TRACE JOENAL

Drama unfolded on Wednesday 16th November 2011 when traders of Sani Abacha Street stormed the Registrar General's Office at Walpole Street Central Freetown to stop a wedding. This situation saw a standstill at the Registrar till the police intervened. Haja Kadi Kalokoh Chairlady of Abacha Street traders said she was told a day before, that her husband will be marrying the following day. Upon that tip-off she acted and eventually in the morning hours she went to the Registry where she saw her husband waiting for his bride to take the oath. "I rushed at him and asked him to go home." She disclosed that her husband met her at Makeni Northern Sierra Leone some 12 years ago with out a job. "He asked me to come with him to Freetown for 9 years he had been without a job. I pleaded to Mayor for him to have a job after three years of working he wants to pay me back with an other woman." Haja Kalokoh alleged that her husband took three thousan...

Hundreds of Muslims converged at the Islamic College in Freetown to celebrate Ghadir- Khom with the theme 'The Holy Quran, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and Ghadir- Khom. In his address the Iranian Ambassador to Sierra Leone Dr. Nusratullah Malike while congratulating all Muslims for the great ceremony said the formal declaration of Imamat of Imam Ali (A.S) at Ghadir- Khumm has been unanimously described by the learned historians and scholars of both sects. "Here a brief account is given to show what great arrangements were made to declare Imam Ali (A.S.) as the successor to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). Ghadir- Khumm had occurred between Makkah and Madinah. When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) was on his way home, after performing his last pilgrimage, Jibrael brought him this urgent command of Allah: O Prophet! Deliver what has been sent down to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message; and Allah will protect you from the people…" He went on...

Over a week after the Mayor of Freetown City Council Herbert George Williams launched 'Operation Push Back' nothing has been happening to rid the city of street trading. The operation has only resolved the determination of the traders stronger than before. This has made Freetonians come down very heavily on the Mayor, to the extent that some have referred to him as weak. "We are frustrated with the Mayor's launching of one operation and another," said Foday Bundu of Kissy Road. The rampant street trading is causing a serious embarrassment to the country. Traders are at the door steps of Law Court Building and State House making the issue street trading worst and putting the country in disrepute. "The operation will only waste the time it was launched. As I am tired of the Mayor sitting in his office talking politics. What do you think the outcome should be?" Musa Foday asked. Some traders SALONE TIMES spoke to, said they refused to adhere t...

Consumer Welfare Association, a body responsible for disseminating information concerning goods, services and immovable property has alerted the Freetown City Council Environmental Unit to urgently do something about a building along Kissy Road found to be a death trap. The building along Kissy Road by Easton Street SALONE TIMES discovered that it was burnt down during the rebel war in 1999. The President of the Association Haja Kadi Sawyer described the building as a house where criminals and people engaged in immoral acts such as the sale of drugs, prostitution among others have their sanctuary. "The people that go there are our concern and the young men that are destroying their lives with drugs as they are our future leaders," she said. She said they alerted the Freetown City Council because they are the authority charged with the responsibility of making it known to the law enforcers." An urgent action needs to be put about that building. 'We want it to be...

Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mrs. Victoria Saidu has said she is very much impressed with Miss West Africa Sierra Leone Stella Bangura. She made these remarks at a fund raising dinner over the weekend at the Light House Hotel. She went on to say that she has put measures in place to ensure that Stella Bangura gets first class hospitality in the Gambia for the Miss West Africa Pageant. She maintained that Stella Bangura has the potential to bring the crown home as Pageant is not all about beauty but speaking as well. “My Ministry and Government are strongly behind her,” she said. She boasted that Sierra Leone has been turning heads in the world of beauty referring to a Sierra Leonean born Natasha Beckley who she said ranked among the 10 beauties in the world a feat that has which made her to win lots of international contracts. “Tourism industry needs publicity like this, to tell the world that Sierra Leone is open for business. We want to compete in all aspects in the...

The Living Hope Records is pleased to present Pastor Alim Sesay in launching a new music Album entitled ‘Na God.’ The launching of the Video and Audio albums which will be will be graced by eminent men of God will take place at the Sanctuary Praise Church on Sunday 18th December 2011 at 5.00 p.m. In an exclusive interview with Pastor Alim Sesay he said the album consists of 10 tracks. He explained that he named the album after carefully consideration of the one that carries the strongest gospel message. He described music as a God’s given gift to him. “For the past 17 years I have been playing instruments, singing and practicing,” he said. He pointed out that he decided to do his second album based on the request of God and his fans. As a way of giving free access to the our programme, Pastor Alim Sesay said the entrance fee is for everyone to buy an album through that he said they can have access to the album and be part of the launching. “I am encouraging my fans to fo...

As a way of empowering women in the community, One Family People over the weekend solicited the support of husbands for women empowerment. The dialogue which took place at the Dworzak community brought together mindful husbands who want the best for their families. African women have been taught respect and obey their husbands and notify them on issues affecting them; Sierra Leonean women are not exempted. To demonstrate this obedient to their husbands, the women asked One Family People to first engage their husbands for them to get the good news the Family is bringing for them and how they can benefit from it before they can participate. Programme Manager, One Family People, Hadiatou Diallo said the decision to involve their husband explained to the men that their wives can contribute to economic well being of their home. She said there have been cases wherein some men can steal their wives’ money. While on the other side, some men lack trust in their wives. "Some w...

The Sierra Leone Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SLYCHA ) on Friday 11th November 2011 launched their first National HIV/AIDS Action Plan for 2012-2013 at the Presidential Lounge, National Stadium in Freetown. /b> Giving a welcome address, the Deputy Programme officer at UNAIDS Bockarie Samba said the entire process started like a dream which has been transformed into reality. He spoke about the five pillars of the infection adding that it helps to achieve the goal in fight for zero new infection by 2015. He pointed out that by 2015 there shall be no new infection in the country based on the set target. He noted that they have identified the sources of the new infection which has led to the high rate of HIV/AIDS cases among youth. Representing the UN team Chair Madam Mulu from UNAIDS said people especially the youth should know their HIV status and keep their blood clean. She said by 2015 there is going to be a zero new infection and zero discrimination. Speaking at the ceremon...