Subject: US cancels rest of Sierra Leone's debt
From: AFP
To: All
Date Posted: 17:51:31 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
US cancels rest of Sierra Leone's debt
Published: Thursday June 7, 2007
AFP

The United States Thursday announced it had cancelled Sierra Leone's outstanding 58-million dollar debt to Washington in line with an accord reached in January.

"Under the agreement, the United States commits to forgive its approximately 58 million dollar share of the 363 million dollars Sierra Leone owed to all Paris Club creditors," the State Department said in a statement.

This cancelled Sierra Leone's debt to the United States 100 percent, it added.

At the end of 2006 the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank forgave more than 1.6 billion dollars of debts, but Sierra Leone still owed funds to the Paris Club group of donor countries, which were then also cancelled.

The international community praised the African nation's efforts to streamline government procedures and improve use of donor funds in the country which is still recovering from its brutal 1991-2001 war
 

Subject: Junior Navo Unopposed in Sierra Leone
From: NAVO
To: All
Date Posted: 17:37:00 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Junior Navo flanked by Hon. Zainab Kamara and a female supporter with a crowd of jubilant youths in the background

Junior Navo Unopposed in Sierra Leone
By John Mansaray
Jun 7, 2007, 21:36 Email this article

The young and enterprising business tycoon in Freetown, Anthony Junior Navo, yesterday 6th June, went unopposed in the primary election for the award of the SLPP symbol for Constituency 104.

Junior Navo flanked by Hon. Zainab Kamara and a female supporter with a crowd of jubilant youths in the background

Constituency 104, with an Electoral College of 170 delegates, unanimously presented Junior Navo to the Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Janet Savage, the SLPP Western Region Chairlady as their choice for the August 11 Parliamentary election. The event took place at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School, Kissy Dockyard.

All the 170 Delegates unanimously declared for Junior Navo and as such he had no challenger.

"As far as we members of the SLPP in Constituency 104 are concerned, there is nobody to contest against this young, dynamic and enterprising Philanthropist," the Delegates remarked. They informed the Electoral Commissioner that the choice of Junior Navo is a consensus arrived at by the entire membership of Electoral College, and supporters of the SLPP in the constituency, noting that there is no other person they believe who could steer developmental activities in the constituency other than the well-nurtured and equable Anthony Junior Navo. He was described as a young man, who has washed his hands clean and is now ready to eat with kings.

In his acceptance speech, Anthony Junior Navo thanked the Electoral College and the entire membership of the SLPP in constituency 104 for awarding him the SLPP symbol "without any contest with anybody whatsoever."

He recognized the role of a leading SLPP Member of Parliament in the person of Hon. Mrs. Zainab Kamara for her outstanding role as Member of Parliament for the constituency and assured that he will endeavour to emulate her fine examples.

"I am dedicating this resounding victory to Hon. Mrs. Zainab Bangura for the simple reason that she exemplified herself as a true mother and a person who cares for her people as Member of Parliament for this area," Navo stated.

The buoyant Junior Navo was proud to tell the Delegates and supporters about the subtlety of constituencies 104 and 103, noting that he is more than willing to assiduously work with Hon. Zainab Kamara (who has also secured the SLPP symbol for Constituency 103), in his words, "to foster socio-economic development in these sister constituencies."

"As you have elected me today as your trusted candidate to represent this constituency in parliament, I will do my best to help in the development of this constituency. I pledge to continue with the development aspirations of this constituency from where Hon. Zainab Kamara has stopped," he assured his supporters who reciprocated with rapturous applauds.

In an interview with Awareness Times, Junior Navo said that his victory did not come as a surprise.

"It came as a result of the good things my people have seen me doing before now, and asking them for a chance to represent them in Parliament was therefore a welcome initiative," Navo stated. Navo was however quick to disclose that he had been battling within himself on how he could secure the SLPP symbol, but went on to indicate his confidence in his people who he described as "trustworthy citizens who are very much grateful of what ever good is done for them."

He maintained that the unanimous decision of the people of Constituency 103 to return him unopposed for the SLPP symbol was an indication of the overwhelming victory that awaits him during the August 11 Parliamentary election.

He further assured his Constituents that in spite of his age, he will be a vocal representative on all aspects that the people deem as necessary and affecting their well being.

"Apart from the fact that I am going o be the youngest Parliamentarian in the next Parliament, I will be using that buoyancy and effectiveness to channel your needs and concerns in the House in the strongest possible way for as long as you would be prepared to work with me in harmony and ready as you have always demonstrated to continue to cooperate with me," Navo further assured.

He called on his supporters to be more active and robust with their campaign activities so as to garner much support for him and the SLPP in the constituency. He reminded the people of the need to vote solidly for him as their representative as well as for the SLPP in order "for us as a party to be able to pass and implement policies that are of benefit to this nation."

Subject: Re: Junior Navo Unopposed in Sierra Leone
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 18:01:04 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Congratulations young man - a party that cares favours and nurtures the young minds of today for they will be the best minds of tomorrow. LONG LIVE SIERRA LEONE! LONG LIVE SLPP1 ONE COUNTRY! ONE PEOPLE!

Subject: KOIDU HOLDINGS SOLD FOR $18M....WHILE KONO SUFFERS
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 17:07:56 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Koidu Holdings Sold For $18 Million....While the People of Kono Continue to Suffer
Posted by on Jun 6, 2007, 23:02


 

The Geneva based Diamond Company; Steinmetz Group has turned the Koidu Holdings Mining Company into a wholly owned subsidiary for just over US$18 million.

The Vancouver-Canada-based Energem Resources Inc. said it has sold 40 percent stakes in Koidu Holdings, which owns and operates the Koidu Kimberlite Diamond Mines and Tongo Fields exploration areas in Sierra Leone to BSG Resources Limited for US$ 18.25 Million.
CEO Koidu Holdings Jan Joubert

This has raised GSG’s stakes in Koidu Holdings to 65 percent. The balance is held by Magma Diamond Resources Limited. Both BSG and Magma are part of the Steinmetz Group, sources alleged.

A spokesman for Energem said, the company is getting out of the diamond business altogether in favor of oil, gas and biofuels. The company has invested almost $13 Million in the Koidu Mines since operations recommenced in 2003 only to find out that underground development would require a capital investment of more that $41 Million. Moreover, the company said that it was not happy with the encumbrance of a 5-year exclusive marketing agreement with Steinmetz.

The operations of Koidu Holdings in the Kono district have been a bitter pill to swallow by inhabitants of the district. It is like forcing down the throat of an individual with an unwanted food and at the same time overpowering the individual.

What is going on in Kono is not only against the wish of the people, but depriving them of their God-giving rights and using politics to intimidate them.
Koidu Town....diamond rich but looks like a shanty town(Photo credit Brad Arsenault)

For several years now, concerns raised by the people of Kono with respect to environmental hazards, fulfillment of corporate responsibility and the dangers faced by the Kono people as a result of blasting has not received the attention of government.

The Campaign for Just Mining (CJM), a coalition of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations in Sierra Leone involved in advocacy work on mining and extractive issues and the National Advocacy Coalition on the Extractives (NACE) have noted with grave concerns the deplorable conditions the people of Kono are living as a result of the mining activities.

Promises of building new houses for mining victims whose residences where destroyed did not pay much dividend.

The acceptance of the new relocat1on site of Koidu Holdings Limited Mining Company after the rejection of the first resettlement by the affected community people was considered a good move by the company in respecting the views of the people of the community. The rejection was made on the grounds that the site was situated at the community cemetery and was also close to the sound of the washing plant whose effects were dangerous.

Although the move was considered good by the company, but what it later provided for them was more of an insult to the integrity and rights of the people. Some of the sixty eight (68) houses handed-over by the company to the people are without windows and doors and lacked safe drinking water.

Civil society had expected that the company would have established a number of hand pump wells for the community people but had failed to do so and was being viewed by the task force monitoring the areas as a gross abuse of the rights of the affected communities.

In addition to the plight of the Kono people the company disregarded the local community association, Affected Property Owners Association (APOA), formed to monitor their activities.

It would be recalled that the chairperson of APOA who attended the handing over ceremony at the time was denied making a statement which reflects the level of neglect and marginalization suffered by the people.

The CJM task force also took cognizance of how KHL has divided and misdirected the community people in an agricultural project that does not represent their interest. According to sources, the company and some of the local authorities involved in the setting up of the project, excluded those that were critical of the company’s activities and organized those in their favour to form the Kimberlite Agricultural Project (KAP).

Under the project, sixty-eight family heads who were to be relocated have complained that the compensation for tree crops removed from their lands was grossly inadequate while others are reported to have received nothing as compensation for their crops.

Amidst these allegations, Koidu Holdings has glaringly continued to exclude the affected people in decision making and on issues affecting their lives. Rather, the company has prepared sites and house plans for the construction of some public structures in and around the new resettlement area without further consultation to know their needs.

With this new development, it is not known how the people would receive the news.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Subject: United States and Sierra Leone Sign Bilateral Debt Relief Ag
From: DEBT RELIEF
To: All
Date Posted: 16:52:36 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 7, 2007

United States and Sierra Leone Sign Bilateral Debt Relief Agreement Under the Terms of the Paris Club Accord

United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone Thomas N. Hull and Sierra Leonean Minister of Finance John O. Benjamin signed a bilateral debt relief agreement today to cancel 100 percent of Sierra Leone's eligible debt to the United States Government. The agreement implements the multilateral accord signed with the Paris Club of official creditors on January 24, 2007 and reflects Sierra Leone's successful completion of economic reforms under the Enhanced Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Under the agreement, the United States commits to forgive its approximately $58 million share of the $363 million Sierra Leone owed to all Paris Club creditors.

Through the HIPC Initiative, the United States and its partners in the international community seek to help the most heavily indebted poor countries relieve their unsustainable debt burdens. Under its program of economic reform overseen by the International Monetary Fund, Sierra Leone made solid progress in reducing poverty and enhancing macroeconomic stability. This final phase of debt relief frees additional resources that will enable the Government of Sierra Leone to make further progress on these objectives under its Poverty Reduction Strategy Program.

As the country recovers from a brutal civil war that ended only in 2002, the United States supports Sierra Leone's efforts in consolidating peace, restoring and reforming government, and stimulating economic growth.

Subject: New Breed Politicians
From: Almamy Seray-Wurie Si
To: All
Date Posted: 16:24:54 06/07/07 ()
Email Address: almamysi@hotmail.com
Entered From: 24hr03.osr.columbia.edu at 156.111.18.112

Message:
5-20 yr=Majority are struggling to stay in school
20-35 yr=Minority are in college/employment
35-50 yr=Minority have employment/migrated
50-65 yr=Majority don't believe in moving SL forward
65-80 yr=Majority fear God

*Interesting results are coming from SLPP primaries. Does that show there are more SLPP reformist coming on board John Leigh's boat?
 

Subject: Re: New Breed Politicians
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 17:06:41 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
If they are coming on board John leighs Boat then they are a bunch of back stabbers, putdowners, knowitalls, arrogant, untrustworthy, blameful and inability to accept their faults kijndda of people.

Do you call people like these progressives?

Subject: Re: New Breed Politicians
From: FORMER APC MINISTER FORMEH-KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 17:33:57 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Yes. They are better than the likes of your thieving dad, the former APC minister. They are better than the likes of the thieving dad of Formeh-Kamara a former APC tiffy tiffy minister. How is Tiff papa doing in that nursing home?

Subject: Re: New Breed Politicians
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 17:33:49 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
My good brother, JL is no voice in SLPP. He is just a member who lost a leadership contest. TRhe party belongs to us all. Let not the mistakes and 'misraps' of one man not affect the whoile. We are moving away from such a world. There many good people in SLPP and so have you in the other parties.

Subject: Is Racism a disease?
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 16:24:16 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ws-lib234.lib.csus.edu at 130.86.14.77

Message:
Greetings my brothers and sisters. Science has proved that every individual is different and unique. The DNA of ones parents can be similar but not in most cases exactly identical. "Can DNA testing distinguish between two individuals who are identical twins?
No, by definition they are "identical" and will have the exact same DNA profile. Thus, two individuals who are identical twins cannot be differentiated by DNA analysis.

How does forensic identification work?
Any type of organism can be identified by examination of DNA sequences unique to that species. Identifying individuals within a species is less precise at this time, although when DNA sequencing technologies progress farther, direct comparison of very large DNA segments, and possibly even whole genomes, will become feasible and practical and will allow precise individual identification.
To identify individuals, forensic scientists scan 13 DNA regions that vary from person to person and use the data to create a DNA profile of that individual (sometimes called a DNA fingerprint). There is an extremely small chance that another person has the same DNA profile for a particular set of regions.
It is event that for many years, even when racism in most parts of the world was rampant, most of the above views were unknown to most mankind as scientific views are still a mystery to many today.

Most of the views held when people had unscientific realities were basically stereotypical or based on some traditional beliefs coined to cement communities together. These views were in most cases not questioned and in some cases when these views were questioned, they led to the death or excommunication of people who dared question them.

Is racism a disease?

HJB wrote: "If racism is an illness it could have been treated as in polio...some vacine could have done the job."

HJB there are some cancers and brain disease that Scientist are still finding cure for but have not been able to come-up with one. Alzheimer's and pakinses are about a few.
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
"Alzheimer's (ALZ-hy-merz) disease (AD) is a physical illness that causes changes in the brain. It is a form of dementia (di-MEN-shuh). Dementia affects a person's memory, mood, and behavior.
Alzheimer's disease usually affects people over 65. A person with this disease has trouble remembering, speaking, learning, making judgments, and planning. Some people feel restless and moody. It may take many years for Alzheimer's disease to get worse.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can be frustrating for a person with the disease. Dealing with these symptoms can also be difficult for family members and caregivers. It may help to understand that these changes are no one's fault. They are part of the disease."

"Parkinson's Disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system which is caused by free radical damage to the basal brain ganglia that control muscle movement. This depletes a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that carries messages from one nerve cell to another. In Parkinson's disease, the cells in the brain that manufacture dopamine are damaged or dying, and hence the brain loses the ability to manufacture this chemical.
Parkinson's Disease is a devastating condition that affects as many as 1 in 100 persons over the age of sixty in the United States, and this prevalence is increasing dramatically. Dopamine depletion causes muscle weakness, body rigidity and slowly spreading tremors. Though cognitive function usually remains normal, the person feels frozen, unable to move. As the disease progresses, posture becomes stooped, and involuntary movements become increasingly difficult."

This views are unknown to many groups of people regardless of what race they belong.

Because racism carries connotations of race-based bigotry, prejudice, violence, oppression, stereotyping or discrimination, the term has varying and often hotly contested definitions. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another race or races. The Merriam-Webster's Webster's Dictionary dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, and that it is also the prejudice based on such a belief.[1] The Macquarie Dictionary defines racism thus: the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others.
As an ideology, racism first appeared during Early modern Europe in Spain during the Reconquista,[citation needed] and then during the 19th century, where "scientific racism" ideologies, which attempted to provide a racial classification of humanity, became very common[citation needed]. Although such racist ideologies have been widely discredited after World War II and the Holocaust, the phenomena of racism and of racial discrimination have remained widespread all over the world."

As I mention inter ally, and in my view, though I have not made a thorough research on whether or not racism is a disease as most Psychologists and Psychiatrists to my knowledge are grappling to understand the mental normality of the matter, I am poised to believe it is a mental issue. It is a voluntary manipulation of human minds in most cases, and in others it is the lack of education, scientific knowledge about certain views of life.
Nonetheless, history has proved that it is a matter that will be resolved through thorough education.
The only reason these views that divide races, creating superiority concerns, being the economic inequalities and the view of mental superiorty by one against the other is gradually eroding and as most races especially, the Black race that has been subjugated for so long by all and whose mental ability has been kept as secrete but is now manifesting itself, such manifestation will cause all individuals who wrong others because of misguided notions can now learn and rearrange their thoughts and views, which will eventually bring about racial tolerance.
Therefore, whether racism is a disease I would not know but I am certain that it is a mental problem (issue.)
As we discuss issues about our country here on the Internet, the light is shining on why most do what they do though they are aware it is wrong but are still trying to push race as the agenda to purport their actions. You and I know that there was not, has never been and will ever be anything to do with race but the idea of human wickedness. Most people give erratic excuses but as we may know, governments were created, Armies and Police established to combat human criminal ways. But criminals minds will always have some form of excuse for their uncivil and crooked ways or actions. Most are not ashamed to know that their actions have not apparent reason besides foolish jealousy, arrogance and ignorance.
Racism like Tribalism and any crooked trick is the lack of shame and therefore that, my friend, is a mental problem!

Subject: Re: Is Racism a disease?
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 16:44:40 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ws-lib234.lib.csus.edu at 130.86.14.77

Message:
"The Emancipation Proclamation
January 1, 1863

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State." http://www.nps.gov/ncro/anti/emancipation.html
So if in Twenty-first Century an individual uses the enslavement of an indivudal who has committed no crime because if he has there are courts to adress such criminal acts, then such individual who does any act that might contrue such enslavement, is not doing so because he or she is fighting a racial, tribal or ethnical agenda but commiting a crime. A crime is any act that contradicts the constitution of a land or the International Law. As the section of the U.S. Constitution has specifically stipulated, the act of enslaving a human being was banned in the United States.
But why are there Sierra Leonean participants to the act?
 

Subject: Re: Is Racism a disease?
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 16:47:54 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ws-lib234.lib.csus.edu at 130.86.14.77

Message:
Some who further financial reasons please read:
 

Subject: FUNERAL ANNOUCEMENT FOR THE LATE.......
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 16:11:10 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
 

The Hon. Major-General Jollof Rice wishes to announce the sudden death of his daughter Mrs Fry Soup which took place on 31th May, 2007 in the Pantry at Crain Crain Town.

She is survived by her children Raw Fish and Cow Beef of the Peppersoup factory. Cousins include the Jakato Family and the Big Pepper family of 71 Okra Street. Aunts and Uncles include Mrs. Yabass, Sisi Kanya Pepper, Mr and Mrs Tola of 8 Cow Belleh Lane and Mr Salt of the United States of Jumbo Cube. The Tin Tamatis and Masankay Pamine families of No 1 Pot Corner. Step-father - Pa Bonga of the Alakpa Corner. Close friends include Jakitomboy, Jolabaytay, Dry Okro and Brigadier Coal Pot, a former employee of the Bitter Leaf and Foofoo Corporation.

The body will be laid out at the Kitchen Funeral Parlor Saturday 9th June,2007 at 4:00pm. Mr Iron Spoon and Miss Ebakor are all invited to the funeral ceremony. A grand procession will leave the Mouth Compound for Stomach Village Cemetry passing through Throat Avenue after the funeral ceremony at exactly 7:00p.m. dinner time. The Bands of Plates, Spoons, Forks and Knives will be in attendance to lead the procession.

Please bear this announcement in mind and make it a point of duty to attend as you are all close friends of the deceased. Otherwise, NAR ANGRY GO KATCH OONA. LONTA

 

Subject: APC'S ALIE FORMEH KAMARA MADE A VALID POINT
From: CHIEF IN EXILE
To: All
Date Posted: 15:38:24 06/07/07 ()
Email Address: RNMDTWO@YAHOO.COM
Entered From: pool-72-66-48-190.washdc.east.verizon.net at 72.66.48.190

Message:
Posted by Alie Formeh Kamara on June 06, 2007 at 20:35:10:

In Reply to: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY? posted by Dr. CHARLES CURTIS-THOMAS on June 06, 2007 at 16:00:14:

John Leigh refered to Berewa as a man lacking in the fundamentals of how to run a government for positive development. In fact John Leigh termed Berewa's announced strategy for Sierra Leone as unworkable.

Was John Leigh correct?

If John Leigh was correct, if elected President, Berewah would lead Sierra Leone into a state of mess.

John Leigh's statement is an indictment of the SLPP government because Berewa is the sitting Vice President. As the Vice President, Leigh is saying that Berewa is not an asset to Sierra Leone and that his appointment reflects on those things that are bad about President Kabba who is a failure according to John Leigh's previous assessment.

Neither Ernest nor Margai has had the chance to lead or deputize leadership of the ship of state and so, far less credible statement can be acceptable from John Leigh about the abilities of these men.

If we are now been told not to believe John Leigh's statement about Berewa then why should we believe anything John Leigh says about Ernest or Margai.

We are warned by John Leigh that 'We must take stock of our country’s performance to date and accept the fact that endless takings from others without giving something of commensurate value in return is not a sustainable development strategy at all.'
Basically John Leigh is saying that the proof is in the pudding and that Berewa's report card has a failing grade.
Folks, what can be worse than that. After all, Berewa is said to have a shallow, naive and poor thinking that 'is not likely to ever help the people of Sierra Leone improve the quality of their daily lives' according to John Leigh.
Why waste time supporting Berewa. Should the love for party outweigh the love for our country?

Subject: Re: APC'S ALIE FORMEH KAMARA MADE A VALID POINT
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 16:05:59 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
With due respects, Chief, what leigh said of berewa then; to be used now by opposition for the consumption of our people to win votes is derisory. John leigh was in a contest with berewa and had to use everything he has to win - did he win? - was he listened to? John leigh is our elder father/brother/son and friend - we all know his quest for power - not a bad thing - can sometimes make him a man of his own world. Who watched John Leigh's worldwide televisied interview on CNN when Johnny paul and other kicked kabbah out of office? Did you listen to JL? this is the man we are dealing with. To succeed, he has his coercive tactics, sometimes distasteful. berewa, understands him and has forgetton about what he said then. Berewa has the mandate of the people and the people love him. let not the words of leigh's yesterday's rants delude us. Berewa's lowly beginnings has earned him a seat for us to try that which has come from nowhere. Even us as SLPP strong supporters saw him as a virtual outsider who only came into the party yesterday. God's blessing is upon him and his rule shall bring light onto our aspiring bright steps.

Subject: Re: APC'S ALIE FORMEH KAMARA MADE A VALID POINT
From: CHIEF IN EXILE
To: All
Date Posted: 16:44:53 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: pool-72-66-48-190.washdc.east.verizon.net at 72.66.48.190

Message:
so was Leigh's criticicm of Berewa CONSTRUCTIVE OR DESTRUCTIVE?

Subject: Re: APC'S ALIE FORMEH KAMARA MADE A VALID POINT
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 17:22:31 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Yes and No!

It is constructive because it shpws the kind of society we have now moved to. Leigh said all these things during and immediately after the SLPP leadership elections and was welcomed back into the fold. It was his right to say anything he wanted to woo the SLLp delegates to vote for him. All he said was not backed by concrete evidence to show truth.
destructive for him because he said things that were untrue and others are now, without thorough scrutiny, using his SLPP leadership campaign expression/rhetorics as general election campaign goals. Only few voters will buy what Leigh said on berewa during this campaign.

Subject: Mr JOHN LEIGH WAS YOUR CRITICISM OF BEREWA TRUE OR FALSE?
From: Dr. C. CURTIS-THOMAS
To: All
Date Posted: 13:34:54 06/07/07 ()
Email Address: RNMDTWO@YAHOO.COM
Entered From: at 198.24.31.125

Message:
Posted by Dr. CHARLES CURTIS-THOMAS on June 06, 2007 at 16:00:14:

So now that Hon. John Leigh has found the time to get his thoughts together I wonder if he still thinks that the following article by him will still impact negatively on "Berewa's Presidency"? (Dr. CURTIS-THOMAS)
---------------------------------------------------------
What Leigh wrote about Berewa in the past:

LACKS ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS TRAINING

Berewa’s attitude regarding the development of our country is most discouraging. His reasoning as to how a country like Sierra Leone is going to develop reminds me of someone not schooled or experienced in either economics or international affairs but who has, instead, been isolated in a cultural wasteland for much too long. Yet, this same misguided individual is been touted in certain quarters as the next president of Sierra Leone!

How can such an individual, lacking in understanding of how nations become developed, ever hope to successfully construct social and economic institutions that would help our country advance from last place position and make Sierra Leone into a place like Britain and the United States?

------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Alie Formeh Kamara on June 06, 2007 at 20:35:10:

In Reply to: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY? posted by Dr. CHARLES CURTIS-THOMAS on June 06, 2007 at 16:00:14:

John Leigh refered to Berewa as a man lacking in the fundamentals of how to run a government for positive development. In fact John Leigh termed Berewa's announced strategy for Sierra Leone as unworkable.

Was John Leigh correct? (Alie Formeh Kamara)
------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Mr JOHN LEIGH WAS YOUR CRITICISM OF BEREWA TRUE OR FALSE?
From: John Leigh flip-flops
To: All
Date Posted: 13:37:51 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 198.24.31.125

Message:
In Reply to: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY? posted by Alie Formeh Kamara on June 06, 2007 at 20:35:10:

VP Berewa, Koroma and Maggai are running. The issue is who is the superior candidate among the three?

My choice is still Berewa even with all my earlier criticisms taken into consideration at face value.

Are you saying that because I criticized Berewa, I have no choice but to suport only Koroma or Margai? Otherwise, I am putting party before country?

Have you seen my more recent criticisms of Koroma and Maggai coupled with my statements of support for Berewa? Thank you. - JL

Subject: Re: Mr JOHN LEIGH WAS YOUR CRITICISM OF BEREWA TRUE OR FALSE?
From: John leigh is knock out cold!
To: All
Date Posted: 13:41:54 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 198.24.31.125

Message:
VP Berewa, Koroma and Maggai are running. The issue is who is the superior candidate among the three? (John Leigh)

------------------------------------------------------------

The issue is whether your earlier criticism of Berewa was TRUE OR WAS IT FALSE.

Subject: MPs lose battle for parliamentary elections
From: SYMBOL
To: All
Date Posted: 12:50:34 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
MPs lose battle for parliamentary elections

Four Members of Parliament in the ruling SLPP party have lost symbols for the parliamentary race in August 11, reports disclosed. During the SLPP primary elections, the Members of Parliament lost woefully to newcomers.

These new breed are said to be more popular in their constituencies than the current MPs and are highly regarded by members of their constituencies to tackle the numerous problems in their constituencies However, there are some MPs that have so far made it; Hon Elizabeth Lavalie, Hon Ansu Kai Kai, Hon Zainab Kamara and Dr. Bernadette Lahai, to name but a few. It appears as if a new crop of politicians are to dominate the sphere of politics in the Sierra Leone People's Party.

Subject: Re: MPs lose battle for parliamentary elections
From: Special Cut
To: All
Date Posted: 14:04:36 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: gw1.dc.gov at 164.82.146.3

Message:
You mean den new ARATA way den sef get zeal for tif.We do not have new crops of politicians. I just hope whosoever wins the presidency will take note of these chameleon politicians that are gambling on which boat to jump.

Subject: Re: MPs lose battle for parliamentary elections
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 15:20:16 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
My good patriot - these new breeds are not new aratas. majority are genuine young men who, i must say have done what is most remarkable of someone that loves their land. let us give them a chance to win and then settle down not forgetting to form our own genuine watchdog group/s

Subject: Sierra Leone: SLPP MP Weeps After Loosing Symbol
From: SYMBOL
To: All
Date Posted: 12:46:24 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Sierra Leone: SLPP MP Weeps After Loosing Symbol

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Concord Times (Freetown)

7 June 2007
Posted to the web 7 June 2007

Mohamed Massaquoi
Freetown

Hon. Andrew Victor Lungai of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) Tuesday shed tears after he lost the party's symbol to James Kaisamba in the primary elections for constituency 12, Nongowa Chiefdom in the Kenema district.

