News

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, with support from the United Nations Development Fund, has concluded a two-day training for local authorities on the harmonization of local bye laws to match with the COVID-19 bye laws.

The training which was held in Kenema District ended on Wednesday.

By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo

Police in Bo have arrested eight people who are known to be members of a clique. All eight are accused of unleashing terror on the people of Batiyama Village in revenge for the death of one of their members, Junior Sannoh.

The Southern region Police spokesman, Mohamed Bobson Senu, explained to Politico that on the 9^th of April, at 10pm, they received a call from Batiyama village from a concerned resident.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The Leader of Government Business in Parliament for the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Sidi Tunis, has said he is ready to quit his position since the party has decided to replace him.

Tunis told Politico on Tuesday that he would do whatever the party said.

Last week, Chairman of the SLPP, Dr Prince Harding, announced Martin Nyuma as the new leader of the party in parliament. Nyuma has been Tunis’ Deputy since he took over the position in 2018.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Freetown City Council (FCC) and the construction firm Beton Villa, better known as Gento Group, have accused each other of responsibility for the persistent overflowing of sewage on the King Jimmy Bridge along Lightfoot Boston Street.

The wastewater has been oozing out from a point in the middle of the bridge for a long time, rendering the area smelly and uncomfortable for those who do business there. The unsightly scene is made worse by moving vehicles which splash the liquid all over the vicinity.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Women and children’s rights campaigners in Sierra Leone have strongly condemned a pornographic video that is been circulated on social media involving a minor.

On Sunday, a video was leaked on social media showing a boy and girl in uniform engaging in sexual intercourse.

The Legal Access through Women Yarning for Equality Right and Social Justice (LAWYERS) is among the many advocacy and campaign groups that have condemned both the act of filming and sharing of the videos of a minor.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The government of Sierra Leone has rejected calls to abandon its policy of protecting patients’ identity and release the names of all persons who contract the Coronavirus Disease.

Both President Julius Maada Bio and Minister of Health, Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie, said this policy would remain in place in respect of acceptable professional standards.

By Kemo Cham

Proactive disclosure of information is crucial not just to prevent fake news from thriving, but it will also enhances the fight the against the Covid-19 pandemic, the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has said.

The Commission in a statement shared with Politico called on public authorities, particularly those in the front line of the national response efforts, to endeavor to make credible information to the public, noting that this will also ensure accountability in the use of resources allocated to the fight.