VISA ON ARRIVAL BUT THE FEES IN PRIVATE POCKETS
So welcome to Freetown where nothing surprises us anymore. It’s been like this for a long time. When this government recently made it possible for people from certain countries to come to Sierra Leone without first having to get a visit from our embassies, that action was hailed as a strategic move aimed at attracting more visitors to the country for tourism and conferences. We will soon check whether the visa-on-arrival policy has achieved its objective but before that we have a word or two on what emerged this week at the Lungi International Airport around this visa issue. It’s not good news at all.
Apparently while the rest of us were busy celebrating Principal’s political masterstroke aimed at raising money and at the same time advertising our country abroad, a few people at the airport were busy with a different king of celebration – they had found a way of making quick money again. Our information is that they will receive money from arriving passengers, grant entry visas and then either wave the people on or issue their own receipt. We don’t know when the practice started but we imagine they would have collected some good money
Now the game appears to be over for those who just can’t stop stealing from their grandchildren. What they thought was their best kept secret is now common knowledge among the good people of Sierra Leone. We want the authorities to take the following actions NOW.
1. Afro Boy should know that there are no difference between those people at our border with Liberia who scammed money off those travel writers the other day and the visa fee criminals at Lungi. In fact, the guys at the main airport are worst. Those on the land border meet people from far away Europe once in a while as opposed to those who handle passengers from international flights every day or so. Arrest them now.
2. It easy to secure conviction for these people in any court. All we have to do is look at the passenger manifests covering the period under suspicion and see how many such passengers landed here and compare that with how much money went into the national coffers. We should simply do basic subtraction and we will get the figure of how much money has been stolen.
3. Please, this is not a matter for Biobele and friends. We want to see people in court this week. No delays. There was no such delay with the Liberia border boys despite us not having any idea what has since happened to that case. We will not allow this new case to go the same way.
4. We are calling for an ACC systems review for the Lungi International Airport to be done immediately. How could such a thing be happening without somebody in authority picking it up? If heads must roll, let them roll.
5. We urge all visitors who pay visa fees at the airport to always demand a receipt. If you think the receipt is a fake please alert the authorities or you do a video like those two guys who exposed the situation at Jendema crossing point with Liberia.
NGC STANDS FIRM IN KAMBIA LOCAL COUNCIL BYE-ELECTION
The National Grand Coalition has just survived a serious test in its own backyard after taking just over half the votes in a local council bye-election in a ward within the constituency of their leader, KKY, the Energy Man. This confirms the party’s hold on political power in that part of the country at least.
The NGC has suffered badly in all bye-elections it has contested outside Kambia district. We recently asked in this column whether we still have any organization called NGC. So now we know they are deep inside their trenches in those four constituencies they represent in parliament. Great news!
Once again there were social media reports of violence obviously blamed on the ruling party. We condemn all forms of political violence and call for the allegations to be investigated by the police.
Why should anybody fight over a small ward in a constituency dominated by the leader of the NGC? What difference does that ward really make on the political landscape of Kambia district in particular and the country as a whole? If anything this was only a referendum on the ability of KKY and the NGC to confirm their relevance as a political party with the electoral defeats they have suffered since the 2018 general and presidential elections. Up with KKY, the Energy Man!
CHRISTMAS IN A FEW WEEKS: BIG GUYS SWITCH OFF PHONES
Our big guys – particularly politicians are switching their phones off as Christmas approaches. They don’t want to have to deal with people calling to ask for Christmas money. Those that have not switched off have passed their phones over to their personal assistants who constantly tell people the minister is in a meeting or is on his way to State House for an emergency meeting with Principal.
To be a politician in this country is not easy. Throughout the year groups of people turn up in ministries and parliament, harassing ministers and their MPs for jobs and handouts. The politicians are under pressure to meet some of those demands or lose favor with party members. Anyway it was their decision to enter politics in Sierra Leone and it is their business to fight it out with those who continuously raid them for cash and favors. Our business is to enjoy the sport and write about it when we feel like. In fact, we have some ideas on how to track those politicians that are now running away from their people because Christmas is here. We charge no fees for this.
1. Make sure you befriend their personal assistants and win their confidence. That way you will get the ministers’ secret telephone numbers. And never use your normal number to call even that secret number. They know the last three digits of all those people that regularly call them.
2. For the male politicians, look for the residence of their favorite pekitoes and ambush them around that place three times every week day. At weekends, simply travel to their home districts and wait outside their usual guest house.
3. Look for their normal joints in Freetown. All politicians have three or four places they hang out daily after work to catch up with colleagues and to get some gossip. Chase them there.
4. There are very influential ministers in this government. Other ministers try to keep in touch with them regularly. Once you are able to identify the influential ones, camp out near their homes at least twice and you are home and dry with the dodgers.
5. If all the strategies we have outlined above fail, go home and look for something else to do and make your own money. Depending on the pocket of other people for you daily survival is a very bad habit.
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