The circumstances surrounding Maada Bio’s abrupt exit from the United States and the country’s subsequent refusal to grant him entry visa regardless of his status as an opposition presidential candidate is one area of concern that keeps baffling many Sierra Leoneans.

Interestingly enough but rightly so, that same old topic is beginning to re-ignite some interests and it is beginning to make its rounds again among many Sierra Leoneans especially after certain newspapers clearly misinformed the public wrongly using the words of the United States ambassador Owen to allege that Maada Bio has been allowed entry into the United States.

In the words of Solomon Sesay, who has done some intensive background research on the whole Bio immigration conundrum, this is how he brings forth the result::

“The SLPP  newspaper definitely misquoted the U.S. Ambassador when it said : “ He said that in fact Maada Bio has stayed in the United States of America for a while and was never deported to Sierra Leone “. It is very doubtful whether Ambassador Owens made this statement .With the manner that SLPP newspapers have been deliberately misquoting people and taking their statements out of context, it is not likely that Mr. Owens told anybody that Maada Bio was not deported from the U.S.”

He went on further to say that:

“Maada Bio applied for asylum in America but his application was denied. An Iranian

businessman called Mr. Bahman, who was Bio’s business partner and whom he had duped , appeared in court the day the application was to be discussed and complained that Bio had duped him of thousands of dollars and that he is a criminal and swindler who had also left Sierra Leone with loot he siphoned from public coffers. The judge duly denied his request for an asylum. This case was decided in Fairfax, Virginia.  We challenge Bio to deny this because we have collected a dossier on him. Bio was also involved in domestic abuse case and was asked to leave voluntarily. He left before the expiration of the deadline. Probably, that was what the ambassador was referring to. Bio did not leave America in handcuffs like people physically deported but he was asked to leave all the same.”

The last word here for today is simply the unanswered question: Why did the SLPP nominate a flag bearer with an excess baggage like those carried by Julius Maada Bio?

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

Over the weekend, FC Kallon battled it out with Union of Douala in Cameroun in an exciting encounter which saw the reigning soccer ambassadors of Sierra Leone going down by a goal to nil. Bonaventure Ndjonkep, Union’s coach warned his team that they should avoid conceding any goal in the return game in a fortnight if they hope to continue in the competition.

In a fortnight from now, FC Kallon hopes to mount up a campaign that will see them through the first round of the Confederation Cup

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

According to economic experts, Sierra Leone’s economy will grow by 51 percent this year alone with the hopes of increasing further in subsequent years. According to the International Monetary Fund, this will be the fastest projected pace of any nation in the world.

It will be recalled that, most of Sierra Leone’s infrastructure and transport system was shattered before and mostly during the civil war that ended in the early 2000. It is estimated that about 8.9 percent of the West African nation’s 11,555 kilometers (7,200 miles) of roads is paved and the main port, Pepel, has an annual capacity of just 16 million tons.

Today, all that is beginning to change as Guernsey, U.K.-based African Minerals is spending $1.2 billion on rails and ports and developing a mine in the first phase of its Tonkolili project.

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

Schulenburg is no stranger to controversy

Foreign Confidential has learned that the number of meetings that von der Schulenburg held with Bio and other opposition figures was unusually high. Informed sources in Freetown say the envoy’s anti-Government bias was well known among expats and foreign diplomats.

“He [von der Schulenburg] was most undiplomatic in the way he went about backing Bio,” a source says.

Von der Schulenburg, who worked in what the UN describes as its “peacebuilding” division, is no stranger to controversy–and to controversial letter writing. In December 2000, he resigned as Director of the Division for Operations and Analysis of the UN Drug Control Program (UNDCP). In his letter of resignation, he severely criticized the head of the UNDCP’s parent agency, accusing his superior of being “the worst manager,” guilty of “taking irrational decisions” and of turning the UNDCP into “an organization that has increased its international visibility while at the same time is crumbling under the weight of promises that it is unable to meet under a management style that has demoralized, intimidated and paralyzed its staff.” (Among the “promises” that upset van der Schulenberg for allegedly having had been made but not kept: a 1997 pledge to Afghanistan’s drug dealing Taliban regime for $250 million in “alternative work program” funding. Apparently, von der Schulenburg would have been happy to have seen the monsters get the money.)

