Re: Sierra Leone Police Officers Jubilate Monthly Rice Supplies

[JFSuma]

This would have been a much more pleasant reading if the said RICE was locally cultivated as opposed to imported. It is good to feed the law enforcement personnel but there would have been more reason for jubilation if this joy was the case for all other hungry Sierra Leoneans.

Food Security is certainly an essential prerequisite for our national development. Despite the increase in rice production as alleged, I still have a problem with the approach. Instead of creating a public-private partnership, agricultural clusters and other more result oriented approaches we are still pursuing the same Social approach as has been the case for the 50 years, by giving agricultural equipment to villages based not on sound economic reasons but for political advantage. 

How can a Govt give rice destoning machine to farmers in Kailahun while those is the rice agricultural belt of Sierra Leone in such places as Samu, Walla, Mambolo are left without such essential support. Is it because Kailahun could help the Govt to tip the balance of victory towards the powers that be? 

There are many other options we can use develop, strengthen and cash out of SL's natural advantages for food crop cultivation. I would like someone to tell me about the logical long term economic advantage in allowing foreign agribusinesses to invest in and cultivate more of cash crops for export purposes such as (for ethanol) when we are still yet to produce enough food crop for local consumption. What sense does it make to allocate more of our fertile land to additional non-traditional export oriented agricultural production when it may have no serious impact on our Import/Export trade balance because we would be using the same money to import food crops provided the return from the exported products are not in the hands of foreigners.

If SL takes full advantage of the natural opportunities we have over many countries in food production, I can see SL serving as a major source of food for the rest of Sub-Sahara Africa in years to come. But it requires the right leadership with the right plan. Some may take this comment to be wishful thinking, considering our current deficiency in food production and our over-dependent on imported rice which constitute a major portion of our International Trade deficit. But with the right leadership, setting up the right priorities, having the right plan it is doable. In my opinion it is possible for SL to be Independent from rice importation in 5 yrs and be able to export food crop including rice in 10 yrs with the right plans. This is an area I have looked into critically and I may dedicate my next opinion piece on economic development in SL to this very subject time permitting.

Thanks,

JFSuma . 

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From: Amadu Massally <salon...@gmail.com>
To: salone discussion group <SALONEDi...@yahoogroups.com>; leon...@lists.umbc.edu; Sierra Leone Network <SierraLeo...@yahoogroups.com>; denis...@yahoogroups.com; "apc-wo...@googlegroups.com" <APC-Wo...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, 10 August 2012, 7:24
Subject: [SALONEDiscussion] Sierra Leone Police Officers Jubilate Monthly Rice Supplies

 

Sierra Leone Police Officers Jubilate Monthly Rice Supplies By Paul Lamin in Kenema Aug 9, 2012, 17:12 http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_200520866.shtml	Email this article  Printer friendly page
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Personnel of the Sierra Leone Police attached to the Kenema Police Division on Monday 6th August 2012, celebrated with singings and dancing in commendation of the Government of His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and the All Peoples Congress (APC) party.

 

The personnel were celebrating after receiving a bag of rice each for the month of July. They expressed satisfaction over what they referred to as President Koroma and his government’s fulfillment of a recent promise that was made to them.

 

According to the personnel, during a recent speech by H.E. President Koroma, he promised them that he had heard their many cries for rice supplies for them in the same way the military were receiving a bag of rice monthly. The President had then promised them that very soon he would work out modalities to ensure he allocated funds so that each and every police personnel takes home a bag of rice in addition to his/her basic salary at the end of every month. 

 

Over the past weekend, a trailer loaded with bags of rice, drove into the Division’s compound for onward supplies to the personnel. There was an atmosphere of jubilation, singing and dancing as the rice was offloaded from the truck. Police officers were chanting loud songs of praise for President Koroma and his government for “reinstating our lost glory”.

 

The Local Unit Commander (LUC) of the Division, Mr. David Sahid Koroma said the proposal made by the current government to issue rice to the SLP has become a reality.

 

He said a total of four hundred and sixty-nine (469) police personnel, attached to the Division have joined over thirteen thousand police personnel countrywide to now take home a bag of rice each at the end of every month henceforth.

 

LUC Koroma further referred to the supply as a windfall for the SLP, whilst expressing hope that the supply will continue.

 

He said the gesture will go a long way in helping the personnel to upkeep their homes and pleaded to the personnel not to sell the rice but to use it to maintain their homes.

 

The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police East, Mr. Sorie B. Kargbo, admonished the officers to remain steadfast in carrying out their professional task of securing the lives and properties of the people of this country. He further encouraged them to dedicate to hard work, oneness of purpose and above all for them to be prepared to police the November 17 elections without fear or favour for any party or political aspirant seeking office. To this, they all responded, “Yes Sir!”

© Copyright by Awareness Times Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

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Amadu Massally

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Well, I will act as the spokesperson for all those who vainly seek a forum in [SL] from which to make themselves heard. ~ Thomas Sankara

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