SAFE ARRIVAL
I arrived in Salone at 5:15pm on the dot on Friday evening after a short 6 hour trip on Astraeus Airlines. The man sitting next to me on the plane announced before we landed that he wasn’t going to let his luggage be searched by SL customs officials. I asked him “why not” as opening up suitcases was well within their responsibilities. He replied: “because they shouldn't”. My response: “How is it that living in London you would never question airport officials’ right to open your bags but in SL, it is unacceptable?” He smiled and I thought….. “Ah Salone, this is going to be an interesting year”.
When we stepped off the plane the passenger bus carrying people the very walkable distance to the airport building was full so I had to wait. I exclaimed half joking that how wonderful that we have a bus.....whilst in London it was a 20mins walk to the departure gate…..and people say Salone is not developed. A couple people laughed….one man responded with a question also joking: “but what about actually getting to Freetown…”? I stopped him before he could finish, “lets focus on the present, we’ll cross that bridge later”…..laughter again….Nice to know my sense of humor wont be wasted here.
HELICOPTER CRASH UPDATE
Until very recently, there were three alternating ways to get across river Sierra Leone which separates lungi airport and the capital. By ferry, hovercraft or helicopter. Two weeks ago 22 people died in a Paramount helicopter that crashed a couple minutes after it left Freetown headed for the airport. Most of the people who died where members of the Togolese contingency that had beat the Sierra Leonean team 1-0 in a football match.
Supposedly there was a commission (international Civil aviation organization) that had evaluated the helicopter’s services a couple weeks before and presented a list of 99 things that had to be done that would make Paramount’s Helicopter Services safe for use (i'm trying to get my hand on a copy of this list). It appears that none of these recommendations were met but services resumed.
As of last night the Minister of Roads and Transport PRINCE HARDING, and the permanent secretary to the ministry Mr. ABDULRAHMAN WURIE, and the director of Civil Aviation and his deputy (whose names I cannot make out at this time) have all been arrested. The PRO (Public Relations Officer) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced on the radio that investigations show that the individuals arrested may have accepted bribes from Paramount that allowed them to resume services. I think we can safely say that the helicopter crashed because they did not meet the recommendations.
GoSL SCHOOLS CLOSING EARLIER THAN USUAL
In other news, all schools in the country will close on JUNE 29th 2007, a month earlier than usual because of the impending August 11th elections. This may seem bazarre but I understand the need for caution. Sierra Leone is HOTT right now…..many young people are unhappy…many excombattants are unhappy, Sierra Leone Army is unhappy, Civil Defense/Kamjor are unhappy (their leader Hinga Norman died recently…some people suspected foul play).
MAN DEM NO GLADI....a song by the BAW WAW SOCIETY are the most popular words of dissent. The words simply say…..WE’RE NOT HAPPY…..who told them Sierra Leone was about the pursuit of happiness???
PRESIDENT KABBAH EXIT SPEECH......TUESDAY
Yesterday I was at the presidential lodge…the president will be making his farewell speech to parliarment on Tuesday 19th JUNE. I got an invitation….i’ve already read the two hour speech…..but cannot comment until its made public. I’ll let you know how it goes
WELCOME TO 20 BOYLE LANE
My house is as exciting as ever…..my auntie Haja had a new baby and she’s the cutest. Her name is Hawanatu…This morning my aunty Mabingty was washing out the bottles she uses to sell homemade ginger beer. My mom was hand washing some laundry. My cousin Mabingty was collecting water in a bucket to take to her mom…Aunty Sallay who lives close by. My cousin Sahr, went to church alone….he’s a mormon now….Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints….I laughed….all I could think of was Julie from the Real World.
JOKE OF THE DAY
Also this morning I looked at my cousin MONCHICHI…it noticed she’s developing eczema on her face. Aunty Mabingty looked at her and said “haven’t I warned you not to use your Haja’s crèmes on your face”? Monchichi: “I don’t use her crèmes”.
Aunty Mabingty: “Then what did I smell on you the other day”
Monchichi: “Deodorant”
Aunty Mabingty: “Are you sure?” “I smelt crème on your body it wasn’t deodorant”
Monchichi: “I rub the deodorant all over my body and on my clothes so that the smell stays longer
……………….we all laughed…………
4 comments:
Dear Natasha
I'm going to SL in August and I have lots of questions to ask you...
Is it possible to correspond by emails?
I give you my email adress:
juliecateau@yahoo.fr
I thank you very much!
Best
JULIE
I was in Freetown SL this past May 12th - the 22nd, 2007 for the crusade and pastor's conference hosted by Rev. Achibald Cole (Church of God in Christ). The COGIC protocol team treated us American pastors like ambassadors. We were truly humbled to be treated so well when we came to serve others. But what else should we have expected from the great people of SL? I was truly blessed by their friendliness and hospitality. There were some scary moments I must add, but that was due to the large crowds downtown Freetown and the lack of order. Someday I may return.
Pastor Tom, USA.
Dear Mr. Editor,
It is sad to recall that fatefull day which became a day og murning instead of rejoicing for the people of Togo. But without
prejudice let us look at the key players and and assess their role in this episode. The Minister and Directors of Civil Aviation have already started paying paying for theirs sins. What is happening to that reckless Airport Management who are just maurinding and changing cars at lungi claiming to be Managers instead of tauts. One cannot imagin that a whole airport operating system is not able to save a life in helicopter accident that occured right in the centre of the tarmac. If this was an aircraft, there will have been no more airport in Freetown at this point in time. These so call Management seem to have no knowledge of what they should do in an emmrgency situation and not to talk of how to 'get ready' for it. What is happening to the killer ukraineans and their supporting personalities who would have put a lot of pressures and palm greasing on the poor directors of civil aviation. All of these groups need to go through what any other involving grouyp is going through.
Thanks
Moinina
What are your (everyone's) predictions for the elections and what do you think/feel Sierra Leone will look like six months after elections?
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