Title: ...because Freetown is not Sierra Leone... the Visit Sierra Leone Newsletter! [May 2005]
Created:: 20/05/2005 19:09:43 Sent on: Not yet sent
Hello again (kushe kushe!) and welcome to the May 2005 edition of the "Visit Sierra Leone"
newsletter!
On a personal level it's been a busy month... regular visitors may have noticed the news
items where not updated for a couple of weeks in April. This was due to the fact that I was in
Sierra Leone.. the plan was to update it from home but...
Following requests for information about accommodation in the provinces my mission was to
get details of accommodation available in Sierra Leone's provincial towns and also to get an
updated view of life in the provinces. It was an interesting trip during which I visited Bo,
Kenema, Makeni and Kabala.... I guess it's true when they say Freetown is not Sierra Leone.
For a write up (with some pictures!) of the trip, go here:
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=351&PN=1
Site Updates...
My return from Sierra Leone was met with the usual request for pictures (and rightly so,
because we miss Sierra Leone so much!). I've uploaded some of the pictures and also added
more e-cards so you can send to friends and family. I hope these will make up for the lack of
pictures during Christmas period... you may recall from the February edition of the newsletter
I said "Anyway, the plan is to head back in a few months (less hectic period) after which I
promise to come back with a lot more goodies!" So here goes:
For new pictures click on this link:
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/gallery/gallery.asp?action=new or go into the image gallery and click on the "new" icon.
For free e-cards go here:
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/cards/greetings.asp?category=14
The site now also has some pictures of hotels in Bo, Makeni and Kenema
Hotels in Bo: http://www.visitsierraleone.org/gallery/gallery.asp?categoryid=36
Hotels in Kenema: http://www.visitsierraleone.org/gallery/gallery.asp?categoryid=40
Hotels in Makeni: http://www.visitsierraleone.org/gallery/gallery.asp?categoryid=43
Sierra Leone site profile:
"Jus-Gi-We-Di-Light!" Petition/Campaign... say what difference 24hr electricity in Sierra Leone
will make to you, your family or your organisation
http://www.jus-gi-we-di-light.info
Upcoming Events:
DFID and Africa Recruit are spearheading a Sierra Leone Diaspora Consultation and
Networking Forum to be held at the Hilton Hotel, London on June 4th. Online registration
required. See here for more info:
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=359&PN=1
Priscilla s Homecoming - May 26th: A South Carolina resident, Ms. Tomalind Polite, who is a
7th generation descendant of a slave shipped to Charleston from Bunce Island, will return to
Sierra Leone on May 26th.
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=395&PN=1&TPN=1
In the news...
The OPEC Fund for International Development has signed a US$7million loan agreement with
the Republic of Sierra Leone to help finance upgrading of the 21 km-long Tokeh-Lumley road: http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=298
Twenty Cuban doctors have arrived in Sierra Leone to help boost the health care system:
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=301
UN troops to leave by the end of this year : UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said Sierra
Leone is now calm enough to allow the UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMSIL) there to be
phased out by the end of this year...
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=304
The Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie, on a goodwill visit to Sierra Leone, said she was
overwhelmed by the "strength and spirit" of the nation...
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=307
and in the forum...
Would you go to Iraq if the money was right?
Yes, we're still having that discussion on Sierra Leoneans being drafted for Iraq... would you
head off to Iraq for $200,000 tax free. Plus allowances? At least one of our forum members
admits he is bold enough to do that...
Topic Discussion: http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=129&PN=0&TPN=5
Is Charles Taylor about to be handed over?
With the US promising to waiver Nigeria's debt in return for Taylor... is this an offer too good
to resist?
Topic Discussion: http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=376
You want to pass on your knowledge of krio?
cyaneyes will be heading off to Sierra Leone for the first time volunteering with Unite for
Sight and she would like some tips on krio...
Topic Discussion: http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=396&PN=1
Is the US travel advice to Sierra Leone unfair?
The UK has revised their travel advice to Sierra Leone but some feel the US travel advice to
Sierra Leone is a bit harsh...what do you think?
Topic Discussion: http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=167&PN=1
Job Vacancies...
Don't forget to keep checking the vacancies board for the latest job offerings in Sierra Leone:
Some of the jobs advertised in the past month include:
Human Resource Manager - Sierra Rutile
Management Accountant - Celtel
Chief Executive, NARCC
Executive Secretary, NCP
Electrical Engineer, US Embassy
IT Technician - Anti-Corruption Comm.
Information Systems Mgr - Statistics SL
IT Assistant - World Food Programme
See here for a complete list:
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_topics.asp?FID=11&PN=1
I think that's about it for the month... I will add more desktop backgrounds and screensavers
in the coming weeks. I'm still cutting through work. There are also a couple of behind the
scenes work which you will be informed about in due course so stay tuned...
Visit Sierra Leone is coming up to it's 1 year birthday... what do we do? :) Please offer any
feedback about ways of improving the site etc. as always you can catch me on
or in hanging out in the forum: http://forum.visitsierraleone.org
Dont forget to sign that petition...
Until next time...
B
http://www.visitsierraleone.org