Another member of parliament, Hon. Mohamed Moiwo Makaya of the SLPP was also defeated in the elections that were conducted at Talia Torgboma.

In the first round of the polls, Hon. Lungai and Hon.

Makaya pulled 15 and 25 votes respectively.

The second round of the vote was contested by Kaisamba and Hon. Makaya in which the latter was defeated by 51 votes to 19.

Some delegates told Concord Times that they did not vote the two extant members of parliament because they had both abandoned their constituencies while in office.

"We make up the electorate. Politicians cannot come and convince us to vote for them and later abandon us," Ansu Konneh lamented.

Subject: Re: Sierra Leone: SLPP MP Weeps After Loosing Symbol
From: KAISAMBA
To: All
Date Posted: 13:17:34 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Very good choice. Kaisamba is a very hardworking man. Both Lungay and Makaya are spent forces in salone's politics. The people of salone have finally started making tough decisions. Congratulations

Subject: Re: Sierra Leone: SLPP MP Weeps After Loosing Symbol
From: Tamba Gborie
To: All
Date Posted: 15:30:11 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-147-165-200.range86-147.btcentralplus.com at 86.147.165.200

Message:
i'm yet to make a decision as to which party to support for the comming general elections. with the type of candidates slpp is putting forward for parliamentary and presidential elections, i think it is wise to say that the slpp party is now moving in the right direction. i'm very much encouraged by the new breed of politicians and for that matter i will now declare to support slpp to continue leading the nation.

Subject: Re: Sierra Leone: SLPP MP Weeps After Loosing Symbol
From: Dearly Departed
To: All
Date Posted: 17:11:38 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Dearly Departed Tamba G, Support whoemever you would rather support just dont forget who took your life in a firing squad.

Subject: Convict or Politician
From: tedcalea
To: All
Date Posted: 12:29:37 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
It has often bother me as to why a convict should not be a politicain or President. This should not be so in Sierra Leone, as the only difference is most of the politicians are criminal without conviction and a convict is said to be a criminal with a conviction. I think it is best for a convict to be President or politician in Sierra leone at least it's citizens will know what to expect, rather than have an educated cleptomanic in as President or politician, that we do not know what to expect as we think he or they should know better.

Some of the criminals with no conviction;
Tejan kabbah
Solomon Brerewa
Madam Hassan
Victo Foe
Harry Will
Mr Musa
James Johnan
Maadi Bio
John Benjamin
Charles Margai
Charles Taylor
Prince Johnson

I suppose they are all innocent untill proven guilty.

Subject: fate is dealing a good hand FOR Solo B
From: CADMUS
To: All
Date Posted: 11:09:49 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 82.198.250.81

Message:
I posted this a few moments ago,,,I am sorry that the letter 'R ' was missing from the the word FOR.

I thought I better get my retaliation in first before any jump-up pedantic know-it-all ignores the message and star correcting my english.....

This forum is full of them.

Subject: Re: fate is dealing a good hand FOR Solo B
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 11:45:19 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
Alieu Sesay is the notorious pedantic.I hope he can read and write in his native mende language.Please pass it to your friend.

Subject: Re: fate is dealing a good hand FOR Solo B
From: Alieu Sesay
To: All
Date Posted: 15:48:00 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 67.63.2.157

Message:
MUSA yours is not a TYPO, you just plain stupid. The man missed an R not put the word "is" where there should be "was".
Your parents used to tell you to go to school, instead you were busy been a THUG for the APC.

Subject: FOR (NENEH)ON PRINCE HARDING'S SUSPENSION
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 11:01:31 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
I hope Neneh,if it is your true name,you can read well and comprehend.As to date from all angles of the media, it is clearly stated that, the irresponsible and corrupt Minister is on suspension.Please try to be accurate before any fabrication.By the way,I respect women and adore them.But it is not a point to be proud of, if they are gaining grounds on the primaries.The slpp party you are in for, is the worst,useless,corrupt and incompetent party and government in the histort of our nation.When did you last visit Sierra-Leone?I hope you did that not long ago,if not please try to pay a visit.Then if you love your country as you have indicated,surely you will be ashame to be a Sierra-Leonean.We know some individuals,goups and tribes who are supportive for the present scoundrels of the slpp to stay on power,because of their greed and callousness.You need not to be cheated by a Nigerian to be not on aware of their dubious tricks of which they are renown all over the world.Your failed president and party orchestrated their influx in our country and now drugs are easily accessible in the streets of Freetown.

Subject: Re: FOR (NENEH)ON PRINCE HARDING'S SUSPENSION
From: Alieu Sesay
To: All
Date Posted: 11:04:21 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 67.63.2.157

Message:
Pa Musa why don't you read over your piece before posting? There is a difference between typo and grama.
In your case, your grama is bad.
Just advising you as Brother.
HOW is TSA?

Subject: Re: FOR (NENEH)ON PRINCE HARDING'S SUSPENSION
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 11:40:09 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
Pa ALie,please go for more vocabulary lectures.By the way the word is grammar not grama,if we are using official language.I am the son to my mother and father and I always use my real identity.Some guys on this forum who are not the children of their parents keep on using false identification.Pa Alieu I am not accusing you,although I am quite aware of your varied identifications.Do you communicate well in mende?Because your English is still poor Mr Alieu.Please dont get irritated it is just a fact.How is Mr Prince Harding doing,morally?

Subject: Re: FOR (NENEH)ON PRINCE HARDING'S SUSPENSION
From: Alieu Sesay
To: All
Date Posted: 15:43:34 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 67.63.2.157

Message:
Like i said earlier, there is a difference between TYPO and Grammatical errors. Yours is Grammatical mine was a TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR. BUT YOU NAR FOOL MAN.
Your real name? My friend stop the mumbo jumbo. The usual APC thug, thats all you know, lies.
Secoondly, your assumption that i am mende is stupid.
What i know is that i am a sierra leonean.
YOU DUMB TRIBALIST.
 

Subject: FATE IS DEALING A GOOD HAND FO SOLO B
From: CADMUS
To: All
Date Posted: 10:58:21 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 82.198.250.81

Message:
Fate /Allah is certainly dealing a good hand for the great man.

One of the greatest embarrassment clouding the SLPP over the years was the position of FATMATA HASSAN.As a party that is proud of its human Rights record and the Rule of Law in Sa Lone it was getting difficult evev for die-hard SLPP Briefs to defend Hassan's position.In fact most of us were getting apopletic at with her position and felt that the whole thing was untenable.
As fate would have it Ms Hassan got dumped by her own people hence removing that particular embarrassing burden from SO B.

Time and again the Great Man has indicated his wish to have a Government of largely new faces, and to do away with the old.Well Dr Prince Harding has gone.That is also one less burden fo Solo B.

GOD is with the Man.

Subject: Re: FATE IS DEALING A GOOD HAND FO SOLO B
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 14:38:35 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
BRA/NGOR/ORLANGBA,
Now this is the reason why I told Mr Leigh that he has betray us(NATION).You guys always take party over your beloved Sierra Leone.A typical example has just been shown by you when you knew that Hon Mrs Fatmata Hassan was an embarrassment to your slpp party for a crime that was committed by her and her sons,and you never came out and denouced this ACT? WOW!!!!!!

"As a party that is proud of its human Rights record and the Rule of Law in Sa Lone it was getting difficult evev for die-hard SLPP Briefs to defend Hassan's position."

It was not difficult for Pa Berewa to LIE to us in ATLANTA when he was asked by a SUN member during his first and only townhall meeting in Ga.Below is an exerpt from the question asked.

SUN MEMBER----Mr Vice President,you are here talking about the APC's corrupt and Human Rights abuse practises she carried during her time in power,but today as I stand in front of you, a Honourable member of your SLPP party(FATMATA HASSAN) is being accuse of facilitating the murder of Mr Harry Yassaneh,but yet still you have not ask her to excuse herself from her parliamentarian duties till after the murder trial,why?

VICE PRESIDENT----You see my APC friend,I have been answering this same question every where I have been in the US.The case according to the PATHOLOGY report,the Hon Mrs Fatmata Hassan with her sons did not kill Harry Yassaneh.Mr Yassaneh died of STOMACH ABESS,and it had nothing to do with the visit that her sons paid to the man's office.Beside Hon Fatmata Hassan was not at the scene,so she can not be charge for any crime.

So BRA,if you are advocating for a CONTINUATION with the present regime through the Vice President,I wonder what/who we should continue with it,when the Rule of Law and Human Rights are not been obey by the SLPP regime.
 

Subject: Re: FATE IS DEALING A GOOD HAND FO SOLO B
From: slpp
To: All
Date Posted: 12:28:37 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ip70-187-239-127.dc.dc.cox.net at 70.187.239.127

Message:
"As fate would have it Ms Hassan got dumped by her own people hence removing that particular embarrassing burden from SO B."

CADMUS: Even though you can't be expected to realize it, you have just proved that Solo Berewa lacks the ability to assume leadership -- otherwise, why would he wait for Ms Hassan to be dumped by the people if he believes, like you and alleged others, that she is "an embarrasing burden" to him?

A good leader does not wait for others to do his work for him. He does it himself, even if he has to do so by directing others. Solo B did neither, proving that he is an unfit leader.

Fortunately for the people of Salone, Solo Berewa the unfit leader will be similarly dumped by the greater majority of the people come August 11.

Subject: Re: FATE IS DEALING A GOOD HAND FO SOLO B
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 11:28:04 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
You are just as corrupt,blind and callous as the man you are propagating.Do we have to wait for another disaster to surface the incompetency of the bandits in the realm of the slpp?Prince Harding is just a drop in the ocean.Mr Berewa and the party he belongs to is great for endemic corruption,persistent poverty,underdevelopment,degradation of the educational system,high mortality rate,lowest standard of living on the planet,Sierra-Leone the poorest country and Freetown the darkest city on earth.These are the legacies of the regime whose days are numbered.The people of Sierra-Leone are well prepared to even swim beneath the atlantic ocean to vote so that the evil regime will be rooted from the shores of our nation.

Subject: Re: FATE IS DEALING A GOOD HAND FO SOLO B
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 11:15:26 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Is she really an embarassment to the SLPP? Is Prince Harding really gone, or is he just in SLPP hibernation. Is the SLPP a party that is really "Proud" of its human rights record and Rule of law in Sa Lone? Are you sure of what you are saying or are you another bag of hot air for the slpp.

Subject: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 10:23:41 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
Local News
Aspirant Cries Foul At SLPP Primaries
Mr. Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi told the new Citizen newspaper that among the three of them who contested for the SLPP symbol, two of them, himself and the other opponent, Tamba Gandi, were removed from the race by Dr. Sama Mondeh on the grounds that both aspirants had petitioned each other, leaving a sole candidate, Madam Kuya Cappio, to contest against a government box.
The matter for which Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi was petitioned happened long ago when a rebel attack at Waidara caused him to lose the salaries of teachers which he had collected from Makeni and rendered him incapable of delivering same to Kono, during the rebel war.
The Supervisor of Schools, NC Bendu, had the matter reported to the police and Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi subsequently paid back the money and the matter died a natural death.
“I was never taken to court nor convicted for this loss of teachers’ salaries which I repaid, nor for any other matter. I therefore challenged my removal from the list of aspirants for the SLPP symbol as unfair and asked to be included,” he explained.
“I also petitioned Tamba Gandi as not qualified in view of the fact that he had never resigned from his teaching profession and other reasons.” He added.
Instead of reinstating Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi, the officials conducting the primaries put up only the remaining candidate against a government box.
The man I petitioned considered his case and asked his supporters to vote for the sole candidacy of Kuya Cappio, while I asked my own supporters to vote for the government box, to demonstrate my popularity,” Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi explained.
The sole candidate got only 40 votes inspite of the support of Tamba Gandi while the government box my supporters voted for got 66 votes.
“I then appealed to Dr. Mondeh and others on the need to reinstate my candidacy, as the winner of the contest, represented by the votes in the government box, which I supported.”
“The officiating team led by Dr. Mondeh has instead decided to hold another ballot without me and for the same sole candidate who had already lost to the government box I had urged my supporters to vote for,” Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi complained.
He has seen the effort to eliminate him as a travesty of justice and is asking authorities in the SLPP to reinstate his candidacy for the SLPP symbol in the interest of fair play.
He asserts that he has no criminal record as the police had already cleared his name on the missing salaries business that he had refunded ages ago.
The Tankoro Police and Mr. NC Bendu of the inspectorate can attest to this, he told the New Citizen.
He wants the SLPP authority to make sure that he is not left out of the Friday June 8th primary for the SLPP symbol for Constituency 23 of Gandorhun, Kono District.

Posted on 07 Jun 2007
 

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: boli
To: All
Date Posted: 13:00:18 06/07/07 ()
Email Address: boli@yahoo.com
Entered From: 80-44-81-243.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com at 80.44.81.243

Message:
"The Supervisor of Schools, NC Bendu, had the matter reported to the police and Gbengba W.A.F. Sam-Gbandi subsequently paid back the money and the matter died a natural death.
“I was never taken to court nor convicted for this loss of teachers’ salaries which I repaid, nor for any other matter. I therefore challenged my removal from the list of aspirants for the SLPP symbol as unfair and asked to be included,” he explained."

I am happy this thief was not allowed to stand. The fact that he paid the money back is to me and admission of guilt. If he was 'mugged' by rebels why did he need to pay the money back.

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 14:44:24 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
There are lots of them(THIEVES) in the Wuteteh party.Lets just sit and wait there are more revelations coming by the end of their so call primaries.

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: Moijue
To: All
Date Posted: 10:31:55 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-152-136-203.range81-152.btcentralplus.com at 81.152.136.203

Message:
These are the changes that Uncle Solo is coming up with. Monkey no ba lef in left hand.

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 12:00:33 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
If Madam Kuya Cappio can not win against a government box in her primary,then SLPP is in big trouble come Aug 11th.
Another clue that we most take from this primaries is SLPP will not give up power easily even with a landslide defeat from either the APC or the PMDC.If they are RIGGING their primaries,who to say what they would do in the GENERAL ELECTIONS.Lets keep a close watch on CHRISTIAN THORPE.

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: JOHNNY PAUL
To: All
Date Posted: 10:34:06 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Moijue,

Is it true that Hon. Mahmoud Idriss of PLP fame(Johnny Paul's party) won a symbol to contest as a PMDC parliamentary candidate?

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: Moijue true blooded PMDC member to the core
To: All
Date Posted: 11:53:40 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-152-136-203.range81-152.btcentralplus.com at 81.152.136.203

Message:
No ,he apllied to contest and was told he could not as he was still a member of PLP.
A young businessman by the name of Mohamed Bangura is contesting for us.
Cadmus relax.

Subject: Re: ASPIRANT CRIES FOUL AT WUTETEH PRIMARIES(SLPP)
From: CADMUS
To: All
Date Posted: 11:15:46 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 82.198.250.81

Message:
Is this the calibre of the candidates the PMDC is putting up....If this is true, you should be ashamed of yourself , Moijue.

Subject: Liberians do not love us like we love them
From: CONCERNED
To: All
Date Posted: 08:50:19 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 71.250.218.196

Message:
Did any of you notice that the Liberian media online wrote nothing about the helicopter crash in Freetown ? While our own Kabs Kanu, Sylvia Blyden and others scramble to report on Liberia, these people don't publish stories about us. When we had debt relief, they did not publish it.So what is wrong with Kabs, Sylvia and those who give Liberian stories such space ? Imagine what could have happened if the crash had happened in Liberia ?

Liberians don't love us like we love them . They don't care what we do and what happens to us. Why should we care for them ? I can cite many more examples where Liberians have shown that they dont give a damn what we do or achieve.

Please give more space to our own events and stop carrying Liberian stories .Do like they are doing.

Subject: Re: Liberians do not love us like we love them
From: Liberiaman
To: All
Date Posted: 10:51:32 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-129-153-88.range81-129.btcentralplus.com at 81.129.153.88

Message:
Hey wait mamen, it was a self inflicted wound, what do you want us to say,Eh??

Subject: Re: Liberians do not love us like we love them
From: NAR TRUE
To: All
Date Posted: 09:56:39 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
Liberians do not give a damn about Sierra Leoneans. Had Sierra Leone done to Liberia what that country did to us, the mass killings of Sierra Leoneans by Liberians could have been unthinkable. It goes back to one thing. One of the greatest casualties of years of rotten politics in Sierra Leone is NATIONALISM. We care less about country, and even less so about ourselves as a nation .

Subject: Re: Liberians do not love us like we love them
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 10:47:28 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
You are absolutely right that Liberians do not give a DAMN about Sierra Leoneans.Liberians would only come close to you when they know they get something profitable from you.I know this,because I dealt with them during the 90s in the ATL,and these people are what we call FIS RIL WALI

Subject: Re: Liberians do not love us like we love them
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 10:36:52 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
That is true.Sierra-Leoaneans are notorious for lack of national identity and patriotism.It may have some roots within our ethnic circles.In SIerra-Leone,we have Sierra-Leonean fullahs,madingoes,susus etc.Will these tribes ever felt as true Sierra-Leoneans or loyal to the state?There were stories about mistreatment of Sierra-Leoneans by these same groups while seeking refuge in Guinea.Also,the lack of solidarity and greed amoung ourselves especially the majority tribes.A bright example, the Slpp decided to give the leadership of the party to a madingoe which has left our country in this state of poverty and misery.Who to be blame?Only ourselves,unless we change our sick ideology towards our country men

Subject: Re: Liberians do not love us like we love them
From: Alieu Sesay
To: All
Date Posted: 10:01:53 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 67.63.2.157

Message:
Thats true.

Subject: From Cornelius Hamelberg in Sweden.
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 05:41:05 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3e8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.62

Message:

Oneliner,

Re - your posting

http://www.hwforums.com/2179/messages/30120.html

You may be feeling like a foreigner in Sweden or wherever you are. I don’t feel that way. Not in London or New York either. I feel at home. The birds are singing outside my study window here in Bromma. They’ve been at it all morning. It’s the mating season.
I live in a nice house with all the modern amenities that you could dream of. It’s ours. I’m listening to Johan Hedin’s “Innersta Polskan” just now. This Sweden is my country. I am a part of it and Sweden is a part of me. I got here at the age of twenty three. Perhaps some day you’ll read my slightly fictionalised autobiography. I’m still reading Amos Oz and I’m reading it in Swedish. It’s entitled “En Berättelse om Kärlek och Mörker” I’ll use a word that you probably understand, to describe it: it’s fantastic! I wonder whether you will ever get around to reading it. I listened to him present it at Hedengrens Bookshop when this Swedish version was launched. (Also listened to David Grossman at the Kulturhuset. In other words, I take part in the cultural life of Sweden. With the rest of my countrymen and country women Sang Happy Birthday gustily (in Swedish) to His Majesty outside the Royal Palace when he celebrated his 60th birthday, last year I have the same birthday as Princess Victoria, July 14…..

Yesterday we beat Iceland at football, 5-0……

I’m still having a great time in Sweden. I’m still happy to be here. I meet wonderful people everyday (I just talked to my former boss Mattias. He too is wonderful. My wife is wonderful, my son is wonderful, the cousins, nieces, aunts, uncles, and friends, are all wonderful. Nyamko Sabuni is wonderful, so is Joe Frans, wonderful – and humble too. (Only Carl Bildt our foreign minister has not been so wonderful, lately. My neighbours are wonderful: I am happy. Yes, I am still happy and grateful to be here. I could have moved to Florida or California in early 1970, if I had so wanted. My wife thinks that in that case it’s less likely that we would still be together. Some of the American soul sisters that we knew in Ghana did not like the idea of us being together. But that was at the height of the Black power era and those sisters in particular were in Ghana to look for their roots and thought that a someone like me being married to Sweden was making a powerfully negative statement about black womanhood and offered to replace/displace my wife, in my heart. They were as we say in Swedish “ Chanslös”……

But in Ghana, we had many good friends from the African American nation, such as Rudy and Thelma Silas, George Preston, George Crowell, Cyprian Lamar Rowe, Joe and Adrianne Seaward, Jean Love, John Hendrix, Roberta Turner, many others, and many others who were not African American.

I still don’t know who “onliner” is and if it is a/one person. He obviously did not grasp the meaning of the term ”sinat chinam” which is the obvious basis and motivation of his postings. I intend to get to the bottom of this today and I don’t have all day, so I’ll just write this briefly and quickly and then next step make a few calls, one to the police and see where we go from there.

In the meantime, I’d like to comment on the following statements made by “onliner”:

1. ” But Bra Cornie, how do you expect to function in a society whose language you don’t speak?”

Don’t be ridiculous oneliner, my Swedish is better than your English or your Krio or your French and some other languages that you don’t speak or read.

I have seven favourite Swedish Poets and I hope that Ngugi Wa Thiongo or Thomas Tranströmer wins the Nobel Prize this year. Mind you, I read some Swedish poets in translation before I got to Sweden and already like Gunnar Ekelöf whilst I was in Ghana. They are infinitely more musical in Swedish and in contrast to the connotative, there is all that very Swedish emotive content that is lost in translation.

Do you know me, oneliner? Have you ever been home to me, to meet my Swedish kith and kin? I’m Swedish too you know. Do you know how many years I lived in Sierra Leone altogether? How long I’ve lived in Britain? Sweden? Nigeria? Ghana? United States? India? Egypt? You want me to go on? I am more familiar with the literature and music of these countries than I am with Sierra Leone’s.

Sadly, Povel Ramel has entered the hereafter..... I first heard his calypso in 1972 and he has been everybody’s music entertainment an even before, and for me after that. In the early 70s, I knew Michael Ramel. I wonder if they are related.

http://www.google.se/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBR_enSE222SE222&q=Povel+Ramel

2.” As one of the many foreign misfits and an outcast of Sweden, your frustration for not achieving much in society that offers little to non-blonde Swedes is quite understandable. ”

I am not a ”foreign misfit” not in my first weeks in Sweden (on summer vacation here in Stockholm with my Swedish wife in 1970 and then back to Ghana, and certainly not since we started living here permanently in October 1971. I have a Swedish family quite a few relatives here, and none of my/ our Swedish relatives are ” misfits” either. My wife’s father, Karl Kilbom, was leader of the Swedish Communist party and later on – after meeting with Stalin, became a Social Democrat. He was a member of the Swedish Parliament for over seventeen years and a leader of the Folkets Hus movement. He was of Walloon (Belgian ancestry) His wife was also Swedish. I also have many other Swedish relatives but I don’t have to go into any details about them, suffice it to say that some of them younger and older are or have been at the top of their professions at universities, and other departments, in other areas, and in the civil service.
I feel at home in Sweden, culturally and socially and would describe myself as self-confident, self-assured, sociable, extrovert, an emotional and yet stable person - so the question of “integration” does not arise. As a Bo Town boy, you probably feel like an outcast, a misfit and non-blonde, a little too black in complexion and so on, but I do not. Don’t foist your own mental and emotional handicaps and inferiority complex on me. On the other hand, I have only had a (one) African girlfriend/ woman in my life. The others before my wife were English, American and French.

My blonde and beuatiful Swedish wife had a masters in Modern Languages( from the University of Stockholm) when I first met her – is a modest and politically conscious being, well read, contemporary, helpful to all and a most special person. I love her 1500% more today than I did when we got married at the American Embassy in Freetown in August 1969.

Of course, when we got to Sweden, everybody was and is still curious about me.

I should also like to explain that I am of both German and Yoruba ancestry. My step Father a war hero of the 2nd world war , John Patrick Johnson , was a Scot and the person that I knew as father from the age of ten till he and my own biological father passed away almost on the same day, he in London my father Theodor Hamelberg, in Monrovia, Liberia, when I was in Nigeria.

I do not have any ” frustrations” about ” achieving much (what?) and I do not believe that Sweden ”offers little to non-blonde Swedes” (Most born Swedes are not blond. Nor do I feel that I am a jungle man or have an inferiority complex about being born in Freetown. I did after all spend my childhood in London and Amsterdam and did return to Sierra Leone as a little Englishman. So I cannot say that In Britain or in Sweden, I have felt that I was in a strange place either culturally or psychologically. By education I feel at home in the Western intellectual tradition and it was to balance that that I took up African studies in Ghana 1970 – 1971. I learned to play African style guitar in Sweden - although I acquired the basics in Freetown, Accra and Port Harcourt. Playing, means doing what you want to do with the instrument.
I must also hasten to add that I acquired Swedish citizenship after living here for eight years, because I needed a passport to travel to New York in 1979 and my Sierra Leone passport had expired and after six months, the London Embassy was still delaying with issuing me a new one. I love New York I was there in 1976. I couldn’t postpone my trip. The Sierra Leone Foreign minister at that time, Dr.Abdulai Conteh , was/ is a friend a college mate of mine ( we both won national scholarship awards at the same time, for being among the top brightest guys in Sierra Leone in 1965) and if I had contacted him, he would have given me my Sierra Leone passport immediately. I did correspond with him briefly, when I got to Nigeria. He is my respected friend. ( About Nyamko Sabuni’s ministerial job – I have never wanted to be a minister either here or in Sierra Leone, where the immediate head of my family, Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston was the first Governor-General of Sierra Leone after independence ( my mother is nee Evelyn Kathleen Boston) If I had wanted to follow a political career in Sierra Leone ( my uncle Olu Beccles - Davies was Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, and another one Cyril Rogers- Wright was a UPP and later on a SLPP politician.) Some of my school and college mates became politicians. I mean apart from Abdulai, people like Abdul Karim Koroma; Arthur Abrahams (minister of education) some others. In the first letter that I got from Abdulai Conteh , when I was in Nigeria, in response to my question how this University of Cambridge man became a politician he wrote back that it was ” Fate and a concatenation of factors” although he much prefers the peace and quiet of academia. He is presently the Chief Justice of Belize.

2.” It’s no fu-fu talk that at this age of your life and the talents you've got, you’d have made progressive strides had you spent your life elsewhere or made an effort to learn Swedish to integrate better. ”

Perhaps you “onliner” should be making efforts to learn improve your English and to learn some Swedish – and to read some Swedish Literature. You could start with Harry Martinson or Strindberg.

3.” like Nyamko Sabuni, you probably may have been made Sweden’s first black minister, without asking you how many coconut trees you have in Sweden.”

You Sierra Leone people always thinking about politics- never anything else. You guys never want to be a GREAT composer, poet, actor, dramatist, playwright, guitarist, singer, or inventor. You always want to be president or minister and that’s all you can talk about, even on this forum, politics.

I a few subjects areas in my life. I also studied African History.

Check out this long thread:

http://listserv.icors.org/scr1ptS/WA-ICORS.EXE?A2=ind0611e&L=gambia-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=1029

I know Nyamko Sabuni, have met her a few times and feel quite close to Nyamko in some things and especially so after defending and trying to explain her on a Gambian Forum. I have had no interest in being a black or white minister in Sweden or elsewhere and N: B: Sweden is not a racist country.

I think that I would like to emerge as a major Swedish writer and poet, when I appear.

I do not understand the rest of the posting about cooking with ”coal pot” (what’s’ that?) and
” cooking with firewood inside of Pa Shaki's Kingharman Rd residence” etc.

