FAYIA AMARA FAYIA

The untimely and politically mis-guided demolition exercise engaged by the current minister of Lands Housing and Country Planning is fast becoming an embarrassment not only for the Political Party in Governance also for the leadership and Government. The exercise is not only receiving condemnation from the public, but also from some foreign diplomats who are reportedly not happy with what they have described as un-developmental activities of the Ministry.

Kenema on Saturday 18^th May 2013 received its own share of an action that was backed with no legal authority. The Kenema City Council Administration has distanced itself from the illegal action and has further challenged its. The Chief Administrator of the Council in an emergency stakeholders meeting held at the Council Main Hall described the action of the Ministry of Lands Housing and Environment as unfortunate and went on to describe it an embarrassment to the entire council, especially when the Council was not giving prior notice.  Mr. Bockarie Gboanie has said that the demolition of structures put up by traders to run their private businesses was done to generate revenue to take care of their families as most of them are unemployed, because of job scarcity.

“These people created jobs for themselves so that they could fend, take care of their homes and not resort to stealing or unlawful means, but from all indications it now appears that Government wants them on the streets again or commit offences that may see them behind bars. He explained that the business community is one of the major sources of Council revenue generation outfit, noting that such exercise without proper planning and coordination has the potential to undermine the smooth running of the Council and even peace.

The Mayor of the Kenema City Council, Mr. Joseph Kelfala apologized to the affected traders and thanked them for remaining peaceful and courageous for the suffering and loss incurred as a result of the illegal demolition inflicted on them.

He promised them that Council is going to negotiate with a group of land owning families and other relevant stakeholders in a bid to look out for alternative space to relocate the traders. Mayor Kelfala said that Local Councils are the highest political entities in their regions and as such there is every need for any ministry intending to carry out any action, whether legal or illegal to inform and involve the councils.

“We have been totally embarrassed by the unlawful action of the  Minister of Lands, Hon. Musa Tarawallie and his officials in Kenema by their actions, which showed no respect and regard for the council and poor traders” He remarked, and went on “The action, he repeats; has the tendency to undermine the administration of the Council”. He called on the Trader’s Union Executives to continue talking to the people to maintain peace and exercise maturity and patience while they look out for a venue to relocate them.

Meanwhile, reports state that the traders are suffering and have no good comments for the APC Government.

An army spokesman said jets and helicopter gunships had been used to attack several camps.

He told the BBC that a plane had been hit by anti-aircraft fire but had managed to return to base.

States of emergency were declared this week in three north-eastern states hit by Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency.

Nigerian military spokesman Brig Gen Chris Olukolade said two militant bases in the Sambisa Forest Reserve were destroyed in raids.

The reserve is about 70km (45 miles) south of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where the militants first emerged in 2009.

Reports say dozens of militants have been killed, but there has been no independent confirmation.

Nigerian forces are trying to regain control in the states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno.

“It is not just Sambisa, every camp is under attack,” the Reuters news agency quoted Brig Gen Olukolade as saying.

‘Land and air’

Meanwhile, explosions and gunfire were heard overnight on Thursday in Katsina state, where gunmen launched several attacks.

Residents told the BBC’s Hausa service that banks, police stations and prisons were destroyed in the town of Daura, near the border with Niger.

They said they had seen the bodies of five members of the security forces and three militants, but there has been no official confirmation of casualties.

Soyinka Okupe, a special assistant to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, said that government forces would continue to hit the militants hard.

“Their mandate is to ensure that activities of Boko Haram insurgents and rebels in these areas are brought to zero level.

“So they will employ everything that is in their power to effect that, including land and air.”

Mobile phone networks were not functioning in many parts of north-east Nigeria on Thursday.

A security official told the AP news agency that the mobile phone service had been shut down during the military operation.

Militants have previously attacked mobile phone masts in the area in an effort to disrupt communications.

Residents staying inside

Brig Gen Olukolade said the plane damaged by anti-aircraft fire on Friday had returned to base safely, while the “terrorist base” was subsequently “completely destroyed”.

This is the first time Boko Haram has been reported to have used such heavy weaponry against aircraft.

A Maiduguri resident told the BBC that the city was unusually quiet on Friday, with most people staying inside.

Brig Gen Olukolade said “several thousand” troops had been sent to the three north-eastern states to tackle Boko Haram.

