News Story

CUMALE FITZJOHN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, NOSLINA: The Board of Directors and Executive members of the National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America note with dismay the publication in The New People Online Newspaper of April 20, 2008 a series of false, misleading and blatantly malicious allegations pertaining to our 2008 Awards selection process. In the strongest possible terms we jointly and collectively write to refute the several baseless assertions, lies and innuendos that purport to describe our selection process as racist and blinded by some members being operatives of the ruling party in Sierra Leone. Everyone should know that we take serious umbrage to wild and spurious allegations demeaning the quality of our process and our collective decision in granting awards to individuals we collectively deem worthy and meritorious.

In correcting the false allegations we wish to state most categorically and
emphatically that we followed a process agreed to by a substantial majority of
the board and executive directorate by applying procedures that were democratic,
fair, and equitable. Irrespective of the number of rounds we voted, the final
outcome was a decision of the majority and was protected by the principle of
collective responsibility. Any other claims purported to be made by a NOSLINA
source, irrespective of rank or office within NOSLINA is soundly false,
egregious, unfounded and baseless.

We wish to reinforce and underscore our long held principle that NOSLINA is
non-partisan and non-political and our membership is open to Sierra Leoneans and
non-Sierra Leoneans irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, or political
affiliation. For example, our current Board Recording Secretary who
participates at almost every meeting, (including the meetings to select award
recipients), is a white American lady: Yet we are accused of voting with racist
tendencies to guarantee that non-Sierra Leoneans could never win. Another active
board member is a White American male. Over our ten year history, we have given
our highest awards to at least three Non-Sierra Leoneans. This claim about
voting on racist grounds is preposterous, illogical, baseless, and bigoted and
we strongly refute it.

Similarly, our organization is accused of harboring “operatives” for the APC
party: Yet our highest award recipient last year was the first Secretary General
of the SLPP and later a strong stalwart and public supporter of the PMDC. We
saw no public aspersions from those same “operatives” alleged to be
contaminating the quality of our awards this year. Again, NOSLINA is a diverse
organization and we value our approach of interconnectedness for the good of all
Sierra Leoneans.

We write to reassure Sierra Leoneans, friends of Sierra Leone, and the general
public, that no one is receiving an award in 2008 that did not receive either a
unanimous or majority decision of the voting members during the selection. No
one functions within our organization as an operative of a political party that
we are aware of, and that we have knowingly allowed, to further their goals in
our deliberations. We are cognizant of the fact that each person has a right to
their own political views and opinions and, as long as they do not inject their
political positions to influence the organization and its deliberations, we take
no offence. No one has ever articulated what is, or perceived to be, racist or
tribalistic views in our board deliberations. Any claims to the contrary are
malicious, incendiary, and pernicious and calculated to negatively mislabel one
of the longest, finest, and most successful Diaspora organizations for Sierra
Leoneans in the US.

We collectively assure the public that NOSLINA remains true to its ideals and
will enter our second decade united in a common cause to help promote the
development of our country and recognize the contributions so many people make
to the advancement of our nation and our people everywhere.

Submitted by authority of the Board of Directors per board meeting held Sunday
April 20th, 2008 and signed on behalf of the board by Suna Nallo, Deputy
Executive Director and Desmond Decker, Board Member this 23rd Day of April,
2008. For distribution to The New People On Line Newspaper, and other relevant
online discussion groups. .