SIERRA LEONE PRINT MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS- TUESDAY 4THMARCH, 2014 AWOKO UN Secretary General arrives today Several papers report that the visit of the United Nations Secretary General to Sierra Leone on 4th March 2014 is to celebrate 15 years of UN peacekeeping and peace building operations in the country which comes to an end on 31st March 2014. The paper continues that there is something the UN and Sierra Leone can celebrate for which the latter is grateful. However, the paper observes that the transformation of the state broadcaster, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, to an autonomous entity to enable equal access to all stakeholders has not worked out as expected and that it is time that the authorities admit to this fact. Landlord complains UNIPSIL Mr Femi Hebron, the landlord of Cabenda Hotel that was leased to the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Mission in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) in 2009, has alleged that the mission has left the premises in a state of disrepair and that it reneged on the terms of the agreement that the premises should be restored to its former state. According to some of the papers, Mr Femi Hebron further quoted the terms of the agreement as stating that “at the end of the tenancy, a joint inspection will be carried out and the lessor, in consultation with the lessee, will determine whether alterations should be left as is or restored to the original state prior to the UN taking over the premises and that all restorative work shall be carried out at the expense of the lessee.” Concord Times quotes the landlord as accusing UNIPSIL of “vandalism” disclosing that it will cost him $200,000 to repair the damage while Independent Observer reports that UNIPSIL is to pay the landlord $65,000. SLAJ lobbies Parliament to repeal libel law The executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on 3rd March 2014 held discussions with the Speaker of Parliament, Hon Sheku Dumbuya for the review of the 1965 Public Order Act that overtly criminalises libel and sedition which the executive appealed to the Speaker to be reviewed to promote press freedom and democracy. According to the papers, the SLAJ President, Mr Kevin Lewis underscored that the 1965 Public Order Act has been used by influential people to muzzle the press thus preventing access to information that is a key pillar of transparency and accountability. CONCORD TIMES NEC presents 2013 report to President Koroma President Ernest Koroma on 25th February 2014 during the presentation of its 2013 annual report assured the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Government’s continued support in the discharge of its mandate. According to the paper, the President revealed that the activities of NEC are some of the indicators used by international organisations to determine the extent to which Sierra Leone is experimenting with democracy that must be sustained. The paper catalogues some of the activities lined up by NEC as a referendum to review of constituencies, conducting elections of Village Heads to Local Councils and Presidential and Parliamentary in 2018. AWARENESS TIMES Ministry of Internal Affairs clarifies passport contract The Ministry of Internal Affairs has in a press release published in several dailies clarified that the contract for the extension of the Passport Contract and Upgrade of the Machine Readable Passport to E-Passport and Visa Stickers between the Government of Sierra Leone and De La Rue International Limited trading as De La Rue Identity Systems has been executed after it was vetted by the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The release continues that the Procurement Committee which extended the contract in 2013 acted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2014 and the Public Procurement Regulations 2006.The release followed media reports that the contract was awarded under dubious circumstances. THE NATIONALIST Workshop on voters’ knowledge initiative ends in Freetown A day’s workshop on the impact of voter knowledge initiative organised by the International Growth Center in collaboration with Campaign for Good Governance, Search for Common Ground and other stakeholders has ended at Njala Venue in Freetown. The paper informs that the workshop was organised due to the series of research projects undertaken to provide voters and political parties with reliable information about the performance of Members of Parliament and the competence of candidates for public office. Concluding, the paper adds that stakeholders pointed out that although the report is important as its screens candidates for political office; it did not capture “ethnic antagonism,” one of the fundamental problems in Sierra Leone. GLOBAL TIMES High Court hears SLPP case on 5th March 2014 The Notice of Motion in the case of the SLPP Minority Leader in Parliament comes up for hearing at the Freetown High Court on 5th March 2014. The paper recalls that Justice Abdulai Charm in December 2013 granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the SLPP from conducting any election leading to the replacement of the Minority Leader, Hon Dr Bernadette Lahai. The paper further informs that 26 out of the 42 SLPP Members of Parliament have petitioned the Minority Leader but that she has vowed not to resign. Statistics Council yet to start work The paper alleges that in spite of the fact that Parliament has approved members of the Statistics Sierra Leone Council and have received their appointment letters, the Minister of State II in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Foday Mansaray is yet to relinquish the authority initially delegated to him to perform the functions in the absence of a Council for Statistics Sierra Leone during which period, the institution has been saddled with alleged corruption and administrative blunders. According to the paper, the non-delegation of responsibilities to the Council has stalled its work and claims