About Soulay Daramy, who is presently chief of protocol in president Kabbah’s office. Yes, he speaks Portuguese e and worked in the Angolan Embassy. It’s possible that he drove taxi some evenings, many people do. Many PhDs in art history in New York are part time taxi drivers too. It’s an exciting pastime. Soulay was my best Sierra Leonean friend in Sweden, before I went to Nigeria. We used to go out together. When I got back from Nigeria, four years later, he was married to Regina and had become a housebound husband. He worked as first Secretary at the London High Commission when Professor Cyril Foray was Ambassador. He is charming and not at all arrogant. He invited me and my second brother to lunch, the last time I saw him in London. I last saw him when His Excellency Tejan Jalloh was here in Stockholm. He is a great guy an honourable Mandinka man. Loves Congo music and dancing, doesn’t drink or smoke. If you are in doubt about me, ask him. He is also a creative person, and I have the original manuscr1pt of a novel he wrote. I have that in my possession. There was almost nothing to edit except one word and up to today, we can not decide whether it should be piss or it should be urinate. (Smile, & wink wink, Soulay, and greetings to you & da president…..

Subject: Everybody is a 'Fulumunku' to John Leigh
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 05:34:20 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
Calling people names. Characterising people as fulumunkus and drop outs and all the other non english verb-like Krio words is very unbecomming of a man who sought the leadership position of the SLPP in order to be President of Sierra Leone.
Mr. Leigh has a baggage and it is called bad character. Humility is not a vocabulary in his world.
 

Subject: Re: Everybody is a 'Fulumunku' to John Leigh
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 10:34:27 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Not only does he have a bad character, he also is one person that cannot be trusted and in politics which is a deal making world, one has to have the element of trust.

Thre was a time in my life when John Leigh could do no wrong. I first met him in washington DC during those heady days of the AFRC coup. I was extremely impressed with the energy that he placed into his job. He n my opinion then and still is my opinion, "Represented Sierra Leone well". It was also clear that his representation against the AFRC were biased in favor of the SLPP but that didnt matter because his during the period of the AFRC intereregnum, even the partisan could be considered Nationalistic.

I started to lose respect for John after I realized that on this forum he found a need to address every tom dick or harry with very partisan responses on behalf of the SLPP and thus vitiating the Nationalistic role that had endeared many of us intellectuals to his camp, to such an extent that some of us were willing to jump political ship to see him become president.

Very recently my relationship with John Leigh soured because he maligned my reputation on this forum knowing full well that the facts that he published on this forum were false. His willingnes to mortgage my reputation to the truth was clearly an irresponsible act. He lost my respect then and from here on he is going to have to earn my respect. In the interim, I am weighing my options. I just might file a lawsuit against him for defamation and lets just hope that he prepares for that. Its okay to voiceferously support your party but its NOT okay to defame people in the process and it is definitely NOT okay to do so to people who have placed that reputations on the line defending you.

Subject: Re: Everybody is a 'Fulumunku' to John Leigh
From: Humble Man
To: All
Date Posted: 08:26:35 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-129-153-88.range81-129.btcentralplus.com at 81.129.153.88

Message:
If he had humility, at the least, he will still be SL Ambassador to Washington.Now he is just a nmae on this forum.

Subject: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Albert Moinina
To: All
Date Posted: 04:58:01 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: gth3vy2f.emirates.net.ae at 213.42.21.83

Message:
This is what Mr. Jalloh wrote which I strongly believe is the underlining and simple reason Mr. Leigh's support for Berewa, not SLPP, has met tremendous criticism. I have told Mr. Leigh in numerous occasions that I will NEVER UNDERSTAND HIS SUPPORT FOR BEREWA. Oh fulumunku lek me.

"Therefore, the entrance of Ernest Koroma or Charles Margai into a contest against Berewa can not -- and does not -- thereby suddenly transform Berewa from an unfit leader to one who is fit to be president, when, by your own admission, he is unfit to do so under any circumstances." Mohamed A. Jalloh

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: silent majority
To: All
Date Posted: 10:27:51 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 195.54.227.249

Message:
"Therefore, the entrance of Ernest Koroma or Charles Margai into a contest against Berewa can not -- and does not -- thereby suddenly transform Berewa from an unfit leader to one who is fit to be president, when, by your own admission, he is unfit to do so under any circumstances." Mohamed A. Jalloh

... "As long as the logical conclusion is based on factual premises, it is impossible for logic to lead to the wrong conclusion". Mohamed A. Jalloh
 

But Mr Leigh did not say 'Berewa is unfit to lead UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES'....did he? These are MJ's own words.

Mr Jalloh's otherwise logical argument is flawed, is it not, by the incorrect premise that

"...Berewa is unfit for leadership.".. is the same as

"Berewa is unfit for leadership UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES'..

The words .."UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.." have been imputed by Mr Jalloh simply because Mr Leigh did not add any conditions to his statement. Mr leigh could have gone on to say UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES but chose not to

I would suggest that the Mr Leigh's simply omitted to
qualify his statement that Berewa was unfit for leadership.

I think (and I say this with some diffidence given the respect forumites,including myself,have for Mr Jalloh) that Mr Jalloh appears to have deviated from his usually diligent approach. I say this because I am not even sure that Mr Leigh has actually said that Berewa is now fit for the leadership. What he seems to be saying is that Berewa/SLPP is the better option on Aug 11.

It seems to me entirely logical to think that Berewa was unfit for leadership in 2005 and to still think so. But when faced with the stark choice of the alternatives and considering the risks associated with those alternatives to nevertheles opt for Berewa and SLPP as the least worst alternative. Simply because Mr Leigh did not add such a qualification to his statement does not, in my view, require a recantation of that position. I think that Mr Leigh is a pragmatist. I suspect most voters will take that pragmatic view. I concede that Mr Leighs positions appear inconsistent at first glance. But on closer inspection i think they make sense.

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 10:55:14 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ip70-187-239-127.dc.dc.cox.net at 70.187.239.127

Message:
"I would suggest that the Mr Leigh's simply omitted to
qualify his statement that Berewa was unfit for leadership."

Your argument runs into the brick wall represented by the facts in this matter.

Specififcally, there is no evidence that has been adduced by you that Mr. Leigh "simply omitted to qualify his statement that Berewa is unfit for leadership" of SL. That is merely your unsubstantiated opinion. If you have evidence to support it, please set if forth.

If and when you do so, the inescapable question that would arise would be dispositive of Mr. Leigh's opportunism, as correctly alluded to by Critical Thinker earlier today. That question is:

If, as you allege, Mr. Leigh simply omitted to qualify his statement that Berewa is unfit for leadership of SL, why then has he never corrected the alleged omission all these years by expressly recanting his "mistaken" declaration of Berewa's unfitness for leadership?

The answer is obvious: Mr. Leigh never corrected his "omission" because there was no omission, inadvertent or otherwise. What there is, plainly, is a clear case of unacknowledged political opportunism.
 

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: KING LOGGY
To: All
Date Posted: 08:13:39 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-69-255-182-17.hsd1.va.comcast.net at 69.255.182.17

Message:
Mr. Leigh must have the right to support Berewa regardless of previous negative statements he made about him. We must remember that these things happens too often in politics. The question, however, is can Mr. Leigh's support for Berewa help transform Berewa from an unfit leader to one who is fit to be the president? If so, Mr. Leigh will have to explain how as his credibility is hanging.

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Albert Moinina
To: All
Date Posted: 09:01:13 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ftsniuk8.emirates.net.ae at 213.42.21.85

Message:
Good point, I am yet to see that convincing explanation.

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Critical Thinker
To: All
Date Posted: 09:15:58 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: sph16-204.harvard.edu at 128.103.16.204

Message:

JL should be more forthright and just say he supports Berewa because the he thinks the SLPP has a very good chance of winning. Yes, this may make him sound like an opportunist but he may be well able to prove to us that this he is not one. In fact, considering what he has done so far in life he should not need anything from Berewa or the SLPP in my opinion..

If Leigh still stands by his belief that he is more qualified than Berewa Leigh should run on an independent ticket. Berewa’s leadership capabilities cannot just be suddenly transformed overnight. If he truly believes that Berewa is unfit for leadership why settle for Berewa because the other two are worse off in his opinion? There are other ways to get around this other than settling for mediocrity.
 

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Albert Moinina
To: All
Date Posted: 09:26:09 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ftsniuk8.emirates.net.ae at 213.42.21.85

Message:
I once suggested to Mr. Leigh to form his own party based on what 'we' know and in particular Leigh himself has said about Berewa.

I have no problem about his opinion about Margai and Ernest. I have even said that he may be right. But truly, I cannot comprehend his support for Berewa.

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Critical Thinker
To: All
Date Posted: 09:35:58 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: sph16-204.harvard.edu at 128.103.16.204

Message:
"But truly, I cannot comprehend his support for Berewa"

Me neither. Faced with a choice between JL and Berewa many people including myself would choose JL over Solo. I believe that the simple reason for this choice is this: Berewa is part of the SLPP leadership that is generally corrupt and has failed to raise the people out of poverty. It's time for someone else with a very structured agenda and a sense of purpose to try to make this thing right.
 

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq.
To: All
Date Posted: 11:00:28 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Faced with a choice between JL and Berewa many people including myself would choose JL over Solo.

I would cose NEITHER. John Leigh canot be trusted. He is a loose cannon who has no compunction about maligning someone who was one of his strngets allies. He lied about that incident rather than apologise about it which would mooted the analysis issue. Although John Leigh and I have had many telephone conversations over the past few years, some of which he initiated, he claims that he did not have my telephone number or my e mail address which he does have. These are acts that go to the moral fiber of John Leigh.

I dont know Berewah well enough to make the same analysis about him other than the fact that after the AFRC interregnum he accused my father and a few other prominent people who were unable to leave freetown, of being rebel collaborators, which was untrue. He has not apologised for that since then. Further the killing of Kula Samba Abdul K Sesay two very good friends of mine still haunt my heart.

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 06:46:00 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
Mr. Moinina:

You are welcome. I have always maintained that the rules of logic provide the best framework for resolving competing arguments, precisely because they are no respecter of persons, only of the validity or invalidity of their arguments.

In other words, the rules of logic provide a fair playing field on which all arguments must prove their merit -- or lack thereof.

Subject: Re: SUMMARY OF THE CENTURY - THANK YOU MR. JALLOH
From: Straight Talk
To: All
Date Posted: 06:23:05 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
Albert, Ngor John's conversion from being against Berewa to being for Berewa, like you said, is something no thinking person could understand.

That does not make you a fulumunku. What it makes you is a person who thinks straight.

As for Mr. Jalloh, what he has done is to reduce all of Ngor John's many wrong-headed arguments about why he supports VP Berewa to their core and then expose that core as baseless.

My advice to Ngor Leigh is for him to stop trying to defend the indefensible. Better for him to tell tpeople the real reason why he supports Berewa, which has nothing to do with Berewa's leadership competence, since Ngor Leigh has already told the whole wide world that it does not exist.

Subject: Down Memory Lane
From: Karamoh Kabba
To: All
Date Posted: 18:25:13 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: karamohslylhorg@aol.com
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
From Awareness Times Newspaper in Freetown

COMMENTARIES
Sierra Leone: Do they have plans when the wells run dry?
By Karamoh Kabba
Nov 11, 2005, 01:05

DO THEY HAVE PLANS WHEN THE WELLS RUN DRY?

By Karamoh Kabba

Karamoh is the author of A Mother’s Saga, Lion Mountain and Morquee—A Political Drama of Wish over Wisdom

“A senior UN official estimates its [Sierra Leone] annual aid requirements at Dollars 350m for the next few years. ‘The major problem the country faces at present is that it is unable to raise the resources that a modern state needs, and on the other side, with the exception mainly of the British, all the major donors are phasing down their assistance,’ he says” (Financial Times)

The scenario above is the precarious state of the economy that awaits the next president of Sierra Leone. If Charles Margai, who has resigned from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), does not register a new political party, Sierra Leone will likely be left with the following; Solomon Berewa and Ernest Koroma, in the presidential contest of 2007. Meanwhile, the last contingent of The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (Unamsil) will be departing in December along with its buying power, leaving behind businesses that depend on them in an economic barrenness. Not only that, the economic aid too is plunging. Now, what plans do these political aspirants have when the donors say to Sierra Leone: enough is enough?

President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah’s recent statement, “I must say that some donors are generous but some make pledges which they do not fulfill,” referring to donor commitments is one of the indications that the government of Sierra Leone is walking a tightrope without donors—that the government has made no effort to change its status from a donor-driven economy to a self-reliant economy. It is ironic that officials in the donor nations too may be pondering: The government of Sierra Leone has failed to keep its obligation in cracking down on corruption. And much of our donations have ended up lining the pockets of corrupt politicians. The following statement in the Financial Times adds some credence to the sense of irony, “The UK and other donors have been pressing the government to tackle official corruption more firmly, but have been reluctant to protest openly about it as they have in Kenya.”

Foreign aid has been the source of government workers’ salaries and financing of many government programs. The Financial Times also states that “With foreign assistance providing half of Sierra Leone's national budget, the country relies heavily on external funds flowing into public sector projects.” It is reasonable to assume that these funds are like ademptions: they do not flow into public sector projects with transparency; they are almost reduced in half by the time they complete their tedious bureaucratic processes to reach the handicapped countries, notwithstanding the cost of financing the projects management workers. They are all foreign experts whose salaries are hundred times what these countries pay their local workers for the same jobs. What that means is that by the time the donors depart, the donations would have been in adeemed status, especially after politicians line their pockets. The only bequests to the handicapped nations become mound of debts.

One would wonder why such a handicapped government as Sierra Leone would be reluctant to crackdown on corrupt government officials who are left loose to use donor funds as if it were money to burn. Yet, abound on the lips and pens of many journalists, civil societies, political party supporters and friends of presidential candidates in Sierra Leone and abroad are such bootlicking concoction of words in clichés “Berewa is a Hurricane”, “The Red Hot Sun” and “Margai, the Comeback Kid”. They go about, “scratching where they didn't itch, and laughing when they were not tickled,” instead of demanding their putative leaders’ plans.

What is more, these amphigories for political favors are compounded by a notorious practice called “coasting,” a ploy journalists use to kill stories in the pressrooms that are supposed to enlighten the masses about unscrupulous activities amongst politicians and influential citizens. Sometimes, journalists succumb to the wish of politicians because there is a culture of shooting the messenger in Sierra Leonean.

During Vice President Berewa’s recent visit to London, it was reported that he reduced himself to inconsequential name-calling of people who he perceives are critics of him. Fortunately, these people live in the Diaspora; otherwise, I will assume he was earmarking them for vengeance. Paul Kamara, a journalist, was charged and convicted under the 1965 Public Order Act with seditious libel while the anti corruption is yet to make a significant prosecution. This should not intimidate Sierra Leoneans from asking these aspirants for their plans before they give up their votes. Standing up for what one believes is a noble thing to do regardless of the price one has to pay sometimes and Martin Luther King Jr. resonates this in his I’ve Been to the Mountaintop speech, “And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.”

Instead of “coasting,” which has a denigrating effect on journalists, they too should become instrumental in voter education by grilling these presidential aspirants in public debates. The reward from using the mass media’s capacity to reproduce statements of political intentions, aspirations, and plans is more than “coasting”. The mass media can use its capacity to disseminate the news as an incentive to lure politicians to debate the issues. Journalists can use print and broadcast media as a means of monitoring and following up with politicians as they tackle their commitments they will make to run the country without donors.

And such debates should be organized by the Journalists and moderated by some reputable ones, who are known for being uncompromising inquisitors, well-armed with pertinent questions designed to invoke the real men and women who are dressed in political suits. This will not only become a source of voter education and credence to journalism in Sierra Leone, but it would also make big headline news that will translate into big money business for the mass media industry.

This process will help the public to know whether its leaders are indeed “hurricanes”, “red suns” and “comeback kids,” or simply wimps, infernos and armchair warriors based on their performances in public debates.

For example, if an aspirant is asked the following question in a debate: ‘Our recent history is marked by indiscriminate raping of our children, wives and mothers in a war that was caused by excessive corruption in government. You are now all suited-up for the same position. We are worried about repeating our recent violent history in these precarious economic times. With that in mind, what would you do if someone rapes your wife?’ To this question, either a good leader with sound resolve under pressure would respond with deliberation by discussing judicial procedures to seek justice or spontaneously by lashing out; “I would kill that bastard!” But a bad leader without a resolve, when faced with such a tense situation, would ramble aimlessly in a search for answers he thinks the voters would want to hear. It is only through such means we would be able to tell goat heads from sheep heads or virtuous leaders from impetuous ones.

To come back to the donor issue, donor organizations do not teach us how to catch fish. The development packages that accompany foreign aid, in fact, seem only to teach us how to eat fish. The government of Sierra Leone’s reliance on donors without grassroots plans to redeem itself appears to present the country as a nation of lazy people who lie around thriving on being treated as a ‘non-profit nation’ by donor nations. Evidently, there is an influx of foreign Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) workers in Freetown while the pool of unemployed youth is growing. This is because donors impose NGOs on Sierra Leone to run most of the programs they finance as if Sierra Leoneans are Bruneians whose Sultan has westerners working for them while they indulge themselves. But make no mistake, unlike the Bruneians only the politicians have the means for indulgencies in Sierra Leone, guaranteeing the smoldering anger of the large pool of unemployed youths. Simply put, these donor nations are telling us that we have no development programs beside the strings they attach to their aid packages. Evidently, the only “development programs” the politicians can boast of are new aid proposals.

Recently, the presidential spokesman boasted of an aid package that was in the pipeline. And Kabbah was nonplussed when threatened with the prospect of donor non-compliance in fulfilling their promises. Even the outbreak of natural disasters in the world is not a wake-up call enough for the leaders of Sierra Leone. It does not take a thinker to know that those countries that are now affected by natural disasters will be at the top of the international aid priority list that could leave donor countries worn to frazzle. But Sierra Leone politicians nonetheless go about wolfing down, and wallowing in the mire, in donor funds. In this manner, Sierra Leone has become what one writer calls, a “money Bermuda Triangle” where money disappears as soon as it reaches there.

As elections near, the presidential spokesman making a flippant statement, that amongst Kabbah’s promises to the people to be accomplished by 2007 is a bridge across to Lungi. The longest bridge in the world, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, is 1,991 meters long and cost $3.6 billion to construct. In today’s economy, Lungi Bridge may hardly fall short of that figure or could even exceed it. Exposing the presidential spokesman’s illusory promise of a Lungi Bridge is the simple question: what economic benefit will a Lungi Bridge bring to Sierra Leone? What percent of the population will ever have the need to drive across the Lungi Bridge?

With less than ten international flights landing at Lungi International Airport per week, how much funds will a toll generate towards economic recovery or at least toward the cost recovery of such a massive infrastructure? It will even cost less and make sense to construct a new international airport in one of the slow growing provincial towns and a modern highway that will connect the airport to the capital city with the capacity to stimulate decongestion of Freetown and jobs creation in the provinces. Not only that, it will also kill two birds with one stone by adding to the only and worn out highway out of Freetown.

It does not require an economist to figure out that U.S. $3.6 billion can link every town and village in the country with good roads. Sierra Leone has some of the worst roads today in Africa and amongst them is the road to Kono District, the diamond-mining hub of the country. I will assume a good road network linking towns and villages has more of an economic viability to Sierra Leone than a bridge, especially in a nation that must revitalize its mining and agricultural sectors to jumpstart a manufacturing sector that does not exist, for a speedy economic recovery. It makes commodious good-sense for a country under such economic strains as Sierra Leone to embark on projects that will improve the lives of the public, instead of those of only the affluent. Not even if a quarter of all the vehicles in the city drove across the bridge everyday would it generate enough funds of economic significance.

It makes no sense to raise peoples’ hopes like that when the government cannot provide electricity for the city and the towns and villages, much less, a massive bridge. Is Kabbah’s government that myopic not to realize that the amount of electricity to light up such a bridge every day is about a quarter of the total power that is needed to light up the city? Will the Lungi Bridge supply the city with light or will it tap the limited power supply from the city? Of course, a bridge of such magnitude will be a death trap without a constant supply of electricity. Nonetheless, the leaders in Sierra go about boasting of massive development projects that have no economic benefit to the country or its poor people around elections time. To prove the improbability of what the politicians are telling the people, let me show you the numbers for December 2004 for fiscal year 2005:

The 2004 budget is weak on proposing structural reform and the IMF has recommended greater fiscal discipline. The government projects that domestic revenue will total Le333.2bn (US$127m) in 2004 and total expenditure LE839.7bn, resulting in a fiscal deficit of 24.4% of GDP excluding grants. The Economist Intelligence Unit believes that these figures are optimistic, and that both revenue and spending will be lower. Revenue will rise in 2004 compared to 2003, as tax revenue increases in line with the establishment of more businesses and the management difficulties in the new National Revenue Authority are ironed out. However, Sierra Leone’s porous borders, and the associated loss of revenue through smuggling (particularly of diamonds), will continue to limit revenue growth. There will be continued pressure to increase spending, given the huge rehabilitation and rebuilding work being undertaken following the war, but delays in disbursals from donors will create a funding shortfall. We forecast that the overall fiscal deficit (on a cash basis including grants) will remain at around 9% of GDP during 2005-06, which will be met through domestic borrowing. (The Economic Intelligence Unit Country Report December 2004)

Now, let us discuss the Sierra Leone report card: First, there are no new businesses; the only new business for the leaders is the upcoming elections. Furthermore, the existing businesses that depend on Unamsil are going to suffer immensely when Unamsil leaves. Second, the management difficulties in the new National Revenue Authority the authors of The Economist Intelligence Unit are referring to in a diplomatic language are nothing but corruption. Third, the figures in the country report mean that donor contribution to our total expenditure is Le506.5bn.

To explain this in simpler terms, say, for example, your household has been in an in-fighting for several years that destroyed all your sources of income and made you to become dependent on your friends for more than half of the income you need for your family’s livelihood. Say your monthly income is Le30,000, and needs Le80,000 to survive in a month. Your friends give you Le50,000 every month on a condition that you must use the money prudently. That means, you should not be in the bar drinking while your children are starving. And that your friends will only give you Le50,000 over a certain period. This means, your friends expect you to engage in some kind of a business or look for a job to attain a sustainable living condition. But instead, you become a dreamer of living in a mansion and eating in restaurants. So, your friends come to you one day and tell you that “although we intend to keep our promises to you, we are going to delay and cut down on our commitments because we have a more pressing situation at Magburaka where the Rokel River flooded its banks and destroyed the houses and sources of income for many hard working Magbass employees.” At this news, you become nervous and go on an accusation mode that some of your friends are failing to keep their promises.

Meanwhile, your yard is a lustrous orchard of orange and mango trees. Down the hill is a fertile swamp without any crop. A little further down is the river Baffin with a big school of tilapias, and on its bed, the finest diamonds in the world collide against each other. Yet, you buy ready oranges and mangoes at high prices with part of the money your friends help you with from one of them who comes and gathers your fruits in your orchard. When your friends presses hard on you, you say, “well, I need someone to work my land” even though you have strong and healthy children. Another of your friends takes up the mining of your diamonds and gives you 3% of the proceeds and takes the rest to his/her own town, leaving you still begging your friends to extend their support for you and your children. Meanwhile, all you care about is how much control you can have over your family to have an advantage to lavish the help you get from your friends. This is exactly what the leaders of Sierra Leone are doing at national and international levels. And elections time is the only time to ask them how they intend to change that.

Recently, I read in an article that Sierra Leone is the only country in the world where pregnant women are transported in wheelbarrows to the nearest medical centers for child delivery. Would the Lungi Bridge provide accesses to these poor people in such a difficult situation in these remote villages? Of course not, but it will reduce the risk for about 10% of the country’s population of very rich people and very powerful politicians from drowning in ferries or crashing in decrepit helicopters, and increase the all-time high infant mortality of the country. Though, talking about it around elections time will give them the votes to stay in power hence the end of the discussion about the Lungi Bridge until next elections.

But the opposition politicians always seem to be seeing the problems clairvoyantly from the outside. But that does not mean they are more capable of tackling the problems, because they too have the tendency to do the same things once they are voted into power. This tells us that, in deciding how to vote elections, party politics have to be a secondary reason to individual leadership character for voters in elections. In an interview with World Press magazine, Oct. 1, 2002, Ernest Koroma, the All Peoples’ Congress (APC) opposition leader was asked:

“A recent BBC report referred to Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, as a boomtown. Would you say that’s accurate? How would you characterize the current economic state of Sierra Leone?”

Mr. Koroma gave the following answer: “We shouldn’t get carried away. It’s true: Things are much better now, largely thanks to the efforts of international donors. But we still don’t own our mining, fishing, and agricultural, and cocoa industries. We’re not supporting ourselves. Remove the donors, and we’re helpless. We need to put efficient managerial machinery and effective governance in place in both the private and the public sector…. We need to construct the legal framework that will attract investment. I’m not talking about foreign aid. I’m talking about real investment.”

The politicians should be preoccupied with such questions from every angle. Journalists should not just leave them to parcel themselves in little packages for sale to their friends and paramount chiefs, who in turn call them by all these praise-singing monikers. While the ruling party leaders’ minds are roaming wild on the implausible Lungi Bridge, citrus fruits, such as oranges, mangoes and bananas, good sources of vitamins, reach the consumers almost in a perished condition because of bad roads or no roads at all. Even worse, they must be consumed during the improvised fruit season by adaptation. There is nothing such as a fruit season in neighboring Guinea because of its fruit processing and canning industry. There are tons and tons of fruits perishing in orchards in Sierra Leone, during the so-called fruit season, yet the people go hungry, and die of starvation.

The European would not come to Sierra Leone to set up fruit processing plants with the capacity to remove a few hundred jobless youths of the streets. This is the time for Journalists to take a leadership role in civic competency and ask these politicians how they intend to get the children of Sierra Leone off the streets. The donors will not instruct the universities to produce new graduates to come down from the colleges with business proposals that can be backed by government funds and monitored by government officials to create employers. For example, a simple background in food processing chemistry is all that is needed to operate and make available in the market place citrus fruit juices all year round.

The leaders, Journalists, the civil societies, party supporters and friends of presidential candidates have not been introspective; they have been spending the most part of their energy asking and looking forward to donor promises and singing praise-songs to the powerbrokers in the hope of having a share of the donor funds. Preparing grants is much more difficult, demeaning and conceding of national sovereignty than preparing proposals to make money by way of investment. And the grants are only promises, but what if the donor nations do not follow through as in the awkward cap-in-hand situation that left Kabbah complaining frantically about donor nations' noncompliance with their promises to their non-profit nation cause? Would the Journalists, professionals who ought to be a body of trustworthy surrogates, sits by and watch the people go to the voting booths blind, thereby sowing the risk that they will go to war once more, raping children, wives and mothers, not being able to tell who is who? The question for the journalists is Would they continue to “coast” the power that-be, and thereby side with those who are ruining our country, or would they choose to become partners in the nation-building process by starting a noble process of demanding good political manifestos from the aspirants and coaching the voters will be up to the journalists.

© Copyright 2005, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See what's free at AOL.com.

Subject: Re: Down Memory Lane
From: Nasultan
To: All
Date Posted: 21:16:41 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: nasultan@yahoo.com
Entered From: pool-71-250-23-234.nwrknj.east.verizon.net at 71.250.23.234

Message:
I enjoy reading this article. Good job. I hope many more people in this forum will discuss issues facing our country and not attacking one another.

Subject: Re: Down Memory Lane
From: Dr. C. Curtis-Thomas
To: All
Date Posted: 18:36:31 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 198.24.31.125

Message:
A very brilliant article.

Subject: Re: Down Memory Lane
From: jclifden
To: All
Date Posted: 18:46:52 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
In the real world some people have no real business to tend... they have no real impact inside their communities. They are powerless beyond their bedrooms and and have no influential capabilities.

