News brief 11-03-09

Death Penalty For Armed Robbers

In a very serious mood, H.E President Ernest Bai Koroma has considered the death penalty and life imprisonment for armed robbers. The measure, it is believed, will help to curtail the high spate of armed robbery that has engulfed the country in recent times. “If an example must be set these measures must be taken to send out the necessary signals,” the president said.

According to the Head of State, if an armed robber could inflict harm on an individual with impunity, that same armed robber must be prepared to receive even more. “A good precedent must be set if we are to enjoy our sleep at night,” President Koroma said.

Armed robbery has continued to be a menace in the country. Even though a Military Aiding Civilian Policing has been proclaimed by the president, the spate of armed robbery continues nationwide.

East-End Transport ‘Wahala’ 

After a hectic day’s work, office workers, business people and school pupils are facing the everyday embarrassment of getting poda-poda or taxi to take them to their various destinations. Especially those who live all the way at Kissy, Wellington, and Calaba town are under transport bondage.

Police officers, traffic wardens and driver’s union officials are engaged in the habit of extorting money from drivers who ply the east-end of the city. This practice has however hindered the smooth flow of vehicle traffic, there by letting passengers at the mercy of unscrupulous driver.

The problem is said to have been initially instituted by Mr. Acha Kamara whom, to allow the Abacha Traders leeway as a political gambit, had ordered all commercial traffic from the east to deposit their passengers at the PCMH.

SLAJ Agitates for Free Press

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) under the pragmatic leadership of Umaru Fofanah continues to be relentless in appealing to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone for the repeal of the 1965 Public order Act. As such a criminal libel law in the 1991 constitution inhabits and contradicts freedom of speech and press freedom.

SLAJ has lodged formal complaint with the Ombudsman of Sierra Leone and has called on President Ernest Bai Koroma to intervene. The matter has been taken up with the Supreme Court since August this year but nothing has been done so far. SLAJ said the laws were obsolete and they continue to serve as hindrance to press freedom

Bumbuna Ready to Light City

Last week Wednesday, equipment of high voltage including transformers and transmission materials for the Bumbuna Hydro-electric dam has been offloaded at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Quay. The equipment will be transported to the Kingtom Power Station where they will be set up for installation. Reports disclose that the equipment was purchased by the National Power Authority (NPA) with funding from the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) as a grant to the government of Sierra Leone.

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