The three semi-desert states, which border Niger, Chad and Cameroon, are roughly the size of England or the US state of Illinois but have a population of just 10 million.

The BBC’s Will Ross in Abuja says targeting Boko Haram’s rural bases or training camps should pose no great challenge for the military; the hardest part of this campaign will be in urban areas like Maiduguri, where the militants are living among the civilian population.

The president said the army would take “all necessary action” to “put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists”, saying they had taken down the Nigerian flag and replaced it with a foreign emblem in some parts of the country.

Human rights organisations have criticised some of the Nigerian military’s previous operations because of the resulting civilian casualties.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in the north.

Although they often attack Christians and government targets, they have also killed many Muslim civilians.

National Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit

Ministry of Health & Sanitation

Sierra Leone

Reference Number: NPPU/IT/2013/01

The Government of Sierra Leone is establishing the National Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit (NPPU). This project shall be co-financed by the Government of Sierra Leone and various donor agencies.

The purpose of NPPU is to act as an autonomous body responsible for the management of various pharmaceuticals for and on behalf of all public health facilities throughout Sierra Leone. The responsibility of NPPU includes:

• Procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
• Storage of pharmaceuticals at central and district warehouses.
• Distribution of drugs and medical supplies to all Governmental hospitals and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs).

NPPU is establishing a demand driven supply chain to distribute a wide range of medicines to governmental hospitals and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs). Improved supply chain performance is seen as a key enabler for creating a sustainable operating model. The new supply chain solution will support the logistics operation. The solution will enable replenishment to the dispensing point as well as support the supplier tendering and procurement process. Key operational objectives for the new supply chain are:

• Ensure availability of stock
• Track and report stock distribution and consumption

To achieve the above objectives, a study of the current processes and IT systems has been performed to identify key requirements for the future supply chain system. The study resulted in the following prioritized areas, which are in the scope of this EOI:

• Demand management: The system needs to have the ability to create and store forecast data. The system needs to have the capability to create a forecast based on historical consumption information and/or based on the collection of quantity needed information from different levels of the supply chain.
• Replenishment: The above demand information will be used to create replenishments to each district warehouse and to each PHU as well as to create orders to suppliers to replenish the Central Medical Store. The system should automatically create suggestions of optimal replenishment orders between all stocking points given the supply network structure, stock levels, forecast/consumption data, min-max stock settings, transport capacity, storage capacity, seasonal pre-build requirements, etc.
• Tendering & Procurement: The system should support the quantification process of the required volumes of drugs and medical supplies that need to be procured for the coming year. The system should also support the process of sending tender documents and purchase orders to suppliers.
• Warehouse & Distribution Management: The system needs to support keeping track of the current inventory in each stocking location, including batch numbers and expiry dates. The solution should also provide picking lists according to the first expiry, first out principle.

Key functionalities that need to be supported across the solution are system support for:

• Master Data Management, both on-line and off-line data input, maintenance of the supply chain model and customer information
• Invoicing and transportation documentation, proof-of-delivery, etc.
• Reporting of Key Performance Indicators for the supply chain, including follow-up reports used by donors
• Ability to interface with ERP systems, bar code readers, mobile technology for data collection, etc.

The IT Solution provider must possess the following qualifications:

• Relevant experience in providing IT solutions in the Supply Chain Management of pharmaceuticals. At least two years experience in similar assignments.
• Relevant experience  in Africa
• Provision of support services for solution users
• Availability of training support  in Western Africa

• Availability of qualified and experienced project personnel

The NPPU now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the IT Solution and related consulting services. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications. Interested firms must provide listed information below to show that they are qualified to perform the assignment:

• Vendor profile (focus areas, number of employees and typical qualifications and experience, office locations, number of customers in total and in Africa, year when offered software was first taken into live use, etc.). Enclose CVs for system configuration, data integration and project management personnel
• Three references from similar projects (short description of each project and results achieved)
• High level description of solution coverage for the scope described in this EOI
• Description of available support and training services

Selection of the short list of firms will be done in accordance with the procedures set out in the National Public Procurement Act (NPPA) Act of 2004 and Regulations  of 2006 (www.publicprocurement.gov.sl).