But in the virtual world ...the invisible world... every one has some relative impact inside their cyber communities...

with just the click of a mouse .. and a few words from webster's online dictionary, carefully combined together....
Even a looser...a failure ...can instantly become influential and powerful all of a sudden.

I look forward to the day when all these virtual influential and powerful people transmute all their cyber energies into "The REAL world" energies that would lead to some positve changes inside their communities....

Subject: Re: Down Memory Lane
From: Olli Kangas
To: All
Date Posted: 06:02:05 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 147.29.114.6

Message:
Truly a scathing argument "Dr". How happy it makes me here 30000 km away to find such a retort to abstract influence. Your eloquence has convinced me, a simple minded descendant of vikings and the golden hord of Greatest Khan Temujin, that only concrete influence is substantial. Take that Dr. King, Shakespeare, Pythagora, Democritus, Rosa Parks, Mahatma Ghandi... I feel lifted by your driving tought that seems to be that the free exchange of ideas in an impartial forum is counterproductive to the state of the community. I too have studied the works of likeminded intellectuals, Goebbels, Lenin, Mao, Milosjevik, Thatcher, G. H. W. Bush, Cheney... Such great intellectuals who have left deep impressions to quality of life in communities near and far. But the most impressive part about your poignant wittisism is the honorific Dr. How great that a distinguished academic (unless you are a md, or from a "bible school") like yourself can so completely be without foretought and voice such a juvenile rant about expression of ideas as a source of selfesteem. A comment worthy Pat "delusional scum" Robertson

Subject: Re: Down Memory Lane
From: Karamoh Kabba
To: All
Date Posted: 19:41:05 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: karamohslylhorg@aol.com
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
True we can find the means of communication online, but what about our state of mind we are searching online to bring to forth?

Subject: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: SIR SAMUEL LEWIS
To: All
Date Posted: 18:09:11 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:

Victorious Victor Lewis

Sierra Leone People's Party Lewis Beats Buffy
By John Mansaray
Jun 6, 2007, 22:12 Email this article

The 38 years old vibrant socialite, sports enthusiast, newspaper publisher and popular businessman, Mr. Victor Lewis, yesterday June 5th 2007 scored a landslide victory over Buffy Max Bailor, during the parliamentary primaries (for the award of party symbols) of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

Although Victor owns a mainstream newspaper and he has several close friends who also own mainstream newspapers and who were more than willing to put their popular newspapers at his disposal, the young, charismatic SLPP activist did not use the media to solicit votes for the primaries but instead chose to go down to the grassroots people and canvass his cause right amongst those who really mattered in his Constituency 111 in Freetown.

His efforts paid off and this direct blood descendant of the great Sir Samuel Lewis bagged a whopping 82 (eighty two) votes out of a total voter college of 118 voters. His nearest of the four aspirants was Buffy Bailor who scored only 32 votes despite having engaged in a massive media blaze of burnishing his credentials for the reading public. The other contestants were Rosamund Mattia and Josiah Paris.

The Elections for the SLPP symbol was conducted at the SLPP Western Regional Headquarters at Rawdon Street in Freetown after an initial attempt to conduct the elections in the Constituency itself (Aberdeen) was botched over a disagreement as to whether the elections should be held at the Aberdeen Community Center or the National Dance Troupe Compound.

The Mende tribal head for the western region, Chief Younge, who presided over the voting exercise, thanked all the candidates for their participation. He also thanked the electoral college whose members he described as having been entrusted by party members to choose the right person amongst the four who should go to parliament and bring development to the Constituency.

The voting which was done behind closed doors via a secret ballot box was yesterday held peacefully without any rancour unlike the previous day’s botched event which was rancorous. Yesterday’s election was witnessed by over a dozen police personnel and journalists.

After the voting and the counting of the votes cast, Commissioner Younge called on each of the aspirants to make statements. Josiah Paris who scored no votes, in his own remarks congratulated Victor Lewis and promised to work and support him during the campaign period and at the elctions.

Buffy Max Bailor in his remarks, stated that his defeat was what he termed as "a big loss of opportunities" to the people of Constituency 111. How his defeat was such a big loss was not clarified. He however congratulated Victor Lewis and promised to work with him for the overall victory of the party.

Rosamound Mattia who scored 4 votes, in her own remarks assured that she was always ready to support Victor Lewis. She called on the delegates and supporters to refrain from intimidating any other side as they were all members of the same party. She therefore called upon all SLPP supporters to now rally behind Lewis for him to emerge victorious in the August 11 2007 polls.

Commissioner Younge, after all the sentiments declared Victor Lewis as the undisputed landslide winner for the award of the SLPP symbol for constituency 111 in Freetown.

After the elections, relatives and friends of Buffy Max Bailor were seen openly shedding tears. Some were even weeping profusely. Many of them openly expressed disappointment as to how they could suffer such a massive defeat despite the intense media campaigning undertaken by Buffy Max Bailor.

However, political analysts have reported that the media campaigning undertaken by Buffy Bailor was more counter productive than anything else.

His choice of a certain newspaper to use to campaign in a bid to win the hearts and minds of die hard Solomon Berewa followers has been described by sober political analysts as an "interesting decision". One member of the electoral college even went as far as to describe the decision of Buffy Max Bailor to use that newspaper, as a "very foolish move".

"I hope he has learnt his lesson very well. In politics, your choices have to be very well thought out and they have to be done with consideration for the sensitivities of others especially the women." one of the female members of the electoral college commented.

Subject: Re: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: boli
To: All
Date Posted: 12:48:17 06/07/07 ()
Email Address: boli@yahoo.com
Entered From: 80-44-81-243.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com at 80.44.81.243

Message:
I am impressed with the democratic way the SLPP are doing their candidate selections. Buffy does mean well for the people of Sierra Leone and would have got my support if he had won the selection process. However I doff my hat to Mr Victor Lewis and offer him my congratulations.

Before anyone starts, I am not APC SLPP or PMDC and I am happy to give praise where it is due. I hope other parties follow this open process and select their candidates through the same fair process. Let's not repeat how Pa Shaki used to 'give' symbols to sycophants and brown nosers.

Commiserations Buffy and good luck to Victor

Subject: Re: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: Question time
To: All
Date Posted: 08:21:39 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-129-153-88.range81-129.btcentralplus.com at 81.129.153.88

Message:
I thought Pa Max was dead.Still interested in Politics at this tender age of 90 years.
Pa, please give younger generation a chance.

Subject: Re: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 10:14:28 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Buffy is Pa Max's son.

Subject: Re: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 03:45:59 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Buffy Max Bailor is just as competent and would have been my candidate had I been SLPP. I know Buffy and I am sure that he has a whole lot more to give to sierra leone. I dont know Victor Personally but I do know Buffy and I also do know that he is a progressive.

I will be working now quite fervently to ganeer votes for the APC candidate who will be running against Victor Lewis.

Subject: Re: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 15:42:19 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Alieu, Victor is a formidable force to crack. aside his ancestral lineage to politics and good governance, victor spent time in all parts of Sierra leone and knows our people well. i was his senior headboy in a boarding school at some point in our schooling years in sierra leone. He is a determined yopung man. I erecall when we had a political party in the boarding home - Natty Rebel Party (NRP) we were against teachers dating school children and abuse of power. We stood our ground and made sure no such abuse was evident during our years. Victor is a no-nonsense guy. Even our leader will have to watch out for him. He only fears God and respects humankind that desrves respect. His physical stature is not in unison with the strength he spiritually possess. I sometimes laugh at him when he is angered - he reminds me of my father - height-denied but with so much power. God's hand is on Victor and our country will see changes through the likes of VIC LEWIS.

Subject: Re: VICTOR LEWIS DEFEATS MAX BAILOR
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 23:07:39 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Well done Vic. Knew you will someday pay service to our nation. Remember the - NRP - boarder?

Subject: £150,000 dumpsite completed
From: AWOKO NEWS
To: All
Date Posted: 16:38:01 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
AWOKO NEWS

£150,000 dumpsite completed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contractors yesterday handed over the Kingdom dumpsite and sewage pond rehabilitation which was supported by the Department for International Development (DFID).
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is responsible for managing the Transitional Solid Waste Disposal Scheme, received £150,000 in support from DFID to action the programme.

The funding is for the reconstruction of the perimeter wall fence and sewage pond in the site; the rehabilitation of all-weather roads, walkways and drainages around the site and the reconstruction of storage areas; sorting platforms; incinerators and compost pits.

In addition UNDP has also committed to identify a new waste site, conduct an environmental impact assessment on the site, provide training and sensitization to the Kingtom Community, and develop a revenue system for waste management for the area.

The Transitional Solid Waste Disposal Scheme was initially identified to improve the environmental sanitation system in Freetown in a bid to reduce child mortality resulting from high incidence of malaria and diarrhea prevalent in the country.

The occurrence of these two and other water borne diseases are directly related to the poor quality of sanitation.

This scheme aims to build a sustainable waste management system which will improve the conditions at the Kingtom dumpsite, and identify sites and develop plans for the future long term solution.

Subject: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Dr. CHARLES CURTIS-THOMAS
To: All
Date Posted: 16:00:14 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: RNMDTWO@YAHOO.COM
Entered From: pool-72-83-187-78.washdc.east.verizon.net at 72.83.187.78

Message:

So now that Hon. John Leigh has found the time to get his thoughts together I wonder if he still things that the following article by him will still impact negatively on "Berewa's Presidency"? (Dr. CURTIS-THOMAS)
---------------------------------------------------------
What Leigh wrote about Berewa in the past:

LACKS ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS TRAINING

Berewa’s attitude regarding the development of our country is most discouraging. His reasoning as to how a country like Sierra Leone is going to develop reminds me of someone not schooled or experienced in either economics or international affairs but who has, instead, been isolated in a cultural wasteland for much too long. Yet, this same misguided individual is been touted in certain quarters as the next president of Sierra Leone!

How can such an individual, lacking in understanding of how nations become developed, ever hope to successfully construct social and economic institutions that would help our country advance from last place position and make Sierra Leone into a place like Britain and the United States?

It is clear that Berewa’s announced strategy for Sierra Leone’s development, as reported by Messrs. Kargbo and Jalloh, will not work. His shallow and naive thinking is not likely to ever help the people of Sierra Leone improve the quality of their daily lives, let alone build a mighty nation whose standard of living would equal that of London and New York.

In fact, the mentality underpinning Berewa’s poor thinking is part of the very reason why Sierra Leone remains a place of extreme hardship for millions of people while a few are enriched from holding public office. We must take stock of our country’s performance to date and accept the fact that endless takings from others without giving something of commensurate value in return is not a sustainable development strategy at all.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 20:35:10 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
John Leigh refered to Berewa as a man lacking in the fundamentals of how to run a government for positive development. In fact John Leigh termed Berewa's announced strategy for Sierra Leone as unworkable.

Was John Leigh correct?

If John Leigh was correct, if elected President, Berewah would lead Sierra Leone into a state of mess.

John Leigh's statement is an indictment of the SLPP government because Berewa is the sitting Vice President. As the Vice President, Leigh is saying that Berewa is not an asset to Sierra Leone and that his appointment reflects on those things that are bad about President Kabba who is a failure according to John Leigh's previous assessment.

Neither Ernest nor Margai has had the chance to lead or deputize leadership of the ship of state and so, far less credible statement can be acceptable from John Leigh about the abilities of these men.

If we are now been told not to believe John Leigh's statement about Berewa then why should we believe anything John Leigh says about Ernest or Margai.

We are warned by John Leigh that 'We must take stock of our country’s performance to date and accept the fact that endless takings from others without giving something of commensurate value in return is not a sustainable development strategy at all.'
Basically John Leigh is saying that the proof is in the pudding and that Berewa's report card has a failing grade.
Folks, what can be worse than that. After all, Berewa is said to have a shallow, naive and poor thinking that 'is not likely to ever help the people of Sierra Leone improve the quality of their daily lives' according to John Leigh.
Why waste time supporting Berewa. Should the love for party outweigh the love for our country?

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: John E. Leigh
To: All
Date Posted: 20:45:01 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: johnernestleigh@yahoo.com
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
VP Berewa, Koroma and Maggai are running. The issue is who is the superior candidate among the three?

My choice is still Berewa even with all my earlier criticisms taken into consideration at face value.

Are you saying that because I criticized Berewa, I have no choice but to suport only Koroma or Margai? Otherwise, I am putting party before country?

Have you seen my more recent criticisms of Koroma and Maggai coupled with my statements of support for Berewa? Thank you. - JL

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 03:11:37 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
"Are you saying that because I criticized Berewa, I have no choice but to suport only Koroma or Margai? Otherwise, I am putting party before country?"

Mr. Leigh:

Your problem is insurmountable. Your earlier criticism of Berewa as unfit to lead Sierra Leone was unequivocal. For your benefit, that means you did not state that Berewa was unfit to lead Sierra Leone only under some circumstances. On the contrary, you stated that Berewa was unfit for leadership of Sierra Leone, period.

Therefore, the entrance of Ernest Koroma or Charles Margai into a contest against Berewa can not -- and does not -- thereby suddenly transform Berewa from an unfit leader to one who is fit to be president, when, by your own admission, he is unfit to do so under any circumstances.

Your surprising insistence on a transparently illogical position, as shown above, leads to an inescapable conclusion, namely:

That either you did not believe what you wrote about Berewa when you wrote it, or if you did, you are now recanting it without admitting doing so. In either case, your credibility is fatally compromised. In short, due to your apparent lack of candor, you have placed yourself in a no-win situation.

Which is another way of stating that the problem you have created for yourself is indeed insurmountable.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: silent majority
To: All
Date Posted: 06:34:30 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 195.54.227.249

Message:
Not so. It is not necessary for Mr Leigh to recant those comments. A simple explanation ...or rather 'putting it into context' should suffice should it not?

I have heard it said that 'logic is the art of going wrong with confidence'

Are you really saying that if Berewa's only opponent was Foday Sankoh or for the sake of argument Pol Pot of Cambodia then Mr Leigh would be bound to support Sankoh or Pol Pot? or remain silent as to the danger (as he sees them) of electing Sankoh or PolPot? Surely not.

Did Mr Leigh in fact say 'unfit..under any circumstances'...? I concede that if he did then that would have to be recanted. But I did not see that in the quote posted.

Subject: Re: ...Silent Majority Is neither
From: Ekundayoh
To: All
Date Posted: 16:49:08 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
You got than. Fiond another name that fits your prose style

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 06:54:05 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
"I have heard it said that 'logic is the art of going wrong with confidence'

Whoever said that did not understand the role of logic in providing a framework for determining the validity of an argument. As long as the logical conclusion is based on factual premises, it is impossible for logic to lead to the wrong conclusion.

As for your question about Foday Sankok's entry into a contest with Berewa, please see my answer to you under your initial posting far below, which I am reporducing immediately below:
_______________

"Now consider the hypthetical situation in which say, Foday Sankoh was the only other presidential contender runnung against Berewa. Are Mr Leigh's detractors suggesting that Mr Leigh would still be bound to support Foday Sankoh because of his earlier criticisms of Berewa? Surely not; given what we know about Mr Leigh's principled opposition to the rebels."

The problem with your argument should be familiar from reading my earlier analysis of Mr. Leigh's self-generated predicament.

Clearly, Mr. Leigh does not support Berewa because he (Leigh) opposes rebels. Therefore, as I made clear in my earlier posting alluding to the irrelevance of the entrance of Ernest Koroma and Charles Margai into a contest against Berewa, the entrance of Sankoh would not transform Berewa from someone who is unfit to lead SL, as Mr,. Leigh categorically and unconditionally told the world -- into someone fit to lead our country.

Such a conclusion would be valid only if Mr. Leigh's condemnation of Berewa's leadership capability had been conditional. However, it was not -- Mr. Leigh unequivocally stated his view that Berewa is unfit for leadership of SL.

Accordingly, there is no circumstance under which the same Mr. Leigh can be heard to aver the opposite conclusion without explicitly recanting his original condemnation. That, of course, is fatal to his credibility -- which probably explains his refusal to do so.

Yet, by failing to do so, he fatally mars his credibility. Which proves, as I stated earlier, that Mr. Leigh, through his apparent lack of candor, has painted himself into a no-win corner from which he can not escape with his credibility intact. In short, his arguments are doomed to failure.
 

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: silent majority
To: All
Date Posted: 08:07:38 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 195.54.227.249

Message:
I cannot concur. You are effectively 'putting words into Mr Leighs mouth'

To say.....'Berewa is unfit for leadership.'

is not, i suggest, the same as saying...'Berewa is unfit for leadership UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES'...

Those words are your words. It seems to me that Mr Leigh could have used those words but chose not to. The fact that Mr Leigh did not add any conditions to his statement does not mean that there not any. A common-sense interpretation of his statement (as the PolPot example shows) point to the fact that there were unstated conditions/qualifications. Indeed he himself has stated that there were unstated conditions. So I would simply repeat that a full recantation is not necessary. A qualification, in my view suffices.

The reason that i think this point is important is because i suspect that come Aug 11 a lot of voters who do think that in an ideal world Berewa would be unfit to lead will nevertheless vote for him on the basis that the alternatives are worse....far worse.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Mohamed A.. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 10:43:17 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ip70-187-239-127.dc.dc.cox.net at 70.187.239.127

Message:
"The fact that Mr Leigh did not add any conditions to his statement does not mean that there not any. A common-sense interpretation of his statement (as the PolPot example shows) point to the fact that there were unstated conditions/qualifications."

Your problem remains insurmountable due to the implacable rules of logic which conclusively refute your opinion quoted above.

It is an elementary rule of logic that a conclusion can not be supported by unstated premises. Once you understand that basic point, you should be able to understand that it makes absolutely no sense to state, as you did, that "[t]he fact that Mr Leigh did not add any conditions to his statement does not mean that there not any."

To put it another way, hopefully to aid your understanding of this basic point, please ponder the following dispositive question:

If there were any conditions Mr. Leigh wished to attach to his expressly unconditional statement of Berewa's unfitness for leadership of SL, why then did he not state so before now?

The answer is obvious: Mr. Leigh contemplated no such condition(s) when he flatly stated, without any equivocation, that a Berewa presidency would be disastrous for SL.

If Mr. Leigh now thinks the opposite, then he is obliged to recant his prior, written, and unconditional condemnation of Berewa. Otherwise, Leigh's nascent support for the same Berewa whom he had declared unfit for leadership of SL makes absolutely no sense, as I, and others, have duly noted, ad nauseam.
 

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: silent majority
To: All
Date Posted: 11:31:46 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 195.54.227.249

Message:
If there were any conditions Mr. Leigh wished to attach to his expressly unconditional statement of Berewa's unfitness for leadership of SL, why then did he not state so before now?

The answer is obvious: Mr. Leigh contemplated no such condition(s) when he flatly stated, without any equivocation, that a Berewa presidency would be disastrous for SL. - Mohamed Jalloh

Is it really that obvious? especially now that he himself has offered a qualification. I suppose readers will make their own minds up.

I note that you have now used different words yet again. Did Mr Leigh really say that "a Berewa presidency would be disastrous for SL" or are you again putting words into 'Mr Leigh's mouth' to make your case. The words in question are "unfit for leadership"

My essential point is that Berewa's unfitness for leadership can be reconciled to a vote for him in August..in the light of the available alternatives. It may be 'political opportunism' on Mr Leigh's part. But is it not conceivable that it is a pragmatic response to the stark choices available? Many floating voters are grappling with this problem right now.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 12:12:12 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ip70-187-239-127.dc.dc.cox.net at 70.187.239.127

Message:
"My essential point is that Berewa's unfitness for leadership can be reconciled to a vote for him in August..in the light of the available alternatives."

Obviously, that is a course of action available to anyone who has not previously declared his/her unequivocal belief in Berewa's unfitness for leadership of SL.

Equally obviously, because Mr. Leigh had unconditionally declared that Berewa is unfit for leadership of SL, that course is not available to him, absent his recantation.

It does not matter whether Mr. Leigh is now faced with a choice between Berewa and others -- because his condemnation of Berewa was not relative in the first place. On the contrary, it was absolute. So, the entry of others into a contest with Berewa is totally irrelevant to his absolute unfitness for leadership unambiguously declared earlier by Mr. Leigh.

Therefore, unless and until Mr. Leigh recants, he can not be heard to now state that the same unfit Berewa is now suddenly, somehow fit for leadership.

This is because those are two diametrically opposed views that can not logically be held simultaneously by the same individual. Therefore, in order for Mr. Leihh to validly hold his new opinion, he must recant his contradictory old opinion.

It is really that simple.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: silent majority
To: All
Date Posted: 12:33:51 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 195.54.227.249

Message:
It is only that simple if one accepts that Mr Leigh is now saying that Berewa is 'now fit for the leadership'

As I understand it he is saying Berewa/SLPP is the BETTER choice come August. With respect there is distinction here. But readers will make their minds up..

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 12:48:06 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ip70-187-239-127.dc.dc.cox.net at 70.187.239.127

Message:
"It is only that simple if one accepts that Mr Leigh is now saying that Berewa is 'now fit for the leadership'

The problem with your argument is that it is again doomed by the facts.

Berewa is not contesting an election for a position called "SLPP is the BETTER choice come August," as you imply in palbable error.

On the contrary, the election in which Berewa is a candidate is for the position of president of SL. Therefore, Mr. Leigh's newly-fangled support for Berewa must be for one -- and only one -- position: that of president of SL, which is the only position Berewa is contesting on August 11.

For your information, that position is synonymous with leadership of SL in the political arena in which elections are contested. So, it clearly makes no sense to state, as you implied, that Berewa is not contesting an election for leadership of SL. Obviously he is -- even if apparently, you don't yet understand that.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: John E. Leigh
To: All
Date Posted: 18:43:18 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: johnernestleigh@yahoo.com
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
Berewa has indeed enough experience and mentorship under Prez Kabbah and on the job activities in the mentioned subjet areas to do a good job.

His training and mentorship in the relevant area are substantially superior to that of Koroma, Maggai, Jalloh, etc.

I considered all such factors before endorsing him in writing on May 22, 2006.

Maggai has no experience or mentoring in any relevant area. Koroma was mentored by Jamil and ex-prez Momoh on the activities those crooks are experts on.

Koroma's righthand man is Victor Vouchergate. Maggai is surrounded by bangucrooks, disbarred, disrobed and defrocked tiff-tiff lawyer, frog doctor and a bunch of crookish politicians lacking in relevant mentoring or experience.

No matter what I criticized Berewa for he is by far superior to the rival opposition flunkeys.

If I criticized Berewa once and then endorse him for president, it should be assumed that I criticized his flunkey rivals 100 times over.

Neither Maggai nor Koroma nor Jalloh is any match for Berewa's innate intelligence. Thank you. - JL

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: FORREST GUMP
To: All
Date Posted: 16:10:44 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host217-44-229-252.range217-44.btcentralplus.com at 217.44.229.252

Message:
If I read this piece again I am going to complain bitterly to the owners of this forum It has even started appearing on the other forums
FORREST

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: POLOTOCIAN
To: All
Date Posted: 16:32:53 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
CURTIS,
What did Bill Bradley not say about Al Gore? He called him incompetent, and unfit to rule the US. Yet still after Gore defeated him in the democratic elections, he endorsed Gore as his choice for the US presidency.

This is what is expected in a democratic society.Intra-party politics can be nasty and cruel. Berewa was Leigh's opponent at that time, but he is now his party's flag bearer.Just like Giuliani and Mccain are fighting each other now for the republican presidency, do you expect both men to endorse a democratic candidate in 2008? Of course not.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: CHIEFDOM ELDERS
To: All
Date Posted: 18:25:53 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 198.24.31.125

Message:
Realistically, what John Leigh said, if true, "will it impact negatively on "Berewa's Presidency?" is the point at issue!

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 23:44:53 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
No negative impact on Berewa's Presidency. What Jphn Leigh said, as someone said earl;ier, intra-politics can be sometimes nasty and messy. Berewa was Leigh's oponent and whatever was said during the SLPP leadership campaign was based on the campaign for one to score more against the other. We all know what such campaigns can do but that does not necessarily mean berewa is what john leigh makes him to be in an election. Go back and look at the man's lowly beginnings to come to lead us today. He is on a mission. Until he sheds the coat of Pa kabbah club, you will only see a different berewa.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Nasultan
To: All
Date Posted: 17:32:04 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: nasultan@yahoo.com
Entered From: 216-111-14-77.dia.static.qwest.net at 216.111.14.77

Message:
So does this mean what John Leigh is saying in this forum about the APC and PMDC leaders true or just the same old same old dirty politics?

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: John E. Leigh
To: All
Date Posted: 19:07:45 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: johnernestleigh@yahoo.com
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
What I am saying in this forum about the APC & PMDC is for real. Their qualities are inferior to that of the SLPP and its presidential standard bearer, Solo B.

Maggai secretly set up a non-collegial one-manic privately-owned, dynastic political party and surrounded himself with dunces, junior tribalist blockheads, bangucrooks, disbarred, disrobed and defrocked tiff-tiff lawyer, frog doctor and crookish opportunistic dim-witted politicians.

He switched from party to party and was in and out of the SLPP for six, seven or eight times. But he and his dunces labeled Dr. Koroma a "turn coat" because Dr. Koroma changed his unhelpful Maggai mentor only once in 12 years!

PMDC complained about san-san boys, etc. then turned around and labeled Dr. Koroma "an errand boy" and "a briefcase carrier' and parrotted the incantation for over 12 years without realizing the conflict inherent in this conduct with the so-called 'positive change' pledge to our people.

I have never known worse dunces.

Koroma's mentor was Shahid Jamil, one of our country's greatest crooks. His righthand man in the coming elections is AFRC/RUF Victor Vouchergate. Stevens once complained that "you tiff tey-tey, you nor go tiff pass Victor Vouchergate".

Siaka Stevens campaigned to fight corruption. And what did he do? He instituted a culture of corruption in our country, instead.

Berewa is substantially superior to Koroma-Vouchergate-Jamil and Maggai-bangucrooks-tiff-tiff lawyer-double-cross-frog doctor-opportunistic politicians. - JL

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: SIA TIYAAMA
To: All
Date Posted: 19:26:54 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: freetownboy@yahoo.com
Entered From: 210-54-69-227.dialup.xtra.co.nz at 210.54.69.227

Message:
Mr. Leigh, what you said of Berewa wasn't true but what you are saying of Koroma and Margai is true? When people say you are unpatriotic and have a problem with yourself u go all over place like a mad dog, why do you think so full of yourself. Take this,with all the caustic attack on him Berewa will never forgive you. If SLPP is today in the bad books of the International Community it is because of people like you, who stopped at nothing to bring Kabbah and Berewa down when you were desperate. Go over what you wrote of Berewa and ask yourself if you ever deserve Berewa's friendship. Berewa is only using you now, by the time he handles and finishes with you, you wouldn't remember to spell your name. Count my words.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: John E. Leigh
To: All
Date Posted: 20:36:08 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: johnernestleigh@yahoo.com
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
You phoney Moniker user/abuser.

I write in the public interest only and whatever I write is true to the best of my knowledge at the time I write. But if I am wrong, I stand to be corrected.

Don't be a stupid fool. The international community does not rely on someone like me for their analyses. They are independent and well organized. They have their embassies, NGOS, multilaterals and experts. If you don't understand how the internationals work, please do not butt in and talk trash.

