LAB Mediates Between Traders and Bo Council

LAB mediates between Traders and Bo Council

The Legal Aid Board joined forces with stakeholders at the Provincial Secretary’s Office in Bo on Wednesday, 12 April 2017 to resolve the impasse between the traders and the Bo City Council over market dues. In addition, the Petty Traders Union Bo accused the City Council of unfair treatment in awarding a contract for the registration of petty traders to the Sierra Leone Traders Union South.   

Also on the table is the rivalry between the Sierra Leone Traders Union South and the Petty Traders Union Bo which is threatening to undermine the peace following confrontations between the two. The Sierra Leone Traders Union South is also unhappy with the decision of the Sierra Leone Labor Congress to recognize and grant union status to the Petty Traders Union Bo.  

The situation is compounded by allegations of political interference by the All People’s Congress (APC) and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the attack on the offices of the Traders Union South and the beating of two of its members by alleged political agents. Also, the Paramount Chief of Bo Kakua Chief, Prince Lappia Boima is accused of being sympathetic to the Petty Traders Union.

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles set the tone for the meeting by underlining the need for the two Unions to recognize each other, work together and promote the welfare of traders in the city.  

Also, she stressed the need for Bo City Council to have a healthy relationship with the two Unions because it is crucial to peace among the traders and by extension the township of Bo. She called on the Bo City Council to avoid over-taxing the traders which she noted is partly responsible for the tension between the traders and the City Council. ‘Taxes of whatever nature should have a human face,’ she stressed.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said she and her team from Freetown has decided to complement ongoing efforts at resolving the disputes by stakeholders in Bo because the traders are the largest clientele of the Board closely followed by the drivers and motorcycle (Okada) riders.  

She noted that leaving the matter to degenerate has implications for the Board because those who end up in the police or courts would need legal assistance from the Board. ‘We want to reduce the numbers in the Correctional Centers around the country,’ she said. ‘This will add to our clients and we are stretched to the limit at the moment,’ she said.

The Chair for the ceremony who doubles as Senior District Officer, Prince Soriba said efforts are ongoing by the District and Provincial Security Committees to resolve the matter between Bo City Council and the Unions.  

The Minister of State South, Muctarr Conteh spoke of the efforts he has lent to resolving the dispute between the two Unions and the City Council. He said he had advised the Council against levying dues on items rather than tables and stalls.

The Deputy Mayor of the Bo City Council, Wurie Jalloh assured that the Council will accept the report of the investigative committee put together by the District Security Committee (DISEC) on the matter between the Unions and the Council.

The Paramount Chief of Kakua Chiefdom, Prince Lappia Boima said when the dispute between the two Unions was brought to his attention he called on the police and the City Council to canvass their opinion on the actions being taken to resolve the matter. He noted that he had told the City Council that it is bound to treat the two Unions equally and fairly since they are both registered with the Council.

The Regional Commander for the Sierra Leone Police in the South, AIG Mustapha Kamara underlined the need for respect for diversity. He encouraged the Unions to accommodate each other and see themselves as equals. He said disrespect for rights brings about suspicion and conflicts. He urged the traders to take advantage of this opportunity that is being accorded them.

The Regional Coordinator for Office of National Security (ONS), Mohamed Bangura blamed the dispute between the two Unions on politicians. He condemned the attack on the offices of the Traders Union and the beating of persons. He stressed that those who fall foul of the law will face the full force of the law.

The Chair for Civil Society, Jeremy Ben Simbo accused the stakeholders of playing double standards and blamed them for the problems plaguing the Unions. He warned the traders against running after politicians stressing that they end up being used. He called on those responsible for the beatings at the offices of the Traders Union to come forward and apologize.        

The stakeholders agreed to stand by the report compiled by the committee set up by the District Security Committee to look into the matter. The stakeholders called on the Bo City Council to be evenhanded and non-political in its dealings with the two Unions.  

Also, all parties should cooperate with the police in the going investigations into the attack on the offices of the Traders Union and the beating of Ms. Esther Kpendema and Obai Kamara.

