Indigenes of Sierra Leone end a week-long celebration
The Republic of Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia ended its week-long celebration marking the 49th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Lots of activities were organized by the Sierra Leoneans in which Embassy Officials were invited.
The Embassy participated greatly in all these activities. President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma’s achievements were highlighted and the Embassy also encouraged their citizens in Liberia to be law abiding and to adapt to the culture of unity (oneness/teamwork) and above all to change their attitude and move towards developmental strives.
Ambassador Marie Jilo Barnett was unavoidably absent for the Diplomatic Reception organized by the Embassy that was held at the Monrovia City Hall due to a very important and urgent official matter out of Liberia. Mr. Tamba E. Juana, Head of Chancery at the Embassy acted on her behalf and gave a very befitting speech which captured the attention of Diplomats from various Missions and Government Officials from the Republic of Liberia, led by their Foreign Minister Hon. Olubanke Akerele-King.
However Ambassador Barnett tried her best to witness the official launching ceremony of the Sierra Leone Progressive Association, which was held at the Newport High School Compound, over the weekend. Ambassador Barnett in her remarks marked out President Koroma’s successes among which were Agriculture, Construction and Rehabilitation of Bridges and roads and the inclusion of women and youths in decision making. Ambassador Barnett also seized the opportunity to celebrate with Sierra Leonean refugees residing at Samuka Camp in Monrovia and Sierra Leoneans working with The United Nations Organizations and Non- Governmental Organizations as well.
Photographs from the celebrations:
- Cake cutting
- Dancing the night away!
Below is a full text of the speech made by the Head of Chancery, Mr. Tamba E. Juana.
Speech delivered by Mr. Tamba Edward Juana Charge d’Affaires AI on the occasion marking the 49th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone at the City Hall in Monrovia, on Tuesday 27 April, 2010 My fellow compatriots Your Excellency Madam President of the Republic of Liberia The Honourable Vice President The Lord Chief Justice Honourable Speaker Hon. Ministers present Members of National Legislative Assembly Present Doyen and Colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps Members of International and Local NGO’s Distinguished Ladies and GentlemenLet me start by welcoming all of you to this occasion marking the 49th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone and to convey to you the best wishes and felicitations of His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone to all Sierra Leoneans abroad as well as to friendly countries and peoples everywhere. I also wish to express the heartfelt apologies of Her Excellency Rev. Mrs. Marie Jilo Barnett for her unavoidable absence owning to official engagement abroad. Â
When we met here last year for the celebration of the 48th Independence anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone, my Head of Mission, Her Excellency rev. Mrs. Marie Jilo Barnett thought it wise, as a responsibility and as a means of disseminating information on the development in Sierra Leone, to highlight the priority areas of the Government of Sierra Leone. Three key areas: Â Energy, Infrastructure and agriculture were identified as priority areas the Government of President Koroma had promised the ever patient people of Sierra Leone to focus its attention on with a view to reinvigorating them for the benefit of all. These promises were not vague or mere words to hoodwink the people of Sierra Leone or the International Community, but well meant and sincere promises that are now being actualized as evidenced by the tangible results on the ground.
The energy sector is one of the key areas that has witnessed significant transformation. From an outmoded power grid that provided little or no electricity to Freetown for years to high-tech hydroelectricity that came into being after the commission of the 50 Megawatts Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project in November 2009. This was followed by the commissioning of the Second Phase of the Urgent Improvement of Electricity Power Supply System in Freetown by the President on 30th March this year. These developments have markedly enhanced power supply to Freetown and its environs. Yet the Government of President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has not sat on its laurels with composure and complacency, but plans are already underway to provide rural electrification throughout the length and breadth of Sierra Leone. The focus will be on renewable energy; particularly solar energy.
In agriculture, tremendous strides have been made to enhance food security as well as encourage private sector investment. The Rokupr Agricultural Laboratory has been upgraded to one of the best in Africa. Last year alone, 265 tractors and 30 Motor bikes were procured through a line of credit from the Indian Government to boost efforts towards productivity. An additional 50 power tillers and 23 new combined harvesters were also secured. These innovations and Government’s firm commitment to the Maputo Declaration of allocating 10% of national budget to agriculture, have been widely acknowledged. In recognition of these efforts, Sierra Leone was last year named continental champion of agriculture, with the mandate to advocate for the prioritization of agriculture in Africa. This has further encouraged the Government to redouble its efforts to repay that trust by being a role model for the creation of production and productivity on the continent.
The Government of President Koroma strongly believes in infrastructure as a catalyst for development. Visible signs of construction in the forms of roads, bridges, jetties, runways and dams are seen everywhere. More villages and towns have been connected with first class and feeder roads and many more will be connected before the end of the President’s first term in office. The construction of Kenema-Koindu highway, for example, for which contracts have been awarded, will also benefit our immediate neighbours- Liberia and Guinea, whose boundaries are contiguous to this particular land corridor that juts into the two countries.
In addition to Government’s key priority areas, other sectors such as education, trade, judiciary, information, tourism investment and health have also received due attention of Government. In the Health sector, huge steps are being taken to improve healthcare services. In that direction, Government has today launched a programme which is geared towards reducing maternal and child mortality. As from today, all treatment and medicines for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five (5) will be provided free of charge in all government health facilities.
