News

Aminata Phidelia Allie and Jenneh Braima

Management and staff of sports betting company, Mercury International, have expressed disappointment in Airtel, one of Sierra Leone’s telecommunications operators, whose GPRS system has been down for 3 days and affecting the betting business.

The company said it had its head office on Siaka Stevens Street crowded yesterday, Monday, February 24, with customers who hoped to be paid their monies after winning their bets.

By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema

A police officer, said to be hard working, attached to the acting principal magistrate in Kenema was reportedly shot in Sandaru in the Kenema District on Saturday night.

Police media officer, Sergeant Prince Kamara, disclosed that Jusu Kallon was killed by a local hunter, Swallo Kallon, who had been arrested and presently under police custody.

He said Jusu left Kenema with a commercial bike rider, known locally as Okada, to arrest a suspect who had refused to obey court order.

Three commercial banks have confirmed to Politico that there is a huge shortage of the United States dollars in the country.

It followed the reintroduction by the central bank of the non-withdrawal of foreign exchange by foreign bank account holders unless they are withdrawing their salaries paid by international organisations or are diamond dealers.

By Crispina Cummings

Director General of Sierra Leone Water Company, the organisation responsible for providing clean drinking water for people living outside Freetown, has expressed disappointmentat the workings of Western Area District Council.

Samuel Bangura said the council should never have allowed deforestation and other forms of human activity to have negative impacts on the capacity of the dam at Waterloo but should ensure sufficient water was stored and distributed to thousands of residents.

Newly appointed principal of the Henry Fergusson Junior Secondary School says the school has been ranked ninth amongst Junior Secondary Schools country-wide and fifth in the Western Area.

Mohamed Abudu Joaque said, “That is as a result of the school's recent performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)”. He said at the school’s tenth annual speech day and prize-giving ceremony, the best pupil in the BECE class for 2012/2013, Hamza Sesay, scored a remarkable aggregate 10.

By Bampia James Bundu

Government spokesman, Abdulai Bayraytay, has said that the government is happy about the establishment of the Institute of Governance Reform (IGR) to provide a platform for people to discuss and exchange ideas on national issues.

He told the gathering during the launch of the Think Tank at the British Council Hall in Freetown that debates would engender dialogue and help government modify its operations and also work in line with the expectations of the people.

By Bampia James Bundu

Executive Director of the Standards Bureau has commended food and alcohol producer, G. Shankerdas, for being accredited for “globally acceptable food safety quality and management” after an international process guided by renowned consultant and trainer Dr. Ajay Desai.

James Dumbuya said his organisation has been working over the past years to ensure that they monitor and evaluate all products of the company and to ensure that the product was of high quality and up to standards.