Prior to the meeting with the stakeholders, the Executive Director and Team visited Ms. Esther Kpendema at her residence to sympathize with her on her beating by alleged political opponents. Ms. Carlton-Hanciles condemned her beating noting that there is no justification for such an act. She stressed people of different tribe, religion and political affiliation are living peace that Bo cannot be an exception.        

The Executive Director was accompanied by the consultant to the Board Lawyer Francis Gabbidon, National Outreach Officer Ibrahim Kamara, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Sallu Jusu and Accountant Moinina Kopoi.

 

RSLAF, SLP Is Force for Good, Ya!

RSLAF, Like SLP Is Force for Good, Ya!

An Op-Ed article by Ranger

An alleged scene involving a number of Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and Sierra Leone Police (SLP) personnel has awakened passionate reactions and explanations putting SLP in bad light and blaming the RSLAF of highhandedness.

However, eye witnesses of a fracas between soldiers and police at Ross Road Police Station in Freetown, say that, whenever a military personnel is suspected of committing a crime, police personnel have been known to provoke the situation by demonizing the suspect military officer and even allowed members of the public to verbally or physically abuse the suspect military personnel.

A case in point is an incident which took place at Ross Road Police Station between some RSLAF and SLP personnel. Police from this station allegedly intercepted one Major AB Kanu and Private Mohamed Foreka while they were riding a private motorcycle going about their private business within the Central Business District (CBD). The rider Private Mohamed Foreka and pillion Major AB Kanu were stopped, arrested and later detained at the police cell on allegation that they were reeking of alcohol.

While in police custody, Major AB Kanu contacted the Artillery Unit at Benguema to come to their aid and they responded. However, it should be noted that whenever military personnel find themselves in the hands of the Police, they are most times molested, abused, maltreated and badly treated in many other ways which has been a very bad precedent for police-military relations over the years.

Furthermore, it should also be noted that the RSLAF is an autonomous body which can sue and be sued; same like the SLP. So therefore, because it is the right of the SLP to arrest law breakers, they should take into cognizance the fact that the RSLAF is also a trained and disciplined entity which has its own internal unit set up to deal with law breakers within their rank and file. Therefore, the SLP whenver it arrests RSLAF personnel for whatever reason should have the courtesy to hand over military suspects to the RSLAF rather than resort to humiliating RSLAF personnel which is definitely a very bad catalyst to destroy SLP/RSLAF relations.

Such treatment meted to military personnel by their police counterparts is not only diabolical, but also a recipe for chaos, disrespect and full-blown confrontation between RSLAF and SLP personnel at the slightest opportunity.

This issue has become one of very great concern for the average Sierra Leonean because it is feared that, if this hostility and mistreatment of RSLAF personnel by SLP officers continues, it would not bode well for the future maintaintance of peace and security in this country which has had its years of violence, mayhem and confusion.

It is therefore my opinion that in the interest of peace, security and cohesion between our two principal security institutions (SLP and RSLAF), it is necessary for the SLP which is the prime custodian of internal security to see the RSLAF as partners rather than as rivals or competitors. The SLP and RSLAF should be seen as a united and not divided body when it comes to national security issues and even when they, (SLP and RSLAF) personnel are out on the streets jubilating during national holidays.

Any country which allows the relationship between its prime security forces (namely Police and Military) to degenerate into triviliaty or misconception would only have itself to blame when the chasm deepens between the two security entities. Historically, there have been occasions when police and military personnel targetted each other instead of supporting and complementing each other’s efforts for the national good. History is repleat with instances of consequences, reactions and results of what happens when national security forces do not or refuse to see eye to eye.

Against this background, my advise is for the management of the above-mentioned security institutions to forge new pathways of respect, tolerance, acceptance and mutual understanding between the respective personnel.

But because we are optimistic as a nation that when we all put our efforts together we can make Sierra Leone a better place, it is incumbent on the RSLAF and the SLP to support and respect each other.

May common sense prevail.

NATCOM DESERVES PRAISE, NOT CONDEMNATION

NATCOM Deserves Praise, Not Condemnation

By Ranger

It is unfortunate that the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) even though it is is bending backwards to ensure that the average Sierra Leonean enjoys the full benefits of affordable, reliable and sustainable telecommunication and internet services, there are detractors bent on reversing the good works of the NATCOM Chairman Momoh Konteh and his team.

