The sound of Vuvuzellas, whistles and different musical instruments took over the air at the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Hall as supporters welcomed their presidential flag bearer to launch their manifesto 2012 named “a new direction.”
The young and dynamic flag bear Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio and vice presidential running mate Kadie Sesay had to dance through the supporters to occupy the high table reserved for them.
Taking the podium to launch the manifesto Bio said he was very happy for the opportunity, to launch the ‘new direction’ which is a document that talks about human development, infrastructure, the economy and governance.
Rtd. Brig. Bio stated that the ‘new direction’ is going to provide free and compulsory education for children in pre -school, primary, secondary and free university education for girls.
He said that investing in quality education will help manage the country’s natural and mineral resources into sustainable development, as no nation can develop beyond its level of education.
Adding that the SLPP considers education as a right and not a privilege, Bio said “we will abandon the 6-3-4-4 and revert to the 6-3-3-4 system of education.”
The 66 page manifesto which is the New Direction has 14 logical thematic areas, with sub sections to provide clarity.
Speaking about the areas that the manifesto focuses on, the SLPP Flag bearer disclosed that they will look into empowering of youth, women and disadvantaged, as the country’s population is mostly youth, saying most of them are untrained and lack the skills required in the job.
He said they are going to provide training and jobs for those who have been misused by politicians to perpetrate violence, and they will also will establish and equip more technical institutions in all the regions.
On the area of empowerment of women who faced major challenges in their communities, in accessing justice, social and economic opportunities and seeking overall advancement, the SLPP’s New Direction Bio said “will promote gender equality, equity, empowerment, and the protection of the rights of women either as mainstreamed intervention, or as stand-alone initiative.”
For the protection of the children the new direction provides for a child – first approach for the survival, protection and development of children, including disabled and vulnerable children.
Getting to his constituency which is the military, Bio said the New Direction for the SLPP will build on the reforms of the Armed Forces for their continued professionalism and for effective delivery of services, also they will improve the conditions of service for serving military officers “de-politicize the military through the adoption of best practices in the management of the forces.”
The Retired Brig. said they will “provide free education for all military officers intending to pursue higher education and also provide free education at all levels for the children of military officers, upgrade the military hospital to a very high standard equipped with modern diagnostic facilities and staffed with senior practitioners comparable to other hospitals in the sub-region.”
Urging voters who he said are still thinking of whom to vote for he said, “I urge you to please think again and think hard. Many of you have lost faith in politics and politicians, that is understandable… but remember also that you do have a moral responsibility to Sierra Leone… the APC has been divisive, we will unify, they have been destructive, we will be creative; but as always, we are up to the task.”
By Betty Milton
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