It was 9.am. Few people had already queued at the Paramount Foreign Exchange Bureau on Rawdon Street in the centre of Freetown, to collect monies sent by relatives from abroad. Sometimes the bureau would be full so customers go very early in the morning to collect their remittances.

Paramount Foreign Exchange Bureau is one of the many foreign exchange bureaus in Freetown. The business of remittance is helping foreign exchange bureaus to thrive in the country. From Mondays through Saturdays, foreign exchange bureaus in Freetown deal with several customers whose relations abroad send them money. Most times however, customers grumble on the rates. The bureaus have buying and selling rates, but when it comes to paying customers monies sent from abroad, they use what they call "transfer rates" which are the lowest.

The services rendered by the bureaus have brought a relief to many as they have saved them from the pranks played by postal workers. Prior to the existence of foreign exchange bureaus in Freetown, families lose hundreds of thousands of dollars through pilfering at the post office. Many postal workers became rich through the malpractice. In one of the busy days in Freetown Amidu Kamara from Lunsar north of the country is at the Sierra Leone Telecommunication Company (SIERRATEL). He is talking to a relative in the US: "I need to get the money quickly. So, if you can send it tomorrow, I would be really grateful. Please call me later, tell me the bureaus and give me the code number". All customers receiving monies from bureaus need to know the code given by the agent in the country from where the money is sent. They should also produce identifications and know who sent the money and the amount sent. It is a policy devised to prevent impersonation.

Many people in the provinces like Amidu have been benefiting from the services of foreign exchange bureaus. Thousands of Sierra Leoneans abroad have helped changed the lives of their families by sending monies to build homes, pay for education, invest in businesses, for funerals, marriages or help relatives to join them.

According to the World Bank, close to $73bn was sent back to developing countries in the form of remittances in 2001.

During the war, many families traveled to neighboring Guinea and afforded to rent decent houses because of monies sent by relatives abroad. Also, a large number of those who could not travel solved many problems through help from abroad. Many Muslims have been able to pay pilgrimages to Mecca because of help from relatives abroad.

Western Union at the Union Trust Bank in Freetown has also been a major stakeholder in the remittance business in Sierra Leone. It has been a preference of many because of its fast remittance services.

Remittances to Sierra Leone are one of the most beneficial aspects of international migration. They have helped reshaped the lives of many families. Remittances are not only transforming families, but also communities at large. Many poor families have been able to educate their children and relatives because of remittances from abroad. Many poor families have been able to educate their children and relatives because of remittances from abroad.

" Had it not been for our sister in the US, I do not know how we would have lived in this country. Our house was burnt down during the war. Father has become penniless", says Amidu.

Some Sierra Leoneans who were abroad have returned and invested in the country. Many of the Lebanese have left as the noose continues to be tightened on diamonds. Many of the shops have been taken over by Sierra Leoneans , Nigerians and Guineans. Going abroad to a large extent helps to boost human and economic development in Sierra Leone.