This comes against the backdrop of a recent meeting hosted by Sierra Leone Cable Limited (SALCAB) to update the general public through the media about recent developments at SALCAB, the challenges and the way forward for the company.

It was pointed out by SALCAB Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Alhaji Salieu Mansaray that with the landing of the submarine fiber optic, telecommunication procedures, processes and systems all across the country are being upgraded; areas which never had telecommunication facilities are currently being connected, while tariff and related matters are being appropriately handled by the national telecom regulator NATCOM.

He noted that SALCAB is an autonomous body which seeks to provide wholesale service in saleable megabytes to companies that are certified and registered by NATCOM.

Apparently, after the disclosure by the SALCAB CCO, Alhaji Salieu Mansaray, some sections of the media are attempting to paint SALCAB in bad light.

It could be recalled that SALCAB was set up by an Act of Parliament to manage and distribute fiber optic service to registered entities with the telecom regulator NATCOM. It appears however that because SALCAB CCO, Alhaji Salieu Mansaray made references to NATCOM being the entity that deals directly with mobile phone operators and controls payment of dues, taxes and levies, a section of the media is deliberately spreading lies about the operations of SALCAB and NATCOM, or is attempting to trivialize the genuine efforts of the hard working NATCOM Chairman Momoh Konteh and his team.

In all fairness to NATCOM, the control and management of mobile phone operators has never been better. It is with Momoh Konteh that we are today enjoying mobile phone benefits that were once beyond our reach or shrouded in secret arrangements.

Thankfully, NATCOM under Momoh Konteh is a credible national enity which seeks first the interest of the ordinary Sierra Leonean before the interest of the mobile phone operators.

 

2 DIASPORA SIERRA LEONEANS SUE NEC TO COURT

For Failing to Respect their Electoral Franchise…

2 Diaspora Sierra Leoneans Sue NEC To Court

By Ranger

Two Sierra Leoneans resident in the United States of America,  Abdul Kabba of 3946 Whispering Meadow Drive, Maryland and Abibatu Bangura of 3743 Mentone Avenue, Los Angeles, California have through their solicitor in Freetown, Francis Ben Keifala Esq., taken out a writ of summons in the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone against the Chief Commissioner and the National Elections Commission.

The motion which originated in the Office of the Master and Registrar dated April 18th 2017 pleads with the Supreme Court to slam an interim injunction on the Chief Electoral Commissioner and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from concluding the ongoing national voter registration exercise until their plea to be registered to vote as non-resident citizens, like every other citizen, is heard.

The argument of the two appellants is that they are entitled to be registered to vote in the 2018 elections pursuant to section 31 and 33, Act No. 6 of the 1991 Constitution.

Accordingly, they beg the court to implore the respondents to comply with their statutory duty, pursuant to section 18 of the Public Elections Act 2012 by making provision for registration of Diaspora Sierra Leoneans and for NEC to enable them to vote outside of Sierra Leone.

The appellants’ solicitor in his affidavit to the court further pleads for a speedy hearing of the matter.

He also asks for the cost of the action to be borne by the respondents.

MARIE STOPES DEBUNKS FAKE REPORT

Marie Stopes Debunks Fake Report

By Ranger

Marie Stopes Sierra Leone (MSSL) Country Director Ufuoma Festus Omo-Obi has in a press release issued on 19th April, 2017 debunked a report circulated on social media carrying a list of names of people that are HIV positive.

He informed his audience at the briefing that was held at the MSSL office at off Sir Samuel Lewis Road in Freetown that an unsigned document carrying the old and discarded MSSL logo was in circulation purportedly distributed by MSSL.

According to MSSL Country Director Ufuoma Festus Omo-Obi, “This is a forgery and we condemn its creation and circulation in the strongest terms. We view this as a ploy to cause emotional distress to the people named on the list and to damage the reputation of MSSL. We would never circulate, publish, share or disclose the data of our clients in any form. For the last thirty (30) years our service delivery has been marked by the highest clinical standards, including client safety and confidentiality.”

He apologized to the general public for the criminal circulation of a forged document and promised that the MSSL will do all in its power to bring the culprit (s) to book, adding that the matter is currently under police investigation.