*WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO OUR DEAR MP FROM CONSTITUENCY 38?*
We are yet to officially hear from the Hon. Member of Parliament for constituency 38 on the question of how he came to be detained by police on
allegation that he violated Public Health Emergency laws relating to the preparation and burial of his father's corpse. First of all we sympathise with the MP for his loss but we really need him to speak out now. He could do it through a spokesman if the police deny him access to the media. We are very concerned because:
1. If the police are right, this arrest could be a vivid pointer to the fact that the complacency we are all talking about has reached frightening proportions and something drastic has to be done to change now.
2. When Ebola struck, all MPs received SIXTY-THREE million leones from the public purse to help build awareness and mobilise their constituents for the war against Ebola. How could one of such people now turn around and violate the law by doing what we are told he did?
3. What does this incident say about the quality of work some of the MPs did during those early days?
4. Would it be too much to ask for a comprehensive report - narrative and financial of how some MPs spent the SIXTY-THREE million leones we just mentioned? Please don't summon us to parliament. We are only citizens who know we must hold our MPs to account like they do in other countries.
5. We hope this MP is not a victim of overzealous policing which we are trying to get use to in Salone Democracy these days.
IS THIS ABOUT BEING A FLAGBEARER OR RETAINING YOUR SEAT BRO?*
We have not spoken to anybody in the last twenty-four hours who honestly believe that the latest guy to declare for SLPP leadership would still be in the race by the time the starter fires his gun. In fact, we have had many false alarms about the man's candidacy. At one point he denied ever speaking to a journalist about that. In the end, he has put his name forward but we will keep watching the situation until the big day.
Already, we've received some calls from people telling us that our man is simply trying to protect his parliamentary seat. This is how it works: you start by announcing you want the top job and then launch some kind of a campaign on a small scale. Get a few newspapers and radio stations to trumpet your name and tell the world that you were the frontrunner. Then wait for the real front runners to approach you on the issue. Good time to strike the deal - I step down from the leadership race and you give iron-cast guarantee that my seat is safe. DEAL OR NO DEAL?
We expect many more flagbearers of this type to come forward. In a democracy, people are allowed to do anything they believe can advance their interests. So let the game begin.
JOURNALISTS DESCEND ON KENEMA FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING*
Can Kenema really cope with something like four hundred journalists spending three days in town for their Annual General Meeting? Of the three provincial headquarter towns, Kenema town needs a lot of help - well, including prevailing on parliament to release their budget which was blocked months ago. Anyway, the journalists of the nation are coming, O people of Kenema. So what should you expect:
1. Of course, there will be a lot of activities around the conference venue, the Capitol area and the new Plaza. For a few days at least, Kenema will come alive.
2. While there, those journalists will be all over the place looking for front page stories for next week so those running NGO's, government departments and agencies and even police stations should expect some visitors.
3. Okada boys should be ready for good business because of all the movements. Make some cash guys.
4. The police officers who worked on the SWASAL congress were absolutely fantastic. They were professional. Those in Kenema should hold their line very well. Journalists don't like overzealous policing
5. The people of Kenema should be very careful not to be part of the travelogues that would appear in many newspapers next week. We are talking particularly about those people working for service agencies that will have direct contact with the journalists. See you soon.
SLUM DWELLERS DON'T LIKE THE RAINY SEASON BUT IT'S HERE AGAIN*
Let's focus on Kroo bay. Kroo bay is the most popular one - politicians go there to show how much they care for the people only to run away after winning the election; NGOs go there to give a human face to their projects and both local and international journalists go there often to demonstrate how unequal Sierra Leone is. Or, to give effect to their famous wire copy line, "The former British Colony is one of the poorest countries in the world."
Now the rains are here and the real suffering is on at Kroo bay. We have no reason to believe this year would be any different. In fact, we can simply reproduce last year's stories and just change the date, the story will be correct. The people of Kroo bay have also not helped themselves. How can anybody live in a place like that? People must start aiming higher than that in life
© Politico 03/06/15
