‘Di pa dey tri’
‘Di pa dey tri’ is a common refrain among supporters or admirers of the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma (in photo).
‘Di pa dey tri’ literarily means the President is doing well. Listening to these supporters or admirers, the first thing they will quickly boast of is the Pa has brought electricity to Freetown; he has broadened and consolidated the agricultural base of the country – we shall soon be exporting rice to neighbouring countries, they will boast; the Pa has initiated a free health care facility for pregnant and suckling mothers and under fives across the country; he has confronted headlong the infrastructure sector and improved the road network remarkably.
These are issues that have been transformed into songs of praise for the President.
Indeed, we all agree that electricity is partially available in some parts of the capital, compared to previous years, although the rest of the countryside remains in complete darkness, save for Bo and Kenema.
However, we are yet to be impressed with any tangible improvement in agriculture despite the large scale of ‘tractorisation’ spread all over the country, particularly in the north.
Ironically, the unprecedented increase in the prices of basic local commodities contradicts any so-called improvement in agricultural productivity. The price of our staple food, rice in the Western Area is between Le 900 – 1,000 per cup. It is higher in rice producing districts.
The price of our locally produced palm oil range from Le1,800 – 2,000 per pint. All other commodities are skyrocketing by the hour.
Under the prevailing circumstances, only few families in this country can now afford one square meal a day. Many sleep on virtually empty stomachs. The rest live by the grace of God.
Yet, ‘di pa di dey tri’
We will also not hastily put our thumbs up for the President’s free health care initiative as many pregnant women and under-fives continue to die in government hospitals in spite of the free health care facility available there.
The stories around the distribution of these drugs and equipment explain why infant and maternal mortality rate is steadily high in these hospitals.
The less we talk about infrastructure the better. True, the APC government has been able to complete certain roads in the country, such as the Masiaka-Bo highway and the Makeni-Matotoka road.
As a matter of fact, what we are witnessing presently is more demolition of structures on the right-of-way than real construction taking place: the Kenema- Kailahun road; the Hillside by pass road; the Tokeh-Lumley road, the Congo Cross-Wilkinson road, the Regent Grafton road, all these have all been targeted for construction, but nothing real is happening. The story is the same everywhere: political exigency is the answer. Their completion should coincide with 2012 elections!
Probably, the APC government relies on propaganda to convince their members that thing are happening, thereby triggering development, but to majority of the populace this development is merely cosmetic.
However, four years into President Koroma’s term and the actual bread and butter issues have not been adequately addressed.
The economy is crumbling, triggered by hyper inflation; the Leone has collapsed against the Dollar, and prices of basic commodities have gone haywire.
Yet ‘di pa dey tri’
We at Sierra Express Media will not mince our words. The fact is, Mr. President, your people are starving, they are suffering. The youths are frustrated: no job no food.
Do something now to control the economy and put a smile on the faces on your disgruntled populace.
You are trying but you need to do more.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
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