Sierra Leone At 58th Independence Anniversary by Ranger

The People Say: We ‘Angri’ O!

A Commentary By Ranger

Unlike back in the days when Sierra Leoneans of all ages, in all corners of the country, looked joyously to the coming of holidays, especially the Independence Holiday; it is sad to note that these days, majority of Sierra Leoneans welcome holidays in a dejected mood.

Try as much as they can, the SLPP Government in spite of its Finance Minister’s promise before the party was voted into power by a hungry nation, said that they would be up to the task of solving the basic bread and butter issues sooner rather than later.

However, the cry today amongst the masses is: De gron dry-o; meaning in English that the times are rough and there is no food to eat. Added to this is another cry from the masses: Man dem angri o; meaning in English that the people are very hungry for lack of food!
Maybe what the Finance Minister and his team have found out quickly is that whatever macroeconomic juggling they do to recalibrate a wobbling economy to make it stand steady on its own two feet, there is no quick fix measure to the basic bread and butter issue of cheap, nutritious food on the table especially on the table of those the PRSP identified as living on less than USD2 a day.

It is understandable that the government as we celebrate what will surely be what one SLBC broadcaster called a ‘sombre’ Independence has been doing a lot that is positive and constructive to remedy deep socio-economic wounds left by the past government.

However, one thing that still defies remedy is that of the unhealthy, unprogressive rivalry that exists between the SLPP and the APC, which honestly many people are saying cannot happen unless we are able as a nation to grow beyond the parochial, provincial mentality, thinking and behaviour of these two parties. Whatever development the country makes will only benefit one segment of the population; depending on which of them is in power at the time.

Let us look at it this way: why for God’s sake should 7 million people endowed with abundant land resources, water for irrigation, plenty of sunshine for growing any kind of tropical food, vegetables and cereals continue to be unable to feed itself; instead has to spend over 200 million dollars annually importing foods that it can overproduced here, why?

Why should our youths of both sexes out of hopelessness and desperation turn their backs on these beautiful shores to go into hell elsewhere in the sub-region, the Middle East, Europe and America? Why?

In the same way an empty bag cannot stand, in the same way a man or woman without a job to do, a means of earning an income legitimately becomes a criminal or a prostitute.

Sierra Leone at 58 is poor, sorry, and hopeless; yet, if its people open their eyes wide like an eagle they would clearly see that they do not deserve to be classified among the wretched of the earth but why? Why?

As we celebrate this year’s Independence, honestly, despite my dispirited opinion of my country, there is a lot to celebrate.

However, there will be much more to celebrate as a nation if we come to understand that divided, only a few of us will enjoy the limitless wealth of this blessed nation whilst the majority of us, whether it is the SLPP or APC in power will continue to wallow in abject poverty and misery, simply because we have not come to realise, even after the horrors and tribulations of the civil war that first and foremost, Sierra Leone is ours, regardless of what tribe or region you come from and that it is only when we come together as one to honestly, diligently, consistently and constructively work in the interest of the county that things will become better.

Let us conclude by saying that Lebanese, Indians, Fulas, and Madingoes will always dominate us and be richer than us the indigenes.

This is because according to one woman, Sierra Leoneans, both as individuals and as public servants are not honest, unreliable, and do not pay their debts (ask the commercial banks and those who Sierra Leoneans borrow from) and have little or no love or compassion for their fellow brothers and sisters. Once God favours them with the good things of this world, they become greedy, selfish and unkind to each other.

That is the main reason we are poor and will continue to become poorer until we change our attitude towards ourselves and the State we serve.

Sir Milton Margai’s Independence Message (April 27, 1961)

Men, women and children of Sierra Leone, I greet you all on this historic day, and I rejoice with you. Sierra Leone today becomes a unified and independent nation to take her place as an equal partner in the Commonwealth of nations and as equal entity in the world at large. For this we rejoice, and may your own rejoicing wherever you are be really full of happiness.We must also face up squarely to the problems which will confront us, and I want you all to understand clearly that the Sierra Leone Government in future will depend very greatly upon the active support and assistance of each one of you.

