ECHOES FROM SIERRA LEONEANS IN THE GAMBIA

Author: Prince Foday

Introduction

It is my conviction that our brothers and sisters will highly acknowledge their voices in the Diaspora, with special reference to the Gambia. Those voices signify their basic right to freedom of expression on burning issues affecting them in host countries and at home. The facts enshrined in the article hinged from the collection of views from the indigenous Sierra Leoneans in the Gambia. I am very convinced that these views may be held by Sierra Leoneans in other parts of the world. Reflecting on my childhood days, my father use to send me to the village to spend part of my school holiday. In the evening when the elders are from their farms, they will gather in the Court Barrie to decide cases and stay for a while to have a chat with us. As a keen listener, I was able to gather many old adages.  An old man told me that, `if you can’t say it, then it can’t be solved and it means you are not a free born’. The wise old man’s saying reminds me of a recent Bible class with my Jehovah witness friends. In one of our readings,  I happen to remember (Psalm 37:28). This Psalm recites that, God is a lover of Justice. These sayings are the guide to my life and will never be hesitant to say the truth, and promote fairness . The quotation of the wise old man is believed to be followed by the many Sierra Leoneans that were open to share their feelings and experiences.  When I created a column on human rights on one of the newspapers in Sierra Leone, someone told me that it is better to start digging your grave. Not long from that, I heard someone crying for me in advance. If we all live in fear and leave things going wrong, are we helping the situation? We need people to be scapegoats for others to benefit.  I would have died in a river long time ago. The person that saved me (an adopted Son to my Dad) died during the rebel incursion in Sierra Leone. I see myself as a dead man fortunate to live this far. If people that are close to my heart  are dead, so for death I fear no more.  We need to continue singing ours songs to streamline the odds in our nations, particularly Sierra Leone and Africa where there are sky rocketing corruption, selfishness and high level of socio-economic malaise.

High Commission’s Performance

The high commission’s performance has its positive and negative sides.  The positive side can be judged by their support in the formation of Sierra Leone Nationals’ Union (the Gambia). The installation of the Union restored hope in Sierra Leoneans that their welfare needs shall be satisfied. The election was held, though an orchestrated one, to allow a stooge to win. The hope was shattered when the members came to realise that the National Chairman appointed could not coordinate the union to expectations. The union was haphazardly run and factual accusations arose that, the national chairman was corrupt and inappropriately handling their welfare. It was claimed that the union was a one man show. On account of the corrupt evidences, the chairman was impeached. After those circumstances, an interim body was established to champion the course of the members’ welfare needs. The revamping of the union deserves accreditation to the high commission, though there was lack of direction and social drive even with the new body.  However, one would discredit the high commission when it comes to their data bank and the issue of coordinating the welfare needs of those they represent in a diplomatic accolade. The high commission won’t be proud of having a data bank of Sierra Leoneans (that is employment record, income received, and many more). I wonder how the national income statistics and other statistical data are collected.  Does the statistics represent a true data? This issue desires salient response.  The other issue of concern is the coordination of the welfare needs of Sierra Leoneans.  It is the responsibility of the high commission to create employment and humanitarian needs for those they represent.  Employment can be created through affordable education (the establishment of Sierra Leone International School), health care, cooperative shops and other enterprise schemes. There should  be provisions for humanitarian protection and assistance to struggling Sierra Leoneans. There are lots of issues they should be involved in to make those they represent happy. What was seen in the Gambia, and this might be even applicable to other host countries outside Sierra Leone, is that the officers in the diplomatic circle are working to fill their pockets rather than serving those they represent. I personally had the experience with the irresponsible nature of our high commission in the Gambia. During the war, when I happen to be trapped in the Gambia, I applied for a scholarship directly to the United Nations headquarters. The scholarship applied for was to pursue a master’s degree at the United Nations Institute for Development and Economic Planning in Senegal. The scholarship was to be approved upon a letter from the high commission. To seek this approval, I approached the high commission for the letter. I was given a disappointing statement and was told to go to Sierra Leone at the time of the military junta. I am sure they wanted me to bribe, which I will never do in my life for something I deserve. The other issue was when a rebel incursion exploded in the Gambia, though very briefly, as the situation was controlled with the help of the Senegalese government. The Gambian government, because of our war situation and the iota of suspicion that some Sierra Leoneans including Teachers might be involved, targeted us. I was in the classroom teaching sixth formers when dragged along with other teachers in my school, and others from other schools for detention at the police. The high commission never came to our aid. We were freed by our spirit of solidarity. Singing our national anthem and shouting for them to deport us, though the war was on. We decided to die in our country, regardless of the threat of death. Our people in the Diaspora will never have the repatriation help when they experience instabilities in host nations. I could remember when we had our war; the British and American Citizens were hastily  repatriated. The spirit of national passion is highly absent on the part of our high commissions, embassies and governance. When shall those that govern us show us love and soundly address our socio-economic issues to make us happy? Oh God help us.

