The News Review:
- Fire, Explosions in Sierra Leone Kill 14
- SIERRA LEONE: POOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPEDES MENDING OF ECONOMY.
- Sierra Leone’s Pa Kabbah Hails the People of Kenya
- Work permit hope for Watford’s Al Bangura
- East-End Paddle & TiGO Stormed Freetown Sierra Leone.
Fire, Explosions in Sierra Leone Kill 14
FOX News – Dec 20, 2007
us FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — A two-story building of apartments and shops caught fire and exploded in Sierra Leone’s capital Friday, killing 14 people and injuring 40, authorities said. Saleswoman Rugiatu Bah, who worked in the building and was injured, said a fire broke out in one of the shops, which was full of used clothes. As firefighters tried to put it out, several explosions rang out. Health Minister Soccoh Kabia confirmed the death and injury toll, and said the government would investigate. Sierra Leone is struggling to recover from a devastating 10-year civil war which ended in 2002.
SIERRA LEONE: POOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPEDES MENDING OF ECONOMY.
Free with registration – Interpress Service – AccessMyLibrary.com – Dec 20, 2007
–> COPYRIGHT 2007 Global Information Network By Wurie Bah FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, Dec. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have praised the country for its economic progress during the post-conflict transition, but its economy is still far from robust. The economy has, over the years, relied heavily on the mining sector in general and on diamonds in particular. Prior to the civil war, Sierra Leone earned its foreign exchange with agricultural commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm kernel, piassava, rubber and ginger.
Sierra Leone’s Pa Kabbah Hails the People of Kenya
Awareness Times – Dec 20, 2007
He recalled how Kenyans lost their lives during the search for peace in Sierra Leone and he specifically cited senior Kenyan military officers. “General Daniel Opande was not only an outstanding Kenyan military officer but also a diplomat who was an embodiment of United Nations Peacekeeping. He moved into all corners of Sierra Leone during the process of consolidating our hard won peace. He was a real asset in our peace efforts,” the former President enthusiastically spoke of the Kenyan military general who headed the military arm of the UN’s Assistance Mission to Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) which UN mission he said, provided a “pivotal contribution” towards the peace Sierra Leone enjoys today. Pa Kabbah, whilst continuing to hail the Kenyans, also highlighted how that country had harnessed the potential of information technology to even further improve upon their social and economic wellbeing. “In Kenya, the use of information technology is so advanced, that it is reported to be practically impossible for anyone to register to vote twice let alone multiple voter registration cards being used by the same person to vote multiple times,” Pa Kabbah pointed out. According to Pa Kabbah, Sierra Leone has a lot to learn from Kenya with regards to not only the effective use of robust information technology but also with the management of diverse ethnic and regional groupings so as to bring about “national cohesion”…
Pa Kabbah, whilst continuing to hail the Kenyans, also highlighted how that country had harnessed the potential of information technology to even further improve upon their social and economic wellbeing. “In Kenya, the use of information technology is so advanced, that it is reported to be practically impossible for anyone to register to vote twice let alone multiple voter registration cards being used by the same person to vote multiple times,” Pa Kabbah pointed out. According to Pa Kabbah, Sierra Leone has a lot to learn from Kenya with regards to not only the effective use of robust information technology but also with the management of diverse ethnic and regional groupings so as to bring about “national cohesion”. He also opined that Sierra Leone could emulate Kenya’s development of areas like tourism which could be crucial to increase employment and thus improve upon its socio-economic state. Pa Kabbah applauded the recent move by the new Sierra Leone Government to further build upon what his own Government started with regards the development of the Gola Forest as a Wildlife Preserve similar to those found in Kenya. Newly elected President Ernest Bai Koroma recently moved to endorse an initiative first started by the erstwhile SLPP Government to create a wildlife preserve in the Gola Forest of Sierra Leone. Still in praise of the Kenyans, the former President expressed how Kenyans had worked towards Food Security by the application of appropriate technological research into Agriculture to fit local conditions and needs hence developing “home grown Agricultural solutions”.
Work permit hope for Watford’s Al Bangura
Telegraph.co.uk – Dec 20, 2007
But after a meeting with Home Office minister Liam Byrne the club have been given the option of applying for a work permit. Labour MP Claire Ward, who arranged the meeting and has been a firm supporter of Bangura’s case, said: “We’ve been offered another avenue which we hope will allow Al to remain in the country. This is exceptional news. Bangura’s chances of obtaining a work permit would normally be slim as he is uncapped and Sierra Leone are outside the top 70 nations in Fifa’s rankings.
East-End Paddle & TiGO Stormed Freetown Sierra Leone.
Awareness Times – Dec 20, 2007
Paddle’s annual event which takes the form of a street carnival is well known to be usually highly charged with excitement and political undertones. However, although the Paddle Debul Dancers did not let eager observers down this year with the provision of exciting dancing, there was a splendid show of political unity with well known political activists from all sides of the local political spectrum in Eastern Freetown, walking side by side and hugging each other. For example, Moseray Fadika was dancing right next to Unisa Awoko Sesay with both men dressed, alongside their colleagues, in bright gold and brown identical African Outfits with matching caps. The tumultuous crowd that came out onto the streets of Freetown to either watch the Paddle parade or dance alongside the Paddle Debul was a sign that this year’s upcoming yuletide holidays were going to be splendidly enjoyed.