The aim will certainly be to make a our country a land worth living in, a land worth serving; but this can only be done by wholehearted service and hard work now. I have told you this before, and I call upon you to give the Government your active help and support.I ask you to deal fairly and honestly with your fellow men, to discourage lawlessness, and to strive actively for peace, friendship and unity in our country.We have much to do to bring improvements to all parts of our country. I am fully aware of this and I assure you all that my Government is determined that general progress shall be made as fast as possible. But there is also much that can be done by yourselves to meet your own needs, and I shall continue to support and encourage voluntary local support, whether it is directed to the building of a road, a bridge, a school, or a community centre, a sports field, a water supply, or any other communal requirement.

I would like to make it clear that independence will not result in any sudden changes in our day-to-day life. Whether you are a farmer, a clerk, a trader, an artisan, a daily wage worker, a fisherman, a lawyer or a judge, life will go on just the same, with the same rights and privileges safeguarded, the same type of laws, the same justice in our courts, the same taxes and other responsibilities, the same articles for sale in the stores. Mining companies, missions, trade unions, hospitals, schools, and government departments will go on as before.The significant change is that we are now in complete control of our destiny and for the formulation of our external as well as our internal policies.

I wish you all to be assured that we in Sierra Leone will stand for the freedom and prosperity of men everywhere.Sierra Leone is proud to be a member of the Commonwealth because this great family of nations has exactly the same aims. We believe in the dignity of men and the sovereignty of states, and we will oppose to the limit of our power any movement of aggression which may conflict with these ideals.

This is the time when all you men and women should strive to know what is being done, what your responsibilities are and what the responsibilities of your country are. The Government Information Service is working hard to help you to do so, and I and my Ministers will continue to come round and talk with you, but you must want to know, and you must bring others with you to listen to the authoritative words of Government, and you must pass the true word to those who cannot attend.

As I have said before, Paramount Chiefs, Section Chiefs, Tribal Headmen, and Tribal Authority Members all have a great responsibility to do this, and I expect them all to do what is required of them.Exactly the same applies to Town Councillors and more particularly to District Councillors. It is not enough to attend your Council meetings, and then go home to sit in your hammocks. Many of our people are thirsting for knowledge of what your Council and the Government are doing.

All your elected people must tell your constituents the true word and bring their questions and desires back to your Councils so that they may be answered.I look forward to a long period of mutual cooperation and understanding between the Sierra Leone Government and the Sierra Leone Council of Labour.

Over the past years we have supported and encouraged the growth of trade unions in our country because these are accepted as the best means of ensuring good relations between the employers and employees, and of securing the rights and deserts of trade union members. Much of what I have said before in this message applies with great force to trade unions.The Sierra Leone Government in the years to come will depend upon your cooperation and active assistance. You have an especial responsibility to maintain the high standards you have set in past years, to stand by the rules of procedure in the case of disputes, and to avoid conflicts which may be detrimental to the good of your country.

And to those of you who are studying at school or college I say: You are seeing history made this day. Work hard, for you are the future leaders of your country. We will lay traditions of which you will be proud. It will be for you to uphold them and to build upon them in the future.I pray for God’s help and guidance on this historic day and in the years to come, and for His blessings on you all.

Salone Lives Matter Ceo Henrietta Mbawah Independence Message to Sierra Leoneans

My brothers and Sisters

Everybody seems to be celebrating Sierra Leone’s 58 Independence Day. To me it’s not a celebration of independence but a celebration of the lives of our forefathers who fought very hard to give us the chance of being an Independent Nation… Sierra Leone is still a country short of Independence.

Independence will only be realised when we don’t have kids roaming the streets on school days or going to bed hungry. Independence will only be realised when we have families who are self sufficient and self reliant so that they can successfully raise their kids without excessive financial hardships as is the case currently. Again, Independence will only be realised when our country starts producing the basic commodities that a country and it people needs to function effectively. Independence will only be realised when Sierra Leone can take a seat amongst its peers and speak independently in the interest of the country and its people without being influenced or coerced by another nation or external factors.

Sierra Leone cannot celebrate Independence Day without recognising the social, political and economic evolution of women and especially young girls in Sierra Leone which is in shambles, not mentioning the alarming rate of dis-empowerment that has engulfed our nation.

Sierra Leone is not celebrating independence day, but an idea of independence.

I invite all Sierra Leoneans to continue to work towards a peaceful, just and honest Sierra Leone.

May the resilient spirit of our forefathers be reborn in us all so that we can come together to work as a team and significantly create the much-needed change that will make our Country a better place for our future generations

#Salone lives matter