You are presumptious in purporting to talk on behalf of any presidential candidate.

SLPP is not 100% yet but it is getting there and presently far superior to the opposition. GOODBYE. - JL

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Nya Krio mui mia
To: All
Date Posted: 02:06:27 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Berewa is only using you now, by the time he handles and finishes with you, you wouldn't remember to spell your name. Count my words.
-------------------------------------------------------

nar now you go begin for see watin we bin dae tell you. Dem you demia dem ya so dem geh nasty trick en nor forget say as far as dem concern you nar KRIO BOY and unwanted intheir midst.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: CHIEFDOM ELDERS
To: All
Date Posted: 16:18:45 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: pool-72-83-187-78.washdc.east.verizon.net at 72.83.187.78

Message:
We want to know what John Leigh's thoughts were when he was "Berewa's opponent" and what his thoughts are now that he is "Berewa's friend". NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS!

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: FORREST GUMP
To: All
Date Posted: 16:49:53 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host217-44-229-252.range217-44.btcentralplus.com at 217.44.229.252

Message:
He has already given this answer to Moijue So I don't think he will add anything to it again. NOT A PENNY MORE NOT PENNY LESS
FORREST

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: CHIEFDOM ELDERS
To: All
Date Posted: 18:30:57 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 198.24.31.125

Message:
Since we were not privy to John Leigh's response to Moijue, the question is again asked for the benefit of all: "what John Leigh said about Berewa, if true, will it impact negatively on Berewa's Presidency"? This is the point at issue, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: silent majority
To: All
Date Posted: 05:54:19 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 195.54.227.249

Message:
Moijue's citation of Mr Leigh's earlier criticism's of Berewa is plainly a well aimed (and I would suggest legitimate)attack on Mr Leigh's credibility. But Mr Leighs defence appears reasonable to me i.e. that the context of his earlier remarks (intra-party contest where he Mr Leigh was a contestant)was different to the current situation in which a choice has to be made between the current presidential candidates. The nation's destiny (no less) rests on making the right choice. Now consider the hypthetical situation in which say, Foday Sankoh was the only other presidential contender runnung against Berewa. Are Mr Leigh's detractors suggesting that Mr Leigh would still be bound to support Foday Sankoh because of his earlier criticisms of Berewa? Surely not; given what we know about Mr Leigh's principled opposition to the rebels.

But there is , i think, a broader point which is that even if Mr Leigh's position on Berewa can be shown as inconsistent this does not in any address the broad thrust of Mr Leigh's arguments which is that given the history of the APC, and the relative inexperience and unpredictability of the PMDC the risks of handing over the levers of power to them are much greater than the risks (significant though they are in my view) of giving the SLPP another 5 years to deliver on thier promises. This is the main issue. Mr Leigh cites, amongst other things, a decline in meritocracy, a decline of probity in public office (ou sai den tie cow...), marginalization, the one-party state, the flight of stable capital and the resultant loss of jobs as the legacy of APC rule which led to the war. This indictment appears credible. With regard to the PMDC he refers to poor decision making and relative inexperience (my words not his). Given the talk about ban of all mining for 3 years and benevolent dictatorships his criticisms may have merit. He then defends his party by citing the end of the war, decentralization, democratic freedoms, rebuilding the health and justice sectors as things which have happened during SLPP tenure.

I do not recall any posting yet on this forum that amounts to a substantial and credible attack on these arguments. In the absence of such i suspect votes will on the whole decide to 'stick with the devil they know'

As regards the original questiion I do not see how Mr Leigh's comments could have a negative impact on Berewa's rule (if that happens). In fact they could have a positive impact in that they represent additional pressure for Berewa to deliver reform.

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 06:55:32 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
"Now consider the hypthetical situation in which say, Foday Sankoh was the only other presidential contender runnung against Berewa. Are Mr Leigh's detractors suggesting that Mr Leigh would still be bound to support Foday Sankoh because of his earlier criticisms of Berewa? Surely not; given what we know about Mr Leigh's principled opposition to the rebels."

The problem with your argument should be familiar from reading my earlier analysis of Mr. Leigh's self-generated predicament.

Clearly, Mr. Leigh does not support Berewa because he (Leigh) opposes rebels. Therefore, as I made clear in my earlier posting alluding to the irrelevance of the entrance of Ernest Koroma and Charles Margai into a contest against Berewa, the entrance of Sankoh would not transform Berewa from someone who is unfit to lead SL, as Mr,. Leigh categorically and unconditionally told the world -- into someone fit to lead our country.

Such a conclusion would be valid only if Mr. Leigh's condemnation of Berewa's leadership capability had been conditional. However, it was not -- Mr. Leigh unequivocally stated his view that Berewa is unfit for leadership of SL.

Accordingly, there is no circumstance under which the same Mr. Leigh can be heard to aver the opposite conclusion without explicitly recanting his original condemnation. That, of course, is fatal to his credibility -- which probably explains his refusal to do so.

Yet, by failing to do so, he fatally mars his credibility. Which proves, as I stated earlier, that Mr. Leigh, through his apparent lack of candor, has painted himself into a no-win corner from which he can not escape with his credibility intact. In short, his arguments are doomed to failure.
 

Subject: Re: ...SO WILL THIS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON BEREWA'S PRESIDENCY?
From: John E. Leigh
To: All
Date Posted: 19:15:24 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: johnernestleigh@yahoo.com
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
"........ the question is again asked for the benefit of all: "what John Leigh said about Berewa, if true, will it impact negatively on Berewa's Presidency"? This is the point at issue, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS." - CHIEFDOM ELDERS

The answer is no. Berewa is simply far superior to Koroma and Maggai in talents, experience and mentoring and SLPP is far superior to both APC and PMDC in organization, reach, talents and democratic practics.

Thank you. - JL

Subject: THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY IS LIKE A "GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM"
From: Dr. Charles Curtis-Thomas
To: All
Date Posted: 14:40:38 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: RNMDTWO@YAHOO.COM
Entered From: wsip-70-183-5-155.dc.dc.cox.net at 70.183.5.155

Message:
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM(GPS), OH, HOW TECHNOLOGY HAVE IMPROVED IN THE PAST 20 YEARS!

When I arrived in the USA ON December 26th, 1987, the most advanced telecommunication in the home was a "home phone". Then came the "beeper", then the "car phone", then the "cell or morbile phone". Now there is the Global Positioning System (GPS). I had my first experience with the GPS about a year ago; I had my first taste of what it means to be given on-site directions from POINT A to the elusive POINT B. You punch in your destination and the GPS does the rest. Mapping out your route on the screen before you, it audibly directs as you maneuver the wheel. "Turn on Kissy road, make right on kissy street, make right on Wilberforce Street,make right on Siaka Stevens street, make right on Barthust street, STOP AT THE CONNAUGHT HOSPITAL MORTUARY," and so on.

Besides being an efficient way to get you to where you are going, the GPS provides a metaphor for "the Christian journey". Here are ten GPS points to ponder as you travel the Christian path:

1. START WITH THE END IN MIND: When using a GPS, the first thing you do is program in your destination. If you know where you are going, everything else becomes clear. As a christian our first task is to be clear on where we are headed. There may be some detours, but as long as we keep the end in sight, we will get there. "Our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)

2. CHART A STRAIGHT COURSE: The GPS programs the most direct route. The point is to get you there as quickly as possible. On the Christian journey, we may be tempted to leave the beaten track for the tourist traps, but the straight course will lead to victory. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses"( 1 Timothy 6:12)

3. TRUST THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN: If we try to second-guess the GPS, it will take longer to get to the destination . You may think that you know a shortcut. However, if we waste time contradacting the guidance system every time it gives direction, we might as well go it alone, with no guarantees of making it! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path" (proverbs 3: 5,6).

4. BELIEVE IN THE BIG PICTURE: There is no reason to be frustrated or give up halfway to where we are going. The trip may be long, but we know we will arrive. This knowledge frees us to be optimistic, faith-filled travellers. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

5. DO NOT FRET WHEN YOU GET OFF COURSE: The GPS starts where you are. There is no programmed message that scolds you when you make a mistake and leave the path. No matter where you turn, the GPS just keeps charting a new course to your destination We may make mistakes in life, but Christ reassures us that we do not need to get bogged down with problems. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).

6. YOUR FUTURE HAS MORE POWER OVER YOU THAN YOUR PAST: The GPS is all about what is ahead of you. Pulling you toward the vision, it tirelessly recalculates until you get there. The detours and wrong turns mean nothing. No time is wasted analyzing what went wrong. All energy is spent pointing to the next waymark, "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3: 13,14).

7. EVERY POINT IS A NEW STARTING POINT: No matter where you are in Life, you are always at a point where you can start fresh. A GPS never flashes, "too late to start over." No, today is a new day. NOW is the first step in a fulfilling Christian life. "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

8. THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO GET THERE: Sometimes in life it is hard to imagine a way to extricate ourselves from the mess we are in and achieve our life's goals. The message of the GPS is that there is always a way. Whereever you are now, you can find your way home. 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

9. AS SOON AS YOU ARE LOST, A PLAN IS BEING DEVISED TO HELP YOU: The GPS does not waste any time. The instant you are off course, the countdown has begun to get you back on track. It does not matter whether you feel lost, a fresh PLAN is already afoot. "For when we we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

10. YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION: No matter what, you will get there. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7,8).

So then, each day, with its potential challanges and heartaches, is but a fresh starting point on my heavenly Journey. YES, THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY IS LIKE A GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM(GPS).

Subject: SLPP don finally cripple we.
From: Lamin S
To: All
Date Posted: 12:35:53 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-159-188-58.range81-159.btcentralplus.com at 81.159.188.58

Message:
Does any one remember John Benjamin and John Karimu and the part they played in the NPRC regime? These guys are now recycled SLpp players and between them to have seen fit to increasing revenue by increasing custom duties. How long will the people of Sierra Leone stand for this? With no tangible wage rise these bastards still see fit to come and take from the suffering citizens.
Does John Benjamin not hear the suffering from the masses who cannot afford to eat well three times a day. Does he still love the adulation he gets when he goes back to his village becuase he has the best house? But yet people are stuggling to eat a square meal or have no decent medical facilities or light or water.John benjamin is at the reigns when one pound is Le 5800. Has he his ear to the ground? Or is he surrounded by bellas
Does the one time geography teacher turned NRA boss not understand that if you put duties up the more people will climb your stairs to come and beg at his desk?
Does he not know that one spark from this election he can lose all that he owns physically in S/L.
Do both Johns know that the masses den nor glady and they know what they have in the country and where?
It might be late for this government but the next one will have to start on day one to lower all staple food stuff that is imported. Rice,butter,milk,co and gate,oil,sugar and so on, so as to have the average man can wake up and afford something in their stomachs.
I have just come back and have seen how destitute decent people have become. Your die hard SLpp degenerates have reduced folks in these past five years to worry,stress,skin and bones. Your own people are suffering. do you thing that it is the APC or notherners that are suffering alone? No...!!
Everyboby is suffering! Your party has not achieved NOTHING!!Do not hide under the peace! The few years of NPRC inside the war was better than now!
And let me tell you...if you guys rig one ballot, Sierra leone will burn beyond recognition. I repeat..one ballot. The people as I see it have nothing to lose. All those who have built houses and have bought cars will lose them.What happens after is anyones guess.
The John's know and have experienced a back lash against the APC.This time will be ten times worse.

Tejan Kabbah Put them duties down!
 

Subject: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: ASHAMED OF BEING A SALONEAN
To: All
Date Posted: 12:23:49 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-dtc-aa14.proxy.aol.com at 205.188.116.18

Message:
Sierra Leone the unfortunate country endowed with diamonds has spent all her years being abused by criminals calling themselves politicians. The crash of the poorly maintained helicopter that killed our Togolese brothers should warn us of another disaster in the waiting. The old and poorly mainained ferry that very slowly takes people across the river to Lungi is another disaster that will one day claim many, many, many innocent Sierra Leonean lives.

Sierra Leone is a country where political criminals are not punsihed.
If Sierra Leone cannot service helcopters, what makes anyone think that the ferry has a good safety record?
The kind of negligence that rules Sierra Leone is serious enough to make me think that Sierra Leoneans are less intelligent human beings. Otherwise, how can a richly endowed country suffer such poverty if there were brains in the country?

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: APC
To: All
Date Posted: 13:29:25 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 67.63.2.157

Message:
"If Sierra Leone cannot service helcopters, what makes anyone think that the ferry has a good safety record?"

Can you elaborate? So there is no confusion.

My point been that the servicing of the helicopter is the duty of the company runing the shuttle service.

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 14:10:56 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Governement departments have the mandate to test that the servicing occurs periodically. in England for cars we have, MOT - to test that cars or other automobiles are rtaod worthy. It is the duty of government or its agent to conduct regulars checks for safety before a certificate of worthiness is issued. The point is if the company don't service the helicopter, the helicopter will not be issued with a certificate to fly!!

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 16:04:42 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ws-lib234.lib.csus.edu at 130.86.14.77

Message:
Greetings my brothers and sisters. Let me start by suggesting that all the concerns made so far regarding the issues of maintenance in aviation, other motor vehicles, electricity, roads to name a couple, stem from the desire for change for a better Sierra Leone.
History reveals that the world faced difficult times in political philosophies, spiritual, technical, other social and economic spheres therefore, certain people had to lead the way in order that change be effected.

"ASHAMED OF BEING A SALONEAN" on June 06, 2007 at 12:23:49. you wrote: "Sierra Leone the unfortunate country endowed with diamonds has spent all her years being abused by criminals calling themselves politicians." Then you went on to say: "Sierra Leone is a country where political criminals are not punsihed."
As I heartily agree with your views, let me remind you that we should start thinking of a new approach to find solutions to our problems rather than propelling the same wind of self-deprivation that has been recycled over and again.
Rather than we be ashamed of or engage in retribution, my suggestion is re-evaluate, educate and re-educate. The realm of events that might ensure just punishment, if controlled by the one who is to administer just penalties, whom after being empowered to do so is capable of shielding against such equitable administering of justice, then justice will never be served and the mentorship of injustice will skyrocket. The fear of retribution will further the urge to tighten the shield. However, if such a person or persons become aware of what they might loose or are missing for their practices and are shown another way around without any fear of retribution, the tendency for such a person or persons to embrace graceful change is great.

"The Industrial Revolution was a major shift of technological, socioeconomic, and cultural conditions in the mid 18th century and early 19th century. It began in Britain and spread throughout the world. During that time, an economy based on manual labour was replaced by one dominated by industry and the manufacture of machinery. It began with the mechanisation of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal. Trade expansion was enabled by the introduction of canals, improved roads and railways. The introduction of steam power (fuelled primarily by coal) and powered machinery (mainly in textile manufacturing) underpinned the dramatic increases in production capacity.[1] The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the 19th century facilitated the manufacture of more production machines for manufacturing in other industries.

The causes of the Industrial Revolution were complex and remain a topic for debate, with some historians seeing the Revolution as an outgrowth of social and institutional changes brought by the end of feudalism in Britain after the English Civil War in the 17th century. As national border controls became more effective, the spread of disease was lessened, therefore preventing the epidemics common in previous times. The percentage of children who lived past infancy rose significantly, leading to a larger workforce. The Enclosure movement and the British Agricultural Revolution made food production more efficient and less labour-intensive, forcing the surplus population who could no longer find employment in agriculture into cottage industry, for example weaving, and in the longer term into the cities and the newly developed factories. The colonial expansion of the 17th century with the accompanying development of international trade, creation of financial markets and accumulation of capital are also cited as factors, as is the scientific revolution of the 17th century.

Technological innovation was the heart of the industrial revolution and the key enabling technology was the invention and improvement of the steam engine.[8]

Lewis Mumford has proposed that the Industrial Revolution had its origins in the early Middle Ages, much earlier than most estimates. He explains that the model for standardized mass production was the printing press and that "the archetypal model for the [industrial era] was the clock". He also cites the monastic emphasis on order and time-keeping, as well as the fact that Medieval cities had at their center a church with bell ringing at regular intervals as being necessary precursors to a greater synchronization necessary for later, more physical manifestations such as the steam engine.

The printing press is a mechanical printing device for making copies of identical text on multiple sheets of paper. It was invented in Germany by the engraver Johann Gutenberg in 1450. Printing methods based on Gutenberg's printing press spread rapidly throughout first Europe and then the rest of the world, replacing most block printing and making it the sole progenitor of modern movable type printing. The printing press's ability to quickly and uniformly disseminate knowledge aided in the propagation of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and other works of the Protestant Reformation, the European rediscovery of the Greek and Roman Classics that helped stimulate the Renaissance, the decline of Latin and the ascent of the various vernaculars, and the development of scientific journals and their specialist vocabulary, or jargon. The level of importance of the printing press is rivaled by few other inventions, so much so that "the invention of the printing press" is often used as a reference to the social, political, and scientific change experienced by Europe after the press's introduction.

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence was felt in literature, philosophy, art, politics, science, religion, and other aspects of intellectual enquiry. Renaissance scholars employed the humanist method in study, and searched for realism and human emotion in art.[1]

Renaissance thinkers sought out learning from ancient texts, typically written in Latin or ancient Greek. Scholars scoured Europe's monastic libraries, searching for works of antiquity which had fallen into obscurity. In such texts they found a desire to improve and perfect their worldly knowledge; an entirely different sentiment to the transcendental spirituality stressed by medieval Christianity.[1] They did not reject Christianity; quite the contrary, many of the Renaissance's greatest works were devoted to it, and the Church patronized many works of Renaissance art. However, a subtle shift took place in the way that intellectuals approached religion that was reflected in many other areas of cultural life.[8]

Artists such as Masaccio strove to portray the human form realistically, developing techniques to render perspective and light more naturally. Political philosophers, most famously Niccolò Machiavelli, sought to describe political life as it really was, and to improve government on the basis of reason. In addition to studying classical Latin and Greek, authors also began increasingly to use vernacular languages; combined with the invention of printing, this would allow many more people access to books, especially the Bible.[9]

Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice, property, rights, law and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why (or even if) they are needed, what makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it should take and why, what the law is, and what duties citizens owe to a legitimate government, if any, and when it may be legitimately overthrown—if ever. In a vernacular sense, the term "political philosophy" often refers to a general view, or specific ethic, belief or attitude, about politics that does not necessarily belong to the technical discipline of philosophy.

Three central concerns of political philosophy have been the political economy by which property rights are defined and access to capital is regulated, the demands of justice in distribution and punishment, and the rules of truth and evidence that determine judgments in the law."

As we have noticed above, the desired change can only occur through cooperation, education and sacrifices made by members of the populace and not only governments should any formidable change take place.
Until we Sierra Leoneans stop the idea of sectionalism, tribalism, the pull-down-syndrome as a mechanism for potent politics to embracing sound ideas, propagating such sound ideas for change, there will always be a recurrence of these sad stories. Remember, that most of the problems faced in the lacities you just mentioned emanates from a recycling of copied misguided self-development aproaches. But what would happen if another way for self-development coined into nationational development is taught that guarantees success for all will be embraced?
Most of Sierra Leonean ideas are coppied from people who enjoyed through such pettiness. The only guide for most after their mentors fail is: "I might not make the same mistakes" Ten chances to one, he or she never studied the mistakes, the channels that lead to them. Consiquently, the follower will repeat the same mistakes.
Note that change always comes with a price but the refusal to embrace change for the good will always cause massive deaths as you have mentioned about the helicopter and the threat about the ferry, and the many shortfalls that have accentuated the piller of many discusses on this and many other Sierra Leonean forums.
Sierra Leoneans are not less intelligent human beings by any means but as it is any way of life, history has told us, greed, selfishness, ignorance,nonchalant indifference, sycophancy are factors so ingrained in most resulting in the lost of lives, retardation of many others and has taken Sierra Leone hostage to the insurmountable difficulties disccussed in every Sierra Leonean quarters, rather than discuss about a nation that should enjoy her endowed resources, both natural and human. These examples of retardation is seen in every Sierra Leonean communities.
As I am confident of change for the better yet, I am also cautious to say that until those in position to educate towards these change, the ones who have seen the light pointed to change must take the necessary steps should such a change occur. You might not be the only one to question or think that way about Sierra Leoneans, many people do but if it is true that Sierra Leoneans are the most unintelligent beings remains to be seen.

Subject: BEST POLITE KNOCK OUT FOR JOHN LEIGH
From: ARIE WUTETEH
To: All
Date Posted: 12:10:01 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
Re: MONKEY NOR GO LEF EH BLACK HAND (SLPP)
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Cocorioko Forum ] [ FAQ ]

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Posted by BUFORD HWY on June 04, 2007 at 11:28:18:

In Reply to: Re: MONKEY NOR GO LEF EH BLACK HAND (SLPP) posted by John E. Leigh on June 04, 2007 at 09:55:10:

Mr Leigh,
In as much as I do want to carry on debating you on issues of importance to our country,I think I should stop,because of your statement that you made "I will not oppose my SLPP party 12mths before and 12mths after the elections." With this statement,it made me question your PATRIOTISM.I may or may not have the right to do so,but you have to know that you were once a representative of our beloved country,so uttering such a statement makes us feel BETRAYED.

Follow Ups:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post a Followup

Subject: Re: BEST POLITE KNOCK OUT FOR JOHN LEIGH
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 12:44:25 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
Hasn't Mr. Leigh already addressed this issue?

Let’s be reasonable.

There is no "betrayal" implied in Mr. Leigh’s statement "I will not oppose my SLPP party 12 mths before and 12 mths after the elections."

As a faithful member of the SLPP, it would be natural for him to forward his criticism INTERNALLY and not to be opposing his own party, shouting from the rooftops. This is not done. There is something called party discipline, although there are people like, e.g. Clare Short......
 

Subject: Re: BEST POLITE KNOCK OUT FOR JOHN LEIGH
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq.
To: All
Date Posted: 14:42:21 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
There is no "betrayal" implied in Mr. Leigh’s statement "I will not oppose my SLPP party 12 mths before and 12 mths after the elections."

Corn I think that the betrayal implied here is that of the NATION rather than his party. If he would allow his party to break laws and be corrupt which affects the nation then he has betrayed the nation.

Subject: Re: BEST POLITE KNOCK OUT FOR JOHN LEIGH
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 15:33:06 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
He was most vociferous about Makeni. It was a flat out, no holds barred criticism of what - according to him, happened to him.
I am not aware of Mr. Leigh having ever condoned corruption in any quarters and would like to ask you, what is the present difference between the APC and the SLPP and PMDC with regard to corruption?
The difference is that the APC says they will have ZERO tolerance. How does that translate into action?

As Mr. Berewa observed on CNN, the APC INSTITUTIONALISED corruption and made it a way of life, in a system that did not allow an opposition to protest or oppose such wickedness in higher places.

A few people got hanged at the discretion of your leader, including the minister of finance, Brigadier John Bangura and Francis Minah………

All these were treacherous acts and this was a betrayal of the people. Don’t ever try to convince me otherwise, that’s why some people are still in the Diaspora as if they didn’t have a home – and then you wanted to sell off some island and also ( that’s when I reacted ) also wanted to bury nuclear waste in Sierra Leone, for a few dollars more.

Aminatta Forna documents some further crookery on pages 257 -258 of “The Devil that Danced on Water”.
I pause only to give you some respite, but the gun is full loaded.
 

Subject: Re: BEST POLITE KNOCK OUT FOR JOHN LEIGH
From: M. Alieu Iscandari esq
To: All
Date Posted: 17:11:19 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
"I am not aware of Mr. Leigh having ever condoned corruption in any quarters and would like to ask you"
-------------------------------------------------------
Silence in the face of irrefutable evidence of corruption can be construed as condoning corruption
-------------------------------------------------------
"As Mr. Berewa observed on CNN, the APC INSTITUTIONALISED corruption and made it a way of life, in a system that did not allow an opposition to protest or oppose such wickedness in higher places"
-------------------------------------------------------
Just because Berewah says so doesnt make it so Corn. the facts are that the SLPP which led sierra leone post independence was equally corrupt if not more so than the APC which came after it. Of course this does not in any way justify the excesses of the APC post 1967, neither could I justify its apparent barbarism against its most ardent supporters. In 1967 I was 10 years old and untill I lkeft Freetown in 1979, I was not politically matured enough to participate in the political process. In short, Politics wasnt my game. In Adulthood however I have made the conscious decision to support the APC and as a supporter I have a duty to make sure that my party is positively reflected. If therefore there is some aspect of its existence that I believe would create a negative impacvt, it is my duty to reveal that both privately and if that fails publically, regardless of hether or not elections are 12 months away or 12 days away.
-------------------------------------------------------
"A few people got hanged at the discretion of your leader, including the minister of finance, Brigadier John Bangura and Francis Minah……… "
_______________________________________________________
If you had followed my writings in Cyber space over the years, you would have been able to come to a few conclusions about me.
1. I have condemned the APC under Siaka Stevens for the deaths of Ibrahim Bash Taqi, MS Forna, John Amadu Bangura and all of those who were hanged after what has belatedly been seen in retrospect as "kangaroo" Trials.
2. I am a fervent anti death penalty advocate and its a principled stance and one of the things that I wwould like to see on the APC agenda is an end to the barbaric practice of hanging people for any type of crime and principally so for political crimes. Thus I will support a constitutional ammendment to make the death penalty unconstitutional in sierra leone. Would you join me in that?
3. In 1980 My first protest in the US was against the government of siaka stevens plan to use sierra leone as a dumping ground for toxic nuclear wastes. In fact it was rumoured then that the mother of Omrie Golley was the person behind the project. I stood up then for Justice and for the sierra leone people against Siaka Stevens and the APC. In 1977, I was also instrumental in putting student groups together against the govt of siaka stevens. Given this hiostory of [protest against the APC why then am I APC you may ask. The answer is simple, It is tghe ONLY political [party in Sierra Leone that is not tribally hedgemonistic contrary to what John Leigh has been poresaching on this forum, is all encompassing and under its present leadership means well for the nation of sierra leone.

So you see my friend uncock your loaded gun and relax because theres going to be no fightingt here just pure intellectual interraction which I enjoy and look forward to getting into with you.

Shallom
-------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: BEST POLITE KNOCK OUT FOR JOHN LEIGH
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 17:42:15 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
”Silence in the face of irrefutable evidence of corruption can be construed as condoning corruption."

He hasn't been silent and neither have you.

" So you see my friend uncock your loaded gun and relax because theres going to be no fighting here just pure intellectual interaction which I enjoy and look forward to getting into with you."

Well I talked about a fully loaded gun metaphorically of course, with many more rounds of arguments to fire and in using the expression " loaded gun" I was at the same time thinking of a translation of Kabir's poem by Robert Bly, in which the Hindu poet asks “How can you expect love to grow when in your heart there is a loaded gun?” I think that those are the words of translation remembered or not so accurately remembered from many years ago… the question remains for some of those who hate…….

I don’t.

I’m also 85% sure as to the identity of onliner and why he’s not happy. But 85% is less than certainty. He’s the same person that’s been pursuing me on the Forum, changing disguises and pursuing me through the years…. He’s not happy because of a success on my side that has been reported to him ( he can't control the fires of jealousy that are raging through him and I’ve heard that bitterness and rage issue from those hind quarters before and secondly I do not want to be some Sierra Leone ambassador or functionary here.