Interested organizations may obtain further information at the address and emails below during office hours (i.e. Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00 hours). Expressions of interest must be clearly marked “Expression of Interest for IT Solution and related consultancy services for management of pharmaceuticals to NPPU” to the address or e mails below not later than 21^st June, 2013, 16:30 hours.

The Managing Director

National Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit

Ministry of Health and Sanitation

New England, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Tel: +232 78679786/232 78679766/232 337001

E-mail: sibeso.nkwilimba@ uk.crownagents.com and copy to Maurice.juma@uk.crownagents.com and mikelansana@yahoo.com

It was the expectation of some senior and junior officers of the Sierra Leone Police that since the money used to purchase the vehicles come from the state, a thorough and professional inspection should have been carried out to determine the road worthiness of the vehicles and not to use the state hard earned resources to buy something that cannot be used or used as spare parts to mend other vehicles on the yard.

Further investigation into the purchase has revealed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is the supervisory body, has no record of the transaction or aware of how the transaction was conducted. “We have no record of the transaction” The Deputy Minister, Hon. Sheka Tarawallie confirmed. Since there are so many “Peters” at the Transport Section of the Police that are claiming innocence and not aware of the transaction, including AIG Kabia, the Procurement Officer and ASP Bundor, the Estate Officer, the question is who will now give details about the transactions that had fatten the pockets of Mr. Paul Bindi? A cheque bearing the face value of Le396 Million was paid to Mr. Paul Bindi as the first tranche.

It was prepared at the Police Headquarter and transferred to his Company Account, under the name of Sweds- Free- Development, authorized by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Francis Munu. It is not known whether the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Francis Munu will be another “Peter” to deny knowledge about the transaction that has cost the Police Millions of Leones or will admit to it.

It is however crystal clear by all indications that Mr. Paul Bindi used the Police to enrich himself at the time when the Sierra Leone Police could not meet the financial demands relating to payment of welfare, leave allowance and salary of some officers.(Which of Paul Bindi’s Bank Account the Money was paid—next issue)

The doors of the Company that sold old dump truck vehicles to the Sierra Leone for colossal amount of United States Dollars are always closed. The office is located at 114, Jumu Kenyatta Road reportedly managed by one Mr. Paul Bindi. This medium has made several efforts to contact him to find out why he sold and collected money for used and faulty vehicles from the Sierra Leone Police, but he is nowhere to be seen. It would appear that after he had collected the first tranche of the selling price he vanished to prepare himself for the second and final tranches.

The Sierra Leone Police, no doubt is at present battling to manage the faulty dump truck vehicles and see whether its present condition could be road worthy or not, but there are indications that despite the overall make-up giving to three of them from their original yellow colours to blue and white, confidence seems to be shaky, with fear that the deal that has cost the Sierra Leone Police Millions of Leones when converted would soon become a public laughter.

Looking new in appearance after the face-lift, but very old in age, all three vehicles are currently parked at the Transport Section at Kingtom of the Sierra Leone Police. AIG Kabia is the Procurement Officer of the Sierra Leone Police, who reportedly gave his blessing for the purchase of these old and dilapidated vehicles while Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bundor is the Police Estate Officer, himself according to investigation put in the order after discussions had been held between him and Mr. Paul Bindi and promises of smiling faces assured if the transaction goes as expected. Mr. Joseph Dauda of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) was also not left out in the process, according to sources at the Sierra Leone Police. When contacted by Mr. Paul Bindi, sources say Mr. Joseph Dauda too gave his blessings, but the question as to whether he saw the type of vehicles that were to be purchased for the Police remains complex and hard to imagine. Some say it was a close family business that allegedly involved Bonthe connection and the wife of the Inspector General whom sources alleged is related to Mr. Bindi and everything possible was to be done to make the transaction possible.

It may interest members of the public that both ASP Bundor and AIG Kabia have denied knowledge of their involvement in the transaction that saw the Police buying what could be seen as third-hand vehicles from a close relative of Bonthe ties.

The seller, Mr. Paul Bindi of Sweds Free Development took advantage of every available opportunity to escape repairs of the vehicles that had frustrated him over the years when he put them for private hiring to the public. The three vehicles are, One Septic Scanner, 1996 Model sold for $68,000(Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars), One Tow Truck Scanner 1998 Model sold for $60,000(Sixty Thousand Dollars) and One Ten Tyre Dump Truck-IVECO, 1998 Model sold for $60,000(Sixty Thousand Dollars), all three vehicles totaling US$188,000(One Hundred and Eighty, Eight Thousand Leones).

