Executive Director of LAB, Ms. Carlton-Hanciles address clique members
154 members of various clique groups in the Western Area have vowed to eschew violence before, during and after the March 2018 Elections.
The commitment was made at a meeting with the Legal Aid Board in the Solidarity Hall of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress on Friday, February 23. The meeting was part of a campaign geared towards ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.
Bloodline of Smart Farm, Blue Flag of Mountain Cut, Gaza State of Hill Cut Road, Ex-combatants of Waterloo, Central Ross of King Jimmy, Street Key of Brookfield, Member of Blood (MOB) of Back Street, Brookfields and Black Street of Brookfields were among clique groups in attendance.
The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, said for a start all the clique groups should convene a meeting without any delay to transform into community based organizations. ‘If the Revolutionary United Front (RUP) can transform into a political party, the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP), you can do the same,’ she said. ‘There is also the case of the clique Bloody Mary, which transformed into a community based organization the Mission Mary.’
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles underlined the importance of cleanliness in a bid to change entrenched prejudices. ‘The way you present yourself goes a long way in shaping public perceptions about you,’ she said. ‘If you are dirty, you are more likely to be arrested by the police in the scene of crime than someone who is clean and well shaven. Also, Mountain Cut is target for police raids because it is believed cliques are active in that area ’
She warned clique members against engaging in violence because the Board does not have enough lawyers to provide them legal assistance. ‘With only 16 lawyers on the staff, it is practically impossible to guarantee legal assistance to those who engage in violence during this period. This is why we are having this meeting with you because we believe prevention is better than cure.’
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles assured them that the Board will help transform their lives into useful and productive citizens after the elections. In this vein, a paralegal will be assigned to each clique group, to provide guidance and technical support as they embark on the transformation process.
‘You do not have the connections and the contacts, we will provide both,’ she said, adding, ‘You should not be afraid to start from scratch, most people start with nothing. You should tell me the vocational training you want to go into, so we can link you with the relevant partner organization.’
The leaders of the various cliques welcomed the proposals from the Board. Augustine of Street Key said they have already begun the transformation process by engaging in productive activities. Solomon of the clique group, Member of Blood, said they will ensure they are not used to undermine the elections. Paul of Blue Flag said they will summon a meeting of their members to sensitize them that they will be on their own should they resort to violence.
The President of the Motor Drivers and General Workers Union, Alpha Bah, said they will provide training to those who want to go into driving. Upon completion, they will be given jobs in one of the 38 parks in the city and a vehicle after satisfactory performance on the job.
The President of the National Union of Keke/Tricycle Riders, Kombor Samba Kamara, said they will train those who are interested in going into Keke riding for a living. They will offer jobs to those who want to become marshals for the tricycles. He pleaded with the cliques to stop harassing their members.
The President of the National Farmers Federation, Mr. Olu John, said they will offer jobs to those who want to go into farming. He reminded his audience that the Federation had provided jobs in farming to former beneficiaries of the Board in the past.
The meeting was climaxed with a performance by the WANPOT Comedians. The performance depicts how clique members rebuffed an attempt by a politician to use them to wreck violence on an opponent. The clique members refused to accept the huge amount of money that was offered them. They roughed up the politician and his wife and asked them to use their children instead.