DE PA'S ABSENCE FROM THE UN: THE DISAPPOINTED AND THOSE WHO DON'T CARE
There are some very long faces in the corridors of power and in some other small but influential little corners in some politically-connected parts of the country following an ostensibly forced withdrawal of De Pa from the UN General Assembly conference and some other engagements in the great country of America.
Forty five people were lined up for this trip with varying amounts of per-diem, depending on their number of days, all running into hundreds of thousands of US dollars from our taxes. That is, discounting the ticket costs. So now all those per-diems are gone and the great journey to the Promised Land is cancelled for some people because the big man has stayed home.
Well we wish De Pa a speedy recovery. He is big and strong and we believe he will make a full recovery soon since the official line is ill health.
Now to those who have lost out on the per-diem and nice hotels like Waldorf Astoria, (it's very expensive though), must take heart. In fact some of those who thought they had been left out of the trip unjustifiably were quietly happy that those who kept them out did not also travel.
Here are a few issues:
1. The BERATER of a Spokesman says the Vice President had been assigned to other tasks before the accident occurred and cancelled De Pa's trip to the UN. Which assignment was that Mr BERATER? Was the Veep suddenly given tasks as the UN meeting approached? You see, the whole nation knows the Veep has no work to do. He was like that even before the elections of 2007. BERATER must never convince himself that anybody believes what he says on radio. Stop talking sir.
2. Let those whose names were on the list but could not travel get half the per-diem as preparation allowance and for losing out on great shopping trips to Macy's and Wal-Mart
3. This UN travel thing should not be discussed anywhere near State House. The nerves are too raw for now.
4. The people of Sierra Leone are the biggest losers – hahahah - because our president is not in that great assembly. Who knows, Obama would just have invited De Pa to sit by him and offer him another photo opportunity which sections of the local media would have touted again as direct food on our tables.
5. No matter what we say here, there are many people in this country who couldn't care less whether De Pa attended the UN meeting or not. They say for them it’s déjà vu. Dis Countri sorry en tranga!
KAN KAN KAN AND THE FIBRE OPTIC ANIMAL. THE OPTICAL ILLUSION IS DELUSIONAL AND HAS NEVER WORKED
Well…wonders they say never end. If some people are still in denial that the Bumbuna hydro light is alive and kicking – we believe it is – then you should reason with them. De Pa’s government, like that of his political icon Siaka Stevens’, is full of talking and spinning and sometimes lying outright. The other day the clueless MAN FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVT SPOKESMAN – whatever that means – was on radio saying that the fibre optic was here and fully operational. Well according to a press release from that same OFFICE, the boss of all Beraters, Kan Kan Kan has now told his colleagues in the MRU that the fibre optic is an OPTICAL ILLUSION and that they should now consider passing the cable OVERHEAD not UNDERGROUND. Hahahahaha. This is very funny. The Americans have a nice way of saying it: IF IT IS NOT BROKEN, DON’T FIX IT.
So why this alternative if the delusional fibrous of a fibre optic was as UP AND WORKING as claims the BERATER.
WHAT DE PA’S SPIN DOCTORS DID NOT SEE AT TEKKO BARRACKS
The Tekko Military Barracks is still in the news – this time not based on some seeming cock-and-bull story but based on facts.
After the allegations or a planned mutiny that are more questionable than evidential, De Pa visited the barracks which incidentally will be in his neighbourhood when he retires. He has a fantastic twinned compound just a few metres off. The Anti-Corruption Commission after him will have A BUSY CHRISTMAS to check out some vital details around the place which looks like a typical Igwe House. That is for another day.
For today, however, we took a walk along Tekko Road a couple of weekends ago. We were not allowed into the barracks but what we could see clearly from the main road side of the barracks lends credence to what we have been told about appalling conditions in the barracks. Mud structures that resemble anything but a place for soldiers to sleep or do anything in. There are many such structures near the church at Juba barracks too.
We saw a soldier struggling with a needle and thread sewing his boots. When we asked if they did not have a workshop in the barracks as there ought to be, the soldier laughed and giggled and guffawed. “We understand sir”, we said. “Ahaaan! Nor to all tin for talk” he replied. We quickly walked away before we could be arrested for ILLEGAL GATHERING or even MUTINY.
No evidence will be adduced against the patriotic TWITTER but the column would have been locked up for weeks or even months without charge and locked in endless INVESTIGATIONS. So much for the RULE OF LAW.
Now you understand where the motorists, street traders and government officials got it from.
"I HAVE CARS...I AM A DIPLOMAT...MY WIFE HAS CARS...I AM VERY INTELLIGENT...I AM...IAM...IAM", WHAT ELSE SIR MR NEW PARTY LEADER
If you ever thought Munu "pulling inch" and some of our friends pronouncing ATTITUDE, RESEARCH, and other words like Serbian-Sierra Leoneans, then listen to the new opposition leader, the dethroned and exiled Paramount Chief Somana Kapen. The only FORMER PARAMOUNT CHIEF in the land. Incidentally the position is for life. We are told he is called “Kapen” (of pen) a nickname that has become his surname, because he is a learned man.
But his pronunciation thing - boyyyy, is a disaster. He pronounces ATTITUDE and RESEARCH worse than others known and unknown. Listen to him the next time he talks. And unlike those people who are known and unknown who are very economical with talking, this Chief can CHALK…sorry TALK. And he is so full of his POSHITION…sorry POSITION.
God, we understand he plans to rerun lower tier elections in his party despite having just been held before their last convention, because his men did not win there.
This TIFF…sorry CHIEF… must be told to LISHEN to DEMOCRA-SHY and not REINVENCH the wheel. We mean no harm anyway. Good luck on your proposed travel to the Conservative conference in the UK. If you need translation service while there, we recommend a good one called ALL NATIONS LANGUAGE SERVICES found in Small Freetown otherwise called Peckham. By the way, have you been granted a visa now? Or are you to UK what your Godfather, Usuofia is to USA???
POLICE OFFICER ATTACKED AND L.U.C CALLS FOR COMPENSATION
A Chinese national working for an African Minerals contracting firm in the northern part of the country attacked a Sierra Leone Police, FORCE FOR GOOD officer as the cop carried out his lawful duties. The police big men in Makeni have asked their boy to accept being slapped on duty because he will be compensated.
Many people are very angry that compensation and not undiluted justice is being discussed when an officer of the law is attacked. It doesn't matter whether he is Chinese or Mongolian. To be very honest, we are not angry at all. We are inclined to believe that the LUC in Makeni is a wise man and he probably thought his action through, taking into consideration many issues, including the following;
1. With China doing a kind colonial push into all sectors in Sierra Leone and De Pa announcing one big Chinese signing after another like Manchester City and Tottenham, the state will decline this opportunity to set a very bright example.
2. With a justice system accessed only through the back door of the main building, the verdict of that trial would surprise everybody.
3. One slap is acceptable to a police officer because the potential compensation package is equivalent to his salary and official emoluments for six months. Collect for you yar officer. Hahhahaha
4. Police have long been beating up especially opposition supporters, and killing innocent civilians. Sometem na TURN DET God e yai nor bos.
(C) Politico 19/08/13