News

By Tanu Jalloh

Sierra Leone is still recovering from the twin shocks of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the decline in commodity prices, specifically Iron Ore. Therefore, the recovery process requires high imports of goods and services thatsurpass exports.

Inevitably, such developments are bound to impact on trade and the economy, key among which is the depreciation of the legal tender, which is the official medium of payment recognised by law to address a public or private debt, or meet a financial obligation.

By Mustapha Sesay 

Natives of Sanoyea district, Bony County in Liberia, have allegedly raised objection to an appointment of a Sierra Leonean as their District Commissioner.

Commissioner Milton Varney, whose namewas said to have rejected by citizens of the district in 2009, was again appointed Commissionerfollowing an investigation that was conducted by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the district supported by Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor.

By Mabinty Magdalene Kamara

The increasingly rate of violence among school pupils has become a concern for parents and school authorities but how to address the phenomenon appears to be lost on everyone.

Three schools are at the heart of it - Government Rokel Secondary School, Government Model Technical School, and Albert Academy.

In the last few months these schools have seen no respite, as their pupils attack one another for unknown reasons.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay 

Stellar Diamond Company has been approved to start a multi-million dollar diamond drilling in Tongo.

Experts say the project could produce almost one million carats of diamonds over an 18-year period, and this will generate up to 327 million dollars in revenue.

By Kemo Cham

The World Health Organization regional office for Africa has called on member countries to expand anti-tobacco policies with particular emphasis on packaging and labeling.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, called for consideration of a total ban on advertisement of tobacco products. In a statement marking this year’s World No Tobacco Day, she also said countries were obliged to take all these in line with the UN convention on tobacco control – FCTC.

By Septimus Senessie in Kono

Multinational diamond miner Koidu Limited is under pressure to explain the fate of some 53 miners who, according to civil society, were allegedly trapped underground after a landslide at one of the company’s mining pits.

Ibrahim Sahr Ahmed Bockarie, Chairman of the civil society organization Campaign for Just Mining (CJM), made the claim and added that the incident which reportedly occurred on May 26 left some miners injured.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay 

Presidential and Vice presidential candidates for the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) have faced each other in a debate at the Miatta conference center.

The debate which is traditionally organized by the Sierra Leone Reporters Union focused on the agenda of candidates for the organization and their capacity to achieve them. The theme of this year’s debate held on Tuesday was “SLAJ, the last man standing.”