Soldiers, firefighters, and prison officers absorb ABCs behavioural change message
Military officers attached to the 5th Infantry Brigade in Gondamah Village and Fire Force Brigade in Bo were on Friday October 21st, 2011 opportune to benefit from sensitization lectures delivered by members of the Attitudinal and Behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat on the importance of positive attitudes and behaviours toward national development.
Addressing the soldiers, the Executive Director of ABC secretariat, Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas stated that, the Royal Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is a vital institution in the governance of Sierra Leone. Their role he said boarders around protecting the territorial integrity of the country. This constitutional obligation Dr. Thomas observed was ignored by certain officers few years ago by allowing certain politicians to influence them. This unfortunate situation the Executive Director said caused the civil populace to perceive RSLAF as perpetrators of violence and war rather than being their protectors. According to Dr. Thomas, this public perception demoralized the image of the military in diverse ways. In this light Dr. Thomas opined that although with the assistance of IMATT and other partners RSLAF has rebranded itself, but more has to be done for it to attain best standards. To attain this status he urged the military officers to be nationalistic and patriotic adding that they should be apolitical at all times.
Dr. Thomas cautioned them to be defenders of democracy because the days of coups, countercoups and dictatorships are over. He called on them to avoid involving themselves in civil squabbles since this reduces their neutrality thus moral. The military officers whom he described are performing a respectful national duty should respect their code of conduct and value the national flag more than tribes, political allegiance and regional affiliations. He concluded by commending RSALF for maintaining a reputable recognition in regional and international peacekeeping missions.
The National Coordinator and Second-in-Command of ABC, Mrs. Nanette Thomas warned the soldiers against the effects of putting on negative attitudes and behaviors while discharging their duties. Madam Thomas called on military officers to be God fearing while serving their nation. Their job which Madam Thomas pointed out involve a lot of risks warrants them to be always calling on God for provision, guidance and protection. The National Coordinator and the Second-in-Command pressured the soldiers to hastily think beyond their current mind-set. Attitude which she pointed out deals with the ways of feeling, perception and reacting to issues differ among individuals. As a result of this she called on the officers to exercise common understanding among themselves so that they will live as a unit in marshalling national security.
Madam Thomas educated the officers that positive attitude is the power behind happiness and success. On the other hand she pointed out that negative attitudes are not just self destructive but competent of destroying institutions and consequently the country. She admonished each and every other officer to dream big and think big. She stressed that the officers must continue the quest and realise we must that we must also get a new attitude, a new perspective, a way of looking at Mama Salone and a new mind set.
Madam Thomas admonished them that the use of the military influences to harass defenseless civilians, disregard for traffic rules, misuse of government resources and interference in the smooth governance of the country are negative attitudes and behaviors. She called on them to take a retrospect and evaluate the impacts these uncalled for happenings have affected the Army’s status and try to advance solutions to amend these problems. Madam Thomas proffered a possible solution would be working on the five pillars of attraction which she mentioned consist of finances, relationships, environments, spiritualities, and health. She ended by registering her respect for the RSLAF’s leading role in the campaign against HIV/AIDS.
Cross section of the military in Gundama
In his response the Infantry Brigade Commander, Major Yirrah Mansaray termed the ABC secretariat sensitization as most welcomed among the rank and file of officers attached to his brigade. The RSLAF which he said is in a move to promote professionalism, loyalty and patriotism welcomes partnering with the ABC secretariat.
Making a statement, Captain John Kainessie called his colleagues to take the ABC secretariat’s message wholeheartedly because it delves on pertinent issues that have been debarring the Army’s progress. With the ABC secretariat’s intervention, he said there is no optimism that RSLAF will become a force ready to serve the nation at all cost and at all times.
Thanking the ABC secretariat RSM Sheku Swarray described the sensitization as worthwhile because according to him the Army is full of soldiers who are addicted to bad attitudes and behaviors.
In another development the Senior Executive of the ABC secretariat called on the Bo Fire Brigade to inject more love for their profession as it deals with saving lives and properties. The National Coordinator encouraged them to respect their working timetables as fire accidents have the potential happening at anytime without prior notice. She urged them to concentrate on sensitizing the Bo community on means of preventing the occurrence and coiling down fire accidents.
Responding the Fire Prevention Officer, Alimamy Conteh informed his guests that their sensitization will help in promoting the deliverance of their services within the community. He complained that public perceptions are adversely affecting their operations. Alimamy Conteh revealed that in spite of the risks involved in fighting fire, the members of the public are fond of violently distracting them while on operations. Against this back drop, he pleaded with the ABC secretariat to call on the Sierra Leone Police to be providing them with optimum security whenever needed. The ABC secretariat concluded their sensitization by paying a courtesy call on the Bo prison Department where tributes were given to the late commander of Bo prisons, Mr Saidu Bangura 228 who passed away on Monday October 17th, 2011. In her tribute Madam Thomas described the late Prisoner Officer as a partner in the Agenda for Change. According to her at the last Senior Staff meeting at the Prisons Headquarters in Freetown less than two weeks the late man pledged his support for the ABC secretariat’s concept. She enticed other prison officers to emulate the good attributes of the Late Saidu Bangura who sacrificed himself for maintaining the rule of law.
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