Envoy of the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Peace Building, Jackie McConnell has advised Sierra Leoneans to be vigilant as the peace remains fragile.
One of his impression about Sierra Leone was that the “training of police and military in the change that have taken place.”
But notwithstanding, he emphasized that the peace remains fragile and everyone has to be vigilant not complacent, and continue to support further improvement.”
He said “everyone who has the responsibility of serving the country has to take that responsibility seriously.”
The Scottish MP said “political parties, must be committed to peaceful actions, peaceful democracy and no violence and intimidation,” adding that “the government needs to be focused in serving the people and anyone involved in corruption or malpractices must be weeded out,” he stressed.
Jackie McConnell. intimated that “peace has to be a dividend for people; people have to see that their children can go to school, have clean water and housing for their family; jobs and healthcare services.”
Though, he dubbed the peace as fragile, he said “the peace that existed in Sierra Leone in recent years is good, it’s moving forward.”
The Scottish MP was impressed by the UN, and other international major bodies’ coordination in Sierra Leone.
He said they are “better coordinated [in Sierra Leone] than other countries.”
“What they have not yet coordinated well enough is the too many agencies in too many different things. We are to be united and coordinated in our approach,” he said.
The purpose of his visit is to see the peace building work supported by the UK and UN; meet with the UN and government officials, and also to see the reality of life in Sierra Leone which will aid in future support to Sierra Leone.
Yesterday, the British envoy left for Kono, where he intends to see the present management of mining and compare the past.
The main project that UK has being supporting have been in improving the security situation; training the police, the military, the anti-drugs agency and working with the political parties.
By Ophaniel Gooding