UN KEEPS FAITH WITH INSOLVENT SLBC. HMMMMMMMM
Our impeccable sources have just told us that the UN has again paid about Le 382 million into another bank account operated by debt-ridden SLBC after that debacle at the Rokel Commercial Bank where, the clever people of Rokel clawed back some of their debt from the corporation when the UN paid the first sum into the SLBC account there. It was money in the region of le 500 million.
The Constitutional Review sensitisation money went into paying debts that the failed corporation accrued out of reckless spending. We have an audit report backing us up. By the way, how does it feel for one's landlord to be one of his auditors? We shall return to this.
Now we hear that the SLBC has another account at First International Bank where this new money was paid. Hahahahahahaha! What kind of broadcasting organisation is that? We are very surprised that instead of refusing to do any business with an insolvent and badly-run corporation, the UN has joined the financial hide and seek game that the SLBC is playing.
The world body has refused to be educated on this question of which media institutions the people really trust for any serious information like that on the Constitutional Review Process. We will not give them any further free lessons.
The TV the SLBC is operating serves only the politicians so if that's what they are throwing into the bargain, good luck to the UN. We warn them again that they are sending money meant for the people of Sierra Leone down the drain or into the pockets of a few people. Please don't get us started on this.
We are putting the final pieces of a big investigative work on that UN support package for the CRC together in the interest of our country. You people just can't hide from Politico.
SLFA CONFUSION AT THE TOP, DISASTER ON THE FIELD
Every time we try to forget about the blunder after blunder being committed by the SLFA under De Madam, they throw out some journalistic red meat which we naturally can resist. Look what we found in our in-box the other day - an apology of a press release. We quote:
SLFA - "The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has suspended all football matches in the country until further notice because of the Ebola outbreak. As a result, Sierra Leone's participation in the group stage of qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations has been placed in doubt".
POLITICO - Well, we are being forced to get used to copy-cat moves from Liberia. That's where we think this is coming from. Just like the previous one from De Pa. They are our neighbours. In NGO language, we should call it neighbourhood best practice.
The SLFA says our participation in the 2015 AFCON "has been placed in doubt". This sounds like what we expect from lazy journalists. Here is an FA that is banning football in this country - with all the implications, telling us the national team's participation has been "placed in doubt". So why not engage CAF for information to clear that doubt before issuing a press release to ban football? Even CAF has not addressed the issue at this time. What is wrong with De Madam's SLFA?
SLFA - "The SLFA's decision to ban football comes after Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma declared last week a public health emergency in the country to curb the deadly virus - the state of public emergency is expected to last up to 60-90 days".
POLITICO - Here's the Madam hiding behind De Pa's statement to essentially postpone the SLFA congress that would surely end her controversial hold on power at the Football Association. De Madam told 98.1 FM that she would announce a date soon for that congress. How soon is soon Madam? Is she telling us the SLFA CONGRESS cannot hold because of Ebola? An association of only 47 delegates?
SLFA - "However, a member of the SLFA media committee Abu Bakarr Kamara said: "We're hoping that the Ebola disease would be contained before our home game against DR Congo and we'll be able to play them in Freetown. But if the situation doesn't improve, the suspension will remain in place and we'll have to look out for a neutral venue."
POLITICO - The point is, if the SLFA is unable to deal with this situation in line with CAF, then let The Madam resign now. The SLFA suspended football before considering the option of playing away. 98% of our team is based abroad - in countries that are free of Ebola. So what is all this scare tactic? Bring the congress on so that those who take over after your impeachment would make our case to CAF and FIFA. That's all.
THEN CAME THIS FROM THE SLFA'S ALLIES - THE MINISTRY OF SPORTS
The ministry issued its own press release "dissociating" itself from the "unilateral decision" of the SLFA to ban football in Sierra Leone. We quote:
MINISTRY OF SPORTS - "We request that all sports associations affiliated to the national sports council and the ministry of sports to seek permission from the ministry before issuing any press release contrary to the president's wish... The ministry would like to disassociate itself from the unilateral decision from the SLFA to issue a press release without any consultation with the ministry which has the full responsibility to supervise all sporting disciplines including the SLFA in Sierra Leone."
POLITICO - Well, who was it that went out of his way to ensure the controversial election of De Madam? It was Pope John Paul. The SLFA Secretary General was on radio station 98.1 recently saying they work in collaboration with the ministry. They take joint decisions and all that. So what's the point here? Didn't De Madam also say she went to State House for advice before she banned SLFA members from football-related activities in Sierra Leone?
And while we are on this, we warn the SLFA that next time they take over a whole newspaper as supplement, they should tell their media friends not to sell those papers to us. They should distribute it free of cost because we really don't see any need for all that publicity, knowing what we know. And we shouldn't be made to pay for an SLFA publicity material we didn't commission.
When our vendor dropped that paper along with others at our office, we were compelled to pay for it. Please refund our cash. Thanks.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES OVER BUT SIERRA LEONEANS STAYING PUT
So where is our delegation to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow? We hear two of the journalists who covered themselves at the games are back. Welcome home, comrades. We are very proud that you didn't join those never-do-well sports people and officials who, Ebola or no Ebola, were going to find some reason to stay in the UK. Sierra Leoneans just like running away.
We warn them to leave Scotland very quickly for England because, in the absolutely unlikely event of Scotland voting to become an independent country next month, they will be meeting a new set of challenges.
When Poland recently denied a visa to our volleyball team, we complained loudly. Those who made that decision in Poland should congratulate themselves now for seeing through all the lies we tell consuls at immigration points. Would the Sierra Leone contingent be allowed to enter the Canada Games? We know the answer to that question. Dis Runaway Boy Bizness don Pass Mark.
COMMERCIAL BANK FIGHTS EBOLA - WE GET THE MESSAGE YA
We LOVE the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank. We totally agree that they are the Lion in Banking. In fact, we are fed up with them telling us that all the time. We also very much appreciate their involvement in the fight against Ebola. And here's what we think:
a. Please find an innovative way to cut down on the number of people waiting for service at your bank daily. The crowd is usually too big and a fertile ground for Ebola.
b. When it's time to pay salaries, see what you can do about the multitudes that come down to your Siaka Stevens Street branch. De Pa says we should avoid crowds. But ow we go eat now?
c. We see you have GREEN and RED containers for chlorinated water so your customers can wash their hands before entering the building. Good work. We note the colours you chose. We are living in a politically-polarised country so we admire your strenuous effort at being politically correct. Long live the Lion in Banking.
(C) Politico 07/08/14
