Missing Points of SLAJ Debate in Sierra Leone

I was fortunate to follow the recent televised debate organized by the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) for the three aspirants of the coming election of the National President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Kelvin Lewis, Mustapha Sesay, and Williette James.

The debate went on well but I discovered many missing points in the arguments of the three vibrant aspirants.

Kelvin Lewis failed woefully to tell his colleague journalists what he intends doing for SLAJ if elected. Throughout, Kelvin dwelt more on the popular fact that he is an employer, not an employee. He emphasized the well established fact that that he has been a successful Managing Editor of one of the  local tabloids in this country, AWOKO.

Everything Kelvin Lewis said about himself is true but does not serve as a strong argument to convince critical journalists to vote him to the presidency. Employers can end up being bad presidents and employees can make good presidents. Moreover, one can be a successful Managing Editor and turn out to be an unsuccessful SLAJ President. Being an employer and a successful Managing Editor cannot serve as a guarantee that Kelvin will be a good president.

Mustapha Sesay stressed his length of service in SLAJ, an argument which I consider as an appeal to pity. Serving SLAJ for donkey’s years is no qualification to become a good president, especially when I consider the undeniable fact that his length of service has left SLAJ in disunity and retrogression despite the several projects he is claiming to have written. Mr. Sesay also failed to tell the journalists how he intends rescuing SLAJ from its disunity and retrogression.

Williette James concentrated on capacity building but never revealed how she was going to secure funds to do it. Being the only female aspirant, she failed to disclose her plans for female journalists. Capacity building is very important as it enhances ethical media practice but is not all about SLAJ.

There is the big problem of protecting the press from intimidation and repression, but nobody spoke about that which is one of the major functions of SLAJ. All the aspirants were busy singing their own praises.

By Joseph Milton Lebbie

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