By Amin Kef Sesay
In a meeting held between President Dr Julius Maada Bio and Members of the Diplomatic Community in Sierra Leone on the 21st May 2020 at the Presidential Lodge at Hill Station, he first shared Ramadan greetings and pray that the fullness of the blessings of the month be granted to all members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps in Sierra Leone.
The President said during this difficult moment of the Coronavirus pandemic he is thanking everyone present for promptly responding to his invitation to a meeting.
President Bio said he salutes and associates strongly with focused and intensive multilateral global efforts by countries and international organizations including the United Nations, the WHO, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and ECOWAS, among others, in battling the highly infectious and deadly pandemic.
“On behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone, I wish to express my sincere condolences to families in all of our countries that have lost their citizens and loved ones to this deadly pandemic,” he bemoaned adding that Sierra Leone is committed to all global efforts at preventing, protecting against, and curtailing COVID-19.
The First Gentleman underscored how Sierra Leone is fully supportive of global initiatives to enhance health security and build capacities for responding to health emergencies, especially disease outbreaks that are threatening global development.
Dilating on COVID 19 the President told Members of the Diplomatic Corps that Sierra Leone’s response to COVID-19 was early and well-considered saying even before the country’s index case, Government and partners had triggered off healthcare protocols, reactivated all EOC pillars, and set up structures for quarantining, testing, disease surveillance, contract tracing, and isolation and treatment centres.
“Our technical and resource capacities have been further bolstered with generous support from our friends and diplomatic partners. For that, we are most grateful,” he highlighted
He intimated that inasmuch as the COVID-19 is here, he wishes to remind partners that our healthcare facilities are in great need of necessary medical supplies, equipment, and infrastructure as we continue to deal with Maternal and child health, malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other disease conditions.
The President said with regards to COVID-19, they have garnered and used mainly local resources to support the different pillars adding that the country’s medical personnel have recorded impressive successes and have also used innovative technology solutions as well as other strategies further appealing for support in specific areas:
- Co-leadership on driving coordination among various pillars and support and strengthening specific pillars within the EOC – testing, logistics, quarantine administration, risk communications and social mobilisation, and contact tracing.
- Support for local research and development especially with local partners like DSTI
- Support for surveillance and contact tracing so that the fight is informed by consistent and real-time data. He said to complement local technology solutions and personnel capacity, they would like to equip workers with devices such as tablets and phones.
On the economy, the President said they have launched a Quick Action Economic Recovery Plan, details of which they will share with them. He said generally, responses have been favourable although further interventions by the country’s development partners will help stabilise the economic situation and prepare the country for a smoother take-off at the end of COVID.
Dilating on peace and security he said they are all aware of the recent unfortunate incidents of criminal violence in Lunsar, Tombo, Foredugu, and Pademba Road Correctional Centre stating that Government has a responsibility to ensure law and order throughout the country.
He maintained that those who incite, support, perpetuate, or benefit from such criminal violence are not making peaceful political expressions.
The Chief Executive noted that as moral guarantors of the peace the country they are enjoying in Sierra Leone, they do expect an unambiguous condemnation of such criminal violence from the country’s development partners.
President Bio said every State the world over (including the UK, US etc) delegitimizes the use of criminal violence by persons or groups to intimidate the public and upend the rule of law furthering where such directly targets State authority and the rule of law,it is declared an act of terrorism against the State.
“I am sure you will agree that such criminal violence that endangers life and property, public safety, or interferes with the peaceful governance of the State is unacceptable and must be addressed within the confines of the laws of this country,” he reasoned with the Diplomats.
He said beyond condemnation of such criminal violence against the State and State authority, his Government expect its partners to cooperate very closely in supporting peace, public safety, and security at all levels and at all times.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, investigations have identified members of the All People’s Congress party including a former Member of Parliament of that party as being responsible for incitement and acts of violence adding how one would expect the APC to condemn and dissociate itself from such persons and their acts stressing how they have yet to do so.
He said as Government, they have initiated dialogue on national cohesion and peacebuilding and have engaged the leadership of the APC.
“We are open to further dialogue with clear objectives of making permanent peace. We expect you, the moral guarantors of our peace and our partners in development, to patiently urge the APC to cooperate and participate in dialogue that brings about a permanent cessation of all acts of hostility and criminal violence against the State. We believe it is best for Sierra Leone and for the future of Sierra Leone that partners continue to invest in peacebuilding,” he appealed.
He said his Government has also met with Civil Society and they have agreed on a permanent framework for identifying structural and other imbalances that have triggered and could trigger conflict in the country.
He revealed how he appointed the Honourable Vice President (who has extensive national and international civil society credentials) to work closely with Civil Society on those and other issues pertaining to further opening up democratic and civic spaces adding that they will invite Diplomats, the country’s international partners, to actively participate in those dialogues.
In his conclusion, President Bio thanked the International Community for standing by the country stating that he believes that by heightening and broadening future cooperation, they will all make Sierra Leone what they all desire – a favourable destination for business, and a peaceful and well-governed State where the rule of law is supreme also thanking them.
During her opening statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Nabeela Tunis, thanked the diplomats for honouring the invitation to meet and discuss issues of great importance to their individual and collective partnerships.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ibrahim Habis Ugbada, appreciated President Bio for the efforts in curbing the COVID-19 in the country, saying that because of his standing qualities, the spread of the virus in the country had been slow. He also commended the government for its good work and assured of their availability at all times in every aspect of development and support to the government.
Resident Coordinator for the United Nations, Sunil Saigal, said that they condemned and would continue to condemn all forms of violence, adding that the focus of everyone should be on fighting the COVID-19 and to make sure it did not have a further negative impact on society. He also called on all political parties to refrain from violence of all sorts and support the national efforts in fighting the virus.
Head of European Union Delegation, Tom Vens, commended the President for his engagement with leaders of civil society groups, noting that they were encouraged by the initiative and leadership shown by the President in creating space for dialogue with CSOs. He said that as partners they were against any act of violence or intimidation that was standing in the way of the country moving forward.
