By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The president of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has described the late Philip Neville of Media One Center as “probably the best investigative journalist, and one of the most fearless I have ever known in the history of the media in Sierra Leone.”
Ahmed Sahid Nasralla who was speaking at the opening of a book of condolence at SLAJ headquarters in Freetown, recalled the trials and tribulations the late man went through during the civil war, including the burning down of his newspaper office and the killing of colleague, Paul Mansaray together with his family. He said at a time during the war “Standard Times newspaper was the only guardian of the people.”
According to Nasralla in September of 2000, the World Press Review recognized Neville as one of the best Editors in Africa together with his colleagues, Dr. David Tam Baryoh and Paul Kamara.
The SLAJ president also described Neville as a Philanthropist, an attribute he said many people didn’t know about. He said: “Philip helped people. I know of several colleagues who today don’t even practice journalism anymore but have left this country for abroad and they are now living better lives through the largesse of Philip. Philip did not go about broadcasting on his Star Radio and TV or publishing on the pages of his newspaper the school and university fees he paid for many young people, including journalists.”
Nasralla called on the family and friends to preserve the legacy of the late man by all means and urged those the late man might have offended in any way to forgive him.
Donald Theo-Harding, President of the Guild of Newspaper Editors, described Neville’s death as a mighty wind that has blown and a great rain that has fallen. He said the family has suffered a great loss but told them to be calm even in this situation.
He said, the family has been following both the odd and good tributes people have been paying following the death of the media guru and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
Dr. David Tam Baryoh, a close friend of the late man described his as the radical journalist who vowed to bring change to the media landscape in Sierra Leone. He confirmed that, the late man achieved that and positively influenced the media by building the Media One Center as one of his legacies. He urged SLAJ not to forget the late man’s family.
Philip Daniel Neville was knocked down by a motorcycle taxi in his home village of Kossoh during the festive season and died later of his injuries in hospital.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (20/01/23)
