The News Review:

- ‘Blood Diamond’: The Way It Was
- … interview: WFP’s Paul Arès recalls the human…
- Magic Rice at Rokupr Rice Research Station in Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone’s APC Branch of UK and Ireland Elects New Executive…
- Awareness Times News Briefs from Sierra Leone

‘Blood Diamond’: The Way It Was
Washington Post – Dec 15, 2006
digging in muddy pits in Africa? Has this affected them in any way, positive or negative?Simons: Well, certainly. At the height of the problem, Sierra Leone and Liberia were both under U. sanctions and were prohibited by U. Security Council resolutions from exporting any rough diamonds…
So they were basically cut completely out of the world market, and that obviously had implications. That had to be done because of the conflict nature of the diamonds that were fueling the insurgencies. But since order has been restored to Sierra Leone and the government has gotten back in control there and has built up its diamond — its ability to monitor and control the diamond activity in that country, the legitimate exports of Sierra Leone have gone from virtually zero up to more than $140 million last year, so — and a lot of that money is filtering back into local communities. Question: Are you at all concerned that this new film, which will probably have a bigger impact on the public perception about diamonds than any other single source, might cause a lot of misperception?Simons: I think that’s the reason that we’ve gathered you here today. I think that the film was very good, but it does present a picture of what was going on in 1999.

… interview: WFP’s Paul Arès recalls the human…
Reuters AlertNet – Dec 15, 2006
Paul Arès talks to WFP web writer Michelle Hough about his experiences as WFP regional manager for West Africa from 1997-2000. When Paul Arès fell into conversation with diamond traders in hotel bars in Sierra Leone, they would tell him they dealt in “melons and bananas”. “They were referring to the colour of the uncut diamonds,” says Paul. “But for me and many others, those diamonds weren’t yellow and orange, but red with people’s blood.

Magic Rice at Rokupr Rice Research Station in Sierra Leone
Awareness Times – Dec 15, 2006
Magic Rice at Rokupr Rice Research Station in Sierra Leone. Kamara Dec 15, 2006, 14:06 THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ROKUPR RICE RESEARCH STATION HAS CONVENED A PRESS BRIEFING ON AWARENESS SENSITIZATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHINESE HYBRID RICE BEING EXPERIMENTED AT THE STATIONThe press briefing coincided with a symbolic harvesting by H. the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabba of the Chinese Hybrid Rice planted at the Rokupr Station this year.

Sierra Leone’s APC Branch of UK and Ireland Elects New Executive…
Awareness Times – Dec 15, 2006
Mr Tamba Ngegba was unanimously elected as Chair, whilst Mrs. Kumba Momoh was elected as the Vice Chair of the organisation. The newly elected Secretary General of the Branch is Mr Bockari Stevens who was Sierra Leones former Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea with Mr Tamba Opel Ansumana elected as the Assistant General Secretary. The new Financial Secretary of the branch is Mr Amadu Fofanah who was elected unopposed. Mr Alieu Sesay and Mr Yoni Sesay were elected to the positions of Organising and Deputy Organising Secretaries respectively with Mr Ansu Kamara as Social Secretary. Mr Mackie Sheik was re-elected to the position of Welfare Secretary with Mr Maitland Cole as the new Publicity Secretary and Mr Philip Conteh as Propaganda Secretary. The post of Director of Research and International Affairs went to Mr Kolifa Koroma while the newly elected Womens Leader is Mrs Khadi Buya with Haja Mattoh Sillah as her Deputy.

Awareness Times News Briefs from Sierra Leone
Awareness Times – Dec 15, 2006
Kamara Dec 15, 2006, 14:20. sl%2Fdrwebsite%2Fpublish%2Farticle_20054370.