The fact that the 24-page “PERSONAL/CONFIDENTIAL” resignation letter has long been available online has fueled speculation that von der Schulenburg was responsible for leaking his Sierra Leone letter to Reuters.

More recently, von der Schulenburg has been formally accused of physically abusing a staff member; and he has been dogged by persistent rumors that during an assignment in Iran he was noticeably sympathetic to the Islamist regime–whilst inappropriately exporting Persian carpets.

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

kendeh and one of his 11 victims, Gabrielle Browne

The Home Office in Britain has confirmed the deportation to Sierra Leone of a repeated rapist who attacked 11 women in five years.

Mohammed Kendeh, 25, of Peckham, south London, admitted indecently assaulting 11 women between 2002 and 2007. In 2007 a judge said he could not be deported due to human rights laws, but calls for deportation resurfaced after he was jailed for robbery in 2009.

Kendeh, who had resided to the UK at the age of six, claimed his right to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is enshrined in UK law under the Human Rights Act.  Based on that, a senior immigration judge in 2007 ruled that he could not be deported as he had almost no family left in his native country.

Kendeh was released from prison in 2009 on license and went on to rob a woman in Beckenham in July that year. He was jailed for five and a half years at Croydon Crown Court after admitting the robbery and the judge recommended him for deportation.

One of the victims, Gabrielle Browne, 46, a mother-of-two, is delighted that finally her attacker was deported.

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

The former British Prime Minister, Mr.Tony Blair who returned from a recent trip to Sierra Leone, says he is satisfied with the health care and education sectors as well as the extensive road construction that is presently going on in the country.

The purpose of his recent visit was to check growth on it’s fast developing investment in the private sector, which this year has attracted an excess of $200million of investments across the Agricultural and Tourism sectors.

Mr. Blair is the founder of the Africa Governance Initiative, a program which supports the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency on attracting investors, deal execution and investor care.

Mr. Blair, who holds Sierra Leonean dearly at heart, says the country is now a model that must be copied and there will be no turning back in terms of progress. He uttered great contentment working with President Koroma and urged people around the world to come and see what is happening in the country.

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

By Sanpha Sesay, Texas Chief Correspondent

Despite critics’ debates among Diasporans around the world concerning the awesome contributions of President Ernest Bai Koroma’s administration in Sierra Leone, I have seen that there is much more on going progress in Sierra Leone today than at any other time in recent history.

Judging by all performance metrics -the economy, governance, and social structure of Sierra Leone – it is safe to say now that the people of Sierra Leone are in resoundingly better spirit to reelect the incumbent president, Ernest Bai Koroma because of his performance as head of state. According to responses from many Sierra Leoneans that were interviewed during my vacation.

Most significantly, perhaps, is the fact that the incumbent president has policies that are mostly congruent with the nation’s priorities that put him on a safer reelection driver seat. Apart from the vast infrastructural development, especially the road construction, that is going on in most parts of the country Ernest Koroma also scores an A in championing  popular causes in the country.

Before he took over the reins of government power, there was an albatross – the unpopular armed robbery saga which served as a deterrent to so many Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora from visiting Sierra Leone, but his administration was swiftly able to counter it within a short time with some strategic alliances – government collaborated with the opposition, the police, and the military to find a solution to the arm robbery nightmare. One of the solutions was to put youths to work.

The inception of motor bike transportation system called “Okada” is one of the strategies the government used to provide work. Many of the responses I received from motor bike riders that I interviewed noted that the Okada system is one of the focal point for economic and social activities that have helped to combat the ugly look of arm robbery.  Although critics say that the abundance of motor bikes littering the streets of the capital city of Freetown in a disorderly manner has increased pollution and nurtured the potentials for accidents yet, some people say the advent of “Okada” has fostered more livable communities because of faster movement of people from one end to another.

I also saw that the government is promoting competition and a vibrant democratic process.  Politics and electioneering atmosphere is very tense in the country. Competitive elections are necessary for a representative democracy, but resistance against the reelection of EBK is low because incumbents have strategic advantages which are keeping other candidates from running effectively against him.

