made some people in the U.S. mad.

It could be recalled that not long ago the United States Government passed a resolution to ban any dealing related to Xinjiang, in order to put pressure on China on the grounds that there is “genocide” and forced labour in Xinjiang.

However, China has strongly and vehemently denied the US allegation of “genocide” and forced labour in Xinjiang maintaining that it is sheer lie and rumor.

Just few days ago the US President, Joe Biden, signed the so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law. The legislation aims at banning all Xinjiang products from being exported to the US unless companies can provide “clear and convincing evidence” that their supply chains are free of the involvement of forced labor.

Looked at from another perspective, the US exercises presumption of guilt toward all Xinjiang products, while forcing self-incrimination onto companies. But as far as the Chinese are concerned, the US is turning a blind eye to the basic principle of modern rule of law – presumption of innocence underscoring how in order to suppress and contain China, the US would do anything.
The Chinese are of the strong belief that the so-called forced labor and genocide in Xinjiang are utter lies made up by politicians, media and think tank scholars in the US and the West.

They claimed that today, the mechanization rate of Xinjiang’s cotton sector is approaching 90 percent and asked the question of how is “forced labor” possible?

The Chinese further argue that in the past 40 years, the Uygur population has doubled and therefore asked how that can be called “genocide?”

From what was understood, last year, China’s State Council Information Office issued a white paper on employment and labor rights in Xinjiang, giving full details of the proactive employment and decent labor of Xinjiang’s ethnic minorities.

Nonetheless, the Chinese are claiming that the happy and peaceful life the Chinese people enjoy is an eyesore to Washington politicians.

They argued that Xinjiang’s peace and tranquility have not come easily. According to them, in the past more than 20 years, the three evil forces in Xinjiang had been prevalent, with terrorist and violent incidents occurring from time to time. Hundreds of innocent people, including Uygurs, were killed. Xinjiang people were faced with serious life and property threats. To ensure the basic human rights of all ethnicities in Xinjiang, the Chinese Government undertook series of measures to fight terrorism and extremism and effectively contained the momentum of terrorism in Xinjiang.

As a result, there have not been any terror incidents in Xinjiang for the past five years. Tourism and food in Xinjiang have become trendy on social media. But at this juncture, the Chinese believe, the US and Western anti-China forces try to tear open the wounds of Xinjiang and add insult to injury; they are boycotting Xinjiang products using the excuse of “human rights” in a bid to deprive the Xinjiang people of the right to make a living and develop.

It was firmly stated that the Chinese people are fully aware of the US’ intentions. The Chinese are asking: Does the US truly care about human rights in other countries or even its own?

According to the Chinese, in the past five years, more than 100,000 people have been trafficked to the US and become forced laborers annually. They furthered that the inhuman crimes the US committed against American Indian aboriginals in history are de facto genocide, that the US launched wars in multiple countries such as Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan in the name of the war on terror and human rights, leading to the deaths of millions of innocent people.

As a spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry pointed out, the labels of “forced labor” and “genocide” should be reserved for the US itself.

The intention of US politicians is clear. On the one hand, industries such as cotton and solar panels in Xinjiang play a significant role in the global supply chain. They are strong competitors to those in the US and Washington wants to get rid of them.

On the other hand, the US becomes more and more dependent on exploiting ideological tools to create a false sense of crisis to play “values diplomacy” and rope in its allies. Washington does not tout about “America First” anymore, but don’t the others see through it? Over the years, Washington did not even hesitate a bit when it took advantage of its allies.

As a Chinese saying goes, one should return what he receives. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress said on Friday that China will take firm and strong countermeasures if the US insists on acting arbitrarily. The US’ malicious intention of depriving the Chinese people’s right to seek better lives and obstructing the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is clear to the Chinese people. History has repeatedly proved that external pressure can only make the Chinese people more united, Chinese society more coherent, and the Chinese economy more resilient.

Breaching Contract with an International Company… Transport Minister Kabineh Kallon Exposed Over Corruption Allegation

January 12, 2022

Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon.jpg — Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon

By Amin Kef Sesay

It is already crystal clear that the current Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon, is at the centre of manipulatively by breaching a contract with a reputable Greek Company, ETTERNA Shipmanagement, in favour of another company for reasons which he can best explain other than acting in an unethical manner with the avowed objective of pleasing and satisfying his boss, the President, Julius Maada Bio.