At the time of sale, the Tow Truck Scanner was having Hose and Water Pump problem, which Mr. Paul Bindi was not able to solve and never reported the problem to the Police as his intention was to get rid of what had been a persistent headache for him. The Dump Truck had been seriously suffering from engine problem at the time. With no official inspection done by a Certified Vehicle Examiner, the Police went into the transaction and damned the consequences.

The first tranche of the purchase price was paid in Leones to the tune of Le396Million in the Month of April, 2013 and arrangement for the second and final payments had already been fixed for the coming months until payments are fully exhausted. Since the purchase and face-lift giving to the vehicles they have not been tested on the roads to appreciate the Sierra Leone Police money’s worth.

Mr. Paul Bindi is nowhere to be found, despite numerous efforts for an interview by this medium. He has avoided his 114, Jomo Kenyatta Road Office and had closed to the public for now until is time to collect money from the Police. It is still not clear how procurement of these vehicles between the Sierra Leone Police and Mr. Paul Bindi of the Sweds Development Company was done. Without even putting the vehicles on the road and tasking them, they have already started signaling signs of weakness as a result of their age that has reached superannuation.

The greatest benefit for the greatest majority of Mobile Phone subscribers is the focus of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) as the basic and principal reason for waging a war against the Country’s biggest Mobile Phone Company. Although perception of the decision may vary from one subscriber to another or from a member of staff to the other of the affected Company, however; the fundamental fact reminds undisputed and NATCOM like many other state institutions is proving tough and sending its unwavering message to other providers of the services that it can fall heavily on anyone that fails to provide the greatest benefit for the greatest number of subscribers.

In resorting to this action, it is evidently clear that NATCOM has evaluated the repercussion of its intended action in the event that Airtell fails to comply with the dictates of the 21-day notice already issued out to the Company. It is against this background that the services of two legal practitioners have been secured by the Commission to undertake the legal battle when nothing may have been achieved after the expiration of the 21-day.

But the question is how competent these practitioners are to take on Airtell, when the issues involved are not criminal, civil or simple matter that can be handled by any legal mind. Lawyers that are grounded in telecommunication jurisprudence are very scarce in the Country. It is not a discipline that any Jack and Harry can handle easily and emerge victorious, especially when the language of the industry is peculiar and sophisticated and not as common as anyone could imagine when it comes to the real issue of determination.

Lawyers in Sierra Leone are mostly general practice minded, which is absolutely different in the field of Telecommunication. The crux of the application for an order to close Airtell has to be examined critically and properly by any Presiding Judge. It is not a simple Larceny, Fraudulent Conversion or a case of Robbery that these Lawyers would have to present in Court, but something that involves signal transmission from one cell pole to another and to the consumer, distortion and other technological problems that are associated with communication. What is responsible for these deficiencies in the technology of Airtell? NATCOM should be able to establish in court, speak the language of the industry and be able to convince the Presiding Judge to grant the request.

This means, the Lawyers should now be busy reading and turning the pages of Law Books in Communication and engage in searches, whether through the internet or elsewhere for precedent to back up their claims and application or the order to be granted. Consequently, it would not be a day’s legal exercise as the Regulatory Commission itself would be subpoenaed to establish its case and would have to submit data that will showcased findings that are responsible for the current predicament of Airtell, which have led to shortchanging its subscribers. The problem is about congestion of signal transmission, which has to do with spectrum. This is the basic truth and NATCOM is capable of addressing it to solve the impasse. Spectrum allocated to Airtell may have reached its climax, while as a business entity the Company continues to register more subscribers.

This could be one reason. It is like a road that can accommodate five cars and not more than that, but when ten to fifteen cars are using the road that is meant for five, the consequences is evident and solving the problem requires the creation of a bigger road network to accommodate more cars. The Commission should be able to re-allocate additional spectrum space to Aitell that can be paid for, which is one of the principal sources of the Commission generating more revenue. Though, it is true that spectrum is a limited and scare commodity and quotarized to every country by the International Telecommunication Union, yet NATCOM may not have exhausted, by now what has been allocated to Sierra Leone by the Union.