Many people that I interviewed regarding chances of the opposition SLPP flag bearer said the former military junta, Julius Maada Bio, should not have been enlisted to be among the successor contenders.  Even among the opposition party members, some say they would rather stay home without casting their vote, because they cannot vote for Maada Bio.

“Let us face the fact here, whether Ernest Koroma is a born leader or has develop skills and the ability to become leader, many of us have seen that the president has certain characteristics that seem natural and have put him in where he is looked up to as an effective leader of our beloved country” A college student in Bo said, “President Koroma has the quality of keeping the main goal in focus and he is trying to maintain a high standard in raising the bar of governing” “Re-election is imminent” another student from Fourah Bay College noted.

In view of people’s opinion and in my own observation, I was impressed by the fact that President Koroma is a man who never let his detractor’s opinion divert him from the course he thinks is right.  Based on his approval ratings, I noticed that the president has demonstrated a warm-hearted feelings and deep concern for the welfare of his people.  Despite the facts that too many streets in Freetown are congested in disorderly manner with abrupt street trading and misbehavior of Okada drivers, I saw a lot of contentment and ease of mind on the faces of people.

Attending two functions at the State House where I had the opportunity to interview journalists, I have to say that President Koroma performed his official duties with unswerving integrity and fearless determination.  His forthrightness, frank, and honest attitude in relation to public matters graded him as being destined for office for the second term, an opposition journalist told me.

“Knowing that Ernest Koroma’s ratings are high, and in the midst of some poor economic circumstances that were left behind by the ten year civil war, and the massive corruption raged by the past regime, the main opposition party, SLPP failed to elect a better candidate who should have tested Ernest Koroma. Instead, the party decided to choose someone that they feel will destroy the reputation of the incumbent”, a teacher at Ahmadiyya School said.

We must be aware that the people of Sierra Leone are sensitive to their presidential candidates’ profiles. They also seem to know instinctively how people think and feel and how the aspiring leaders’ personality would react to every change in the socio-political atmosphere of our country.  “If we have established ourselves to make drastic changes after our return from ten years of conflict, we should put people with integrity into our political contest so that our national development goal will be achieved” a senior civil servant told me.

Based on my fact finding about the president, it seems impossible to translate into words the popularity, respect, and admiration for this president. I saw the love and interest of this president etched upon the faces of the people all over the country.  So far in the contest, and the names of presidential candidates concerned, no one at this moment can exceed Ernest Koroma in popularity as well as the possession of integrity and charisma.

At this time, the people of Sierra Leone need a president with vision, and vision is what many people believe Ernest Koroma has as a charismatic leader.  In line with the nation’s thinking about sustainable peace and unity, the country needs a president like Ernest Koroma, who has the vision and where with all to take us to the next level.

The existential threat of the opposition leader, with a military junta background and mind set, has directly influenced people’s choices of reelecting EBK.

Because of all these amazing changes which have occurred during the first term of Ernest Bai Koroma, it will be good for many people in the Diaspora to witness the inauguration of Ernest Koroma for the second term on January and be a part of the history making president in Sierra Leone.

© 2012, Daily Mail. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

UN Executive Representative Letter –  Schulenburg Writes:

Reuter has made public the letter sent to the UN, written by one of the most unfortunate diplomats that has ever come to Sierra Leone, Michael von der Schulenburg. In it, Mr. Schulenburg maintained that, “There can be little doubt, that the decision by the President to force my early departure will be seen – rightly or wrongly – by virtually every Sierra Leonean as an effort to remove a potential obstacle to his re-election and as opening the door to manipulating the election outcome in his favor”.

 He continued, “I also feel that we should engage the President directly over his sudden flair of hostility towards me before giving in to his request for my departure,” he added in the letter to Lynn Pascoe, U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs”

What is Schulenburg’s Point?

His point is that without his messy and complicated self being around, there will not be a free and fair election come November. Much to his narcissistic self, he believes that he is a democratic czar capable of bringing a democratically conducted election to Sierra Leone worthy of praise. However, we should not be shocked about Schulenburg’s behavior because that’s not uncommon for him. For him, that’s fine diplomacy.

