SLPP/NA Convention and Inaugural Ceremony Ends in Dallas Texas

August 3, 2013: Texas, USA – It was a new day in Dallas, Texas when a dynamic political leader, Mrs. Khadijatu Yelie Tejan-Sie stood at a podium addressing members of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) North America to conform to the party’s core values of unity and love. The convention alongside with the inaugural ceremony was held at the Grand Hotel in Dallas with the SLPP/NA Chairman, Mr. Jerry E. George who chaired all sessions of the conventions and the inauguration of Mrs. Tejani-Sie.  (Photo: Mrs. Khadijatu Tejan-Sie Keynote address)

The center of discussions was absolutely about the devastating effect on the raging conflicts that have never reached a solution in the party.  Almost all delegates that were permitted to speak spoke the same way, focusing on the core values which require humility, patience, and tolerance, among other things. Any grievance, conflict, disagreement or dispute among Party members should be set aside and work together to achieve the party national cohesive goals, the delegates applauded.

In the deliberation, almost every speaker in the convention appealed for peace and unity here in the North America branch and back home so that the SLPP prevails come 2017 General elections.  The process of devising for conflict resolution in the party generally configures a challenging task, but as one guest speaker, Josephine Ladipo in Dallas stated, we need to know our goals and start collaborating now. One of the speakers believes that, by encouraging an open and prompt dialogue is a unique approach to a conflict resolution.

Another approach the delegates mentioned is to address the problems that generally causing the continuing conflicts among party members in North America. Despite the fact that conflict is sometimes is a necessary part of collaborative planning, but conflict without a resolution does not represent the party values, asserted the delegates.  They believe that the most cherished commodity in the party is that of former president, John Kennedy quote that, “united we stand divided we fall”, could aspire to protect their norms and cultural values from harm.

Addressing delegates at the convention, the new Dallas chapter chairlady, Mrs. Khadijatu Tejan-Sie was astonished about misconceptions and the misrepresentation of the SLPP that many people have in their minds to be  a “Mende” party.  She made a reflection on the history of the party which she said was established from the northern part of the country and that any assertion to claim the party for one tribe is a gross misrepresentation of the national political party.

Ms. Tejan-Sie spoke eloquently and passionately with details about what she described as the sacred norms and values of the Sierra Leone People’s Party which she said are geared towards a resounding success come 2017 elections in Sierra Leone.   She said, “The core values and norms in concert with our shared commitment and vision to making our party successful are by far bigger than our human self. Even though the elections that she won to assume the position as first woman to lead the Dallas chapter, and as put it, might brought some ill feelings among members, but it is crystal clear that the elections were conducted in competitive free and fair elections in accordance with the principles of democracy.

Mrs. Tejan-Sie, who some members of the party begin to see as the next iron-lady of the party in general, believes that politics is about numbers and those numbers should be made active and held together by a common vision and goal.  She mapped out strategies of increasing membership in her chapter as well as conducting fundraising events.  With the fundraising strategies, she said, she and her team have plans to expand it beyond the traditional occasional dance but to reach out potential donors who will eventually also benefit a tax deductible through the tax-refund regulations of the United States.

In the second face of the event, the Chairlady addresses the entire Sierra Leone community stressing about women’s participation in politics.  She said, the time is now for women to raise their voices because she believes that equitable participation of women in politics and government is essential to building and sustaining democracy.

 Mrs. Khadijatu Tejan-Sie also raised concern over people suffering in Africa. She said therefore, we as Sierra Leoneans should create an environment where women can advocate on matters of policy, run for political office, be elected, govern effectively, and participate meaningfully in every facet of civic and political life.  “We women are a powerful force to be reckoned with as long as democracy is prevailing in Sierra Leone”, she concluded.

The SLPP convention in Dallas was phenomenal. Despite the fact that I have never attended any of the convention before, but it seem to me this one deserved to be commended. It was widely diverse and speakers were in their feet to focus on the main theme of discussions. All speakers spoke strategically to a designed agenda with commonly understood goals and objectives. There was no negative attitude against the ruling party, or other political parties, neither any government minister nor representative.  The interim president of the Dallas, All People’s Social and cultural group (APC/SC), Mr. Cornilious Macarthy, was honored to speak on behalf of his party.

The final speaker of the inaugural ceremony, the APC/SC representative, Mr. Macarthy, commended the counterpart the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) for its supporter’s courage to concede the past elections without violence.  It was very impressive in the first instance that the elections contestation does not resort to any violence from the primaries and the general elections.  Mr. Macarthy believes that if such culture continues Sierra Leone will ever remain on top of the map for a better democracy.  Stay tune for the powerful profile of Khadijatu Teja-Sie.

By Sanpha Sesay

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