It’s never too late to cry or to die……

I'm learning a lot, mostly listening attentively

Subject: Pilgrimage to the homeland – Mamma Africa!
From: Tiplah Nah
To: All
Date Posted: 11:37:42 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:

With Kids in Logan Town

Pilgrimage to the homeland – Mamma Africa!
06/05/07 - Tiplah Nah Broadnax, Contributing Writer

Monrovia - Sipping champagne with my best friend on Delta flight 166 eased all the tensions that led to this amazing moment. From the high cost of excess baggage, to the over booked flights that meant a no go for non-revenue travelers, which in turn led to the almost missed flight to Africa!

Ahh…once finally seated in business class, we looked at each other and smiled at the realization of the journey we were embarking on. Anticipation filled my spirit as I tried to quiet the voices in my head. Those voices of loved ones and friends, all telling me what my experience would be like. I needed to shut them out in order to be able to tell my own story. I first visited Ghana for a 3 hour layover. Of the little I saw of this flourishing economy, their dedication to their country, culture, and heritage, I was very impressed.

Subject: Heli-Crash, what's John Leigh's take?
From: Bassie Amara
To: All
Date Posted: 11:15:23 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: eduproxy1.k12.de.us at 167.21.254.11

Message:
It has been two days now since the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of our brothers and sisters from Togo and nothing has been heard from SLPP's biggest and loudest mouth - Yes, I mean John Leigh. I wonder if he has anything to say on an issue this big and important. An issue that definitely exposes the blatant negligence with which the Kabba/Berewa administration executes its functions.

Give us your own version of apologies on behalf of your masters........or may be your critical and serious input on the event. This is an opportunity for you to get involved in a serious debate and for you to take a break from your blind praise-singing on behalf of Berewa.

Subject: Re: Heli-Crash, what's John Leigh's take?
From: Spokesman
To: All
Date Posted: 18:34:06 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-129-153-37.range81-129.btcentralplus.com at 81.129.153.37

Message:
He would love to say, APC did it, and they bombed the helicopter etc etc, but he is perhaps preparing a statement, and will come out with it soon.

Subject: Re: Heli-Crash, what's John Leigh's take?
From: Deensie
To: All
Date Posted: 16:49:03 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ool-4573708c.dyn.optonline.net at 69.115.112.140

Message:
Hey Tambs ..Oooooooppps Brima, whats up with you? How is Europe? Express my regards to Deensie...well except u are all one and the same.
Deensie

Subject: Re: Heli-Crash, what's John Leigh's take?
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 12:49:08 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
Now you are all shouting yaga yaga!!

Why didn't you shout before this?

It was an accident - could even have been sabotage, so that you can blame the tragedy on the SLPP.

Subject: Re: Heli-Crash, what's John Leigh's take?
From: MUNKU BOB
To: All
Date Posted: 11:20:46 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Hey Bob Jusu,

wassup? How is Mathew Williams doing? Where is Carl Thomas? Hey Munku Bob, take care man

Subject: Re: Heli-Crash, what's John Leigh's take?
From: Deensie
To: All
Date Posted: 15:35:22 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 208.41.8.154

Message:
Bo Deensie lef me bo. wetin na u problem. u feel say ar nor know wetin de happen? way brima, you penname? So na Tambs na de pencil name now?
Oppss

Subject: Joke of the Day
From: Albert Moinina
To: All
Date Posted: 09:16:59 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: gth3vy2f.emirates.net.ae at 213.42.21.83

Message:
'SLLP is a No-Nonse Party' Neneh

Hehehehe, bo lah nor suffocate inside me hole. Gee me wata lah drink.

Subject: Re: Joke of the Day
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 09:55:53 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
correct Krio:

leh ah noh suffocate, gee me wata leh ah drink

Subject: Re: Joke of the Day
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 11:10:31 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
correction sir

mek ah noh suffocate,gee me wata mek ah drink

Subject: Re: Joke of the Day
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 12:01:33 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
I'd say Make and not mek or Mecca

Subject: Re: Joke of the Day
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 12:30:24 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
Sir,
I think we should open KRIO SCHOOLS in Stockholm and Atlanta for our Swedish and American children.What is your take?

Subject: Re: Joke of the Day
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 13:31:10 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:

Sir,

I'm still here in this Forum , for love of country.

What you suggest is a good idea. There's already some work being done on Krio, by Johan, Nordlander
in Umeå:

http://www.google.se/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBR_enSE222SE222&q=Krio+Studies+in+Ume%C3%A5&btnG=Search

Home language education is a conscious choice of the responsible parent.

Did you read this article?
http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/article.php3?id_article=1280

There are KRIO home language teachers in Sweden. With Krio as the Lingua Franca of Sierra Leone, and the lingua franca of ex-British West Africa, it ought to be a priority not only in Stockholm and Atlanta (where I assume you are) but also in Sierra Leon where the Ministry of Education is based.

My son started school in Nigeria (a year) - that in itself was an asset (he knows that we don't swing from trees). His Swedish mother understands Krio (and speaks six European languages fluently) ... also did research on ITA Wallace Johnson, Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe ( Zik of Africa ) - in connection with the West African Youth league) – so again, parental consciousness goes along way in child rearing…..

Professor Jones and other specialists in Krio will surely agree with that Krio is very important and should have an important place in the school curriculum.

Consider that Krio ( unlike Latin) is a fastest growing language, rich and getting richer by the day , by absorbing loan words , e.g. Emerson’s use of Swegbe ( which in Yoruba means fool). Listening to lyrics in Lingala I occasionally hear some swearing done in Swedish (e.g. “djävla mama!” although it’s possible that when that happens, the vocalist must have been singing / speaking in tongues.

As you know, it's good for the next generation of Diaspora children to be able to speak one of the languages.......
If language is intrinsic to cultural identity, and a tool of communication or self expression then most of our poets (in particular) would be more effective in their mother tongues – where their eras are more attuned to, e.g. onomatopoeia.

I notice that there’s a lot of poetry about war, corruption, etc but very little “love” poetry, by our poets, who use the medium of English – perhaps tenderness is foreign in the indigenous tongue too? I don’t know. I am acquainted with the whole corpus that existed before and after the Petrarchan sonnet…….

Re-consider these words from Joseph Brodsky’s Nobel Prize Lecture in 1987:

“The poet, I wish to repeat, is language's means for existence--or, as my beloved Auden said, he is the one by whom it lives. I who write these lines will cease to be; so will you who read them. But the language in which they are written and in which you read them will remain not merely because language is more lasting than man, but because it is more capable of mutation."

Subject: Re: Joke of the Day
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 11:56:24 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
There is RP of course and now that Krio is nation wide lingua franc, I suppose that non-Krios are in the majority, just vas non –Englishmen are the majority of English speakers in today’s Caliban world.

We are both correct. My translation is "I don't want to suffocate; please give me some water to drink"

I was correcting the faulty pronunciation (lah) of the original (bo lah nor suffocate inside me hole. Gee me wata lah drink) due to Mende language interference in "lah” whereas I, as a Krio speaker would quite naturally say LEH AH

Let me / leh ah /let I/ allow me to) drink some water.....

The Rev will remember John 4:5-42

Language interference?
I was a Krio language informant to Professor Jack Berry (of North Western) whilst he was in Ghana. I was fired because of language interference in my case slightly/ imperceptibly anglicised in differentiating between nah JUDGE and nah George. I was furious...MY langauge!!!
Krios have the rolling RRRRR

I listen to Krio speakers with fascination (that’s why I pay attention, and try to hear in my minds ear, Odunbaku rapping …. There is also something called “ auditory imagination”
Is it Professor Lunsar Krio or the Dr. Abou Bai-Sheka, the Professor from Gbinti that has the last word here?
Id’ give the last word to Professor Eldred Jones and his immediate ancestors…..

Subject: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: news
To: All
Date Posted: 07:44:08 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
Posted by Independent Observer on June 06, 2007 at 07:40:31:

In Reply to: Re: Sierra Leone: High Levels of Corruption remain posted by CADMUS on May 30, 2007 at 10:49:55:

"Now don't get me wrong, CORRUPTION in any language, colour, country, Shape of Form is, and should be unacceptable....but please stop trying to fool our people by pretending that it only happens in Sa lone."

CADMUS:

What you fail to realize is that the SLPP's notorious corruption is UNIQUE in the world: There is no other country in the world whose capital city has lacks regular electity, potable runing water, sanitation facilities, paved roads, and affordable medical facilities.

Therefore, whereas therfe is corruption in other countries, the corruption of the SLPP government is unmatched ANYWHERE in the world.

So, it is a mark of utter stupidity on your part and that of your even more daft fellow blind SLPP apologists, John Leigh and Edmund Koker,to equate the SLPP's unprecedented corruption to that of countries whose citizens enjoy all of the amenities that the corrupt SLPP has deprived millions of Sierra Leoneans of, for each and every year of its 10 years of misruling our country.

Underscoring the never-befofre-heard-of massive corruption of the SLPP government of President Kabbah and Vice President Berewa, they have caused millions of Sierra Leoneans to suffer as never before in the history of Sierra Leone despite recieving more than $1.5 billion in foreign aid for the benefit of the people. Instead, the traitors Kabbah and Berewa have squandered that all that massive amount of money on themselves and their fellow corrupt cronies in the rotten SLPP government.

It is that same rotten SLPP government that you and your fellow SLPP apologists, John Leigh, Edmund Koker and other blind SLPP supporters have the unpatriotic gall to say should be allowed to continue to inflict massive suffering upon the people of Sierra Leone.

No wonder you and your fellow blind SLPP apologists have been described correctly as traitors to the people of Sierra Leone.

Subject: Re: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: CADMUS
To: All
Date Posted: 11:41:56 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 82.198.250.17

Message:
NEWS,
What took you so long coming back on this one.

You say...'Kabbah and Berewa has caused Sierra leoneans to suffer as never before'....do you really mean that? Does that include the period of the APC government? does it also include the suffering of Sierra leoeans during the rebel wars? or were those two periods better than the past 9 years of SLPP rule?..Excercise your little pea brain before you answer this, because most people in Sa lone will tell you different...except ofcourse if you were a REBEL....now that will not surprise me.

Subject: Re: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: news
To: All
Date Posted: 15:46:23 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
"You say...'Kabbah and Berewa has caused Sierra leoneans to suffer as never before'....do you really mean that? Does that include the period of the APC government? does it also include the suffering of Sierra leoeans during the rebel wars?"

CADMUS:

The answer to your two questions are a resounding yes. Of course the SLPP has caused suffering never before seen in Sierra Leone. For you to see that, try to follow the following simple analysis:

1. During the APC, Sierra Leoneans had electricity and runing water in most areas of the country, clean streets and no widespread rebel atrocities.

2. During ther rebel war, Sierra Leoneans suffered a lot from rebel atrocities under the NPRC and the SLPP regimes. However, under the NPRC, those Sierra Leoneans still had electricity and runing water. But, under the SLPP, they did not have the electricity and potable running water they had under the NPRC -- thus making the SLPP the worst government in the hisotory of Sierra Leone.

For the benefit of your "pea brain," that means it was only during the SLPP regime that Sierra leoneans not only had to suffer from rebel attacks but they also suffered from no reliable electricity and potable running water, no medicines, no sanitation facilities no jobs and no hope.

Do you now finally understand, dimwitted SLPP apologist CADMUS, that the SLPP is simply the worst government in the history of Sierra Leone?

Subject: Re: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: CADMUS
To: All
Date Posted: 11:39:26 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 82.198.250.81

Message:
There is no getting to some people.....If that is what gets to your 'pea' brain then that is fine by me.

Subject: Re: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: SLPP
To: All
Date Posted: 08:45:43 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
There is no other country in the world whose capital city has lacks regular electity, potable runing water, sanitation facilities, paved roads, and affordable medical facilities.
-----------------------

That says it all. SLPP must go. If not, suffering will continue in salone for another 10 years, mark my words.

Subject: Re: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: APC
To: All
Date Posted: 08:49:10 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 67.63.2.157

Message:
mark your words?
What are you? fortune teller? CALL ME NOW!

The only word we are marking is VICTORT SLPP.

Subject: Re: REBUTTAL OF THE YEAR
From: Question
To: All
Date Posted: 09:03:54 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com at 152.163.101.14

Message:
"The only word we are marking is VICTORT SLPP.

So, you are now the fortune teller?

Subject: WAS PRINCE HARDING A SHAREHOLDER OF PARAMOUNT AIRLINE?
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 07:35:10 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:

Dead Togolese To Be Flown Home Today
According to medical sources, the charred bodies of the victims were barely recognizable and as it stated that scientific methods of identification such as the teeth and other parts of the body may be used to identify the victims.
He further stated, “it is just possible that some of them will be identified from the clothes they had on before the accident or from the jewelleries they wore or even their wrist watches.”
He further stated that coffins had been built for the purposes of transporting the remains of the victims to Togo.
A Sierra Leone government delegation, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Defence, a representative from the Transport and Communications Ministry, some journalists from the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, the SLFA President, will fly to Lome to take part in the funeral ceremonies.
The ill-fated last flight by the victims has created a national uproar which has caused the government to react by relieving the Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr. Prince Alex Harding and his Director and Deputy Director of Civil Aviation of their duties.
A furious senior government official said to the New Citizen yesterday, “the Minister had been warned that he should treat the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation seriously, but avoided the advice of everybody and allowed the paramount helicopter to recommence flying even though the helicopters of that company had been grounded on the grounds of not meeting internationally accepted standards.”
A government statement yesterday stated that apart from the helicopters owned by paramount, other helicopter companies operating in Sierra Leone have also been asked to ground their helicopters, which to some members of the public is an attempt to shield Prince Harding who had given paramount a free hand to illegally operate in Sierra Leone.
Other helicopter companies such as UTAir have met international safety standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and therefore it is most unfair to ground their helicopters just because the company of which Prince Harding is a shareholder has fallen foul of the law and has killed innocent foreigners.
Posted on 06 Jun 2007
 

Subject: WHY SHOULD PRINCE HARDING RESIGN?
From: Development Gateway
To: All
Date Posted: 07:17:42 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: freetownboy@yahoo.com
Entered From: 210-54-68-165.dialup.xtra.co.nz at 210.54.68.165

Message:
Gentlemen, you are being very harsh on Prince Harding. What crime did he commit? What is in Sierra Leone managed by SLPP that is in good condition? Tell me. Besides, it was not Prince Harding's desire for that copter to crash.

Between Prince Harding and Okere Adams, who should resign? Why did President Kabbah retained Okere Adams after all the criminal findings ACC had against him? What is Okere's usefulness to Sierra Leone? What has NPA management not done? Do you know how many vehicles are crashing each day due to SLRA's recklessnes? Leave Prince Harding alone. The reals criminals are the Okere Adams who continue to live on the sweat and blood of Sierra Leoneans.

Subject: Re: WHY SHOULD PRINCE HARDING RESIGN?
From: okdok
To: All
Date Posted: 07:33:27 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: okdok@yahoo.com
Entered From: wnpgmb11dc1-161-173-253.dynamic.mts.net at 142.161.173.253

Message:
Is this another campaign?

Subject: Re: WHY SHOULD PRINCE HARDING RESIGN?
From: Madakoh
To: All
Date Posted: 07:29:58 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: akomengot@yahoo.co.uk
Entered From: cache-los-ae04.proxy.aol.com at 195.93.21.132

Message:
Prince Harding is the Responsible Minister for Civil Aviation in Sierra Leone. According toi press reports Paramount Airlines was grounded in the past because of quesstionnable safety records. The Airline was investigated by experts from the International Civil Organisation (ICAO) and recommendations were made. Did Minister Harding authorise the re-issuing of a licence to Paramount. If yes, did they fulfill the conditions set by ICAO? The decision to suspend the Minister is a step in the right direction. He needs plenty of time to produce the answers to the above and other related questions. As to whether he should be dismiss, that will depend on his responses to the many questions that would be posed at the pending Inquiry.

babybob

Subject: FINE WITH ME
From: KING LOGGY
To: All
Date Posted: 05:30:42 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 144.226.173.69

Message:
It's fine with me to complain and blame the government about not doing a good job inspecting helicopters that have a compatively better safety record than our taxi cabs....JUST FINE WITH ME!

Subject: Re: FINE WITH ME
From: Critical Thinker
To: All
Date Posted: 09:39:00 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: sph16-204.harvard.edu at 128.103.16.204

Message:
“….helicopters that have a comparatively better safety record than our taxi cabs..”

Be careful Loggy. These issues are that have traditionally been very slippery ground as a result of the different indicators available to measure safety. If you use some safety indicators such as deaths per registered vehicle (car or helicopter), deaths per ‘pole-to-pole’ trip, or deaths per accident, I am not sure helicopters will have the better safety record. However, helicopters and airplanes fare better in other indicators such as deaths per distance traveled.
 

Subject: Re: FINE WITH ME
From: KING LOGGY
To: All
Date Posted: 14:35:33 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-69-255-182-17.hsd1.va.comcast.net at 69.255.182.17

Message:
CT, indeed there are different indicators available to measure safety. How about using indicators that are country-specific to Sierra Leone to counter my claim? What you may discover is that there are more auto deaths in Sierra Leone than helicopter deaths.
Please try to use indicators that pertains to inspection enforcements and quantity of automobliles to helicopters in Sierra Leone.

Subject: For onliner
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 05:23:34 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
Mr. Yaba-Yaba of the Coco-rio-ko forum, this might be your niche, but don’t forget that you are contemporaneous with the rest of the (whole) world.

I just read your painstakingly written composition. I can comment on it in detail if you wish, for a better understanding of yourself and me.

Perhaps this is the sort of thing that delights you:

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-59204/page5.html

Such, is of less than a peripheral interest really, and has never interested me (except in a sentimental kind of “made in Sierra Leone” way) by which I mean that as far as I am concerned, they are of some slight sociological interest only – like Onitsha Market Literature in the day of Ulli Beier and of East Africa’s “Black Orpheus” which used to be great journal.

You take yourself so seriously. The kind of stuff you find here is not my cup of tea:

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-59204/page5.html

I recommend
1. The Black Aesthetic by Addison Gayle (1971)

http://www.google.se/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBR_enSE222SE222&q=The+Black+Aesthetic&btnG=Search

2. Steve Biko: I write what I like
http://www.google.se/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBR_enSE222SE222&q=Steve+Biko+%3A+I+write+what+I+like

You may be Mr. Black or Missy blue. Aesthetics is a vast subject I love Brodsky too.

What you just wrote reflects who you are and where you are coming from – contains enough matter to profile you. From my point of view, you are uninteresting, irrelevant and even ridiculous. I will write what I want and not for your satisfaction or comprehension either. Our taste in Literature etc is certainly poles apart. I can see that.

So please take your wares somewhere else.

Here is quite another oreder of intelligence:
 

Subject: Re: For onliner
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 05:33:10 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
That was a kind reply calculated to not bring tears to your eye.

It was a reply to

Subject: Re: For onliner
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 05:57:31 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
You can also check out SLWS......( for your delight):

(However there are many items that I find interesting, here:

http://www.sierra-leone.org/poetry.html
 

Subject: Re: For onliner
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 06:22:28 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:

Space can be expensive, so this will be my very last posting to this forum (unless you have something more interesting to say):

Concerning what's on that menu

With the exceptions of Aminata Forna, (she’s great)
Papa Jeng (a friend)
Kilunaji Kush ( a friend)
The menu has missed out on Peter Tucker‘s book on his ancestors. (Recommended history….)

Subject: Re: For onliner
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 07:47:41 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
I am now going to adopt one of John Ernest Leigh's principles and I think that it is a wise one.
I do not intend to communicate with someone who is nameless, a man of little learning, you can call yourself a woman if you like, and one who has feelings of low self esteem lacks the self-confidence to write under his own name, but prefers a fictional identity such as “onliner”.
It's part of the inferiority complex we have been talking about, and in this case you decorate yourself with some more delusions of grandeur. You obviously come from a poor family and a low social status, and would probably like to be president of Sierra Leone or minister of this and that. One thing is sure; I’d not like to marry your sister. Simply do not have anything in common with her and N.B.

I do not like Fufu.

I did not come to Sweden for economic reasons.
I have some coconut tress in Sierra Leone and elsewhere.

Why are you so backward?

Let me represent the SLPP here and you can chose whatever party you prefer, write under your name and write as well as you can.

If you knew what I think about you; well as the bard sang,

“And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine”

What do you know about

Subject: Re: For Cornelius Hamelberg
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 17:52:57 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
The langauge is faintly Sengbe's.....

Subject: Re: For Cornelius Hamelberg
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 17:13:27 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
What are you complaining about?

Is this a Sierra Leone issue that you have with Me?
You are obsviously not very happy with yourself or somebody else's appointment?

You have given me many clues, so please keep on talking......

Apartment is spelled with one P

How's your English, old boy ?

Subject: Re: For Cornelius Hamelberg
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 17:01:38 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
I am not a politician and my ambition has never been to be a minister. John Leigh's principles? What are those? I only said that I would not altercate with a person like you who hides under the cloak of anonymity and makes false accusations against me.

I sit possible that you have HIV and don't care much for your life anymore, or is it just envy and jealousy?

The saying from the TALMUD in my diary for last week is: "Sin is sweet in the beginning but bitter in the end"

I was never the type of Sierra Leonenean that you are.
 

Subject: Re: For Cornelius Hamelberg
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 16:46:09 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
 

I know why you are saying all this. But what the Almighty gives, you are not going to take away from us, are you?

You are one of three people that I suspect could do this – and you still don’t have a name to be proud of, a home to be proud of a family to be proud of and to call your own?

Onliner please don't stop this nonsense because I'm going to flush you out of the hole you are hiding in assuming that you are in this country that I arrived in and started living in permanently in 1971.

Who told you that I don't speak Swedish? I have A levels in Swedish.

I don't need a dictionary to translate any article from the Dagens Nyheter of Svenska Dagbladet.
I am not a "misfit" etc - I attended meetings with other members of African Unions and met Nyamko Sabuni and other Parliamentarians including Pierre Schorri.

Why do you tell lies about me and remain incognito?

Have I asked you what you work with or your education and so forth?

Soulay was not a "Taxi driver" . He was first a student and then worked at the Angolan Embassy......

I am through the help of the Police and the Swedish Secret Service, going to find you and deal with you, as you should be dealt with, I promise you this will be true, and speedily done if you are in Sweden.
 

Subject: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: ASHAMED OF BEING A SALONEAN
To: All
Date Posted: 03:57:34 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-dtc-aa14.proxy.aol.com at 205.188.116.18

Message:
Sierra Leone the unfortunate country endowed with diamonds has spent all her years being abused by criminals calling themselves politicians. The crash of the poorly maintained helicopter that killed our Togolese brothers should warn us of another disaster in the waiting. The old and poorly mainained ferry that very slowly takes people across the river to Lungi is another disaster that will one day claim many, many, many innocent Sierra Leonean lives.

Sierra Leone is a country where political criminals are not punsihed.
If Sierra Leone cannot service helcopters, what makes anyone think that the ferry has a good safety record?
The kind of negligence that rules Sierra Leone is serious enough to make me think that Sierra Leoneans are less intelligent human beings. Otherwise, how can a richly endowed country suffer such poverty if there were brains in the country?

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: Bella Barrie
To: All
Date Posted: 10:40:27 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-wan-217-154-29-181.mistral.co.uk at 217.154.29.181

Message:
Maybe is time for us to ‘GO BACK UNDER THE WHITE MAN'.

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 11:21:56 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
Maybe it is time for us to GO BACK TO THE WHITE MAN...Bella Barrie

I do not think we need the RAPISTS to continue raping our RESOURCES in our country.All we need now is a FREE,FAIR,TRANSPARENT and DEMOCRATIC elections so that the people of Salone can vote for the right person who they think will get us out of this MESS that the SLPP party has created for the country.

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: Bella Barrie
To: All
Date Posted: 04:02:26 06/07/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-wan-217-154-29-181.mistral.co.uk at 217.154.29.181

Message:
Sierra Leone with a population of less than 5 million can boast of diamonds and other minerals but yet still the population is suffering. Basic necessities (Light, clean water) are more like luxuries.
What do we need to do collectively to improve this nation?

I do not think we need the RAPISTS to continue raping our RESOURCES in our country.........BUFORD HWY

At least there was development when they were raping our resources.

Now our politicians rap our resources and develop the 'WEST' and cause death suffering in their own country.

I will welcome the WHITE MAN back as we are not intelligent enough to look after our own kind. What we are good at is given 'long sleeves and short sleeves' inflicting pain to our kids, brothers and sisters, no respect for children.

The white man will bring light, water, good roads, food, jobs, education, and above all better security in our country.

What will SLPP, APC, PMDC, etc. bring to us?

FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER

Don’t get me wrong I will like a patriotic leader who is ready to put country first, at the moment I don’t see any one fitting that for they are all ‘Recycled Politicians’.

Subject: Re: EVEN THE FERRY TO LUNGI IS A WAITING DISASTER
From: steve
To: All
Date Posted: 06:55:56 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ool-4573708c.dyn.optonline.net at 69.115.112.140

Message:
You definitely make me start to wonder. Maybe after all, we are not that smart

Subject: ‘I am not answerable to AG and Ombudsman’
From: Justice Alusine Sesay
To: All
Date Posted: 02:04:55 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: gateway.cyberstar.com at 209.239.66.36

Message:
Judge says… ‘I am not answerable to AG and Ombudsman’

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newly appointed Freetown High Court Judge, Justice Alusine Sesay, on Friday at his chamber, said he was not answerable to the Attorney General or the Ombudsman.
The Judge made this statement in relation to a letter written and addressed to him by Sylvia Blyden, the proprietress of the Awareness Times newspaper, copied to the Attorney General and Ombudsman.
Justice Sesay said the content of the letter addressed to him was contemptuous and therefore needed to treat the case according to the law as no one was above the law.
During the trial in the judge’s chamber, Sylvia Blyden pleaded for mercy and her lawyer, Mustapha Turay, also joined his client to beg the judge not to detain the proprietress.
After hearing their pleas, the Judge ordered Ms. Bylden’s arrest and said she should be under the custody of police in the court. It will be recalled that Sylvia Blyden was escorted to court by police officers on a bench warrant issued by the judge.
The warrant was being enforced since May 22 but the proprietress was on her heels, but her luck ran out and she was arrested by the police in her office and dragged to court.

Subject: Re: ‘I am not answerable to AG and Ombudsman’
From: Court Observer
To: All
Date Posted: 06:19:34 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-144-199-12.range86-144.btcentralplus.com at 86.144.199.12

Message:
Bravo Judge.I must caution you. that whilst you did make brave utterances, but hereafter, Ombudsman and AG, will haunt you day and night.Be careful.

Subject: The Queen, Clinton and Obasanjo went to hell
From: QUEEN RANIA
To: All
Date Posted: 22:28:02 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
The Queen, Clinton and Obasanjo went to hell to see the devil.

Queen Elizabeth said "I miss England; Please I want to call England and
see how everybody is doing there". She called and talked for about 5
minutes, and then she asked
"Well, Devil, how much do I owe you????
The devil says "Five million pounds". She wrote him a cheque and
went to sit back on her chair.

Bill Clinton was so jealous, he starts screaming, "My turn! I
wanna call the States, I wanna see how every godamn guy is doing out
there. He called and talked for about 2 minutes, and then he asked
"Well, Devil, how much do I owe you????
The devil says "Ten million dollars".
With a smug look on his face, he made a cheque and went to sit back on
his chair.

OBASANJO was even more jealous & starts screaming, me too go call
Nigeria o jare, I go see how everybody is doing there too. If they don bring
light. I go to talk to the ministers, to my special advisers, to the
PDP, to INEC and EFCC, to everybody... ..

