TRACE JOENAL

Winning an election requires a combination of factors to be positively at play. These include strategic planning and implementation, funding and the personal attributes of the candidate. It has to be mentioned, however, that these should not only apply to the Presidential candidate but to the wider Party and its candidates vying for various elected positions. I will for the purpose of this exercise concentrate a lot more on my personal approach. Ensuring victory in 2012 needs a Presidential candidate who understands the proclivities of various constituencies of the electorate and other stakeholders like the international community, the media, the internal dynamics of the SLPP itself, the Government and other minor Parties. The electorate is made up of people from various backgrounds in various areas of the country and from various demographic groupings. They all have varying levels of capability and issues they consider important. Internal feuds within the SLPP may also stifle an e

Another new dawn - is welcomed as Janet Lagah-Bona Sierra Leones 12 year old Ms. Virginia Pre-teen Queen prepares to handover her crown. A crown that she has held so honorably like non other, this event "The National America Ms. Virginia Pageant" will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel ( Reston, 1800 President Street, VA 201904 on July 30, 2011 at 8pm Last year July Janet won the Ms. Virginia Pre-teen competition, since then she has been an example of honor and pride for all other beauty queens and children to look up to. Janet is a singer, songwriter, actress and beauty queen. In her tenure as Virginia's pre-teen queen she formed her own organization, children empowerment foundation a nonprofit formed to empower children as herself to grown up to be children of purpose, giving back to society in every way possible, providing educational opportunities through the donation of books and sponsorship of scholarships. Janet also made a special request on behalf of a

Managing Editor of the New Citizen Newspaper Samuel B. Conteh has been appointed as Commissioner for Oaths. Samuel B. Conteh was among about 50 others throughout the country that were sworn into office yesterday by the Honorable Chief Justice at her Chamber. A letter of appointment written by the Master and Register Elwyn Bailor reads 'I have the honour to inform you that it has pleased the Honorable Chief Justice to appoint you as Commissioner for Oaths. A fee of Five Thousand Leones is payable as Oath fee before you are sworn…' The new appointment give him the legal mandate to prepare legal documents, witness passports, birth certificates, affidavits among others. The appointment of Mr. Conteh marks another milestones for journalists in the country as such position was not easily given to journalists. In a snap interview with Mr. Conteh at the Law Court building just after his swearing in, he described the responsibility with a sense of humility. He promised to buil

As the Holy Month of Ramadan draws closer, the Cultural Consul of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sierra Leone Muhammad Gazel Sofla while congratulating Muslims in advance for the start of fasting said God's pharmacy is the most powerful pharmacy for one to get speedy healing. He said one can get such healing by performing the rites of fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan which is just around the corner. "Ramadan is a human constructive month. It is the month for Muslims to fast to get genesis of divine and humanitarian nature," he said. He pointed out that fasting brings one closer to Allah and that fasting is a means but not a goal. "It is also a link of lifting one to Allah. So it is a matter for one not to fast for the sake of fasting if you want compressive development from Allah," he said. The Cultural Consul went on to say that if anyone has blood pressure, diabetics or any form of sickness they can be cured by Allah if that person fasts with

By Josephine W. Lagawo Mohamed Bundu Bangura of No. Bundu Street Leceister Road has been arraigned before Magistrate J. O. Wellington of the Freetown Court No.2 on a four count charge of domestic violence for beating up his step mother. According to the charges on July 4th July this year, Mohamed Bundu allegedly beat up his step mother causing her grievous bodily harm and assault. The complainant Aminata Bundu Bangura in her testimony said she recognized the accused person as her step son. Manley Spaine while defending the accused made an application for bail on behalf of the accused pleading that the accused is the administrator of his father's property and that the situation arose while there was a fracas in the estate. Magistrate J. O. Wellington granted the accused person stiff bail of Le30 million land with two sureties who must be bank account holders. The matter was adjourned to August 2nd this year.

By Mohamed Jaiah Friends of Sierra Leone, a United States based humanitarian organization has organized a Teachers Training Workshop in Bo City. The five days workshop which was held at the Methodist Youth Resource Centre was geared towards building the capacity of teachers in both primary and secondary schools, using local resources and techniques by making teaching materials available to school pupils. The workshop was also held to teach participants how to build on inquiry, investigation, innovation and integration by the use of newspaper materials and books. The workshop which attracted over 80 teachers took the form of a round table discussion mostly based on what the teachers did at their various schools after the last two workshops and also what the participants hope to get from this year's workshop. Addressing participants at the workshop, Dr. Richard Frazer one of the facilitators gave a brief background of the workshop, it objectives and goals. He thanked the

By Komba Fillie The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with its development partner on Wednesday 27th June, 2011 called on the public especially suckling mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children immediately after birth. Speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall Youyi Building, Programme Manager, National Food & Nutrition in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Ms Aminata Shamit Koroma stated that the world breastfeeding week will commence from 1st August 2011 and ends on 7th August 2011 on the theme: “Talk to me” – Breastfeeding a third Experience, which speaks to you”. She noted that the theme speaks volumes. She said that the various dimensions of our lives intersect, and that people need to realize that breastfeeding affects all of these dimensions. She added that breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. She pointed out that lack of exclusive breastfeeding during