THE INTRACTABILITY AT MARITIME ADMINISTRATION: WHAT CAN BE DONE
The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) is in the news again and for all the wrong reasons. Six officials there are under intense probing by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for alleged impropriety of varied dimensions. When Principal took up office in April 2018, he vowed to tackle corruption head-on. Appointing Afro Boy to head the anti-graft agency meant serious business indeed.
Let us give you a brief reminder of whither the MARITIME has come: The holder of the Maritime top desk in 2018 was gone immediately Principal’s administration took a foothold. Before him, and under the MESSI era, Luks man, now deceased, was roped in by the ACC. Even before the new administration could get a foothold, the woman who had been roped in by the ACC at SLRSA – again under MESSI’s reign (fair to say she was let go of by the Appeals court) was put in charge of MARITIME. It wouldn’t be long before she became part of the statistics there. Her successor, an insider of old at the ADMINISTRATION, was appointed. Even before the ink dried up on his contract, he would be gone. Now his successor has also been roped in by the ACC. It shows we are all the same Sierra Leoneans. Open to corruption. The difference this time around is that the institution called CC is making the difference.
The public cannot understand just why top staff at Government Wharf hardly last a year. Is it that the trappings of senior management level are too tempting to let go? As Afro Boy and his ACC commence investigations this time around, we would advise against salivating over premature and vague judgements by the court of public opinion. Truth be told though, the latest drama encircling MARITIME has brought more debate about just which category of people should be appointed to head the place. Twice, Principal was let down by those he trusted to run the institution efficiently. Is it as ancient Rome would say, the gods of the sea are unhappy? As people jockey for the top job there, Principal would be scratching his head over future appointments for SLMA. We can imagine him shaking his head in despondence and saying to himself: “Maritime Administration, wetin for do baaaa?
VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATE FRAMES
We have noticed that many SUV and SUV-like vehicles use frames to fix their registration number plates. While that may make the number plate or even the vehicle look sexy, it actually defeats the purpose of displaying such registration numbers.
Depending on the make of the vehicle, for some you can hardly see the number in front clearly. For others, the frame in the back covers the top of the characters and can make some letters and numbers look what they are not.
We urge the Road Safety Authority and the Sovula Boys to meet URGENTLY to address this situation. A suspect in a serious crime driving in such a car cannot be identified correctly – and the wrong number may even be recorded and an innocent person chased.
In the same light, some vehicles have blinding lights. Whatever the taste of these drivers, it is not for us to judge. But we are concerned that their MUNKUNESS is causing a lot of discomfort for drivers in approaching vehicles. Such florescent or disco lights should be banned from use on vehicles.
HISTORIC ELECTION AT FOURAH BAY COLLEGE
Today students in the citadel of higher learning in west Africa will be going to the poll to vote a new President. For the first time, the nearly 200-year-old institution will have a female President. Reason: the two main political camps – BLACK and WHITE – have fielded female candidates. Both of them are in the Law department aiming to success another law student.
The campaigns have been sometimes messy but less violent than before. It makes us forget about the fact that there are four other candidates. For once the males are in the backburner. In this male chauvinistic society isn’t that interesting! HAHAHAH!
We wish all the candidates well, and pray the students behave themselves and eschew violence. After all they are the future leaders of the country – so you understand why there is so much violence in our national elections. Elections at FBC, especially in the last 12 years, have become something else! Please try to put an end to that unenviable reputation, guys! We are watching and waiting with bated breath.
JOURNALISTS MEET!
All roads lead to Bo this week as journalists meet to take stock of the leadership of their association for the year gone by, and look ahead to the coming year. It is a great time journalists have together especially between those in the provinces and those based in Freetown. It is fun, it is frolic. These carefree people called journalists also find time to do some sober reflection. We won’t tell you the details. We know. But suffice it to say that this year’s AGM may just be the most celebrated. Reason: we are meeting without that anachronistic and obnoxious Criminal and Seditious Libel Law which provided cover for us to be treated as criminals especially by politicians. We understand that some journalists plan to celebrate this watershed moment in very unorthodox ways in Bo. Hmmm…Rest assured that WE WILL BE WATCHING and will report to you here accordingly. HAHAHAHAH! Go celebrate, guys. But don’t forget to discuss the financial threat the local media faces, the impact of social media on the relevance of traditional journalism and how journalists should distinguish themselves from the rest of society on social media. Gatekeepers we must remain!
THE RAINS ARE HERE AGAIN!
The Met has warned about flooding in the coming weeks and months as the rains have started their downpour. We hope the new agency in charge of disasters is prepared and ready and resourced. We respect the man put in charge of it. He is a very decent who comes with an excellent record from heading the country’s armed forces. We salute you sir! We know this is a new agency but we can still make it work. This is the time to recruit more short-term contract foot soldiers to help with mitigating plans and action if or when required. We don’t wait until something untoward happens and begin to scamper round with hands facing the sky asking God to come down. No! The old stupidities must not be allowed to continue. The fantastic preparedness ahead of the arrival of the coronavirus in Sierra Leone should be the same as before the rains really set in. keep watch on the slums and the catchment areas in the mountain ranges. Good luck to all of us.
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