“Minds and attitudes essential for development” says Makeni Mayor
Mayor of the Makeni City Council has disclosed that the attitude and behavior of the citizens are essential ingredients for the development of a country. (Photo: Guest Speaker for the workshop Her Worship the Mayor of Makeni Mrs. Sunkarie Kabba Kamara who also declared the workshop open)
“Our minds and attitudes are essential ingredients for the development of Sierra Leone; and unless they are changed and skewed to true and conscientious citizenship, Sierra Leone may not, in all optimism, win the struggle for advancement,” Her Worship Madam Sunkarie Kabba Kamara announced while delivering her keynote address at the School of Midwifery Hall during the civic educational workshop on post election that was organized by the Attitudinal and Behavioral Change (ABC) Secretariat on Monday 21st January 2013.
She said if Sierra Leone, as a nation, had voice, it would have outlined the lack of commitment, love, honesty and true citizenship as ingredients for its stagnation in abject poverty, poor quality of education, poor sanitary conditions, hunger and diseases among others.
Development, she continued, must not be left with government alone. “Conscientious citizens must take up responsibilities and avoid lackadaisical attitudes,” she admonished, adding that it is also not enough for civil society organizations to keep advocating for rights and forget about responsibilities.
Mayor Kamara stressed that political tolerance is inevitable, noting that the sooner we learn to tolerate each other politically and socially, the better for us as a nation.
“Taking a tolerant stance is one of the most difficult tasks citizens face in a society. We are not born tolerant but must learn to be tolerant,” she pointed out.
According to her, the theme for the ABC workshop: “Democracy, Good Governance and Political Tolerance”, all to mind the issue of multi disciplinarity and therefore requires a crucible or melting pot in order to do justice to it.
The Mayor pointed out that young people in Sierra Leone need civic values, education and tolerance to transcend and foster good governance and relationship in the process of nation building.
Democracy, she said, will suffer if the government and opposition do not properly fulfill their roles in building strong and effective parliaments.
Chairman of the workshop who is also Deputy Chairman Bombali District Council Mr. John Dito Kamara
Earlier, the chairman of the workshop, who doubles as deputy chairman of the Bombali District Council, John Dito Kamara, said attitude starts from the beginning of the human life. According to him, it is very difficult to change the attitude of old folks. He therefore advised the ABC Secretariat and all Sierra Leoneans to properly groom the younger generation for a better Sierra Leone. He described the workshop as significant and called on the participants to attentively take part.
Provincial Secretary Raymond K.M Bindi noted that the task of the ABC is very much herculean, as according to him, it is very difficult to fight against something that is abstract.
Representing the 4 Infantry Brigade of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Major D. Johnson disclosed that the RSLAF has taken steps ahead to change the negative attitudes of its personnel. He noted that they are now in preparedness to embrace the prosperity that awaits the nation.
Cross section of the participants
OIC Prisons Mr. S.T Sesay iterated that the ABC Secretariat is complimenting the work of his department to reform the human mind.
Fire Force Officer Mr. John S. Koroma assured that they will widely disseminate what was learnt from the workshop. He noted that his institution remains committed to protect lives and properties.
Representing the Muslims, District Chief Imam, Lamin Koroma said it is clearly stated in the Holy Quran that God will not change the attitude of a human being unless that human is ready to change his own attitude.
Rev. Ponsford J.S Tamu said good governance and attitudinal change lead to prosperity. He declared and prophesize that Sierra Leone will prosper than Ghana in the not too distant future.
Deputy Education Director Madam Hajah Ramatu Kanu said the teachers are role models to the pupils, which explains why they must always abide by the code of conduct governing their behavior.
ONS Representative Mr. Alpha Bangura announced that the security of the state should be everybody’s business. He further noted that security operatives should be desirable models.
Human Rights Representative Mr. Abdul Yola Bangura said everybody should respect the rights of others as they want others to respect their rights. While advising the citizens to always operate within the ambit of the law, he made it clear that human rights do not give anybody the passport to disregard the law.
NGO Representative Mrs. Bernadette Udoh stressed that attitude and behavior are key to success.
Representing the PPRC, Mr. Salieu Kamara thanked the Secretariat for organizing what he described as timely workshop. According to him, political intolerance forms the base for setting up the PPRC.
Representatives from the SLPP, PMDC, NDA, UDM, PLP and the RUFP all made statements and commitment to political tolerance, but the APC had no representative to make a statement on behalf of the party at the meeting.
Courtesy of the ABC Communications Office
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