Like a baby running for protection to mum after picking up a fight, Schulenburg also suggests that the UN engage president Koroma as to why he hates him. Schulenburg went on to assume that by not allowing him to meddle with the politics of Sierra Leone, the president has some how developed a sudden hostility towards him.

Schulenburg made it seem like in order to be a good diplomat, a reliable representative of the United Nations, you have to be able to twist facts in a juvenile way – the same way kids manipulate information to excuse some bad act – even when they have been caught at it in real time. Mr. Schulenburg’s behavior is a good example of this.

While Schulenburg and the rest of the SLPP establishment has in recent times engage in practices meant to destroy the very country Schulenburg was sent to help, he is now complaining about the bias of his critics and, the consequences of the United Nation’s action.

In the recent past there has been a spate of so many political violence perpetrated by the opposition, Schulenburg makes no reference to this sort of hooliganisms that was slowly terrorizing the people of Sierra Leone, but only to the alleged bias of the government. No doubt, over time, diplomats and politicians come to believe their own excuses. Like naughty children, they don’t know what double standards mean, and end up creating an alternate world of fabrications.

Unlike most children who eventually grow up, professionals like Schulenburg come to dwell in this alternate world more or less at will. In fact, the ability to do so seems to have been part of the standard job description for a career in diplomacy for a very long time.

How did Schulenburg get it wrong about President Ernest Koroma?

By failing to point out:

1. That his behavior as a diplomat, meddling in a nation’s internal politics

 Was a disgrace and totally unacceptable;

2. That this was the behavior of an immature and inexperienced diplomat;

3. That he as an adult – a UN diplomat — is intellectually, emotionally and spiritually immature;

4. That this immature diplomat may be physically mature so we refer to him as adult, but inside he is a child who has never grown up;

5. That the behavior exemplified in Sierra Leone was disgusting to citizens, voters, media, professors, and everyone else who participates in society, and we demand that he apologize to the nation.

7. That when a diplomat act out in such an immature way as Michael von der Schulenburg did, that he be required to step down;

9. That the success of our democracy requires a mature diplomat.

10. That President Ernest Koroma is one of the most development oriented presidents that this nation has ever seen throughout its 50 years of independence.

11. Finally, I don’t think there was any animosity against him, but if there was, it was time that Schulenburg be paid with his own currency. If you live by the sword, you will die by it.

And finally, for the last word to Mr.  Schulenburg

With all your accomplishment Mr. Schulenburg, two senses that still elude Mr. Schulenburg:  “sense of objectivity” and “common sense”. Think about it.

I invite Schulenburg and his backers to be schooled again on the do’s and the don’ts of a diplomat.

If he does, which I believe he won’t: Either way, it’s time to grow up sir!

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

President Koroma, our MPs & the people’s power

by John Baimba Sesay (photo)

The November elections are gradually approaching and from the look of things, President Koroma  is poised   for another victory, just as was the case in 2007,when he democratically removed a sitting government, thus making the APC repeating such history in Sierra Leone .The victory that was ensured by the APC in 2007 came about as a result of the determination of then Opposition Leader Ernest Bai Koroma to  usher in new change, new hope and new direction  into Sierra Leone’s geo-political and economic standing. Take it or you leave it, even if 12 juntas are combined, they can’t just remove President Koroma from power just like that because, this President is God given, he is destined to rule and he has ruled and performed well.

Local revenue for national development:

The victory that was brought by Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma for his APC party will be repeated in November and this also includes his victory in the number of Parliamentary seats. Victor Foe has predicted a 75% win in the parliamentary elections.  The point is, the President Koroma led government has actually lived up to the expectation of all and sundry. We need not refer to the provision of electricity, the fixing of Sierra Leone’s road network and the level of seriousness that has been attached to the aspect of revenue generation at the local level as we now see with the revenue collection agency-the NRA. Today, the NRA has not just continued to perform exceptionally well in the area of revenue collection under the able- leadership of a ‘female general’ appointed by President Koroma (first in the history of the institution) in the person of Haja Kallah-Kamara, but the institution has also seen and witnessed realistic transformation with the introduction of the Automated System for Customs Data and the blinding of the GST and Income Tax, under the umbrella of the Domestic Taxes Department.

