By: Elizabeth A. Kaine As I reflect on the mining industry in Sierra Leone, I am torn between the economic benefits it brings and the devastating social and environmental costs it exacts. On one hand, mining has created jobs and injected much-needed revenue into our economy. On the other hand, it has displaced communities, destroyed…
In a major crackdown on human trafficking, Sierra Leone authorities have repatriated 38 Guinean nationals who were part of a sinister plot to traffic Sierra Leoneans abroad under false pretenses. The suspects, arrested in Bo Town, were recruiting individuals for a fraudulent scheme that promised fake job opportunities abroad. Investigations revealed a link to the…
The Chinese Embassy in Freetown hosted a farewell reception on Thursday, August 22, 2024, for 189 Sierra Leonean students who have been awarded scholarships to pursue further studies at Chinese universities. The event, held at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between China and Sierra Leone, marking a significant milestone in their…
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has announced new guidelines for admission into Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools. This move aims to ensure a fair and structured admission process, following the successful National Primary School Examination (NPSE) and Basic Certificate Examination (BECE). Key features of the new guidelines include the formation of…
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, has presented a position paper to the Constitutional Review Committee on behalf of the Association’s national executive. The proposed changes aim to strengthen the organization’s governance and accountability. The proposed amendments include provisions for elected officials to receive monthly stipends, the establishment…
Poem by Betty Kaine In Sierra Leone’s lush and fertile land Where diamonds shine, and gold does stand Where rivers flow, and oceans abound A food crisis grips, a people’s wound With iron ore, and bauxite too Our riches abound, but what to do? When bellies ache, and plates are bare Our natural wealth, can’t…
In a surprise move, Dr. Samura Kamara, the leader of Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), has extended an olive branch to President Julius Maada Bio, proposing a face-to-face meeting to ease the country’s deepening political tensions. The move comes after months of bitter rivalry between the two leaders, sparked by…
A suspected Mpox case was reported in Kono District, Sierra Leone, on August 20, 2024. The District Surveillance Office received a notification, prompting a swift response from the health team. A Rapid Response Team (RRT) was dispatched to investigate the case, collect samples, and contain the potential outbreak. The patient, a 32-year-old man from Makong…
A devastating incident occurred in the Rogbangban community in the Western Area Rural District early this morning, August 21, 2024. AYV News reported that following a heavy downpour, a perimeter fence collapsed onto a nearby house, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to at least four others. The Western Area Rural District…
The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) is revolutionizing its approach to agriculture by embracing large-scale farming to tackle the escalating costs of inmate welfare and to bolster national food security. This innovative initiative aims to achieve self-sufficiency in food production for inmates while supporting the “Feed Salone” program. Through this endeavor, SLCS seeks to reduce…