The legal implication involved; is not one that Lawyers can wave with the back of the hand or dump easily in the court of law for an order to be granted. It involves more than meets the eye, not to mention the social and economic implications. The inconveniences that would be created during the period to the subscribers, the financial loss and many other unforeseen events that may rear their ugly heads should be expected.

It is not known how far NATCOM has prepared itself for the legal battle, which may not end in the court of law in Sierra Leone, but the International Court may also be interested to accommodate such brief. It is absolutely true that the rights and privileges of the many subscribers of Airtell have been abused by the Company, but what we don’t  know is whether NATCOM has been meeting its obligation to the various Mobile Phone Companies  in the Country, which has culminated in the handpick of Airtell and tagged as a poor performer.

Most of the Companies have failed to improve their services to their consumers. In the case of Comium, one could describe it as a “living corpse” in the telecommunication industry and for Africell the least said about it the better. In this kind of dilemma NATCOM should be able to address, if not all but most of the major problems that consumers are complaining about. One way of doing it is to establish policies that would focus on re-allocation of spectrum, management of spectrum, tariff rates and more. As markets are liberalized and new technologies evolve, the historical use of available spectrum tends to require updates.

In many cases part of the spectrum that was initially allocated to Mobile Phones Companies can be re-allocated. Frequently, benefits can be achieved by re-allocating spectrum in such a way that frequencies are freed up for new technologies and for usages that result in maximum benefit and welfare generation. Over the last few years, increasing use has been made of market based mechanisms in the allocation of scarce spectrum. Market based allocation mechanism include various types of auctions and spectrum trading. An efficient spectrum policy also requires a streamlined and effective spectrum allocation mechanism in line with international best practice.

As the regulatory environment develops, the compliance risk faced by operators’ changes rapidly with the focus of information provided to the regulator moving from historic cost, financial information, through current cost valuations and incremental cost models, towards a greater reliance on operational data such as product delivery lead times, fault rates and

comparative performance indicators in support of operational separation requirements. Regulation is designed to create a level playing field for the development of competition by defining the right balance between competing objectives such as: Consumer interests, Investment incentives, the long term growth, development of the communication sector, the design of regulatory frameworks, mechanisms and remedies are all complex tasks that need to be taken into account, technological developments for the next generation networks (NGN), etc,the evolution of  telecommunication markets and the potential sources of market failure and appropriate remedies. In view of the above, it is evident that legal solution is not a solution to the problem, but how can consumers enjoy the worth of their hard earned money.

An operation launched by the Ministry of Lands Housing and country planning in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police force to reclaim, what the Minister of Lands, Housing, Country Planning and the Environment has described “Government Lands” has left slightly over Five Thousand traders displaced in Kenema. Demolition of stalls, Kiosk, and other makeshifts, constructed by businessmen and women along the Rail Way Line, Hangha Road and Blama Road were affected on Saturday 18^th May 2013.

Youths hired by the Ministry held big hammers, wheel pullers, roof cutters, demolishing stalls, kiosk and other makeshifts under the watchful eyes of OSD Police Officers well armed commenced  operation as earlier as 6 A:M on Saturday. They were later joined by some of the unsuspecting traders who jumped from their beds upon hearing the news on Radio Stations that their stalls had been destroyed.

Those who did not fear the Police presence managed to secure some of their building materials, chairs, tables, Kiosks in readiness for possible re-location, which seemed unlikely in the next few months. Other traders mostly women stood gazing at the Police and Ministry of Lands Officials hired youths to demolish their structures and remove furniture with their tongues wagging, possibly thinking of the beginning a new long battle to secure permanent or temporal place to conduct businesses.

No Court Order has been granted for the demolition of these structures according to sources connected with the Police and Ministry of Lands Officials. Since Musa Tarawallie was appointed Minister of Lands Housing and Country Planning, he has been embarking on major destruction of Market Stalls and buildings, claiming that they have been established on State Lands, which in turn are sold out to other interested parties. The situation is urgently demanding the attention of the President, under whose command Minister Tarawallie claimed to be effecting the demolition.

The facial expression and body languages of the affected victim were enough to tell that they were taken unaware by the Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning Officials in carrying out the demolition exercise of their structures where they have been doing business for ages to support their families at a time when the economy is seem not favourable.