My understanding is that the institution did not only exceed  last year’s revenue target of over 1.2 trillion Leones, but that these are the monies  now been used by the government to meet the infrastructural development back home, coupled with the support coming from our donor partners. And when the people see development, they are bound to appreciate the work of whosoever brought such development and if that is the case, then they must be in love with the present government for not only using their taxes to fix-up the road network but in also meeting their needs. Only recently, the President had the pleasure of making public, over 30 new buses bought by government to meet the daily transportation needs of the poor and average Sierra Leonean.

For President Koroma, his government “promised to improve the quality of life of our people, and we are doing so… We are not making promises on what we will do. You see what we have done in electricity, roads, health… Now, you are seeing with your own eyes what my government has done in the 40 buses being launched today, not with donor money from donor countries, but, with money from the Government of Sierra Leone..”(http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives). This was very realistic and truthful on the part of a President who had once promised to improve the quality of life of his people.

President Koroma, a down to earth Leader

MPs and their chances:

But let us move somehow to looking at the potential chances of some of our Members of Parliament to be returned to their offices after the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, taking into account what has been done by some of them and what they promised to do that they failed to do. I wrote few weeks ago that effective representation plays an important role in the re-election of a Member of Parliament. The people will look up to their MPs, in terms of educating them on national happenings. They bring to the knowledge of those they represent what laws are enacted and other developments by Parliament. (http://www.sierraleonedailymail.com/archives)

Describing  the party he is leading as an ordinary man party belonging to traders, teachers, drivers, market women, okada riders, farmers and any other ordinary man and woman in the country, President Koroma recently some of his  party’s intends to reflect this by giving the people the power to choose whom they want to represent them at the various representation levels in the country body politic(http://www.awoko.org/2012/01/23/peoples-power-to-choose-mps-councilors-and-mayors-declares-president-koroma/) .This is the beauty of democracy from the perspective of parliamentary representation as espoused by President Koroma. The people now have the chance of actually deciding on their representation in governance.

Biriwa and Safroko Limba chiefdoms:

Constituency 34 is found in the Bombali district and it is covering both the Biriwa and Safroko Limba chiefdoms. Biriwa chiefdom is reportedly having 266 villages while Safroko has a total of 92 villages. From the geo-political arrangement of Sierra Leone’s body politics, these two chiefdoms are arguably among the strongholds of the ruling All Peoples Congress party led by President Ernest Bai Koroma. Prior to the 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the people of Biriwa were democratically cheated when a Paramount Chief was literally imposed on them by the erstwhile government of Tejan Kabba (h). President Koroma, being an astute and grass root politician and knowing that the will of the people is supreme in any democratic decision, ensured the people of Biriwa got an elected Paramount Chief of their choice.

It is a  fact also, that even as the elections are just months away, people have started canvassing, some for re-election into parliament, while others are trying to ask that chance be given them to prove that they too can  represent the interest of the electorate in Parliament effectively. Constituency 34, in the Bombali district is no exception to this.

I once  had the opportunity of meeting one young, courageous and pro-poor people gentleman by the name of Albert Deen Kamara, who is seeking to get the APC symbol for Constituency 34 thus at the end, seeking the mandate of the people in the above mentioned Constituency for representation in Parliament. My discussion him, prior to my departure for Beijing was very insightful and one that left me with the conclusion, that as a country we actually have the human resource to be a developed nation.

Participatory approach to governance:

President Koroma’s Agenda for Change requires people who share his vision, people who, without allowing the President to talk, can understand his plans for national development. One point should be stated here that in development, the participatory approach is of essence to good governance and democracy.