Repatriation Stance

Sierra Leoneans are very much satisfied that the Gambia, a groundnut and tax oriented economy, can afford housing them with descent houses,  enough salary to meet the needed calories per day and honour domestic expenses, and a reasonable amount to save for meeting  unforeseen contingencies. Other social capitals like electricity are reasonable provided by the Gambian government. However, what is bordering Sierra Leoneans is the annual residential fee for non-refugees and the fact that those who are refugees will lose their status come 2008. I am wondering what their circumstance will be like after 2008.  Furthermore, a large proportion of them have lost hope in their governance at home. It is sometimes heard among them that, the Gambia needs to borrow them His Excellency President Yayah  A.J.J. Jammeh, a no nonsense President.  President Jammeh is admired for not having a friend when it comes to the satisfaction of the welfare needs of his people.  The services of close friends and relatives to the president were terminated due to malpractices.  I saw evidence of his uncle, head of the national intelligence unit, sacked for defective practices. His cousin’s services as head of police was terminated for alleged corruption. Sierra Leoneans are trapped between going home or not due to the facilities they are benefiting from the Gambia. These facilities  would definitely not be available for them at home. Sierra Leone is known to have weak magnetic field to attract its citizens. There are lots of brains out there yearning to be tapped. Worst even, is the peoples’ chronic attitude to those in the Diaspora. A special acronym  is been developed for them, and it is JC (Just Cam), in the country’s parlance   There is the concept that, all is well for those in the Diaspora, disregarding the fact that there are many Sierra Leoneans living under stressful circumstances.  Those in the Diaspora who couldn’t  resist the heat overseas and forced to return, and even deportees, are subject to a laughter and provocation. Even those appointed to jobs at home are subject to  discrimination. It is relevant that those highly qualified for job, though doing street cleaning overseas, to be encouraged to feel at home.  It is the old norm of non-patriotism  that is immensely affecting our country. Sierra Leoneans are now accustomed to the old norm infused in their blood by past governance, to the extent that, it is hard to change.  A close friend in the United Kingdom told me about an interesting scenario. He said,` he has a friend back home who was always requesting money from him . He was honouring the request, out of sympathy, with the feeling that the friend might be suffering . One time he decided to spend his job holiday in Sierra Leone. What he realised, during the trip was that, the friend had already built three houses. When he came back, he killed the issue of sympathy to the friend. The amount that he was  using for sympathy gestures were now used to build his own house.' 

Facing the Reality

Most Sierra Leoneans in the Gambia have mixed feelings about the reality at home. Some attempted to return to mama Sierra Leone but could not resist the pressure. I heard in many instances at the time of the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party regime that, you need to speak the mende tribe before accepted in jobs. I am sure the trend is changed now that the All Peoples’ Congress is in power. I have received recent revelations that you need to speak the temne tribe to be employed. Is it that parties in Sierra Leone are now associated with tribes? This question deserves an answer. A descent society is where parties should not be linked with tribes, but a democratic process that embraces everyone, regardless of your tribal heritage. Some attributed their return to the Gambia, after a final decision to stay home, to the problems of decent accommodation, inadequate electricity, and high living standards, and in summary weak social amenities. Those that decided to stay are worried about the country’s stability.  It was received from sources that there are spates of political clashes and this has worsen with  time. The hard earned peace is currently in its fragile state and it seems the country is heading for anarchy.