One of the affected traders, Abu Bakar Turay who is adviser to the Belgium Sellers in Kenema informed this reporter that they want development to take place in the country and will support the Government in that direction, but at the same time they are very surprised over the action of the Government who has promised them with the agenda for prosperity. The Ministry, Government and other Authorities did not inform us about this exercise and no alternative arrangement has been made to relocate our people” He said in a rather sad and disappointed mood. He explained that if they had been informed and proper arrangement put in place, it was not going to be the business of the police to demolish their structures as they we can do it themselves.

The Regional Chairman of the Traders Union East, Mr. Thomas Bayoh has told this medium that the exercise is not peculiar with Kenema and since it it’s a Government decision they will it, but all they know, it was an illegal action done to create more suffering for the people as it has no backing from the Judiciary, the body responsible to approve the demolition of structures. Mr. Thomas Bayoh went on to state that the only problem is that his Union and traders were not informed about the exercise and given time to quit when the Ministry  ordered the demolition with no alternative arrangement made. He confessed that the former Minister of Lands Housing and Country Planning Hon. Bobson Sesay who gave the traders the right to utilize the piece of land for the said purpose. “Our only message to the government and local authorities is that the land should be used for National or Community Development purpose, which structures constructed on it for public use” He suggested and added “attempt to distribute it to private individuals as some of us are made to understand, it will not augur as ,we shall resist it vehemently “He warned.

It would be recalled that last week the Minister of Lands Housing and Country Planning Hon. Musa Tarawallie met with  some landowning families in Kenema and other stakeholders where he explained to them about Government’s plan of repossessing all lands in the provinces for the purpose of development .

At the meeting the Minister called on land owning families in Kenema to support the Government in its development drive.

The conference “ICT Today – and Beyond” brought together representatives of European, Asian, American and African ministries, agencies and institutions responsible for the functioning and development of the telecommunications industry.

Delivering his keynote address, Ambassador Michael R. Gardner, founder and chairman of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI), warned regulators to be “credible, flexible and transparent” noting that “service providers, potential foreign investors, equipment vendors of new ICT applications” must have clear knowledge of what the regulators’ rules are and confidence in the regulators commitment to enforce these rules that are needed to protect consumers.

“A good example of a regulator’s unwavering commitment to the integrity of its light-touch regulations took place in Sierra Leone where Chairman Siray Timbo of NATCOM, the ICT regulator, had the courage to levy a $50,000 fine against a powerful international wireless operator who had increased phone tariffs without gaining prior regulatory approval. The wireless operator in question was stunned and soon realized that the regulator was a real source of economic pain after the Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of NATCOM — and the regulator’s fine was upheld,” said Ambassador Gardner.

Noting that the world we live is experiencing a “transformational shift to an IP based global ICT world,” he stated that this new shift will “render switched technology useless and has already allowed for a spectacular mobile cellular penetration with 6.8billion subscribers with access to internet.”

However, the mobile cellular penetration rate in the developing world still lags considerably behind when compared to the developed world where 70.1% of citizens are online compared to 24.4% in developing nations. According to the ITU’s Facts and Figures for 2013, by the end of 2011, 2.3 billion people were online.

Given that there is still a significant percentage of people without access to internet around the world, Mr. Gardner stressed that “the fundamental challenge of connecting the unconnected” requires concerted efforts and must be addressed head on.  “The spectrum belongs to the people just like the air we breathe and the water we drink, the decision makers in each country are trustees of their country’s spectrum and must use this great resource in the most efficient and creative way,” he said.

To ensure that a robust, free and accessible Internet is available everywhere, including in the Least Developing Countries (LDCs), Mr. Garner stated that ICT regulators must play a pivotal role “by promoting competition, encouraging innovators and convince foreign investors that they are committing resources to  stable, corruption-free ICT environment.” He further noted that the new IP must be regulated differently by ensuring that “the old legacy regulations of the circuit switched world” give way to light-touch regulations.

For participants from Africa, Mr. Gardner noted that Kenya has become the hub in East Africa for vigorous ICT innovation – innovation which is producing vast economic dividends and social benefits for the good people of Kenya.   “Kenya is now a vibrant source of homegrown Internet innovation.” However, Kenya’s spectacular success didn’t happen by accident, he cautioned. Their success is the result of “politicians and regulators adopting a policy that made ICT a top priority for use in every phase of country’s economy.”

