CAN "MISS SALONE" STEP FORWARD PLEASE?
We’ve been trying to get on to the recent winner of the Miss SALONE beauty contest since the morning after the night before the contest but somehow all her contacts are “either switched off or out of coverage area.” It may well be true. We know how our mobile phone companies operate. Can somebody please tell her to get in touch with POLITICO please? Thanks for your help.
We have seen a nice statement signed by her now making the rounds on social media. We like the statement but can we have the opportunity to ask our own questions and record our own material?
You see, we want to talk to this gracious lady about a few issues. In the language of this trade, we call it an interview. There are many types of interviews but in a situation like this, we are simply trying to capture the emotions that flow from winning a contest like this and then look ahead to the challenge of taking on the whole world on behalf of this great country. So it’s not as if we want to do some deep tunnel interview. It’s just a friendly chat.
We note however that as all journalists would do, we have left some space open in case it becomes necessary to clarify some issues with the GREAT QUEEN of MAMA SALONE. For example:
1. Did she really believe she could be crowned Miss MAMA SALONE given all that’s required for such a title? That includes the natural gift of beauty backed up by all the artificial enhancements of the modern world.
2. Apart from taking good care of those artificial enhancements, in which other way did she prepare herself for that big day? Is there something we need to know?
3. Is she surprised by what the social media networks have done to the contest, the contestants and the organizers since she was crowned? Is she thinking twice now about going on the world stage?
4. Was she surprised about the reaction of sections of the audience?
5. We have put all these issues out there to demonstrate that we mean well. But we may be forced to land some supplementary upper-cuts.
Long Live Miss Salone.
LUNGI FERRY SERVICE: A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN?
The last thing we want now in Sierra Leone is for hundreds of the most vulnerable people of this country to perish in the sea because we saw danger ahead but pretended we didn’t see it coming.
The FERRY SERVICE linking Freetown to the AIRPORT town of LUNGI is badly-run and the only vessel they now have should be in some scrap yard right now. And it’s not as if people have not been complaining about everything concerning that service – the schedule is erratic, sometimes deliberately tailored for the big guys, facilities like toilets and food are well below minimum standards. Even the waiting area is like some Greek migrant camp.
Alarm went out yesterday about the ferry going off-course and our people sweating and crying out of fear that THE STRIFE IS OVER THE BATTLE WON. God intervened in good time and here we are sounding some warning and not trying to hold people responsible for mass murder.
The spectacle of Maritime boss rushing down the waterside to take over operations at the ELEVENTH HOUR is something we would refuse to countenance. We believe that was total grandstanding. Nothing different from LogusKoroma organizing bus queues at Lumley and Calaba Town. Where is he now?
Every time we hear about near disasters with the ferry service, our minds go back to those NASSIT FERRIES that the people paid so much for. It’s a long story – the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters in which the ACC played a great role. In the name of political accountability, the truth will reveal in the fullness of time.
WE WANT A TECHNICAL INSPECTION OF THE FERRY RIGHT NOW. WE WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT ITS SEAWORTHINESS. Until then, let’s take that ferry to the docks and lay on buses for our people. We just bought ONE HUNDRED.
WELL DONE PALO CONTEH BUT DON’T PUSH THIS TOO FAR
Palo Conteh should be in no doubt that majority of the people living in Freetown support his actions against those absolutely lawless Okada boys. In fact, many people have told us that they can’t even recognize Freetown these days and that for the first time in more than a year, they’ve gone a whole week without being insulted or assaulted by Okada boy. Remarkable! We urge Palo to press on. Next step, Palo should go to the provincial headquarters and continue his clean up.
There is however some disturbing signal we are getting from the operation that we believe should be dealt with very quickly. We have heard on radio that Palo is causing some of the bikes being seized from riders who fall out with the law to be parked in his compound. Many Okada riders have said that on radio without being challenged.
We warn Palo not to go outside his powers. He is doing well so far but to now begin to behave like the police by taking exhibits into his custody is something we will challenge. The police have more than enough holding space for all the bikes in this country.
This thing about holding these bikes in the home of a minister is wrong. It is the police that should carry out these arrests. Otherwise where will all this end? Palo will soon set up his own holding cells in his backyard.
Freetown looks a better place with what really looks like the Operation WID that De Pa promised a few years ago. Let’s not be distracted by MINISTERIAL OVERREACH.
HEARTLESS TRANS-NATIONAL ANGERS NATCOM AT LAST
UNILATERAL AND UNACCEPTABLE! That’s the decision of NATCOM about the recent hike in Trans-national’s fees for DSTV services in Sierra Leone. They say the British weather is very uncertain. We can say the same for the LEONE in this little corner of the world. We can also say the same for Trans-national charges in Sierra Leone. It’s really crazy and totally HEARTLESS.
We have asked our friends around Africa about the cost of DSTV service and we are sure that Trans-national is not helping the situation on this side of hell. NATCOM has been so patient to the extent of being referred to as a toothless bulldog. Finally, as we say in Sierra Leone, Trans-national MAKE MUMU TOK.
1. Subscribers are as hopeless as a customer in a barber’s chair when it comes to dealing with Trans-national in Sierra Leone. Let’s say your subscription is due at a particular date in the month. About a week to that date, you get a message that asks you to pay up two days before that date or be cut off. How can anybody explain that?
2. Try making a call to Trans-national to report a matter to their service staff. They could hardly be bothered. It takes so long to get anybody on the line and it’s not a toll-free line. There’s a lot to do about that.
3. Maintenance service also needs drastic improvement at Trans-national. Getting something done there costs big money. We are not looking for Utopia here. We want to feel like customers. We hope you guys understand.
4. Hiking prices without guaranteeing service is ridiculous. The rains are here again and we all know that the slightest movement in the weather sends DSTV into a kind of tailspin. The service could be cut for as long as the rain lasts. Isn’t there any consideration for people who suffer so much pain? DSTV and their local guys here are only interested in collecting the cash.
5. Is there anything like Corporate Social Responsibility at Trans-national? Can we see their profile please? Because, DSTV makes so much money in Sierra Leone and we cannot see what they are doing to help anybody in this country. Why is Sierra Leone different?
(C) Politico 25/05/16
