POLITICS The Speech of Sir Milton Margai at the Official Opening of the Sierra Leone Constitutional Conference on 20th April, 1960 Posted by on Apr 26, 2009, 12:29

Mr. Secretary; I am personally grateful, and I am sure I speak also for the other members of my United Front delegation, and for all sections of Sierra Leone whom we represent, for the encouraging words with which you have welcomed us and opened this Conference on further constitutional advance for Sierra Leone. We are proud of the tribute you have paid us.  I believe that I can safely say that we from Sierra Leone have come to this conference with a record of cordial and peaceful relations with Her Majesty’s Government and with the People of the United Kingdom which can hardly be surpassed or even matched by any other Colonial or previously Colonial, territory. 

We are therefore confident that when friends of long standing meet, as we are meeting, the results of our Conference can only be happy and to our mutual benefit. What we, on our part, hope to achieve at this Conference can be briefly stated.  We hope to be able to convince Her Majesty’s Government that we are ready to attain the status of a sovereign nation and to become a fully independent member, sponsored by Her Majesty’s Government, of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

All around us in West Africa, other territories which were formerly Colonial dependencies are emerging as independent states in rapid succession.  We in Sierra Leone, while we do not wish to jump on for the sake of conformity, cannot at the same time see any reason why, having creditably advanced through all the normal constitutional stages, we should delay taking the final step and never before in our history have the conditions for taking such an important step been more favourable.

Of foremost importance is the stability of our Government. We have faced internal difficulties which demanded courage and wisdom and efficient administration and we have successfully dealt with these difficulties.  At the same time we have shown the fullest possible respect for fundamental human rights.  I want to take this opportunity to assure some of my friends who have genuine, anxieties that we do not intend ever to ride roughshod over any individual or group in Sierra Leone.

Secondly, while we agree that it is right to attach importance to the economic and financial aspects of independence, we are equally convinced that our potential resources, properly developed and managed are fully adequate.  We will need help in various ways to develop these natural resources, and for this help we would, like to look first of all at our old friends.  There are all too many offers from other sources which we would prefer not to encourage friends are prepared to stand by us and help us. I feel, Sir, that I must say a special word about our expatriate civil servants from this country.  We want to assure all those who are willing to stay and help us.  That they are welcome to do so, and that they will not be any less favourably treated if they remain to help us than they are now.

We are prepared to enter into suitable agreements to this end with Her Majesty’s Government.

We very much regret the tragic death of Mr. Waldock, whose useful service in Sierra Leone will ever remain fresh in our minds.  On behalf of myself and my colleagues we extend our sincere sympathy to his family.  We also regret the unfortunate absence of our Attorney-General, Mr. A.C. Spurling, through illness, and we wish him speedy recovery.

Finally, Sir, my fellow delegates to this Conference as I look forward with expectancy to the days of deliberation which are ahead of us.  We hope that at the end we shall have independence, and that we shall have received the promise of Her Majesty’s Government to sponsor our full membership in the Commonwealth, and that all the channels for providing us with the help which we need to develop our resources will have been satisfactorily explored to our mutual benefit.

I thank you, Sir, for your warm welcome.