October Edition

I hope this newsletter meets you in fine health.. if it doesn't I hope you pull through soon!

Things are heating up now (not the weather though) and as we head towards Christmas, folks are starting to plan their holidays. I would like to tell you about a few things going on:

  • First off, in the last newsletter I mentioned the documentary that we went to film in Sierra Leone. Well it's complete and got it's first showing this evening. These are the times starting Wednesday 19 October:

    Wednesdays at 19:30, Thursdays at 09:30, Fridays at 16:30, Sundays at 05:30 and Mondays at 01:30 and 07:30.

    It is being shown on BBC World (http://www.bbcworld.com) which I can't get in the UK (complicated, don't ask) so I haven't even seen it yet. If you do watch it please let me have your feedback.

  • Some people did respond to the Banana Island/Bunce Island Tour proposal (thanks!) and dates and more information have been released. So book as soon as possible to confirm your place.You can find more information on the tour and how to pay here:
    http://www.visitsierraleone.org/book-tour.asp

  • You probably know by now that I've been going on about supporting this Electricity petition (http://www.jus-gi-we-di-light.info). Everyone connected to Sierra Leone must know that if we are to start attracting the investment which we so badly need then we need to start addressing those infra structural challenges facing Sierra Leone. Lack of electricity is one such which affects every layer of our economy, so when I was told about this petition that would serve as an opportunity through which Sierra Leoneans can speak in one voice through a common medium, I thought it was a great idea.

This is being taken further with a discussion on Sierra Leone Radio (http://www.sierraleoneradio.net) on Thursday 20th October starting at 20:00 London time. Various people from Sierra Leone, UK and the US will be interviewed so please feel free to call in if this is a topic close to your heart.

These are excerpts from an Article entitled "The Bumbuna Promise to Sierra Leoneans"
submitted by Adrian Q. Labor who will also be taking part in the diccussion,
Project Coordinator
Sierra Leone Energy Portal
http://sierraleoneportal.net/energy

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“All Dem Promises na been Mess”

The promise of reliable and affordable electricity for the capital city, provincial towns and villages of our nation has been one of the longest unfulfilled promises we (Sierra Leoneans) have made to ourselves. There is very little to show for 41 years (1964-2005) of parallel efforts to produce electricity using a hydro-based solution (Bumbuna-Yeben Project) and a heavy-oil generator solution (involving SLEC, NPA, NP and SLPRC).

“23hrs Pan Blackout After One hr Light. Knockout!”

Reliable and sustainable energy is a criterion for economic progress. Yet, the latest household survey revealed that less than 1% of the population uses electricity as a source of household energy. Is the promise of reliable and affordable electricity still achievable? Yes. However, it will depend upon how much premium Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad put on asking for the light and making it an issue in the upcoming elections.

You can view the full article here:
http://www.jus-gi-we-di-light.info/article.htm

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  • Lastly, would you like to write an article for the newsletter? If you have a short article about your time in Sierra Leone or a related topic then email it through on newsletter@visitsierraleone.org.

    Maybe you visited Sierra Leone and fell in love with its charm or maybe you have not been back for what seems like eternity and would like others to share your memories. If approved, you will be informed when it will be published. We reserve the right to edit your article.

That's it for now. This has turned out to be a pretty heavy newsletter! Oh well... sometimes you just have a bit more to say.

See you next month - ah go fos!

Bimbola

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Stories making the news in the past month

It's been a busy month with everything from Lungi Bridge through to the "war don don" mega concert and Freetown (lack of electricity) making the news! This is a pick of the action:

Economic Recovery and Health Projects - 19 October 2005
The African Development Bank (ADB) Group and the government of Sierra Leone have signed agreements under which the country will receive 27.7 million Units of Account (UA) (US$ 42 million) in grants from the African Development Fund (ADF) to finance economic recovery and health development programmes.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=390

NPA Increases Tariff By 30% Without Notifying the Public - 18 October 2005
National Power Authority (NPA) has increased electricity charges by 30% in the country without notifying the public. A senior NPA official confirmed to Concord Times Monday that the increase was necessitated by the rise in the cost of petroleum products.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=391

Living in a city without power - 17 October 2005
Residents in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, told the BBC's Mohammed Fajah-Barrie what it is like not being able to have light at the flick of a switch.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=388

Sierra Leone frees Halloran - 12 October 2005
Senior Victorian police officer Peter Halloran was last night cleared by the Sierra Leone Court of Appeal of sexually assaulting a teenage girl while working as a war crimes investigator for the United Nations.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=387

China approves new ministerial building for Sierra Leone - 11 October 2005
China has allotted $3.7 million to construct a new ministerial building at Hill Station, west of here, Sierra Leone`s deputy foreign minister Mohamed Kamara has revealed.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=386

Donors pledge less than half funds needed for war crimes court - 09 October 2005
International donors have pledged nearly US $10 million for the final stretch of Sierra Leone's Special Court – far short of the $25 million the court says is needed to complete its work of trying those suspected of atrocities in the country's decade–long brutal war.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=384

U.S. Spends Le.74 Million in Bo, Tonkolili Districts - 04 October 2005
United States of America (US) has spent Le 74 million in Bo and Tonkolili districts to build a bridge and set up the American Corner at the Bo Library, a release from the US Embassy states Tuesday.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=382

Mega-stars agree to `end-of-war` concert in Sierra Leone - 27 September 2005
An array of top local and international musicians have consented to perform in a five-day peace festival in Sierra Leone, an official of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) said here Monday.They include UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, renowned Senegalese singer Youssou N`Dour, Jamaican Julian Marley, Nigeria`s Seun Kuti, Zairean Kanda Bongo Man, Ivorian Alpha Blondy and Travis Lemar.
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=377

Click here for a complete news listings


Discussion Forums this month

Truth and Reconciliation implementation - What is he TRC about and why are there calls for it's recommendations to be implemented?
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=875&PN=1

Mega-stars agree to `end-of-war` concert - We're hearing that the line up will include Senegalese singer Youssou N`Dour, Jamaican Julian Marley, Nigeria`s Seun Kuti, Zairean Kanda Bongo Man, Ivorian Alpha Blondy and Travis Lemar - also heard they're trying to get Alicia Keys and Kanye West. What are your thoughts? Maybe we need more Sierra Leonean artists to be involved?
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=846&PN=1

Forumites going to Sierra Leone - So who will be heading off to Sierra Leone this Christmas and what will you be doing? You could also volunteer some of your time to schemes such as the Brain Gain project etc.
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=638&PN=1

Dual Citizenship for Sierra Leoneans - The debate continues.. there is a poll running on the VSL homepage where you can register your support or otherwise.
http://forum.visitsierraleone.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=203&PN=1

You can also download the following documents:
Excerpts from the Dual Citizenship Bill [PDF]
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/docs/dc-bill.pdf

Legal Commentary on the Dual Citizenship Bill
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/docs/Legal-commentary-on-dual-citizenship.pdf