SIERRA LEONE IS BEING GRADUALLY QUARANTINED
It may not be apparent like soldiers closing down Kenema and Kailahun. But with one aircraft after another pulling out of this country and expatriates leaving as fast as they can, we have to say that we are now effectively quarantined inside our country from the outside. This is very serious.
We cannot confirm this, but we have heard that soon we will all be asked to stay at home for 21 days as part of measures to deal with Ebola. We have no objection to that as long as it's aimed at defeating the deadly virus, the biggest enemy to Sierra Leone since Foday Sankoh came through Liberia.
But the average Sierra Leonean petty trader has taken advantage of the situation to make a quick kill. The prices of basic commodities keep rising beyond the reach of the ordinary man. Even in the best of times, things were bad. Look what we have today. We don't know if in a free market economy, there is anything the governments can do to hold back this rollercoaster of profiteering.
Ordinary Sierra Leoneans are crying under the burden of unbridled price increases and they can only turn to their government led by De Pa to protect them against those who see this Ebola epidemic as an excuse to make money. Salone man geh way o!
CAN WE HAVE MORE WEATHER FORECASTING PLEASE?
Ok, we know August is all about rain, rain and rain. In fact in this country, we are always talking about rain that goes on for seven days non-stop. Is that what we are having now? It's been pouring down since Friday night. With our taps dry, we cannot help but praise God for this great gift, but why don't we get our weather forecast to help us plan. We know a few radio stations do some kind of weather forecast but we find that completely insufficient.
So what's happening to the Meteorological Services in this country? We have no doubt there are professionals but we don't believe they have all the equipment, money and personnel to deliver high quality job. We shouldn't hide this. Look at their office on Howe Street and their weather station at Tower Hill. Those two structures are a real testament to how we have treated this very important institution.
The trouble is, listening to the officials there talk on radio, you get the impression all is well. We agree they have to sound hopeful and keep the government on side. But, please! We all know things are bad out there. The neglect in that place started long before De Pa came to office. So why are the big men there so scared to speak out?
We need regular and reliable weather forecasts every day. Let's stop this six months of rain and six months of dry. Global warming has changed all that now. Look at this: We used to identify October as a month of thunder. This year, some of the worse thunder and lightning strikes took place in June.
LET DE PA PLEASE RESCUE THAT RED MOVEMENT CANTEEN PROJECT AT FBC
We call on De Pa to come to the aid of that Red Movement canteen project near the female hostel at Great FBC. He is the only person who can pull this off with ease - never mind the state of emergency. We went straight to him because the canteen is named after his loving mother.
The Mama Alice Canteen was abandoned when it was like 75% complete. Even the billboard on which the photograph of the late Mother of Sierra Leone is painted has been put in some corner, exposed to the elements. The Red Movement executive at FBC should go to De Pa and explain how the project came to be abandoned in this way.
The project should serve as a visible reminder of the late woman's place in the hearts of many. So please De Pa, investigate why the project stalled and then pump in a little money to finish the construction. We shall be at the official opening ceremony in November. Well we have no idea if FBC would be in operation by then. We know a bit about schools but nothing yet about colleges.
D - DAY IS NIGH - RIGHT HAND VEHICLE OWNERS vs. LOGUS KOROMA
It's beginning to look like a defeat for Logus Koroma over this Right Hand Vehicles thing. We absolutely back Logus on this but now right hand vehicle owners are turning the tide against the minister and his staff at the Road Transport Authority.
Like Logus Koroma, we can't understand why people insist on driving right-hand vehicle in Sierra Leone, totally against our traffic rules in the 1970s. And Logus has given such a long notice that it is totally impossible for anybody to say they haven't heard the message. Why, in fact, did Logus go the extra mile to start naming garages that could help them change the position of their steering wheel. That's not your job sir. Your job is to implement the law. Do it.
Logus should know that we have had too much experience in this country, of governments, past and present, passing laws but only implementing for the first seven days. And, some other laws have been reversed on the eve of them going into operation. Logus, do you remember what happened to Bayuku, president of Koinadugu when he tried to clear the beach of dirty and illegal bars?
Press on Logus, press on. All right hand vehicles must go now.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WITHOUT VIEWING CENTERS
Why was a young man of about 20 years so angry about the government's decision to close down TV viewing centres because of the outbreak of Ebola? He couldn't understand why the government could do such a thing. He said it was all part of "the corruption" in this country - well we find it very difficult to put action against Ebola alongside what he called corruption in Sierra Leone.
But here's the point: Our man is willing to put his life and the lives of many other people at risk, just to watch an English Premier League match. And you should hear these people talking about players being bought and sold, who earns the biggest money in the European leagues and all that. We all love the English Premier league but how can anybody insist on watching the Premier league at a viewing centre and end up killing many people.
The other point is, these people don't need to watch the matches to be able to place a bet with Mercury lottery. Because for many that's a real consideration.
Now to the league itself, nothing much will change. The big five are still going to be up there fighting for the trophy. The new guys who gained promotion to the top would struggle and even return to the lower league. The only thing that would change is that lacklustre Manchester United would force their way into European championship position one way or the other. England cannot afford another year of the Champions League without Manchester United.
It's not looking good for Liverpool. They will fight it out with Arsenal for the last spot. You can call us again at the end of the season.
(C) Politico 12/08/14