Regarding reforms within the justice system, the Government of Sierra Leone and the Justice Sector Development Programme officially launched the Pilot National Legal Aid Scheme on 22nd April, 2010. The objective of the pilot  programme, is to ease major impediments to access justice by the poor who mostly lack financial resources to acquire legal representation or advice at any stage of their court proceedings. The launch of the pilot programme by the Government of Sierra Leone will indeed mark a significant milestone in the journey towards providing equal access to justice for all its citizens; legally empowering the poor and providing a more stable and just society.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow Compatriots
The list of Government’s efforts is too long and I wish I could have all the time to highlight those efforts this evening. However, this is not possible. What is however worthy of note is the fact that these giant development strides are coming at a time when the revenue base of the country is still minuscule to afford such bold initiatives. This is further compounded by the current global financial crisis which has significantly reduced aid flow to Sierra Leone vis-à -vis the days of generous and benign donor assistance to regimes that failed to use the goodwill and generosity of the International Community to trigger growth and development. However, the current regime’s inspired leadership, foresight and fortitude are high and hard determinants that have not been dwarfed or quenched by seemingly mere odds. What further complement those virtues, is the regime’s sensitivity to the needs of the people who brought it into being by the sum total of their hopes and aspiration for a just, prosperous and equitable society devoid of overwhelming poverty,  acute misery and gruesome war; ills they have known for too long. The people’s desire for a better and brighter future keeps government alive with a burning urge to deliver so as not to extinguish  the bright hopes that brought it into power. Â
In as much as Government is aware of the necessity of growth and development for national transformation, it is also conscious of the fact that no country can soar above the competence and character of its people. In fact, it is common wisdom that the viability and sustainability of development largely depends on how people perceive and react to it dynamics. In the case of Sierra Leone, with our abundant natural endowment, size and population, it is widely believe that we only need a change of attitude and behaviour to lift Sierra Leone up. It is in consonance with this belief that the Government continues to emphasize  behavioral and attitudinal change. The logical conclusion of that change resonates well with government’s crusade on corruption; a malignant cancer in many societies. In line with this crusade, the more subtle and pliable Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 was replaced with the tougher Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 which grants enough latitude and independence to the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate and prosecute without political interference. Recent prosecution of top government functionaries and high placed public servants are tangible evidence of an emergent, vibrant and unfettered Anti-Corruption Commission.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow Compatriots
In the area of Foreign Policy, our Governments initiatives are unexpectedly bold and have been characterized and driven by the imperatives of economic development, peace and security at home and the commitment to International Peace and Security. Our Government’s hosting of a Trade and Investment Forum in London last November, was meant to attract quality international investors. While shuttle diplomacy and high level engagements with Governments in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, have contributed much to the country’s development transformation.
 Our poverty as a country, has not prevented us to hold back what we can give neither do we, these days, wait with self pity for others to be compassionate. We have also been daring in solidarizing with other countries in dire straits and have assisted with our meagre resources. Our troops are currently in Darfur, Sudan under the hybrid operations of the United Nations and the African Union. Simultaneously, our police personnel are in Darfur and Somalia. These gestures are expressed demonstrations of our gratitude to the International Community for standing beside us in difficult times. Consequently however, our altruism to promote international peace and security has paid off and catapulted us from an obscure post conflict country to sit with equanimity with other powerful nations to deliberate on matters of peace and security at international fora as a troop contributing country.
Continentally, our participation at the African Union is more robust than ever. We have also been active in ECOWAS, SEN-SAD and the Mano River Union. We will continue to cooperate and coordinate our foreign policy objectives with other African countries to promote Pan-Africanism, peace and development.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow Compatriots
Our bilateral cooperation with the sister Republic of Liberia, means so much to us. Our economic development, peace and security are hinged on peaceful co-existence and cooperation at all levels with the Republic of Liberia. It was this realization that inspired President Tolbert of Liberia and President Stevens of Sierra Leone to sign the declaration establishing the Mano River Union in October 1973. Its attractive programmes, convinced the Republic of Guinea to become a member in October 1980. During the war years and the period of economic difficulties in the Mano River countries, the Union became dormant with little or no attention paid to it. But its revival recently, brought in a new member -the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. Thanks to the resolve of President Ellen Johnson Sirelaf and President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma for resuscitating a union that became a pacesetter for regional economic cooperation in Africa in the early and mid seventies. We have also collaborated on other international issues at the global, regional and sub-regional levels. Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between our two Armed Forces with emphasis on Joint Security Cooperation.
But as mentioned last year, cooperation and interactions between the two countries are not limited to Government-Government alone, but transcend beyond that to that of people-people contacts. For the people of the two countries, the borders of the two sister Republics, though sacrosanct in international law, will always remain porous as their interactions know no boundaries  but only cultural and kinship ties that unite them. This is why many Liberian refugees have found home in Sierra Leone.  Likewise, thanks to the generosity of the Liberian Government and the UNHCR for providing housing units and an enabling environment for Sierra Leonean Refugees that have opted to make a home in Liberia.
At this moment and on the occasion marking the 49th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone, I wish to graciously call on all to lift up our glasses and to drink lustily to the health, prosperity and wellbeing of the Government and the people of Sierra Leone as well as to the Government and people of our host country, Liberia for our strong, cordial and fraternal ties.
Thank you and God bless us all.Â
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