Kenya’s officials, he said, “followed an Open Multi-Stakeholder Internet Governance Model” one which did not allow internet policy to be dominated by government officials but involves the broader community of Internet advocates to work together as partners with government to nurture a robust Internet in Kenya.

Mr. Gardner also challenged regulators to learn from proven success stories around the globe and advised against interference. “You must take informed actions like permitting unlicensed spectrum such as broadcasters’ white spaces to be used for broadband while simultaneously guaranteeing that lawfully issued licensees do not suffer from harmful interference.”

Calling on politicians, ICT Ministers and their fellow ICT regulators, Mr. Gardner challenged all to “aggressively use the tools that can improve the ICT landscape,” by working with ISPs, academia and those organizations interested in the Internet. “You must adhere strictly to best IXP practices for they help consumers reap immense benefits by reducing internet costs, provide a more user friendly, latency reduced internet and most importantly develop local content, which is key to economic development and jobs.

For Ambassador Gardner, one thing is certain about the future. “We will continue to live in an exciting IP world where additional spectrum must be creatively allocated to handle the enormous volumes of data that will be exchanged every minute of every day.” However, this is only possible if regulators do the right thing to ensure that we live in a world where pervasive cloud computing and abundant locally produced content are commonplace around the globe.

“It will be a world where ICT regulators shape their country’s future and if they have the vision and courage to use the people’s spectrum in an efficient and creative fashion, the new global ICT marketplace of the 21^st century will insure that everyone – everyone – has access to a broadband based free and open Internet.”

The battle for the cleaning of Freetown is taking a new twist among the Freetown City Council, Ministry of Local Government and the Strategic Policy Unit. This twist needs the attention of the President and the people of this country if the desire is to have a clean environment that will house the general public, safe and clean.

The manager for Masada Energy International Sierra Leone Ltd displaying a letter from the office of the President allowing them to take over the cleaning of Freetown

For the past months, there has been correspondence sent from each of these institutions to the other with one of them calling on Masada Energy International Sierra Leone to take over the cleaning of the city of Freetown and the management of the Freetown Waste Company.  It became explicit that while the call was being made others were engaged in manipulating the process and setting artificial blockage to prevent the possibility of what the city of Freetown would look like if it is clean and safe.

Report of 14^th May 2013 and correspondence from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has requested the Manager of the Freetown Waste Management Company to hand over the entire activity and Management of Waste Collection to Masada Energy International. Yesterday 15^th May 2013 development from the Strategic Policy Unit has spoken a different language that is not in the interest of a clean and habitable city that Sierra Leoneans would like to live in. Moreover, it is like inciting the Council to continue leaving the city and its people to wallop in filth. The SPU has   called on the Freetown City Council not to handover the cleaning of the city to Masada until further notice.

The Management of Masada Energy International, while preparing to receive the national assignment was surprised to learn from the stakeholders that its dream of cleaning the City of Freetown has been thwarted. At a joint press conference between the Waste Management Company and Masada Energy International question relating to a letter authorizing the handing over was posed.

A representative of the Mayor of the Freetown City Council responded by stating that they should not be bothered on such matter at this time.  “Don’t ask me any question” The representative said in a very hostile manner and went on “We are not going to handover to anyone/Company and let the Minister call me I will challenge him even to the President” Councilor Samba Turay remarked, according to him  on behalf of the Mayor of the Freetown City Council. The Councilor emphasized that they will not handover any Waste Collection duty until they know the context of the contract.

Although the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had placed a tender for Waste Management collection in the country which saw Masada as the winner, however the representative, Councilor Samba Turay said “Cleaning of the City to the Freetown City Council is not a devolved function, which anyone must come and take away. “The Ministry of Local Government is just playing a supervisory role to the Council; therefore any contract signed must be done by the City Council”.

The Freetown Waste Management Company seemed not happy with the present situation. According to Mr. Sulaiman Parker, being a small man his decision is not to challenge any authority, political figure, the Minister of Local Government, the Mayor of Freetown or the Director”

He confessed that he was in a confused state and has been receiving correspondences from three big decision makers, countering one decision of the other. “What I am asking at this point is for the Freetown city Council, Masada, SPU and all other stakeholders solve the problem to their satisfaction and for the good of the country. The Project Manager for Masada Energy, Ms. Aminata Dumbuya said the Freetown City Council like any other stakeholders will like to see the city clean and if they collaborate it well the bigger picture would be achieved.

masada’s equipments

She reminded the audience that her Company has won the contract for which they are prepared to undertake in full as they have the capacity. “We have paid staff of the Waste Management for two months and have procured cleaning equipment for the exercise” She disclosed and added “We now awaits the full handover ceremony” She added.  Meanwhile, the Masada Company is undertaken cleaning exercise of the City at night.