Albert Deen Kamara, a youthful man, demonstrated his determination to change the status of the constituency by concentrating on education, especially that of the girl child.  ‘I have always got myself involved in agriculture, which is practically part of the President’s Agenda for Change and if I should empower my people in both Biriwa and Safroko chiefdoms, there is the need to see how we could, collectively with the people, improve on education thus improving on the human resource of not just the Constituency but that of the country as a whole…’

Albert, seeking the people’s power will be a good start…

He spoke of the desire to work with all stakeholders in the constituency, also on the need to form committees and the need to create a middle income class as that will go a long way in developing the constituency and emphasized that ‘we don’t always need to be looking up to central government for all development but with the collective effort of people, something positive will happen which will make government impress with you…’

In a rather very passionate manner, Albert Deen Kamara spoke of the need for community participation in all decision making ‘…I will always try to be with my people, I want to be the torch for the Constituency …the participatory approach to development is what I will concentrate on so as not to only ensure the APC remains in power but at the same time, to have something as a pointer to development ‘ But is it that the people of Constituency 34 have not been getting effective representation in Parliament? Well, Kamara thinks “this government has done extremely well for the common man to the point that today, we can boast of electricity and road development among others… we still need to do more at the constituency level to see how we could complement President Koroma’s work and that is why I want to come up as an alternative.’ The APC, for Kamara is a pro-poor people party and one that caters for the need of the average Sierra Leonean. Therefore, he sees himself as a man of the people.

He emphasized on the importance of agriculture, stating that he believes also in putting premium on agriculture, because as a man with several acres of plantation, he will be an example for others to be involved in agriculture, “and this is a paramount aspect in the President’s Agenda for Change…” He thinks he can tell a story towards solving a problem but cannot practically be a problem solver and as such, looks forward to ‘bringing a new direction, new hope and development to the people of Biriwa and Safroko  Limba Chiefdoms with the support of the All Peoples Congress party.”

People’s power:

The President did make the point that it is the people’s power to choose their councilors and Parliamentarians and I most humble would want to appreciate the President for that. And Albert thinks “this cuts across…I have gone round the constituency, I had held discussions with people and have seen the determination in them to have someone who cannot not only represent them but one that will bring about change and new direction though with the collective efforts of all and sundry in the Constituency,”

That said, it is indeed left with whosoever is vying to ensure, the support of the people is got, because at the end, it is the people who will determine their representation and President Koroma, being the type of Leader that listens to his people, will surely want to see a continuation of his development strides but only when he is voted into office for another five year term in office. Only when the people are met, spoke with, convinced with good policies that they are sure of getting more results.

President Koroma and his government will have all the determination for a better Sierra Leone but this only will become a reality when such determination trickles down to those seeking party symbols for parliamentary seats.

Registration:

Notwithstanding the track record of President Koroma in terms of his performance, I encourage all to get to the registration centres and register as that is one of the ways he can be returned to State House. It is your civic responsibility. Register NOW and then vote NOVEMBER 17^TH.

© 2012, Daily Mail. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

In case you forgot my name, don’t worry about it because it is not important.  You probably know my heart and my work. Yes, you do.  I’m the Editor-in-Chief of the Sierra Leone Daily Mail, which means I’m in charge of the paper’s day-to-day articles and publications of — editorials, Op-Eds, letters to the editor and other issues. Those articles, in the past as well as the future, represent the institutional voice of the board, the editor and the publisher, walking tirelessly in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone.

Soon, a maiden edition of a new section called: “The last word” will be added alongside the paper’s daily editorials.  It will be a place for me to highlight the conversation around a given day’s opinion pieces, to keep tabs on the stories that have caught the board’s attention, or just mine, and to provide quick takes on breaking news. While I will be sharing my personal point of view more than is usual for someone in my job, I will call upon the expertise of my colleagues on the board, asking for their informed opinions about, for instance, the toxic political atmosphere spurred by the SLPP or the UN representative – Gosh!! I forgot his name. You know him! – The diplomat who meddles in the political affairs of a nation that he was sent to assist.

The Last Word will be more unceremonious than a normal editorial page would look. I will try to respond (at a pace that I’ll figure out as I go along) to the comments and questions and concerns of our ordinary readers. And I invite you to join me on the site.

What’s with the title and the symbol? I chose the parrot because I see this beautiful talking bird as a symbol with an unusual high degree of intelligence and communication capabilities: My intention is to engage in and encourage debate and dissent, which are vital to democracy.

For those of you wondering why the Daily Mail decided to wait until this time to unleash me, I should explain that Sierra Leone is in a crucial stage in its history and the nation cannot afford to sit with hands akimbo and sealed lips. I figured it was time to give it a try.

Duty calls……Here I come.

© 2012, Christian Foday Sesay Jr. EIC. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum