News

By Mustapha Sesay

Parliament last week ratified a lease agreement between the British company Nectar and the government of Sierra Leone relinquishing handling of bulk cargo operation at the remaining part of the Queen Elizabeth II Port to the firm.

The container section of the port is currently handled by the French company Bolore Africa Logistics. The UK-headquartered Nectar Group will handle the part of the port where bulk cargos like rice and sugar are offloaded, officials say.

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara

The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), tasked with reviewing the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, is urging media practitioners to cooperate with the committee in order to fulfil its mandate.

By Kemo Cham

US President Barack Obama Tuesday criticized African leaders for a culture of overstaying in power he said was stifling the prospect of building democratic nations.

While addressing African Union leaders at the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, he said Africa's progress depended on democracy which guarantees human dignity and the rule of law.

A traumatised child, who survived the haemorrhagic Ebola Virus Disease and developed some serious attendant medical conditions, is said to be convalescing after a successful surgery in Germany, thanks to a strong media campaign by Politico.

Ibrahim Sankoh, 4, lost his parents to the epidemic which has ravaged the three Mano River Union countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea in West Africa since March last year.

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara

Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Karamo Kabba, was the savior of the day on Monday when he managed to convince protesting members of the Street Life Family (SLF) to disperse amidst a chaotic scene at the entrance of the main government ministerial building, Youyi.

The protesters were demonstrating against delay in payment of their outstanding money owed by the Ministry of Health for cleansing works done on its behalf.

By Mustapha Sesay

The civil society group Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has called on government to increase its budgetary allocation to the country’s judiciary.

The organization believes that poor funding allocation to the judiciary is a key factor undermining its effectiveness.

CARL recently launched a report titled “Harrowing Trials: Time to Bring Closure on Prolonged Trials for Accused Persons in Sierra Leone’s Judiciary System”.

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara

The Centre for the Promotion of Inclusive Education (CPIE), a local non-governmental organisation has embarked on the training of 200 teachers drawn from 70 secondary schools in Freetown on issues relating to pupils with disabilities.