It would be recalled that the Freetown City Council over the years has been blamed for the piles of wastes in the city. The government of Sierra Leone has spent billions of Leones to Freetown City Council to ensure a cleaner municipality with no positive result achieved.

BY SAHR DUMBAR MATTURI

 Two Prosecution witnesses have testified in the trial of DPC547 Abu Toto Bangura held at the Sierra Leone Police Headquarters yesterday. It would be recalled that the trial commenced two days back, when the Complainant Mamie Iye Koroma presented her case against Police Officer 547 Abu Toto Koroma. She narrated how she was manhandled, humiliated, sexually harassed and dumped into a stinking Police Cell where she was further humiliated and went unconscious.

She told the tribunal that when the officers discovered that was unconscious she was hurriedly transferred to the Kingtom Police Hospital, where she regained consciousness and noticed that she was in handcuff, half naked and tied to her hospital bed. To her surprise, she questioned how she found herself in a Police Hospital, almost half naked. Mamie Iye Koroma gave her testimony in tears as the “Presiding Magistrate” listened to her in shock and dismay. The hearing continued yesterday 8^th May 2013 with two prosecution witnesses taking the stand.

The “Presiding Magistrate” Inspector Sheiku Bahja Koroma called on Woman Police Constable (WPC) 1316 Mariatu Conteh the lock-up officer on duty that fateful day. WPC 1316   Mariatu Conteh explained that she was on duty when two Female General Duty Police Officers handed over the Complainant to her and ordered that she should be locked up in Police cell for an alleged disorderly behavior and Assault. This trump-up offence was what DPC Abu Toto Bangura had relied upon to set him free after the hearing that the Complainant had behaved in a disorderly manner and assaulted him. On the first day of the hearing he admitted that he pushed the Complainant, but described it as a minor attempt.

At night WPC 1316 Mariatu Conteh said that she monitored the Complainant while in Police Custody and discovered that she laid down on the bare floor of the Cell very unconscious “I immediately informed the Chief Commandant, Sgt. Regina and the Crime Officer, Inspector Tucker about the condition of the Complainant in Custody and together we opened the door of the Cell and took her to the Charge Office” She testified, and went on,  “She was still unconscious when we took her to the Charge Office and seeing her condition, fear gripped the Station and LUC Memuna Conteh ordered that she be conveyed to the Kingtom Police Hospital for treatment with handcuff still tied to her hands” She said.

The next Prosecution Witness was Madam Walamatu Sesay, Mother of the Complainant who explained that she was informed by a Police Officer attached to the Station that her daughter had slept in Police Custody at the Eastern Police Station where she had fallen ill and had been conveyed to the Kingtom Police Hospital for treatment. The Officer, according to PW2 requested her to bring her some clothes to put on at the hospital which she did.

This sad news when received by the Complainant’s Mother and friends of her family prompted them to move immediately to the hospital. On their way they saw a white Police Ambulance. They beckoned to the driver and when stopped, they saw the Complainant half naked with her hands in handcuff. “I pleaded with the officers to untie the handcuff in order to allow her put on a fresh dress, but at first they refused” PW 2 explained. According to them they have received instruction from LUC Memuna Conteh not to comply with any demand from them, however, the officers used their discretion and allowed the Complainant to change her dress inside the vehicle and handcuffed her again. On our arrival at the Eastern Police Station, PW 2 continued, the Complainant was detained again in the stinking Police Cell.

For over three days, PW 2 said; she made several appeals to LUC Memuna Conteh for the release of her daughter, but her request was flatly turned down, for reasons that she could not understand. “At one point I was frog – march out of the Station on the instruction of LUC Memuna Conteh. Madam Walamatu Sesay and others will continue their testimonies today Thursday 9^th May 2013 in the presence of Human Rights Commission workers who are also witnessing the hearing.(Keep tuned)