Winners and losers of the recent past local council elections around the Eastern Police division were yesterday brought together by the Management of the Eastern Police division in an effort to chart the way forward for the development of constituency 105.
The peace building and consolidating working lunch, held at the Eastern Police for councilors, and community elders was aimed at explaining to newly elected councilors the independence of the Police in its operations especially as it relates to fighting crime, and the role councils and community elders must play in that direction.
Speaking at the ceremony, AIG Tamba Gbekie told community elders and councilors that, the development of their community solely depends on how they work as a team, and that elections were over, and the issue of politicking must not be seen as the order of the day.
He said, everybody must be embraced irrespective of the political ideology of an individual when it comes to the development of the community. Similar views were also expressed by Madam Kadi Fakondo and other senior police officers from police headquarters.
Speaking on behalf of his division, Local Unit Commander for Eastern Police, Nepoh Senessie started by congratulating all those who won and those who did not win, during the local elections, and implored on all to work as a team for the progress of the community, especially in supporting the police in crime reduction.
The police, Senessie said have been working with the community for peace and development but however cautioned that, those elected into council should not see that as an opportunity to interfere with police operations, as there is operational independence in the operations of Police.
The elections, Senessie said, have come and gone and that there was every need for all stakeholders in the community to come together and work as a team.
Speaking further, Nepoh Senessie said, they as a force do not expect to conflict in their operation, irrespective of the fact that, they are working with the community under the Local Policing Partnership Board. He called on all to put their political differences aside and move as a team.
Member of Parliament for Constituency 105, Nuru Deen Sankoh in his statement lashed at community people for always paying courtesy calls to him, forgetting that, he was elected into parliament to be making laws for the country. He said, inasmuch as he was elected by the people, he expected them to come together and forget about their political belongings, and work for the furtherance of the constituency. “As an MP I’m working with other stakeholders for the development of the constituency”, Hon Sankoh said.
Representatives from the APC, PMDC, SLPP and NDA made statements, pledging their determination to work together for the development of their community, irrespective of whether they won or lost the recent local council elections.
Councilor Kadijatu Bangura of APC for ward 373 apologized to all those present on behalf of her party for whatever wrong that may have been done to anybody during the elections, and promised to get everybody on board for the development of the community.
Political party representatives paid tribute to the leadership of the Eastern Police division for bringing them together since this is not the first time they have undertaken such a move. The political party representatives also called on everybody to ensure, support is given to the police in the fight against crime, since that should be part of national development.
Ibrahim Mansaray. Chairman for the Local Policing Partnership Board for the division spoke on the need for politicians to embrace each other when it comes to development. He called on them to respect those who voted them into council.
By John Baimba Sesay
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