Sierra Leone at a Glance

Browsing around the country, the present and future is bleak. It seem, those governing the nation's resources, are not serious in creating the enabling environment for the populace to benefit from their God giving wealth. In the many times I visited the Wellington industrial area, I realised that the level of pollution is in the high. There are no steps in reducing the CO (carbon mono-oxide) emission and the residents surrounding the industrial area are prone to high health risk. The corporate responsibilities of the industries are at the low. In most instances, what is meant for the community largely goes to the politicians’ private pockets. I was worried after a close view of the coastal areas in Murray Town, Kingtown  and host of others. Frankly, I am envisaging a tsunami in those areas.  At the time I was in Sierra Leone, I happen to  visit the coaster areas to make an independent assessment. What was seen is that, the sea is eating deeply into the soil of the coastal areas. The transport system and regulations are horrible. Four seater  taxis  are used to accommodate six or more people. There is  a the disregard for client comfort. Drink-driving is a norm and drivers have no respect for traffic rules.  These social problems are spread throughout the country.  There is the issue of regional in-balance.  Social amenities are only concentrated in the urban areas.  Freetown still continues to be the hub of the country and there is little move for decentralisation.  The basic physiological rights (like food shelter and clothing ) needed to be subsidised are ignored and left to attract frustrating prices. Contracts are awarded to relatives instead of instituting fairness. Public sector enterprises are run like a private entity and whosoever condemns will face harsh bash.  Departments are not giving their independence, but decisions are influenced by politicians. When it comes to the collection of data, the authenticity needs to be questioned, as it is orchestrated to satisfy the selfish masters. Communication and a host of the modern day technology is only available to few. The stressful thing about the country is their predominant complex for foreign products over domestic products. I could remember at one time when I wore a local neck bead and was questioned by my vice principal. My vice principal could not figure out that I was trying to promote our domestic products, and it happen that I was teaching my students about industrialisation and indigenisation. I wore the chain with the pretext of indirectly informing my students to promote their local products. Wages and salaries paid do not represent the true expenses of living , as labour is provided with a pittance. No wonder why the level of corruption is high. It seem like pushing the work force to join their dirty self-centred tricks. 

Conclusion

The time is rife for the high commissions and embassies to rethink the idea of dispensing love and concerns to their people in the Diaspora. The diplomatic entities need to address the other sectors of their responsibilities. A transparent and accountable union needs to be launched that serves as a coordinating centre for the satisfaction of the welfare needs of its people. I suggest that a welfare fund be set-up for embarking on the real needs of the people. Not forgetting the highly suffering brethren wandering around with their inbuilt cry for help. The school, cooperative shop and other concerns can create employment and provide the affordability opportunity for the target group. This should be done without disregard for its social obligations to the communities where the enterprises are established. The home magnetic field is required to attract Sierra Leoneans abroad. The nature of the salary (compensation for efforts) should be designed in such a way that is ideal for meeting basic needs and savings for the unexpected. The necessary infrastructure should be available to attract indigenes and investment overseas and at home. The governance that the country desires is one that is accountable and transparent. The type of governance that is built on non-sentiments and urged to punish those found wanting. The political play-field needs to be non-violent.  Parties should not link with tribes or regions.  I happen to say in one of our Bantabas (social gathering) that, `we need to shed off all our tribes and speak only Creole ( a language the bulk of Sierra Leoneans speak)’. It is my conviction that, a single language can salvage the sentiments around our current political euphoria. The most conflicting tribes responsible for the spate of political violence are Mendes and Temnes. In politics their friendship is fragile. Their sources of unity lies in corruption, as most will connive to steal the state. They are united to some extent in marriages, religion and other links outside politics. However, even with those links, the honesty and true love are questionable. The environmental issues should be of high concern, so as to tackle the health risk that is roaming around humanity. Enterprises are urged to ensure that the people benefit from their activities. The reckless transportation system of drink-driving and congestions should be solved by the authorities. A healthy and loving nation can improve national revenue. The coastal areas should be protected against potential risk. The Gambia acted swiftly in pushing the sea when it started eating closer to administrative buildings. Lastly, we need national love from the government and the people. If I could remind the nation, our national anthem reads, `firmly united, ever we stand, land that we love our Sierra Leone.' A father or mother wouldn't want his or her child to suffer, so please mama or father governance revisit the delivery of your  motherhood or fatherhood. God hates to see people suffering. He cares for all (1 Peter 5: 7). So, I urge those governing, help us all to benefit from our God giving gifts. Sierra Leone is a rich land yearning for the right governance.

AUTHOR: 

PRINCE FODAY,
 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTER