Please read this comment from James Bangura one Of the stranded students in Venezuela and see how wicked this APC administration has become to their people. There is more to the Venezualan story and the Finance and Foreign offices really stinks big time. But we will soon get there. Please read. Hello everyone. Im one of the students studying here in venezuela. Whats meant for caesar should be given to caesar. We are grateful to the Sierra Leone government for remembering us in the 2013 budget. We came here since 2010 and everything has not been all gleam. Weve received various visits from workers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the first 2 years we spent here, and the above mentioned Ambassador himself about a year ago. we have been putting our issues forward ever since day one but only to be resolved some few months back. Even at that, we never requested for anythig more but accepted what the government had to offer. one of the major constraints we have is financial. So with the help of the stripens, that would have been a major breakthrough. There are many things to talk about and many explanations to do but ill limit myself and address the Ambassadors address as posted to this forum. Frankly speaking, we as students here have never received any official statement from the Ambassador ever since he left Venezuela last year. And even though he might claim to be the one responsible for the positive response from the government towards the payment of our stripens, i can boldly say that its as a result of the relentless efforts of some parents of students here and other family members. They dedicated their time and effort when we never received any replies from nobody else. I took on myself to personally make contacts with the Ambassador. Communicating through calls and whatsapp. ofcourse there were some difficulties making contacts as sometimes call are rejected or messages not been responded to. However, the Ambassador will even agree to the fact that all through our priviledged conversations, Ive always been respectful, irrespective of his position but as a human being. If some of the students are really pissed off, its because of the many disappointments, lies or silences we have received from the part of not only the Ambassador but some of his other co-workers. We always tried to make contact, set up an executive body to have information properly channelled but none of that was taken into consideration. We still persevered and made some alternatives as to the payment of funds. We decided that it should be brought here cause its true. Venezuela has strict laws on international currency esp dollar. As a result of that, none of us has international accounts here, neither do we know people with such. Infact, its not even safe. If theres one thing we have learnt in venezuela, its that we cant trust anyone. Another thing, should we the students be responsible for creating international relations or its the work of the embassy? Infact, its something official and we need someone to be present especially as this is the first time, to sign all necessary papers or make a formal contract. The excuse was that without an account, nothing can be done. we passed some weeks without any information from the embassy. Then later after our explanations on the bank accounts, and some calls made by some students we were called by the Secretary to the Ambassador that the legal laws of the USA dont permit people to travel with more than a specific amount then later $10000 and that theyll do their best to come in with it bits by bits. That theyll do all their best to do that as they have been here and understand the situation. And mind you guys, when the Ambassador was here accompanied by the secretary, Miss Isha, they were witnesses to the inflation rates in Venezuela. No need to explain but they can bear me witness. on a call i made to the Ambassador, he personally promised to do all in his power to make sure the money reaches us here just like we requested for the same above mentioned reasons. Then we also gave other alternatives namely; deposit the money to personal accounts in the USA, deposit the money in accounts in sierra Leone to be accounted for by family members, open international accounts for the students with debit cards sent to venezuela, etc. We exhausted all the possible solutions. Then the Accountant, Mr. Paul Kamara communicated with students and said the money either stays in USA or goes to venezuela. Nothing more, nothing less. And if we dont come up with better solutions or a bank account in some months, it will be sent back to Sierra Leone. Venezuela is a difficult country and they all know it but they are still finding ways to keep up with the frustrations. And one question i kept asking myself was this I believe Mr. Paul Kamara came to venezuela with more than $10000. Its clear cause he distributed $10010 amongst the 22 students here. I believe he had needed some pocket money and all. Did he have any problem with security officials at the airport? Is the money that theyll be coming with illegal? Is it illegal to handle dollars in Venezuela? Wholl know that some one is travelling with thousands of dollars in a plane if the person keeps quiet? People talk abut insecurity in venezuela. Its true just like it is for many places but how many times have tourists not to say Diplomats been robbed or attacked in an airport? There will be lots and tons of things to talk about but ill just put these forward for now so that people understand. And because the students dont talk does not mean we are not there working at the background. Nobody wants to tarnish the credibility of nobody but as I always say, Respect is Earned! Nobody is lying here about nothing, neither are we trying to blackmail anyone. Its high time we stood for what is right. Even if we dont receive help from the government, we will still survive cause we are Salone borbor en titi dem en we are survivors. If we had been receiving information from the people in question or had been getting positive responses, there would have been no need for this. Thanks to all positive sierra leoneans out there. It shows that Sierra Leone has a bright future. God Bless Sierra Leone! Sierra Leone will be Ebola free soon by Gods grace.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 07:49:43 +0000
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