After the 2018 Presidential elections and the formation of a SLPP led Government headed by President Julius Maada Bio, attracting investors, especially foreign investors, became a top priority with the avowed objective of boosting the country’s economy. The President became so obsessed with wooing investors into the country to such an extent that he embarked on various overseas trips just to ensure that such a dream turns out to become a reality.

One of the foreign-based entities that showed keen interest in investing and operating in Sierra Leone was Etterna Shipmanagement. This was what the Management of the company stated: “After attempts and having gained the appropriate knowledge on how the local economy and officials operate, when the regime changed, we believed that with new people in charge maybe it was worth, giving one more time the opportunity for development.”

This medium reliably learnt that the company established its presence here with offices, having in its employ 37 members of staff, invested more than 700,000 USD in an abandoned vessel owned by the Government, managed to bring her back in absolute seaworthiness and fully functioning taking trips 2 times a day from Sunday to Friday carrying around 500 people and 60 vehicles.

Through the efforts of the company, the once dysfunctional M/V Bai Bureh commenced operations between Government Wharf City Centre and Tagrin Airport area, with the highest of standards in safety and security, performing the trip in 40 minutes offering the fastest, most reliable and low-cost route.

Lamentably, for the Management of the company, as their investment was beginning to gain a foothold and accrue fruitful dividends it was surprised and outraged at the same time, when they discovered that the Government of Sierra Leone has signed an exclusive 25-year concession contract with another new entity from Turkey -a completely new and unknown company without local presence so far.

According to Nikolaos Kornilakis, the Chief Executive Officer of Etterna Group, their company decided to rebuild the Bai Bureh Ferry and “after the Ferry finally started commencing operations and having spent more than 700K out of pocket for this result, the Ministry of Transport assigned all the Terminals, including the ones that we operate to an exclusive 25-year concession contract with some new ‘guys’ from Turkey”.

Another bitter complaint that the Management of Etterna Shipmanagement intimated this medium was that apart from the issue related to the Bai Bureh ferry, the same Government of Sierra Leone went forward to hand over to them a building for a boutique hotel to be constructed furthering how despite some delay due to COVID-19 restrictions they started demolishing it but in May 2021 the Government of Sierra Leone decided to stop the operations after the company had spent almost 100K USD (One Hundred Thousand US Dollars) and another 40K USD (Forty Thousand Dollars) for the drawings.

Adding salt to injury was when Management of the company pointed out that their business proposals and project plans declared and discussed with Government officials and the Minister of Transport were sent and “assigned” to Turks accordingly, something considered to be bad practice.

In addition, Management revealed that the company also invested in one more building apart from the demolished one boutique hotel adding that while they were really close to building a really enviable infrastructure for a modern lounge terminal area, the operations were stopped again by the Sierra Leone Port Authority Management, who then requested for money for the work to proceed further.

Based on the bad experience that the Management of Etterna Shipmanagement said based on the bad experience it has suffered it reserves every right to take legal and commercial actions against the Government of Sierra Leone for bad treatment and damages incurred.

When this medium contacted the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon, via text message to have his own side on the issue and a call placed to him he first declined the call and deliberately blacklisted our (The Calabash) number. Further calls put to him failed to go through.

Again, when this medium personally contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry he faithfully promised to have a meeting with us to throw light on the issue but rather interestingly after which he never treated our calls for the meeting with any iota of seriousness.

Based on the expressed views of many that this medium captured on the above mentioned allegations, the action taken by the current Transport Minister is nothing short of a breach of contract by the Government of Sierra Leone. One political commentator even averred that such a move has the tendency of frustrating potential investors from investing in the country out of fear that at the end of the day they will be maltreated, dumped and in trying to seek redress or justice such will not be easily achievable.

As the situation now stands it is but appropriate for the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to come out with a convincing statement to counter the damning allegations made against it bordering on unethical conduct and breaches with regards to treating a reputable company with such utter contempt.