As Work Bank Accuses APC Govt. Of Corruption… DEPUTY INFORMATION MINISTER THREATENS FOREIGN NATIONALS
In the wake of a statement made by the World Bank
Country Director, Parminder Brar, accusing government of Corruption, Sierra
Leone’s Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Conilus Devaux has
threatened foreign nationals.
Devaux told newsmen during a government press briefing
that the government will use all options available to deal with any foreign
nationals that tend to meddle with the internal politics of the country.
He pointed out
that the attention of the government has been drawn to series of statements
that are being made by foreign nationals working for international
organizations in the country, which according to him, have been perceived by
the wider citizenry as a deliberate deformation of the fact and a calculated
ploy to misinform the public to foment disenchantment for the government.
He said his government appreciates the effort being
made by development partners in the country but that should not serve as a
ticket to misinform the public and that there are established diplomatic and
official communication platforms through which those foreign nationals can
bring to the attention of the government their concerns
“Government will not tolerate any foreign nationals
working for our development partners to conduct themselves in a manner as if
they are a civil society or a part of the legitimate opposition in the
country,” he threatened.
He further stated that his ministry has forwarded a
letter of complaint from the Ministry of Defense to the Independent Media
Commission, complaining a local radio
station (Radio Democracy 98.1) and a news paper (New Age Newspaper) on a
broadcast and publication made by the two media houses on the funeral ceremony of
the late Army Chief which he according to him (Deveaux) violates rule 6 of the
media code of ethics.
While asked if his statement on foreign nationals
could be a reply to the statement made by the World Bank Country Director,
Deveaux says, “had it been him I would have referred to him directly.”
His statement came just after a pronouncement made by
the World Bank Country Director on a local radio station that Sierra Leone is
not a poor country and that the nation has only been trending on corrupt
leaders which gives cause to its current status.
However, Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh has stated that any government that does not
accept criticism is a failed government.
By Abdulrahman Koroma
Comments
Post a Comment