TIME FOR DECHINAZATION
People are of the opinion that the Chinese are gradually taking over the economy of Sierra Leone. They may be right or wrong. Everywhere, Chinese – Chin Chum! What they are up to is virtually economic colonization.
“Our country is being disproportionately mortgaged to the Chinese,” said Abdulai Mansaray, adding that, “many are quick to highlight the structural benefits brought about by aid, but downplay the benefits to China in the form of projects, resource extraction and the acquisition of service contracts to Chinese companies.
In a nutshell, we know that whichever country offers the greatest economic gains, based on China’s growth strategy, becomes a target for aid.
Abdulai said that is an open secret that this strategy is geared towards partnering with resource –rich countries like Sierra Leone, which lacks the political and economic structures required to efficiently and effectively manage our bilateral trade opportunities.
The Angolan President, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, recently said that “China is now a vital partner for the development of our continent. To confirm this, first keep in mind that since 2013 China has become the largest trading partner of Africa and has increased by more than 44% of its direct investment in the continent.
Rumours have it that, on the eve of the dissolution of our Parliament, the Government has hastily signed various mining contracts with the Chinese, for instance, the buses that were purchased by our National Transport ministry. Most of them have since become eyesores in the graveyard of the Transport Ministry.
There are photos showing Chinese nationals openly taking part in our national campaign rallies, which is a break from tradition.
The incoming government should, in a hurry, remove some of these Chinese encumbrances especially on our economy.
Imagine them putting up a party building when their relationship with this country should be with the government rather than the party. This is not a one party state. Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, take note.
PARTY LEADER ON BEGGING SPREE
In a democracy there should be sovereignty of the people, which is why the Leader and Chairman of the All People’s Congress (APC) has been on a begging spree during which he has been begging the mother of Dr. Kandeh Koleh Yumkella to talk to her son to support the APC that is now drowning.
He seems to have had his order of priorities upside down. He should have started with the mother or step mother of Sam Sumana to talk to her son to vote massively for the sinking APC. It is likely that the old woman would ask the beggar to first pay the amount awarded by the ECOWAS COURT as a pre condition. After that she should tell him to sack High Barb and reinstate her son.
Cornelius Devaux still gassing
He has the knack for spouting nonsense. It is hoped that some sense should be knocked into him to stop in his downhill tracks. He sees green and calls it red. How can this man, in his bid to side–track the issue in question, be heard belching that the wives of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) flag bearers are foreigners. Granted that they are in fact foreigners, could this have disqualified them? Like we have intimated before, this man can only be fittingly a spokesperson for a private club and not a national party. But the fact is that the APC has a shortage of manpower and would do well to second some idle SLPP connoisseurs to help them out.
APC MEDIA TEAM CRUMBLES
The APC media outfit is crumbling ahead of the runoff as the blame game continues. The APC had rejected the traditional media over the social media. Media players in the party, headed by Abdulai Bayratay, have blamed the self imposed campaign Chairman, John Sesay, cousin of the Pa.
Sesay is known for his hate for the media as he has demonstrated this when he was vying for the flag bearer race, where he mentioned that he would reduce the number of news papers to five when he wins the elections. The official party mouthpiece is starved for funds whiles the Government ‘Daily Mail’ have vacated the newsstand.
Moissa, the lousy spin master, is hell loose in the social media where he is putting a whole lot of trash against the Rtd. Brigadier. Their so called press attaches, in the likes of John Baimba Sesay, Chernoh Ojuku Sesay and the likes, were all denied party symbols for the parliamentary elections.
These guys are heart-broken and the chances for them to regroup and bring out an effective media strategy to outsmart the main opposition are not likely.
Where is our Chinese Rice?
Sometimes back, the All People’s Congress (APC) Government received some huge tonnage of rice from the People’s Republic of China on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone.
The ceremony, which was held at State House, did assure Sierra Leoneans that the said consignment was just the first tranche and more was expected in the country. Where is this rice now, as if such huge consignment is supplied to the market it would ease the tension? The issue of rice is a very crucial one during elections, as the SLPP had lost the 2007 elections because of the rice that was donated by late Muhammad Ghadafi of Libya.