that Mr Foday Mansaray has “eyed” the Le6 billion Government has allocated to the institution for the conduct of this year’s census for him to be paid for his services. Deputy Minister attacked The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Madam Mabinty Daramy was on 2nd March 2014 assaulted at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi by Mariama Bah who claimed to be the lover of the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Alpha Kanu. The paper quotes Madam Mabinty Daramy as enlightening that Mariama Bah still holds the view that she is dating the Minister of Information when their relationship had ceased long age and “was not even on speaking terms with him” adding that she was at the airport to see off his pastor who was traveling overseas for medical treatment. PREMIER NEWS Majority Leader addresses stakeholders in Port Loko The Majority Leader in Parliament and of Constituency 52, Port Loko District, and Hon Ibrahim Bundu on 1st March 2014 informed the party’s executive and MPs representing the District that prosperity is only for people who work hard asserting that many people held the erroneous idea that Government’s Agenda for Prosperity will rapidly transform their lives. According to the paper, the Majority Leader further stated that the Agenda for Prosperity is for people who are sincerely committed to put their political differences aside and partner with Government to implement development projects. The paper concludes that Hon Bundu made the statement while addressing the monthly meeting of the APC executive, MPs and other stakeholders in Masiaka, Koya Chiefdom. The New Citizen reports that the meeting was aimed at promoting peace, unity and development in the District. Report highlights corruption and bribery in justice system The new report published by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) on the Sierra Leone Justice Sector and Rule of Law reveals that corruption and bribery among court officials hampers the delivery of justice particularly to the poor and vulnerable population adding that only those who bribe get justice. The paper continues that the report further highlights that low salaries for judges and staff of the judiciary have increased the urge for corruption and bribery and concludes that there is problem of accessing quality, transparent and consistent ruling in both the customary and formal justice systems in the country. Israel donates medical equipment to Sierra Leone The Honorary Consul of Sierra Leone in Tel Aviv, Israel, Mr Jacob Liraz on 3rd March 2014 donated a 40-feet container of medical equipment to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The paper informs that the items include 4 dialysis machines, 4 anesthetic machines, 1 incubator bed, 33 hospital beds and assorted medical supplies. The paper adds that plans are also underway to donate ultrasound machines and other equipment to Sierra Leone. THE EXCLUSIVE President Koroma awarded for exemplary leadership The African Leadership Magazine has presented its award to President Ernest Koroma for his pioneering leadership, integrity and support to Sierra Leoneans. The paper reveals that the award was received on behalf of the President by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador in America, Mr Bockarie Stevens at a ceremony held at the St. Regis Hotel on Washington DC on 27th February 2014 on the theme ‘Leadership: Africa’s key to Sustainable Economic Growth and Development.’ The paper continues that the decision to award President Koroma and five others was reached by the Executive Board of Trustees and a panel of judges after series of consultations. FOR DI PEOPLE President Koroma launches APC Veterans Association President Ernest Koroma on 1st March 2014 launched the APC Veterans Welfare Association at a ceremony held at the Miatta Conference Center in Freetown at which event he urged members of the Association to rise up to the challenge and help move the party forward. The paper continues that the President also paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the party underscoring that without them the party could not have reached thus far and concludes that he sanctioned the Association as one of the official organs of the party. CSOs indict NRA Civil Society Organizations and the public have criticised the United National Development Fund for failure to effectively monitor the Goods and Services Tax (GST) awareness campaign in which thousands of tax payers’ monies were allegedly mismanaged. The paper recalls that prior to the launch of the GST receipt by the National Revenue Authority (NRA), the United National Development Fund disbursed funds to the National Revenue Authority to sensitise the public about the GST for its successful implementation but alleges that over 90% of the people, especially traders, are not aware of the GST. AFRICA YOUNG VOICES Tax receipts out soon The Mayor of Freetown, Mr Frankly Gibson has revealed that the local tax receipt for 2014 will soon be out and admonished that chiefs, who are major stakeholders in ensuring that the people buy the receipts, have a major role to play for Council to generate revenue. THE SALONE CHAMPION Teachers seek recruitment with police According to the paper, most teachers have applied to be recruited into the Sierra Leone Police Force that offers better conditions of service. The paper further quotes some of the teachers as stating that they are not paid on time adding that they have not benefited from the recent salary increase announced by Government. The papers reviewed today are: For di People, The Nationalist, The Exclusive, The New Citizen, Africa Young Voices Magazine, Global Times, The Salone Champion, Awareness Times, Independent Observer, Awoko, Concord Times and New Vision. The above summary of news reports reflects the views of the papers reviewed today not that of the United Nations.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 23:00:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015