Concord Times (Freetown)
Alusine Sesay
25 November 2008
opinion
It should by now clearly be understood from the clarity of hind sight that historical scenarios do take cycles. It is borne from the belief that whatever goes round comes round. This is a historical fact that our politicians choose to ignore and most times proves their undoing. If you listen to SLPP's unity radio, you hear all the good things SLPP intended doing for the country. What they are saying have some grains of truth but sadly they are now only wise after the event.
If we take a clinical view of the causes of the SLPP demise, you will agree with me that among many other things, the demolition of people's homes, Hinga Norman's case, failed SLPP promise like total food security, mixed foreign donations etc. These scenarios that expedited SLPP's demise have surfaced to haunt APC, serving as a verdict to the fact that history does take cycles.
The misappropriation of mixed foreign donations as my readers will agree with me, it was one of the major setbacks of the SLPP.
These foreign donations were meant to heal the country's wounds after the eleven year rebel war. Failure of SLPP to have used these foreign donations in the interest of the masses, created a sharp criticism among Sierra Leoneans and donor agencies.
This eventually led to the unpopularity of SLPP in the face of the international world. Now that we are talking of local tax being paid by Sierra Leoneans from their meager earnings, they are hoping for the better. The local tax will surely be a local trouble, if they fail to properly utilize the money in the interest of the people. I am afraid that the Freetown City Council is focusing more on garbage collection whilst other development projects are left behind. Also the Freetown City Council should be mindful of their policies towards the traders, as they are the "backbone" of politics. Traders are complaining about too much harassment they are receiving from the Metropolitan police.
Another factor that caused the demise of the SLPP was their failure to handle food security in the country. In late 2006, President Kabbah promised all Sierra Leoneans that come 2007, everybody will not go to bed with hunger. This promise however became a mirage. Thus the people's call for change was justified by the acute shortage of food in the country. When President Koroma assumed office in late 2007, he promised Sierra Leoneans of food sufficiency by engaging in massive agriculture. But up to now, a cup of rice is still difficult to be afforded by ordinary Sierra Leoneans. I am obliged to say that the people are no longer ready to feed on promises.
It is also crystal clear that youth unemployment is still remains unsolved. The economic sectors that would have assured the youth of employment are still in disarray. Retrenchment of workers at the rutile mines due to a dredge accident. Confusion between London Mining and African Minerals and also between Koidu Holdings and the people. Above all, the agricultural sector that is supposed to absorb eighty percent (80%) of the youth population into employment still remains a dream. The expectations of the youth were so great that many have started expressing regret. As I am writing, they are parading the street of Freetown and elsewhere in the country, looking out for jobs but to no avail.
The educational system is also declining with massive examinations failures. How do you think we can achieve quality education when the teachers are not satisfied? The salaries for teachers are so meager that they cannot afford to meet with all their families' basic needs. They have no alternative, but to engage in conducting private lessons to enable them support their families. Pity goes to parents who cannot afford to send their children to private lessons. The duty of government should not only be limited to stopping teachers from conducting private lessons, but also to beef-up their salaries, so that the law will be maintained.
There is also the issue of community teachers in the provinces who are not paid for the services they render to the country. If really government wants to improve education in the country, teachers must be paid to their satisfaction. Also, remote allowances must be given to teachers in the interior, so that decentralization could be achieved. Many schools in the interior are understaffed due to poor conditions of service.
The issue of land reformation by the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning is also creating a sharp criticism from the people being affected by the reforms. About the land distribution along Hill Top adjacent to the American Embassy, people are expressing dissatisfaction over the way land is being distributed. Many people are crying foul, as they are being robbed off their lands, which are then given to rich people. Remember these are the people that sacrificed their time and effort to brining APC "back to power". Some are even expressing their vows not to partake in any election, terming politicians to be "birds of the same feather". Others are even speculating a third force come 2012 election as an alternative to APC and SLPP. APC should realize that the five years bestowed on them by the people is only a test. Therefore, they should put themselves in the position of the peasants before they take any move against them.
The crashing of a plane in the Lungi International Airport during the SLPP era, led to the subsequent sacking of the then Minister of Transport and Communication (Harry Will). History has again repeated itself. This time round, it was the unlawful landing of a Congo plan loaded with cocaine, an event that caused the indefinite suspension of the Minister of Transport and Communication and Aviation (Kemoh Sesay). Who knows whether Mr. Kemoh Sesay will return to his office again? Who knows the future reaction of the people of Port Loko if the minister may not return to his office? Remember Chief Hinga Norman's case and its negative impact on the SLPP.
I must conclude by saying that the APC government must not be overconfident as was the SLPP. Also the APC government must deviate from talk shop and move over to workshop. The people are desperate to see things done. They want to see the reality of things. They are no longer interested in fake promises.
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