He calls Nigeria and he talks for about twenty hours, he talked &
talked & talked, then he asked,
"Well, Devil, can I have my bill????
The devil says "One thousand Naira".
Obasanjo is stunned & says; "Otio!! One thousand Naira??? Only one
thousand Naira kpere??"
The Devil says "Well if you make a call from one hell to another hell,
it's LOCAL CALL!
 

Subject: Re: The Queen, Clinton and Obasanjo went to hell
From: Joker
To: All
Date Posted: 18:39:50 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-129-153-37.range81-129.btcentralplus.com at 81.129.153.37

Message:
It is an old repeated joke, but you should not put a character like Obasanjo, with Reverred Queen and Ex President Clinton.If you have a joke for Obasanjo, create a joke using his equals like Mugabe or Idi Amin, or Bokassa or Doe.

Subject: Armed Robbers Kill Soul Clinic Resident
From: CHARLES TAYLOR
To: All
Date Posted: 21:04:06 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Armed Robbers Kill Soul Clinic Resident
Police Nab Several Suspects

By Edwin M. Fayia, III
Published: 06 June, 2007

The late Tony Gaye
MONROVIA, A prominent Liberian businessman and resident of the Soul Clinic Community in Paynesville, outside Monrovia was early Tuesday morning killed by suspected armed robbers.

Mr. Tony Gaye, a successful scratch cards dealer and father of three, was allegedly shot and killed in his bedroom in the Soul Clinic Community in Paynesville at about 3:15 Tuesday morning.

The late Tony Gaye was shot with a single barrel gun and the suspected armed bandits made away one motorbike, an unspecified amount of money and other valuable items.

According to some of the residents of the community, the suspected armed bandits, among them a woman, who was said to have led them to the crime scene, stormed the late Gaye's residence with dozens of cutlasses and a single barrel gun.

In several interviews with the Daily Observer on the crime scene, residents Joe Belleh and Charles Billy intimated that when some attempts were made to rescue the victims the armed bandits issued deadly threats to kill anyone.

Residents Belleh and Billy disclosed that the heartless and hardened criminals were heavily armed with volumes of deadly weapons, a situation that even armed security officers could not venture.

The two visibly frightened community residents called on the Liberian Government to rearm the already trained police officers to ensure the safety of the hundreds of vulnerable Liberians in the country.

Messrs. Belleh and Billy also stressed the urgent need for the speedy demolition of all notorious criminal hideouts throughout the country.

Several residents of the Soul Clinic area also expressed shock and outright dismay on the unstoppable wave of armed robberies and described the devilish acts as an uncontrollable menace in post conflict Liberia.

Meanwhile, late Tuesday afternoon following intensive search of the alleged perpetrators police in the Paynesville arrested the stolen motorbike and several suspects.

Besides, several frustrated and angry expressed grave concern on the alleged constant delays on part of the UN-peacekeeping troops and Liberian Police offices that continue to receive the dozens of mobile phone calls.
 

Subject: Criminals Takeover Paynesville
From: CHARLES TAYLOR
To: All
Date Posted: 21:03:02 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Criminals Takeover Paynesville
Containers, Goods Burnt; Residents Shot

By John K. Forkpa
Published: 06 June, 2007

MONROVIA, Criminal gangs have infested the densely populated City of Paynesville, terrorizing residents and burning goods and the containers holding them.

The latest incidents occurred a fortnight ago and early yesterday morning.

The gangs of criminals include armed robbers, rogues, snatchers, burglars and rapists. Armed robbers have hit Paynesville City very hard in the last three years; their attacks have either left innocent citizens wounded or dead or the bandits themselves killed, wounded or arrested and detained shortly.

At about 8:30 p.m. Monday evening, some unknown criminals seriously wounded an unidentified man in the neck and took away his personal effects, leaving him in pain and anguish. This incident is one of several incidents where criminal gangs attack residents of Paynesville in several parts of that city, particularly in the central shopping center area commonly known as “Red Light” and on the road that leads to Gobachop Market.

The Gobachop Market road lies between the UNMIL Police Station and the National Police Depot, which are about 300 yards apart, and it is home to some of the most deadly criminal gangs who snatch moneybags, personal effects and goods and other valuables including cell phones from residents who walk that road in the evening hours. The bandits in that place are also engaged in burning down containers where market goods are sold or kept.

The situation has become so bad that the criminals rob or wound marketers, rape women and attack working people that have to use the road to get home. The road is dark and without streetlights.

At about 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning criminals burned down a container belonging to Mr. T. Erasto Charlie, with several bags of rice and other assorted goods valued at over US$2,000.00. Some marketers who had gone to the market early yesterday spotted the fire in the container and al3rted Mr. Charlie. When the young Liberian petit trader arrived at the scene, it was practically too late.

Marketers who spoke to the Daily Observer recalled that Mr. Charlie's container was about the third one set ablaze by criminals in recent times, destroying goods and cash.

The marketers also alleged that several police officers and deactivated security officers are always spotted in a ghetto and video club in the area, either drinking or doping in groups.

However, the police yesterday stormed the criminal infested Gobachop Market road and demolished several illicit drugs centers and shabby ghettos. The raid on the Gobachop Market road, according to Police Director Muna Sieh, is geared towards dealing with armed robbers in the urban areas and rural Liberia.

The Ministry of Public Works, in collaboration with the Liberia National Police, carried out the demolition exercise. Some members of the criminal gangs attempting to stall the exercise put up a stiff, stone-throwing resistance to the demolition exercise, but frustrated and grief stricken residents, happy to be rid of the gettos, countered the attack of the gangsters. The situation was later put under control when the LNP, backed by UN Peace Keepers, swiftly overcame the hooligans.
 

Subject: FPA Exclusive: How Corrupt - Who's Corrupt in Liberia? An In
From: Rodney D. Sieh
To: All
Date Posted: 20:06:18 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
FPA Exclusive: How Corrupt - Who's Corrupt in Liberia? An Investigative Report
06/05/07 - Rodney D. Sieh, rsieh@FrontPageAfrica.com


When Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe seized power on April 12, 1980 in Liberia, the young military ruler accused his predecessors of among other things nepotism, greed, an unequal class system and “rampant” corruption. Doe’s reign failed to fulfill many of its promises and soon fell prey to the disease he seized power to end. More than two decades later, the problem continues to permeate the heart and soul of a nation still searching for economic sanity.

CURING THE DISEASE
“Because corruption is so embedded in our system, culture and values, it will take us a while to fight this pandemic unless all of us begin to fight it.”

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President, Republic of Liberia

Like Doe, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf pledged on her inauguration day to end corruption, a disease that is believe to have been one of the underlying causes of the 14 year civil war that killed thousands of Liberians and maimed the economic infrastructure of Africa’s oldest republic.

But the problem Sirleaf pledged to fight appears to be fighting back. Some say it is now even worse than her predecessors. President Sirleaf has admitted on several occasions that indeed her government, too, is characterized with corruption at all levels of government. Sirleaf has lamented that corruption still remains a major challenge to her government which she finds systemic at all levels not only the Executive Branch of Government.

The U.S. Department of State’s report on Liberia, U.N. Panel of Experts and various reports have pointed to massive levels of corruption in the Sirleaf-led administration.

The underlying cause of the problem is obvious to many. From the halls of the national legislature to the various ministries and agencies, many of the same people from previous administrations are at the helm of power. The only fundamental change is that Liberia has a new President and Vice President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Joseph N. Boakai, respectively. Faces at most ministries and agencies as well as the halls of the legislature have changed but the corrupt system of the past remains pretty much the same.

Dilemma 1: GEMAP Watchdogs Held at Bay

Seen as the savior to many of Liberia’s ills, the international agreement, the Governance Economic and Management Assistance Program (GEMAP), has proven to be less capable of fighting back corrosive corruption in Liberia, drawing criticism from many Liberians, including Sirleaf, who recently criticized the program as she expressed some disappointment in some areas of GEMAP execution. In defense of the GEMAP, the Vice Chairman of the GEMAP Executive Committee, United States Ambassador Donald Booth has stated that the GEMAP was never intended to fight corruption; rather it was a governance arrangement aimed at assisting Liberia managed its meager resources.

“It is not that the GEMAP people are not working, but the problem is a lot of ministers and agency directors are making their jobs difficult by either not cooperating or simply making the environment difficult for them to flourish,” says a member of the civil society representative on the GEMAP in Monrovia, who prefers anonymity for this report.

The official points to a number of incidents involving GEMAP experts as a key reason why they may not have been effective to date.

The first incident involved the mysterious removal of the GEMAP controller at the Liberian Petroleum Refinery Corporation (LPRC). LPRC had initially stated that the former controller, John Lindberg was let go because of lifestyle issues, a claim denied by Lindberg’s employer SEGURA IP3, a Bethesda, Maryland – based firm hired by USAID to provide professional expertise to various Liberian ministries, agencies and public corporation.

The official suggests that there’s more beneath the surface. “Lindberg and Greaves just couldn’t get along and they did not see eye to eye that’s what it boils down to.” The LPRC management was not forthcoming.”

And neither was SEGURA, who fell short of revealing the full picture about why Lindberg was fired when FPA sought an explanation in November 2006: “SEGURA IP3 made the decision to terminate its contract with Mr. John Lindberg, who had been assigned as an Internationally Recruited Financial Controller at the LPRC, as a result of a project supervision trip to Monrovia, which took place from October 6 - 20, 2006. Although we cannot get into the specifics of this action, which would be a breach of confidentiality, the contract termination was due to lack of compliance of project management procedures, which are of critical importance to our firm, particularly in an important program, as GEMAP. Furthermore, our decision was made with the concurrence and full support of USAID/Liberia. “

Another incident was at the National Port Authority where the management of the port was embroiled in a squabble with the GEMAP financial controller assigned there. The former NPA boss, Ngangana had expressed concerns over the performance of Thomas Downing and reportedly wanted Downing out. “Mr. Thomas Downing over the past nine (9) months as the NPA’s financial controller leaves considerable doubt as to whether Mr. Downing meets or satisfies the minimum requirements of the profile of an expert,” Ngangana wrote in a letter dated February 26, 2007. Ambassador Booth came to Downing’s aid and rejected calls for his removal. In the end, Ngangana was the odd man out and one of the first casualties of Sirleaf’s much-anticipated government reshuffle.

In the wake of the difficulties being encountered by GEMAP experts, FrontPageAfrica has learned that the General Auditing Commission, the institution mandated to fight fraud, waste and abuse remained unfunded and understaffed, with opposition politicians like Charles Brumskine calling for complete financing of the General Auditing Commission.

Dilemma II: The Auditor General’s Plight

DIFFICULT DILEMMA
"It is very frustrating trying to do the job I came here to do when people are secretly trying their best to thwart our work; when there is no genuine commitment to fight fraud, waste and abuse as reflected in funding priorities."

Auditor General John Morlu II

Faced with mountain of cases, the new era of corruption in Liberia appears to be complicated. For starters, the EU-recruited and government of Liberia approved Auditor General John S. Morlu II has been in Monrovia for a little over a month. FrontPageAfrica has been informed that many of those subject to audits in the government have been making efforts to thwart Morlu’s work.

To date, Morlu has neither a car to go to work nor an office space to work from. He works from his hotel room, most of the time. Nor does he have a genuine commitment from the Government of Liberia for funding the General Auditing Commission.

Morlu has of late been in a tug-of-war with his predecessor Gregory Momo Johnson, regarding a GAC vehicle which Johnson was due to turn over to Morlu. Morlu has since recommended the termination of Willard Russell, Director of GSA, or the very least Russel's suspension for failing to protect the assets of the Republic of Liberia.

In the recently submitted draft National Budget, the General Auditing Commission is given US$1.1 million to audit all government institutions, against the Office of Auditor General budget submission of US$6.6 million. In the draft Budget, the Bureau of the Budget wants Morlu to renovate the Old Executive Mansion and the Pavilion, hire 33 Diaspora Liberians, provide Internet and Intranet, recruit to pay an international audit firm to audit the General Audit commission for US$100,000, purchase a financial management system, etc all on the US$1.1 million. “This is highly impossible,” says Morlu, who also says he will have to adapt an innovative solution.”

“It is very frustrating trying to do the job I came here to do when people are secretly trying their best to thwart our work; when there is no genuine commitment to fight fraud, waste and abuse as reflected in funding priorities,” Morlu says.

Over the last few weeks, Morlu has been proposing to the National Legislature for that august body to give its acquiescence for the 2007/2008 draft Budget National and 2006/2007 Budget performance to be audited by his entity. The auditor general has indicated that this initial audit will set a basis for his commission to adequately perform in the next fiscal period. Morlu says this exercise is also necessary because the Liberian people need to know how their resources are expended and it will serve as hallmark for transparency and accountability.

All about deliverables in Nation ‘rotten with corruption’

Morlu says that there is opposition, particularly in the Executive Branch of Government against genuine accountability and transparency and the GAC desire to fight fraud, waste and abuse is vast and consolidating,” adding “very few government officials seem to support the idea of auditing to hold the government accountable for spending public monies and implementing programs and activities.”

When pressed to elaborate, Morlu stated, “It seems that so many came to Liberia to reconstruct themselves, not the nation. From intelligence gathered, corruption is everywhere…this nation is rotten in corruption. But no matter the lack of support and cooperation, I will push ahead with programs to ensure accountability and transparency, concluding, “I am here to stay whether they like it or not. I am being paid by to perform a job. I will do my job as I have produce tangible results such as working to complete the draft legislation.”

Morlu said: “As I have said to Liberians, I am not looking for friends or enemies. I have a job to do and I will do it in the best way I know how. It is not where I sit and what car I drive, what matters is what I can deliver for the Government and the Liberian people. It is about deliverables.”

FPA Probes Financial Mess in Liberia

After months of investigation, FrontPageAfrica brings you a detailed report of some of the many cases that have emerged since the dawn of Liberia’s Third Republic. FrontPage Africa has catalogued some of the major financial mess at various ministries, with the list of institutions facing financial management problems growing by leaps and bounds.

National legislature: Law-breaking lawmakers

House Speaker Alex Tyler

Isaac Nyenabo, President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Perhaps the most disappointing state of corruption lies in the national legislature where the officials elected to implement laws against corruption have themselves fallen prey to the disease, enriching themselves and finding each and every loophole they can they gain an extra buck.

Recently, Sirleaf responded to pleas from various pressure groups and vetoed the Financial Autonomy Act in its totality recently approved and forwarded to her by the National Legislature. According to the Liberian leader her veto of the Financial Autonomy Act which has been met with stiff criticisms from all spheres of society is based on constitutional grounds. In a nine count correspondence addressed to the President Pro tempore of the Liberian Senate Isaac Nyenabo dated May 24th, 2007, the Liberian president said, “With the consideration detailed above, I cannot sign this Act into law and I’m hereby returning the Act with my veto. The Executive does not uphold the principle of Financial Autonomy for the Legislature or any such Acts.”

President Johnson Sirleaf uttered her disapproval of the Act further in view of Article 2 of the Liberian Constitution which has to do with her oath of office. “After careful consideration of the proposed Act and being mindful of my oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution as the organic law of the land, I must express my disapproval by a veto especially in view of Article 2 of the Constitution.” she told the law makers. The Liberian leader said the Act also violates the basic principles of the Public Financial Management She argued that the Financial Autonomy Act raises several Constitutional issues. Citing Article 7 of the Constitution, she said the framers of this organic law in their wisdom did not deem it wise to grant members of the Legislature the privilege of tax exemption, which sets qualification criteria for members of the Legislature, including age range that makes them tax payers not only for the purpose of elections. On the Act which attempts to address the issue of pension for Legislators, President Johnson Sirleaf said this issue which is a separate matter seems to violate Article 35 of the Constitution, which forbids a bill from embracing more than one subject in its title. “A law for pension scheme can only be enacted under Article 34 (k) under the Constitution,” she stated.

Ministry of State – Saytumah and the letters of appointments

Letters of consent? Morris Saytumah, Minister of State for Legal Affairs
Complicating Sirleaf’s corruption fight, observers say is the fact that most of the president’s handlers are looking out for their own interests when they should be ensuring that the government policies are well, transparently and honestly executed. Since the departure of Knuckles, Edward McClain has been playing a temporary role but it is Morris Saytumah, Minister of State for Legal Affairs who is said to be calling most of the shots. During reign of Morris Dukully, a key problem cited here were reports that Dukully was making appointments and sending out letters of appointment on national radio with the President’s signature, a report Dukully denied in an interview with FPA last year - That problem is sadly continuing today with Saytumah at the helm.

Saytumah recently forwarded the name of Gregory Momo Johnson for the post of Deputy Auditor General even though Johnson was suspended indefinitely as Comptroller General in February 2007 for alleged financial improprieties (embezzlement). It is not clear whether Sirleaf made such an appointment or was aware of Saytumah’s letter considering Johnson’s past. Some GEMAP experts have also wondered whether the appointment had the blessings of Sirleaf. In his letter of appointment to the GAC, Saytumah, said it was by the directive of the President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Complicating the Johnson saga, according to Morlu, are reports that Johnson received a “fake” MBA (diploma mills) from a corporation named ALMEDA registered on the Caribbean Island of Nevis. ALMEDA posting reads: “It is not accredited by any recognized accreditation body. As such, its degrees are not acceptable to any employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.” It is an online DIPLOMA MILL. This is why Johnson, having lived in Minnesota, USA for many, many years, did not work in his area of specialty. Almeda University was founded in 1997, the same year Mr. Johnson claims to have received his MBA. He must have been the first graduate—and a genius, for that matter.”

It is not clear how Saytumah became aware of that the post of deputy auditor-general was vacant. Some have accused Saytumah of meddling in the affairs of an investigative arm of government but Morlu says: “This is not the best way to build a credible, apolitical and professional General Auditing Commission (GAC) that meets international standard. Recruitment will be done competitively for staff and management at the GAC, consistent with international best practices.”

National Port Authority – ‘Cleanup underway’

Transferred: Togbah Ngannah was transferred from NPA to Public works
Despite the firing of former port manager Togbah Ngangana, corruption continues to prevail here. Sirleaf recently challenged the management team at the NPA to take responsibility for whatever happens at the port. In an apparent reference to reports of the disappearance of two ships at the port, the President again expressed concern at the level of corruption at the Freeport of Monrovia, adding, “this port will be cleaned up.” The President said, reports of such an incident send a wrong image of the country internationally and effect government’s ability to keep commodity prices at a minimal level. The Liberian leader has also spoken of a pending assessment of the port and expressed concern that freights and other associated charges may increase, if the port does not meet the assessment test.

The NPA Management has since expressed regrets, that despite recent gains in revenue intake at the NPA, recent events have overshadowed the process. However, FrontPage Africa has learned that the confusion leading to the transferred of the GEMAP Expert Tom Downing resulted from his refusal to sign on a million-dollar deal that Board Chairman Musa Bility had illegally entered into and Chairman Bility awarding himself US$16,000 remuneration, which was not included in the by-laws of the NPA. While saying that corruption at the Freeport caused the Government grant waiver of certain tariff on importation of goods, Sirleaf recently told journalists that funds generated from the waiver made, were being used by corrupt officials and agents at the Port to exploit the system and business people.

LPRC – Still no sign of oil deal document

Still hanging on: LPRC's Harry Greaves
The Nigerian oil deal continues to haunt the managing director of LPRC, Mr. Harry Greaves. Both the President and Greaves have rejected several requests to turn over documents surrounding the Nigerian Oil Deal. GEMAP Technical team has tried and failed to secure the documents on the Oil Deal.

A member of GEMAP Technical informed FPA that even Chairman of Public Procurement Commission, Keith Jubah, has also refused to cooperate with GEMAP in turning over the government, “because he is a friend of the President.” Liberty Party strong man Charles W. Brumskine and nearly all leaders of civil society institutions continued to press for a release of the Nigerian Oil Deal. Another controversy at LPRC relates to the UN Panel of Experts report that nearly US$7 million was under reported for the first 9 months of LPRC operation under the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government.

Liberians also took the LPRC boss to task when he provided donations to his various charities and the University of Liberia, as well as a jeep donated to the Executive Mansion’s sponsored Monrovia beautification project. Some have stated that in various writings that Mr. Greaves has no right to donate Liberia’s government monies, without seeking legislative approval.

In spite of all the concerns, the President continues to stand by Greaves and has claimed that the LPRC boss is managing LPRC, a position silently rebuffed by members of the GEMAP. The latest of LPRC sponsored by the European Union is yet to be made public. FPA learned from a source at LPRC that the report indicates continued level of corruption.

Roberts International Airport- Manager booted, problems linger

Dismissed: Julius Dennis was given the boot at IRA for allegedly waiving storage fees in excess of $100,000
The President recently cited RIA as one of the most corrupted centers in Liberia with visitors complaining about economic extortion at RIA. Recently, the President dismissed the Managing Director of RIA on the grounds of corruption amounting to US$100,000. But many say corruption at the airport is still high.

Sirleaf recently explained that Julius Dennis granted a waiver of storage fees to the mobile phone company, COMIUM in the amount in excess of US$100,000. She said an investigation was instituted by the National Security Agency (NSA) which did report that the waiver was inappropriate. “There was a storage fee in excess of US$100,000. NSA did report that the waiver was inappropriate,” the Liberian President said.

Sirleaf said following the findings, she did have a meeting with the Board of Directors of the RIA and a decision was taken that those fees be re-imposed and COMIUM will have to pay those fees into government’s revenue. The Liberian leader also requested from the Board a full financial report and statement from the RIA covering the tenure of Mr. Dennis. “There are some other things we thought was a bit of negligent on the part of the Managing Director on operational issues. We decided that RIA was too important an operation for us to take the chances; and we have much support from our partners to try to improve the facilities so we needed a change in management,” President Johnson Sirleaf stated.

General Auditing Corruption – Just bad business

At the GAC, auditor general Morlu recently fired two executives - Deputy Auditor General for Technical Services, David F. McGill and the General Audit Manager, Welehlatue W. Seah, Sr, who both joined the commission when they were nominated to the position during the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) by one of the factions of the Accra Peace Agreement, the Government of Liberia

The Auditor General revealed that McGill’s behavior over the course of the past year demonstrated “low integrity”, which is inconsistent with the mandate of the GAC, the first line institution for ensuring integrity throughout government.

Most paramount was that the European Union provided a generator for the sole use of the GAC; however, McGill used his authority by supplying power to a third party, a non-GAC facility to the tune of US$665.95 from November 2006 to January 2007. “This is a blatant abuse of donor issued equipment,” Mr. Morlu said, noting that “this incident has caused the GAC a great embarrassment and a potential financial loss of US$39,000. Morlu said that during his absence McGill made some unilateral decisions including the shut down of the generator under the pretext of inadequate funds to purchase fuel to the detriment of other employees including international partners working at the institution.

For his part, the General Audit Manager, Welehlatue Seah was dismissed for engaging in malpractices including coming to job under the influence of alcohol as well as raining insults of his fellow colleagues. The Auditor General said these and few others acts on the part of McGill and Seah “has brought disrepute to the GRC, the frontline accountability institution for ensuring integrity at all levels of government.”

Forestry Development Authority – Bogus vendors

John Woods, FDA
A recent EU-sponsored audit published on FPA showed continued corrupt practices at FDA. It was revealed that managing Director John Woods collected monies for Board meetings he did not attend. It was also revealed that about US$4 million was paid to vendors, who identities could not be substantiated; they were bogus vendors. The audit cited several instances of financial fraud and a severe lack of internal controls, which the transferred GEMAP expert from the Port is now addressing. UN Panel of Experts also revealed a US$120,000 discrepancy between what the Ministry of Finance claimed to have paid FDA and what FDA claimed to have received.

Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy – Diamond license saga

Licensing issues at lands and mines: Minister Eugene Shannon
The President also listed this ministry as among a growing list of corrupted institutions in Liberia. She sacked several people for engaging in corrupt practices; they were alleged to have been issuing diamond licenses and pocketing the monies, even at a time when the diamond sanctions were not lifted. Sirleaf recently dismissed two deputy ministers - Charles Dogoseh and Assistant Minister James Konuwa. The men were relieved of their posts for their roles in granting bogus licenses for mining operations. The President also directed the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy to review all licenses for gold and diamond mining and investigate their operations, to ensure that individuals or entities in possession of the licenses are not engaged in illicit operations.

Ministry of Finance – Recycling, Voucher issues key to corruption

Vouchers, recycling the norm: Finance Minister Dr. Antoinette Sayeh
For all intents and purposes, the Ministry of Finance is the nucleus of corruption in Liberia. The President has complained and shown great dissatisfaction at the level of corruption within the Ministry. New Democrat, a local daily, in a recent front page story, labeled the Ministry of Finance the “House of Scandals.” Nepotism on the part of the Minister and corruption were cited by the paper.

It is alleged the Minister of Finance has broken the Ministry’s internal control rules by nominating a friend to serve as acting Comptroller General instead of the Deputy Comptroller acting as stipulated in the rules. The Minister also appointed another close friend, Aletha Brown, as Assistant Minister of Expenditure, a woman who has reportedly misplaced signed checks on numerous occasions.

The voucher system has come under attack, prompting the National Legislature to seek a Financial Autonomy Act, which was voted by the President. Instead the President has acknowledged the problems associated with the voucher system and has promised the Legislators to have a point person at the Ministry of Finance to process their vouchers. Some have called the voucher system, as institutionalized corruption wherein people have to bribe to get their monies out of the Ministry of Finance.

The former Comptroller General of Liberia, Mr. Gregory Momo Johnson was indefinitely suspended for embezzlement. The New Democrat reported that Mr. Johnson was being recycled in the system. Mr. Johnson is alleged to have been nominated to serve as Deputy Auditor General, but Auditor General Morlu rejected his appointment. Mr. Johnson also listed that he graduated from Almeda University, a diploma mill where a man or woman can purchase a degree for a few bucks. Experts say that the corruption problem at facing has continued due to lack of reform of the system and the high level of volume of financial transactions.

Sirleaf has also expressed concerns and acknowledged that revenue flag receipts are being duplicated at the Ministry of Finance, where, she disclosed, an investigation has been going on for that matter. The president has cited the ministry of finance as one of the prominent corruption centers in the nation, with finance ministry officials involved in counterfeiting revenue receipts. FPA reported Mr. Richard Wisseh, who was dismissed for counterfeiting revenue receipts during the Taylor and Bryant administration was brought back and given prominence by Finance Minister Sayeh. Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations, Nathaniel Barnes, also accused Mr. Wisseh of soliciting from him US$40,000 in bribe in exchange to protect him (Barnes) in an audit report that accused him of waiving about US$1.4 million in taxes to a logging business entity in Liberia, on the grounds that Charles Taylor told him to do so.

Finance Ministry employees are now laying the pronouncement of counterfeit revenue receipts at the feet of the Finance Minister Sayeh, since she brought back Mr. Wisseh, a man who was fired for similar practices. It may be recalled during the first months of the Sirleaf administration, several custom workers were fired by the Finance Minister on the approval of the President, so Liberians are wondering then why the Finance Minister bring back Mr. Wisseh?

Ministry of Agriculture – Scrutiny brewing here

Questions over Rubber, fishery revenues: Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Chris Toe
The Minister of Agriculture has come under extreme scrutiny from the lawmakers and the Liberian people for massive levels of corruption, especially with respect to revenues from fishery and rubber plantations. Recently, the National Legislature called on the General Auditing Commission to undertake a complete audit of the Liberian Rubber Planters Association, a request made on the notion of gross financial mismanagement of income generated from rubber.

