News Story

FREETOWN: PRINCE MANNAH LUSENI (CULLED FROM NEW VISION): We hope this government succeeds in its (dis)avowed aim to better the lives of the people of this country, the platform on which they ran in the last general elections. The people’s expectations are very high and the government seems to be making efforts to live up to the promises, at least from the superficial level. But beneath what they say, there is an uncanny relationship between what is said and done. We are not delving into all those misplaced priorities and a lack of commitment to the people’s woes, that has come to be heaped on global trends.

In Africa there has never been a cozy relationship between the ruling party and the opposition parties, and Sierra Leone is no exception. The APC has never been at ease with itself and the main opposition party. When the elections results were announced in dubious circumstances last year, APC youth comprehensively looted the SLPP office and the police boss blamed it strangely on operation pay yourself. Since their inception into office the ruling APC has faced one embarrassment after the other. A considerate person would say they are teething problems normally associated with new governments. But there are some unpardonable blunders and embarrassments caused by this government that has left us with no alternative but to conclude otherwise. (Your guess would be as good as mine.) As if the howler they made in the Sylvia Blyden issue was not enough, the government deemed it fit to embrace another embarrassment in the matter between them and the SLPP’s Unity Radio.

The SLPP claimed that the APC government has shut down its radio Unity or perhaps better put asked that it goes off air for now. The government’s response has been as shabby and shoddy as their manner of doing things. The Radio Unity has been able to provide documentary evidence that they have gone through all the proper channels of registration. They have shown it to the media and sections of the diplomatic community. The government has made several claims among which is that the Ministry of Information was not legally informed about the operations of Radio Unity and that the station installed its antennae without the knowledge of the ministry. Government also claims that some other radio operators have complained about interference from Unity Radio.

Government has done enough to expose itself in this matter. Radio Unity has shown that it is registered legally with IMC, sought and got the permission of SLBS to co-locate with them at Leicester Peak paying the relevant fees and was given spectrum (frequency) by the regulating body. What is government saying here then about the station? What is the duty of the IMC and NATCOM then? Is it the responsibility of the SLPP to have written to the Ministry of Information and Communication about their operation of a radio station? These and several other probing questions demand answers if any from APC. The SLPP has made its case in the strongest way possible by providing all documentary evidence. The onus of refuting the claims with substantial evidence is now with government.

If there are any issues with interference from another station the complain has to be channeled to the IMC and not the Ministry. Co-location with SLBS is the business of the SLBS entirely and they can in turn report to the Ministry. One of the documents was sent to the Permanent Secretary, which is a form of ‘legally informing’ the Ministry as ridiculously put in the stupid press release from government. The contradictions are too many to highlight.

If the APC is jittery about the station and are afraid that their dirty linens will be rinsed in the public, then let them say so. What is most intolerable is deceit of an entire nation by peddling lies. If this is not a comedy of errors, then we are ignorant. (if wu nar don frade di stashon wu nar nor go bel di man den leh den go saful saful)