Prisons Department undermines President Koroma’s agenda
The Sierra Leone Prisons Department by all indications since the start of the Attitudinal and Behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat’s district level sensitization tour seems to be undermining President Ernest Bai Koroma’s determination to eradicate repugnant manners from his compatriots to catalyze national development.
Apart from Moyamba District, the conspicuous absence of prisons officers from held ABC Secretariat’s workshops to sensitize citizens, especially on the relevance of political tolerance ahead of the 2O12 elections have left plenty concerned persons spellbound. To lay bare their uneasiness to cooperate with President Koroma’s Agenda for Change, the Prisons Departments’ officers in Bonthe and Kailahun Districts were unavailable when senior executive members of the ABC Secretariat paid respective visits on them in a bid to awaken their consciousness on vital issues.
The situation have been classed by observers as an affront to President Koroma’s desperation to transform the country into a moralized society were nationalism will precede tribalism, materialism and party politicking. To the disenchantment of forward looking Sierra Leoneans the Prisons Department which is on record for the manifestation of poor conducts remains reluctant to join the bandwagon of President Koroma.
“Their deliberate absence in the ABC Secretariats exercise is a proof that prisons officers are hell bent on upholding their bad attitudes and behaviours,” stated Mohammed Gobeh of Kailahun. Gobeh called on the government to understudy this conduct that have been repeatedly manifested by the Prisons Department since on several occasions the prisoners have escaped from maximum cells at the peril of peaceful and law abiding citizens.
On how he perceive the uncooperative penchant of the Prisons Department an ex-prisoner, who preferred not to be named, said it is a sabotage to an agenda that have been generally accepted as the feasible solution to the country’s plight. “Prison officers have to be forced by the appropriate authorities to accept the Agenda for Change, because they are among the most ill behaved government functionaries.
Although prison officers contacted in Pujehun and Kailahun alleged they were not adequately informed by the ABC Secretariat on how and when the sensitization exercise will reach them, reliable sources say the Secretariat have prior and during the sensitization tour sent comprehendible communiqué to the Prisons command in Freetown. Invitation letters were also sent to the Commanding Officers inviting them to the programmes.
In their reactions the Executive Director and National Coordinator and Second-in-Command of the ABC Secretariat, Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas and Madam Nanette Thomas correspondingly register their apprehensions as to whether the Prisons Departments in the next locality, Kono District, where the sensitization will be reaching on March 14th this year will sincerely cooperate.
Exemplary Entities
Since February 27th 2012 when the ABC Secretariat commenced its sensitization tour in Moyamba, the Sierra Leone Police, Regimental Sierra Leone Arm Forces and National Bike Riders’ Union among others have shown tremendous collaborations and their readiness to change; thus making them exemplary entities whose footsteps the Sierra Leone Prisons Department must follow. These exemplary entities were in full view when the Secretariat called on them on March 11, 2012 in the Kailahun District.
At the Operation PEBU Military Barracks the National Coordinator and Second-in-Command of the ABC Secretariat, Madam Nanette Thomas called on the military officers to be apolitical and remained focused on defending the country’s territorial integrity. She stressed on the male officers to cease from molesting their wives and as always complained neglecting family responsibilities. In terms of outright professionalism, Madam Thomas counseled them to avoid drug addiction and conniving with criminals by empowering them with weapons and other military motifs. She further assured the officers that if they manage their finances, relationships, environments, spiritualities and health well the sky will become their limit for satisfactory living. She enticed the soldiers’ wives to be compassionate and determined to halt their husbands and children from getting involved in any shape or form of political violence.
Thanking Madam Thomas for what he described as a relevant lecture for soldiers who intend gaining recognition and elevation in ranks, the Commanding Officer of PEBU Barracks, Second Lieutenant Abdul Lakoh said it is befitting for the Secretariat to be giving the cooperation its deserves since according to him it is working towards solving the problem that have been derailing the development of the country.
Speaking to officers attached to the Kailahun Police Station Madam Thomas urged them to work towards rebranding the image of their institution. A possible means she suggested is for them to stop extorting monies from citizens, especially drivers and motorbike riders. She informed and educated them on a recent Memorandum of Understanding that was in Freetown among her Secretariat and other key actors in the ‘Okada’ industry. Madam Thomas latter offered the station a copy of the MOU which she urged the Local Unit Commander, Superintendent Mohamed Kamara to duplicate so that each officer will be opportune to grab a copy.
LUC M.Kamara thanked Madam Thomas for providing them the MOU which he assured will have its terms properly applied to guarantee that lawless riding ends in Kailahun District and beyond.
In a related event the National Coordinator and Second-in- Command of the ABC Secretariat hanged heads with bike riders within the district to map out ways as to how the MOU can be effectively implemented. She resolved that the ABC Secretariat is taking this sensitization venture based on the fact that despite its associated problems the ‘Okada’ industry is boosting the socio-economic fabric of the employment strait nation. She warned them to abide by the terms of the MOU and cautioned them to distance themselves from crimes, specifically electoral violence which she said she has been informed most politicians who are in desperado to get power at all cost are luring the riders to unleashed against political opponents.
After thorough lecturing, warnings and counseling, Madam Thomas presented a copy of the MOU, which she informed will soon be legislated, to the Regional Chairman of Bike Riders Union, John S.K. Banya for the members consumption.
Responding the Chiefdom Chairman of the Union, Mohamed S. Jalloh pleaded with the ABC Secretariat to ensure that the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority decentralizes its licensing process. Chairman Jalloh latter requested for education on insurance policies so that the riders will be in a position to become clients of reputable insurance firms. The promised that they are not ready or willing to go back to the dark days of Sierra Leone, and no amount of pressure from any politician will convince them to create any form of confusion in country.
Learning: Better Than Silver and Gold
On March 12th this year while wrapping their sensitization of Kailahun District the ABC Secretariat visited the Luawa Ansaru Secondary School.
Addressing the students Madam Thomas declared that long gone are the days when materialism triumph over academic prowess in Sierra Leone. She therefore called on the students to switched their attentions from money making ventures to their studies, because according to her it is academic qualifications they will be opportune to better jobs in the future, thus comfortable standards of living.
She warned them, especially the female students to avoid using makeup which she informed contravenes approved schools’ dressing codes. Madam Thomas frowned at the involvement of students in drug abuse, violence, truancy, sexual activities and other lawless behaviours which she said have the potential dropping them from the main academic mainstream.
She enticed the school authority more so male teachers to serve as role models for students and not persons that sexually harass female student and encourage male students in the use of drugs. In her view if the school authority and students collaborate earnestly there is a possibility of attaining excellence in internal and external examinations.
The Vice Principal of the school, Sandy K. Jusu thanked Madam Thomas and her Secretariat for calling on them and assured that they will exploit the sensitization to rectify academic anomalies that have been affecting the school.
By Momoja Lappia
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