UK High Commission Disregards Salone Diplomatic Passports
Contrary to law, holders of Sierra Leone Government diplomatic passports are closely scrutinized by foreign embassy staff, especially the United Kingdom, whenever government officials are traveling to these countries.
The British High Commission in Freetown is particular engaged in this none diplomatic action, which is totally contrary to protocol. Several instances reveal holders of Sierra Leonean diplomatic and service passports, traveling on official matters are still forced to go through the same process as normal passport holders, including unnecessary delays.
“There is no need having the diplomatic passports as far as the UK is concerned because it is the same system,†said a senior government functionary who asked not to be named.
Apparently, there is a hidden decision on the part of staff in the British High Commission to make all sorts of obstacles for holders of diplomatic and service passport. “There is a sort of racist tendency involved and we see it everyday,†said a source in the British High Commission.
The British High Commission has become so hostile to Sierra Leone government diplomatic passport holders that they even demand a bio-metric testing process. The bio-metric testing is usually done for individuals believed to have criminal records, or bearing suspicious intentions.
The act is said to be done by young white Britons working here in Freetown who seem to have a deep hated sentiment to everything Sierra Leone. “The ones doing this none diplomatic acts are mostly young white workers who still carry their inbred racist approach to everything African,†said an observer.
Sources have revealed that the process through which diplomatic and service passport holders are regarded by the British High Commission in Freetown is a blatant disregard to the sovereignty of Sierra Leone as an independent country.
The Sierra Leone Foreign Ministry has however been silent over the issue, with many diplomats and government functionaries quietly going through the process rather than make any formal complaint.
But the blatant act of disregarding Sierra Leone’s diplomatic protocol is said to have angered senior officials in the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Foreign Minister Madam Zainab Bangura is yet to take action on this matter.
Meanwhile the British High Commission is yet to make a statement on the matter.
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