THE ASPIRING GREEN LEADER IN GREEN BEHAVIOUR
We were shocked and surprised in equal measure after watching a short video a few days ago. In it, BATIBATI, who wants to lead the GREEN Party, stands among hungry-looking people, apparently his (party) supporters, doling out US dollar notes like a village chief handing out candies to children displaced by a disaster. Except that BATIBATI had no sympathy on his face – rather he was smiling as if to rub it in on the hapless people. Our politicians – budding or ripe – don’t seem to learn; not yesterday not today. We know they all get paid in Leones, which is the legal tender. So if we may ask: where do they get these US banknotes from whenever they are in office? And for someone to be spraying cash at people in such a manner reminds us of the mentality that “the voters are cows, just give them salt”. It is completely disrespectful to the people. Time to end the age-old idea of political leaders dishing out money like that!
SLFA GETS NEW PRESIDENT
Makeni was the place to be on Saturday. After a series of abortions, the football fraternity finally managed to hold their elections, at least three years late. The QUEEN had withdrawn, as had the odds-on favourite despite his exoneration by the Court of Arbitration for Sports after his phony disqualification on some murky grounds. So in the end the outsider candidate got elected. It is hoped this will bring back normalcy to the country’s football administration after all. The beautiful game we all love so dearly will get the attention it needs. The new man in charge must not pay attention to the internal politics that has fraught the SLFA for eons. He should try to be his own man and not allow himself to be held hostage by those who may want to claim credit for his ascension. We hereby make the following suggestion to him:
- Audit the outgoing administration.
- Dissolve the committees set up to carry out a yeoman’s job of disqualifying people for political reasons. Leave in place the Premier League Board as currently constituted, to continue with the ongoing league.
- Know that without the central government your administration will be a joke. So don’t antagonize them but rather cooperate with them.
- Pay real attention – not lip service – to the growth of female football.
- Get football to the local communities and use that to spot the huge talent that is wasting there.
We will get you more pieces of advice in the coming weeks and months. You may choose to listen and change the trajectory or be obstinate and inherit the turmoil of your predecessor.
DEAFENING QUIETUDE AT THE LANDS MINISTRY
There seems to be law and order at the former SANDYLAND. The new man in charge, Dr Too-Ready, seems to have hit the ground running. We understand that ministry finally has a standard operating procedure, for the first time. You wonder what his predecessors were doing there. Files have been cleaned up and those with grievances asked to step forward for their cases to be looked into. The usual gung-ho approach has been tamed somewhat. It would appear the usually combative approach by many lands ministers especially in the last 10 – 15 years has been met with level-headedness. TOO-READY has refused to nullify those letters of offer given by his predecessor(s). We recall vividly when the KONO QUEEN was appointed to that ministry in the MESSI era she nullified offers made by her predecessor in the same administration. Power has a way of getting into some people’s skull, never mind their head.
While we salute the new minister, we wish to draw his attention to the following:
- Be careful with some of the civil servants in that ministry. Hardly did any of those wrong land deals of the past go ahead without their involvement or even instigation.
- Create a desk for those in the Diaspora. It is hellish for many of our compatriots living abroad who wish to acquire landed property back home. There is so much criminality involved. It should be made easy and straightforward and free from any corrupt practice or backhanders – or at least any such lessened.
- Carry out strict compliance with the law in ensuring those who encroach on access roads are made to regret their wickedness and stupidity.
More to come!
THE MAYOR AND HER CLEAN GUTTERS AND BEGGAR-FREE STREETS
We hear the QUEEN OF FREETOWN bragging of how she has cleaned the city. We beg to differ. The so-called Transform Freetown thingie is a SOCIAL MEDIA SCAM. The reality on the ground has not changed a bit. We see drainages that look like open sewers. We see broken pedestrian walkways – with some being occupied by street traders with the MAYOR being ambivalent at least in dealing with the situation. We are not surprised after all, because she seems to be more concerned about politics – POLITRICKS – and power, than delivery.
Sometime ago we heard her on radio talking about street beggars having been taken off the streets. If anything the number of those begging on the streets now has increased. How about the street garages – with dilapidated cars and trucks being turned a blind eye to? All in the name of not doing what is right, for fear of losing a few votes. How disappointing! We thought she was a breath of fresh air in our murky politics. But coming after the apparent TRIBAL SLUR, who would be surprised?
See you on Friday.
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