In a joint press conference by the United States (US) Embassy and the British High Commission,yesterday they said that they had come together to support a free, fair and peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections on 17th November.
During the conference held at the US Embassy, the British High Commissioner Ian Hughes, stated that democracy is very easy to say but it comes with its loopholes. Democracy, he went on, is not only elections but rather a dialogue between people and their government, as to who should do what.
The High Commissioner said that an election is very important and a credible election sets the scene for good governance to strive, which will allow the people to live an amicable life.
He said Sierra Leone’s elections are unique for two reasons; one of it is that it is the third elections since the war and they have been successful. The second reason, he said, is that this is the first elections that is being manned by Sierra Leoneans themselves “as they are in charge. So, if it is successful, it will be because the Sierra Leoneans took control of it.”
Hughes said that they are not only supporting the elections but the entire process, which will include before, during and after the elections until the results are read. He commended the entire electioneering process, which includes the registration of over two million people.
The High Commissioner disclosed that some of the support that the Commission has made during the cause of the electioneering process, is because the whole process is expensive and the support includes a financial support to the basket fund.
He added that they have also provided £20 million for civil society monitoring and engagement and that they will be supporting one observer in every polling stations, also they will be running a situation room as these are all areas which they are supporting a free and non violence elections.
On their party the US Ambassador Michael Owen said that as the country will be exercising their democratic right to choose who they want to government. And for this year’s process it is going to be big challenge as it is going to be elections for local council, presidential and parliamentary.
Ambassador Owen maintained that from the nomination process which was very successful and this is a good sign for a way forward because of this, they have supported to help achieve the goal of a peaceful, free and fair elections.
he said in 2001, many people regarded Sierra Leone as a failed state and the international community did a lot to raise it to another standard and ten years from that time,the international community plays little role in the country.
The Ambassador highlighted some of the contributions the Embassy has made to the elections process, which includes organizing a radio discussion programmes on radio Gbafth about elections, and two journalists sent to the US to study on elections reporting.
Also, 155 women were trained on how to run elections campaign. He also revealed that the Embassy had also partnered with Campaign for Good Governance and UNDP to hold a campaign school for women. The total cost of the funding, the Ambassador disclosed, sums up to $4,329,818.
By Betty Milton
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