The Human Right Committee groups in Kenema district have elected its new executive with seven positions at the Human Right Committee Office at 8 Kandeh Street in Kenema city. Four of the positions were contested for which were the chairmanship, vice chairman, secretary general and Public Relation s Officer one, while the rest of the other positions went unopposed.
The position for the chairmanship was won by Titus Massalay who got 73 votes defeating John Sevali who got 16 votes, while the vice chairmanship went to Madam Fatmata Mabey who got 62 votes defeating her challengers Abdul Kamara who polled 7 votes, Augustus Bangura with 3 votes and Arnold Brima Kaima who got 16 votes.
The position of Secretary General went to Jaia Kaikai who got 65 votes defeating Ken McCarthy who got 26 votes.
Sam Jahlwood got 67 votes for the position of Public Relation Officer one defeating Alieu K. Fomba who pulled 17 votes.
The following positions went unopposed, Daizy Bockarie got the post of Assistant Secretary General, Madam Lois Harvest clinched the position of Public Relations Officer two and the post of Treasurer went to Watta Kanneh.
In his address the Commissioner for the Human Right Committee election Fallah A. Bockarie said the process of electing human right executive committee in the district is not to divide them but to organize them so that they can organize their people to develop the community. Adding that human rights and civil society activists role is to see peace and transparency in the community. He said all the losers of the election are still members of the human rights committee and those who won, should be ready to sacrifice for development by continuing to work with those who lost the election. He noted that the issue of rape cases is very high in the community not only in Kenema city but in the rural communities as well. He further stated that they should be active and vigilant in doing their work so that they will minimize the crime rate in the district and the country as a whole. In her contribution the human rights officer for United Nations (UN) Mary Bendu says they as human rights workers should be role models in the community therefore they should always be neutral in doing their work. She called on all and sundry to work with the new Executive.
She thanked the women who contested for the various positions adding that they too can contribute to the same goal. She said not every election they will sit down and expect UN to organize for them, adding that UN is not going to be here forever and if they go who will do it for them she asked.
In his maiden address the elected chairman for the human rights committee Titus Massalay thanked the commissioner for making the election successful and he welcomed his counterpart to cooperate with him to elevate the committee and develop the people in the district. He appealed to all those who won the various positions to do what they said in their manifestoes. He added that the masses are now watching keenly to see if he will live up to expectations. He appealed to all to come together and work as activists for their country, saying that with unity they will succeed in all their ventures.
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