POLITICS APC’s Task Force and SLPP Fire for Fire "Its Only as Good as Your Last Act” Posted by on Jul 4, 2008, 19:31

“You are only as good as your last act” is an extremely poignant Hollywood statement that is used to remind actors and actresses not to rest on their laurels.  It is meant not only to inspire them to work harder but to remind them about the potential costs associated with complacency, lethargy, arrogance and overconfidence.  It appears to work not only in Hollywood but, also in other areas of life.

The government and people of Sierra Leone were greatly commended for the democratic, dignified and civilized way in which the 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were conducted.

Interestingly, the record of civility, transparency and fairness was manifested in 1996, 2002, Paramount Chieftaincy and in the Local Council elections in 2004.

Such a stellar performance is not usually associated with a post-conflict country like Sierra Leone which, had for almost eleven years known nothing else but violence, intimidation, lawlessness, chaos, thuggery, mayhem and utterly destructive behaviour.  In all of these circumstances, young people were the most victimized because they were unconscionably used by unscrupulous politicians to both promote their relatively undefined causes and entrench themselves in power.

While the rebel war has now been over for approximately six years the government and people of Sierra Leone are still grappling with the consequences of the costs associated with the anti-social, anti-democratic and anti-development behaviour patterns of yester- years.

Following the end of the war, proactive strategies were implemented to promote political tolerance, understanding, sensitivity, accommodation and multi-cultural values and diversity.  The strategies seem to be working.

The imminent 2008 Local Council elections call for all to behave in the manner reminiscent of what transpired in 1996, 2002, Paramount Chieftaincy, 2004 Local Council and the 2002 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.  Positive consistency is an admirable trait. All of the political parties should and must be reminded about the relevant portions in the 1991 constitution which cited the responsibility for the provision of internal security by the police.  NEITHER THE SLPP’S FIRE FOR FIRE OR THE APC’S, TASK FORCE GROUPS HAS THAT MANDATE.  THEY SHOULD BE REMINDED AGAIN.

It is therefore, incumbent on the leadership of all the political parties to TAME THEIR SHREW.  Ordinary Sierra Leoneans will appreciate the manifestation of such leadership at this most critical moment that Sierra Leone needs a positive image.

It can be argued with justification that the stability of the state is indispensable while the viability of political parties should be vigorously pursued in order to ensure democratic governance, the state is still supreme.  That should not be tampered with.

Development is extremely sensitive to instability.  Instability is anti-investment and what Sierra Leone needs are activities and initiatives that encourage investments that will help to create jobs for the thousands of young people who have been misused by some politicians.

In view of the fact that development is a collective responsibility, every effort should be made to instill this value in all Sierra Leoneans and make the state a better to live.

The government and people of Sierra Leone will be commended again after the July 5, 2008 Local Council elections by both the local citizens and the international community if transparency, fairness and civilized behaviour dominate the participatory election process.  Sierra Leoneans should, therefore, rise to the occasion because a “person/nation is only as good as the last act”.