A high ranking official at the Ministry called FPA to inform that the Minister has aggregated onto himself all the powers of financial decision, bypassing the normal check and balances. The Minister is also alleged to have brought in friend and family to run the day to day operations of the Ministry, marginalizing appointed government officials. It may be recalled that Minister Toe in an FPA interview indicated that he makes his extra money by consulting until late into the nights, around 2a.m. He was taken to task by FPA contributing writer Yanqui Zaza on conflict of interest grounds.

The official confirmed to FPA that contributions to the Ministry by the Rubber Planters Associations are used personally by the Minister. “Rubber is a major preoccupation of the Minister. A newly acquired double cabin Nissan pickup belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture has been assigned to Cocopa Rubber Company in Nimba County. Since the Minister can not depart with any of the two vehicles he has assigned to himself, he has instead assigned one of the newly-donated Libyan tractors to Maryland County where rubber business is rife. This will probably be assigned at the Cavalla Rubber Plantation,” said the official.

FrontPageAfrica has also learned that at the end of February 2007, about $121,030 was expended on gas and fuel, but not more than US$90,000.000 worth of fuel had been consumed, leading to no less than US$30,000 unaccounted for.

The Ministry of Public Works - Donzo under attack

Contract issues: Loseni Dunzo, Minister of Public Works
Minister Losenee Donzo has also come under attack for engaging in corrupt practices. In an exclusive in the Inquirer, a local daily, Minister Donzo was accused of giving out public work contracts and buying equipment from friends and family, namely he gave a contract to his brother-in-law in violation of the Public Procurement laws of Liberia.

It is also alleged that Minister Donzo will not invest his time and energy in public work projects that does not benefit him personally. “Since he became Public Works Minister, he has done nothing meaningful. The roads are still bad. He does not seem interested in doing anything outside of making money,” asserted a Ministry of Public Works official.

FPA has learned lawmakers are making plans to summon Minister Donzo to explain his role in the procurement scandal.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs – Johnson blues

US$2M dollar man: Internal Affairs Minister A.B. Johnson
Minister Ambullai K. Johnson, a close Sirleaf aide has been in the middle of a deep scandal over the past few months. Johnson came under attack almost two months ago for allegedly mismanaging almost US$2 million. This money was earmarked for County Development. Instead of giving the funds directly to the counties as was the intent of the National Legislators when the funds were appropriated, he is alleged to have chosen to purchase substandard materials. He also is alleged to have embezzlement some of the funds, since he was unable to provide full accounting when he appeared in front of the National Legislature. “He ate the money,” asserted a member of the National Legislature when FPA placed a call to inquire. It was reported in the local papers that the Minister has asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct independent audit consistent with generally accepted accounting principle. But the financial mess in the County Development Fund lingers on until a complete audit is conducted.

In a bid to clarify his name, Johnson has requested the General Auditing Office to conduct a financial audit of account of the County Development Project announced last year by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The Ministry of Commerce – All about the rice

Banke King-Akerele, Minister of Commerce
Banke King-Akerele’s legacy may boil down to rice. The Ministry came under attack in the manner in which the rice contract to the Sinkor Trading Company was awarded. Inconsistent with the pronounced position of President Sirleaf, the rice monopoly was continued but under a new institution, the Sinkor Trading Company. The Minister of Commerce informed the world that in fact a competitive process characterized the award of the contract. Sinkor Trading Company recently refuted the Minister’s position that there was a competitive process. The UN Panel of Experts also questioned the alleged competitive process, going as far as suggesting that the Office of Auditor General conduct an audit of rice and oil importers and “report within 3 months.”

Recently, one of Liberia’s leading opposition politician Charles Brumskine accused the Sinkor Trading Company of manipulation of the quantity and price of rice. Brumskine also want to know where the money is for “the Rice Stabilization Fund.” These are just a select few of the problem of corruption in Liberia. Giving the perceived inner circle of the President and almost all the ministers and deputy ministers and managing directors are from previous corrupt administration will President Sirleaf be able to attack corruption and end it. The realities are not good.

In the 2007/2008 Budget submitted to the National Legislature, opposition politician, Brumskine noticed that in the “High Priority” category of the National Budget, fighting corruption is not listed. Was this an oversight or a realization by the Sirleaf administration that corruption is here to stay and she has failed to defeat it?

General Services Agency – Vehicle issues

Charles Taylor’s old stumping ground continues to be riddled with problems. FPA has gathered that Director Willard Russell, the custodian of public assets, recently failed to investigation a questionable letter ordering the transfer of government property in unacceptable ways.

According to reports gathered, Russell recently received a letter from the former Auditor general, authorizing him (Johnson) to keep a government vehicle for his personal use, even though he was no longer a government employee, on 30 April 2007. Russell’s leadership has also been called into question. He failed to deal with the matter as head of the agency responsible but told aides he needed to consult with the president before making a decision on a simple matter involving a government vehicle, even after acknowledging the authenticity of the letter.

The bulk of the problems at GSA is that most government vehicles are marked as scrapped and then sold or given to close friends and relatives. Scrapping remains a common financial management loophole in which government properties are transferred to private names without much in return for government.

Now you know, what’s next?

During the early parts of her presidency, Sirleaf adamantly rejected concerns and reports about corruption in her government. FrontPageAfrica has gathered that it was not until U.S. officials brought it to the president’s attention that she began to make public pronouncements about the disease which has the potential of tearing her government apart. Sirleaf recently urged the public to help her administration deal with the disease. “If anybody knows of anybody, high officials or otherwise who is taking kickbacks or bribes under the table, please tell it to us. Be courageous enough to point it out so that we can be able to have the evidence that enables us to prosecute.”

But critics of Sirleaf say mountains of questions have been raised about key officials and aides like Greaves and Akerele but no action has been taken. A case in point, some say, Julius Dennis lost his position at RIA over $100,000, but Greaves continues to serve at LPRC amid reports of unaccounted $7M and a controversial oil deal still clouded in secrecy. Another intriguing question is why did Sirleaf keep Inspector General Johnson around for so long at the GAO after his public confession that he was pressured by former Chairman Bryant to change an opinion on the sale of the iron ore at the Port of Buchanan during the interim government - a serious violation of ethical principle in auditing?

For Sirleaf, “the responsibility to fight corruption is a responsibility of all of us – the government, the ordinary citizens and all.” Because corruption is so embedded in our system, culture and values, Sirleaf says, it will take us a while to fight this pandemic unless all of us begin to fight it.”

The question on the minds of many is how far Sirleaf is really willing to go and how much of a sacrifice she would be willing to make in cleaning up her administration of the rotten apples that could derail her quest to restore economic sanity? And does the current crop of lawmakers have what it takes to implement laws to fight corruption and end the disease? Liberians and the international community wait with baited breadth. As the clock ticks on Sirleaf’s presidency, corruption is one issue unlikely to go away. And like her predecessors - Doe, Taylor, Sawyer and Bryant - it is a problem that could make or break her presidency - or set it apart from the bad bunch of yesteryears and many are hoping for once, the buck stops here.

Subject: Re: FPA Exclusive: How Corrupt - Who's Corrupt in Liberia? An In
From: SAMJACKSON
To: All
Date Posted: 20:31:53 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
When Ellen Sirleaf appoints the longest serving Minister of Finance under Charles Taylor to be her Special Representative to the UN, appoints Cora Peabody, Taylor's Minister of Commerce to a board, and Fatu White, the Commissioner of Custom under Charles Taylor, and other Taylor holdovers to positions of trust, that's when I knew she was not serious about removing even the perception of corruption from her government.

These people are all my friends, and may not be corrupt, but the negative perception of our administration made anyone who served in that government not qualified to serve under a new dispensation. That is why, despite my closeness to Ellen and the resume I bring to the table, I have taken myself out of contention for a post in this and succeeding governments.

And so it goes.
 

Subject: Students Shut Down University
From: LECTURER
To: All
Date Posted: 19:39:02 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: ac202-050.resnet.stonybrook.edu at 130.245.202.50

Message:
Students Shut Down University
Claim UL President A 'fraudster,' Classes Suspended Until June 11

By Cheechiay Jablasone
Published: 04 June, 2007

MONROVIA, June 5,---Several vehicles and hundreds of persons remained stranded on the main campus of the University of Liberia on Capitol Hill for most of Monday following students' riot over shortages of buses and instructors.

Angry students shouted invectives at the president of the University of Liberia, Dr. Alhassan Conteh, calling him names. They blocked all entrances to the campus, preventing those who had vehicles on the campus from leaving.

They blocked every entrance to the University's main campus, holding up car owners for several hours. Dr. Conteh's official vehicle was marked: 'For Sale for 2 buses; contact Science College'. By late yesterday evening, the blue Pathfinder jeep had had all four tires deflated.

Tree branches, broken chairs, blocks and any other materials that the students were able to lay hands on were used to set up roadblocks.

Students at the main entrance of the University told the Daily Observer that they were prepared to hold out on their action until their concerns were addressed. One of the students manning the gate claimed he was carrying 13 credit hours this semester and since three weeks when the semester began, he has had class once.

"This is not about buses alone. We need to have instructors as well," the angry student told our reporter. He claimed the strike was peaceful but it could eventually turn violent based on how serious authorities would consider the plight of the students.

Although President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on her way to the funeral of the mother of Chief Justice Johnny Lewis, cautioned the striking students to stay away from the streets, which they obeyed, they refused to open the entrance allowing entry and exit of vehicles.

Attempts by Education Minister, Joseph Korto to intervene in persuading the students to open up the campus failed. Striking students nearly held the Minister hostage. While the Dr. Korto negotiated with the students, there were shouts from a few of them that the Minister should not be allowed to leave the campus.

Fearing the worst was about to come, Korto a former student leader at the University of Liberia threatened: "Gentlemen you can not intimidate me." The students quickly turned their attention to Dr. Conteh, who had been accompanying the Education Minister. The Minister took advantage of that and swiftly fled the scene.

Scores of students escorted the UL president as he walked from the Law School to his office chanting: "Conteh 4-1-9" and 'rogue, rogue'. At the entrance of the Administration Building, Dr. Conteh turned to the students and pleaded, "Shouting behind your president 4-1-9, gentlemen it is shameful business."

Many of the students who spoke to our reporter on why they were bent on calling the University president a 'fraudster' claimed Dr. Conteh had promised on numerous occasions that he would provide buses which he failed to do. The students argued that the UL president was 'shamelessly' promising up to yesterday that he would provide buses soon.

Henry Smith, a spokesperson for the University of Liberia student Union (ULSU), said sometimes, it is only the language of violence, which authorities at the University understand. He disclosed that a similar problem about buses to transport students to the Fendell campus arose last year sparking tension. By then, Smith said there were only five buses but after the threats from students, administration added the buses up to 12.

Smith believes his colleagues acted the way they did yesterday because more often than not, authorities see students' demands as 'nonsensical'.

Michael Wungko, acting president of the Biology Students Association (BIOSA), the single largest constituency in the Science College, denied any knowledge of yesterday's strike. Smith, the official spokesperson of ULSU, also confirmed that the strike started 'abruptly.'

Spontaneity of the students' action provided no direct leaders to the strike. Most of the students, who were manning the gates through out the day to whom our reporter spoke had no direct answer as to who the true leaders were.

By evening hours, as the students moved their actions out of the UL fence, troops of riot police lined the junction at the Stella Maris end to the Foreign Ministry blocking students from obstructing the traffic on the main boulevard.

However, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who had spent much of Monday at the funeral of the mother of Chief Justice Lewis, granted audience to the leadership of the University students by earlier evening.

There was no actual report on what was discussed between the students and the President, but half an hour after that meeting commenced, striking students who had held vehicles hostage for most of the day surrendered control over the entrances to the campus. They did at about 5:00 o'clock, almost nine hours after they locked up the entrances.

Minutes earlier, authorities at the University of Liberia put out a release suspending classes until next Monday, June 11, 2007. The UL authorities said they were suspending the classes due to students' strike action Monday.
 

Subject: Love as a national value
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 18:57:32 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
IMagine if this were the base of the SEVEN NATIONAL VALUES?

Subject: UNTILL ANOTHER TRAGEDY OCCURS ,THEN KABBAH WILL WAKE AGAIN
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 18:33:31 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
This is no politics this time,let us face reality.To all the participants on this forum including the slpp clan.Where and what is the solution to a fail syndrome state(Sierra-Leone)

Subject: WHAT WILL BE THE COST OF TWO FERRIES?
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 18:18:02 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
My brothers and sisters,cant we afford as a nation to purchase even used ferries?Please I need an answer.Do you know that Ethiopia is connecting Africa?They have plenty planes of world standard.I dont think Ethiopia is that rich as compared to Sierra-Leone.We dont even possess a national plane.

Subject: Re: WHAT WILL BE THE COST OF TWO FERRIES?
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 18:35:13 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
We can - we are just too individualistic and in a hurry to overtake each other. A group of credit worthy Sierra Leoneans can commission the construction of two ferries with ease.

Subject: Re: WHAT WILL BE THE COST OF TWO FERRIES?
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 19:03:32 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
http://www.americanmarineyachts.com/passengerves.html

Subject: FOR YOUR DIGNITY AND MORALITY-HARDING PLEASE LEAVE
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 18:09:00 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
Infact the coward,hypocrite and incompetent Kabbah should have dismissed Harding rather than suspending him.This is shameful and humiliating for the nation.Despite the fact that we lost the match,this government has once more surfaced their nakedness to the outside world.The standard of football has declined ever since they came into power.They are not interested in nothing that will boost the good image of the country,they are just capable for embezzling state funds.The Nigerians well known for dubious acts across the globe are the good partners for Kabbah.These are people who have tarnished the reputation of all Nigerians and Black Africans for their thirst for easy money.They are ready to do anything to get rich overnight.Kabbah has left a legacy of poverty,backwardness and underdevelopment,suspecion if not hatredness among the citizens and the influx of criminals into our once decent Dierra-Leone.We pray to God to redem us soon from this realm of evil men.

Subject: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TH MILLION US $ FROM ADB?
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 17:47:49 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
It is reliably learnt that one million dollars was authorised by the Africa Development Bank for a proposal to construct a bridge to Lungi. whatever became of that study and the funds? Had there being a bridge majority of the scrapped air carriers will not think of operating. When are we going to proactive notice what good injected investment of today will profit lives and the economy of tomorrow?

Subject: Re: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TH MILLION US $ FROM ADB?
From: Engineer
To: All
Date Posted: 18:41:27 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host81-129-153-37.range81-129.btcentralplus.com at 81.129.153.37

Message:
USd 1 million for a bridge.Sir we are talking of a 6 miles bridge not a gutter.

Subject: Re: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TH MILLION US $ FROM ADB?
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 23:11:23 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
The million dollars is to conduct a study to come up with a proposal and budget - a kind of feasibility study. The cash was not to construct the bridge.

Subject: Re: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TH MILLION US $ FROM ADB?
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 14:38:35 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Chez I know that you are pro SLPP and also one of those people I call a progressive within that party. If you found out that this $$$'s were corruptly squandered by members of your party, would you still continue to support this party?

Sierra Leone needs your type regardless of what ever party you may belong to but for Gods sake do not ssociate yourself with a party that is know for corrupt practices and squandering fnds like the slpp had been so noted to be.

Subject: Re: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TH MILLION US $ FROM ADB?
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 23:26:14 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Alieu, no one knows for sure where the money to conduct the bridge went. A colleague and myself were involved in a project to construct a 'TOLL BRIDGE' from freetown to lungi. the proposal was submitted to pa kabbah in 2000 when I arranged a meeting for him to meet the contractors. This proposal was then used by the all inclusive pseudo-SLPP to request a grant from ADB. Alieu, I am a die-hard SLPP! Our party was invaded by corrupt individuals purporting to be SLPP members. Their end is near. I am so happy to see the likes of Victor Lewis vying for parliamentary seats. SLPP with its true children is coming back with a force ready to sincerely serve Sierra Leone. Alieu, when I see the likes of Victor in parliament, I am certain berewa is ready for a genuine transformation shedding the old guard of pa Kabbah.

Subject: Re: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TH MILLION US $ FROM ADB?
From: Moijue
To: All
Date Posted: 01:14:50 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: at 89.240.58.118

Message:
Why not tell us since it was done by ur ur SLPP party?

Subject: FOR HIS DIGNITY AND MORALITY-HARDING PLEASE LEAVE
From: MUSA KAMARA
To: All
Date Posted: 17:42:10 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: luna.hypair.net at 194.50.180.4

Message:
Infact,the hypocrite,coward and incompetent Kabbah should have dismissed Harding rather than suspending him.It is Shameful and humiliating for the nation.Despite the fact that we lost the match,then our useless government once more has surfaced its nakedness to the outside world.Since they came to power football has decline,because they not interested in anything that will boost the morals of the nation.They are just in to embezzle state funds.The most corrupt elements on earth,the Nigerians are the partners of kabbah and his government.The Nigerians have not only tarnished the reputation of Nigerians but all the Black Africans,because of their thirst for easy money.These are people who can do anything to just get rich overnight.Kabbah will leave a legacy of poverty,underdevelopment,hatred among citizens,invasion by criminals especially from Nigeria into what was once a decent Sierra Leone populace.We pray so that God will soon redem us from this realm evil men.

Subject: Re: FOR HIS DIGNITY AND MORALITY-HARDING PLEASE LEAVE
From: Minister
To: All
Date Posted: 10:25:29 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-144-199-12.range86-144.btcentralplus.com at 86.144.199.12

Message:
Leave us alone.What moral and what diginity????Let us remain Ministers and Diginity will follow.No more preaching, and we nor de lef we position dem.

Subject: Re: FOR HIS DIGNITY AND MORALITY-HARDING PLEASE LEAVE
From: BUFORD HWY
To: All
Date Posted: 11:26:40 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-074-228-219-218.sip.asm.bellsouth.net at 74.228.219.218

Message:
That's the SLPP thinking. CAM AUG 11TH,DEN ALL GO GO HIDE NAR PALM MIM BOTTLE.

Subject: Re: FOR HIS DIGNITY AND MORALITY-HARDING PLEASE LEAVE
From: Neneh
To: All
Date Posted: 06:32:12 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: gateway-202.energis.gsi.gov.uk at 195.92.40.49

Message:
Musa: You need anger management! your baseless rants will cause you permanent mental health problems. It's clear you've suffered in the hands of Nigerians - maybe 419 gone bad? - albeit you're so wrong/blinded in measuring the SLPP Government to that of the Nigerians.
Furthermore, you're misguided in replicating reports that Dr Harding was merely suspended. For your informantion, He was actually sacked/expelled/dismissed... 'SLLP is a No-Nonse Party'
In addition, you may have heard of primary results- which had more WOMEN candidates for Parliament in the history our beloved Sa Lone... only the SLPP can achieve such milestone!!
I say ask first before your rants & raves results in a fatal heart attack...

Subject: Re: FOR HIS DIGNITY AND MORALITY-HARDING PLEASE LEAVE
From: NANCY TAKE IT EASY
To: All
Date Posted: 07:22:05 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: freetownboy@yahoo.com
Entered From: 210-54-68-165.dialup.xtra.co.nz at 210.54.68.165

Message:
Are u sure SLPP is a no nonsense party? Where is Okere Adams? Where is Justin Musa? What happenened to MIK Bayoh?

Subject: Did you know??
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 17:34:49 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Did You Know... Sierra Leone has the world's highest death rate with 25.1 per 1,000 people

Subject: RE: UTAir Airlines Complete wreckage.
From: musa Kalawa
To: All
Date Posted: 16:30:08 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-69-230-195-147.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net at 69.230.195.147

Message:
This is the a photo of the remains of the Wrecked Helicopter.

Subject: Re: RE: UTAir Airlines Complete wreckage/ Thanks4 Correctio
From: Musa
To: All
Date Posted: 12:44:30 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-69-230-195-147.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net at 69.230.195.147

Message:
Thanks for the correction
 

Subject: Re: RE: UTAir Airlines Complete wreckage.
From: Airman
To: All
Date Posted: 06:21:10 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-144-199-12.range86-144.btcentralplus.com at 86.144.199.12

Message:
Pa Musa,
it is Paramount airlines and not UTA.

Subject: FIFA AND OTHER GAMING BODIES
From: CHEZ WINAKABS EUROPE
To: All
Date Posted: 16:18:13 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-129-200-131.range86-129.btcentralplus.com at 86.129.200.131

Message:
Should ban all games played in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone should have to go to other countries to play international sporting activities. It is my country but I feel ashamed about the lack of respect our leaders have for the safety, security and health of the nation and those who happen to enter it. The international community should put pressuere on our government to make the umderstand that endangering the lives of its citizenry is unacceptable - if you can do that to your own, who will your care for. This maybe an accident but the accident was inevitable. Authorities knew that paramount had been violating transport regulations and has failed to provide a legitmate certificate of insurance on numerous ocassions. Why then did they allow such an accident-prone carrier to ferry people?

A friend of mine tried to register the father with BUPA for health Insurance purposes; BUPA named Sierra Leone as one country they will not accept its citizens who have their habitual residence there. Why are we allowing the few to cause so much harm to a nation that will continue whilst these pathetic elements will someday just fade away? Why are the many silently wallowing in disarray, allowing the few to oppress and suppress them? Why do we continue to talk and do nothing to save our nation? I have been branded a man of bad character because of my outspokenness. I suffered four years year in the UK as a result of my constant 'harrassment' of the AFRICA DESK of the Blair regime. We can genuinely save our people by not been silent.
 

Subject: RE: UTAir Airlines Complete wreckage.
From: musa Kalawa
To: All
Date Posted: 16:12:43 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: adsl-69-230-195-147.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net at 69.230.195.147

Message:
A Disclaimer:
06/05/07

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Subject: Marriage
From: John Leigh Blyden
To: All
Date Posted: 14:14:28 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
On behalh of myself and the rest,I propose the marriage between Ambassador Dr. John Leigh to Dr. Sylvia Blyden. "Una talk for dem,leh dem go marrade.are tink dem fit:

Subject: Re: Marriage
From: Registrar of Marriages
To: All
Date Posted: 06:05:32 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-144-199-12.range86-144.btcentralplus.com at 86.144.199.12

Message:
John Leigh is not Doctor, I repeat not Doctor, neither Medical, nor Ph.D.

Subject: Re: Marriage
From: 2 WORWORLIWOS
To: All
Date Posted: 15:17:34 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
That will be a very good marriage. Two worworliwos.

Subject: Re: Marriage
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 19:23:25 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
Not such a bad idea (see photo below) but is Johnny E up to the task ?

Subject: Re: Marriage
From: Judge
To: All
Date Posted: 21:52:07 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: gw1.dc.gov at 164.82.146.3

Message:
I am not so sure JL will be up to the task. You know empty vesells are always noisy

Subject: Re: Marriage
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 22:45:57 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
MY thoughts are ”together” and I’m posting this to you. I am (as usual) exercising the utmost restraint. After breakfast, I will address my Liberian brothers.

Well, you know how Johnny can be ( if you can’t beat them, join them - ”the band of bandits” that way, perhaps he will be able to make both ends meet.

I don’t know how to describe either of them (to the left or right of what?)

This I thought when I read this sentence

“The last president of France fell out of favour with his own party: his successor is a man of the right who has beaten a woman of the left.”

The rest of the article is here. (But those who don’t read The Washington Post probably don’t read Le Monde Diplomatique in either English or French either:

Subject: Re: Marriage
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 19:18:43 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-3a8472d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.114.132.58

Message:
Gongorlee + Gongorleigh = ?

Subject: Prince Harding Tender your Resignation
From: M. Alieu Iscandari Esq
To: All
Date Posted: 12:11:45 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-ntc-ad04.proxy.aol.com at 207.200.116.198

Message:
Dear Mr. harding'
In many societies where leaders take responsibilities for failures within their areas of influence, they offer their resignations. Do the honorable thing wich is to ofer your resignation to the president. Now if the president does not accept your resignation then we know who is incompetent here.

When the Guinean airline crashed at Lungi a couple of years ago, you were the last person to know. Recently paramount helicopters was grounded because of fire that broke out on the helicopter as soon as it was about to take off. Thankfully those people were saved a potential tragedy.

It should have been evident to you then that there was trouble brewing in the horizon. You like the administration that you work for are a spent force and a disgrace to our dear nation.

Resign now and save your face. You have not been a leader and an innovator in the Ministry of transport and you have failed miserably. Save yourself the embarassment and RESIGN.

Subject: Re: Prince Harding Tender your Resignation
From: Minister
To: All
Date Posted: 06:11:34 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-144-199-12.range86-144.btcentralplus.com at 86.144.199.12

Message:
I see no reason to resign.I was not the one flying the helicopter.Moreover, Sierra Leoneans did not die.

Subject: Re: Prince Harding Tender your Resignation
From: Boli
To: All
Date Posted: 10:28:12 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: Boli@yahoo.com
Entered From: 80-44-161-54.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com at 80.44.161.54

Message:
I hope you are being sacarstic, because whether Sierra Leoneans died or not, People died. This government is playing Russian roulette with peoples' lives and I endorse the school of thought that Prince Harding should resign. I would go further to say that if proper health and safety checks were not undertaken, criminal charges should be brought against the responsible authorities.

My condolences to the bereaved family and my thoughts and prayers are with them

Subject: Re: Prince Harding Tender your Resignation
From: Doctor Harding
To: All
Date Posted: 06:07:19 06/06/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: host86-144-199-12.range86-144.btcentralplus.com at 86.144.199.12

Message:
Be careful Mr.Forstly, I am Docotr not Mister and secondly, Resignation-over my dead body.No and never.

Subject: Re: Prince Harding Tender your Resignation
From: galoi
To: All
Date Posted: 11:03:52 06/06/07 ()
Email Address: mabu@yahoo.com
Entered From: 80-44-161-54.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com at 80.44.161.54

Message:
Dont impersonate anyone, come out and say what you feel

Subject: Re: Prince Harding Tender your Resignation
From: Tszyu
To: All
Date Posted: 15:28:00 06/05/07 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: cache-mtc-aa04.proxy.aol.com at 64.12.116.8

Message:
Well we see from day to day the ineptitude of our current goverment and it's so called backdoor allies.
We are fast approaching the 22nd century and we are still living in the dark ages. With all the so called educated elites, what's happening. MP openly murders a citizen, she is free to still roam the street/country and her kids enjoying life in England. MP steal from the country and the case is never procecuted, we have a President with a very nonchallant attitude and he is still regarded as the commander in chief.Fake investor (419ers)come our the country and plunder, rape and kill our peolpe with expired goods and drugs, they are still allowed to operate their so called legitimate businesses. My brothers and sisters are still trying to get visas to exit the counrty and leave it in the hands of cleptomaniac, what is wrong with this picture, are we going to do something to affect change or we just going to continue voicing our opinion in internet forums, that keeps falling on deaf ears or turn out in fullparty colors because of R.S.V.P. The opportunity is at hand, citizens please show your power through the ballot box. God, Allah or Jesus
Christ is not going to help, until we help ourselves.
Time for a positive change is at hand, let our voices be heard. Remember this in not the first helicopter crash and if we do not do something it would not be the last. Remembers our brothers and sisters are being deported from various foreign countries, because we as Sierra Leoneans are not respected abroad, as the so called goverment is painting a picture that they do not respect the life of it's citizen. "If hose nor sell we,trit no go buy we"