Berewa tells the Nation: "elections 2007 will be violence free and a water shed"
Just when the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections are around the corner there is much media and public hype about the general security situation degenerating into violence, intimidation and confusion, as tensions grow high among the rival political parties.
This fear has been spearheaded by some civil society groups and opposition political parties by insisting on the conduct of a free, credible and violent-free election in Sierra Leone.
It is in this regard that the government, on Friday last week, in the person of the vice President, Mr. Solomon Berewa, assured the nation at a specially convened briefing at his office of the commitment of the government and party (Sierra Leone Peoples Party) to comply with the rules and regulation for a fair ad free election so as to maintain the good status of the security situation of the country.
The vice President also stressed that the elections, which is slated for July 2007 will not only be free and fair but would be water-shed in the nation’s political history.
The meeting was also called to inform the public about ongoing collaboration and cooperation between the government and the United Nation Integrated Offices in Sierra Leone (Uniosil) especially with regards to the operations of the United Nations Peace Building Commission (PBC).
While delving into the merits of the achievements by the government, the VP acknowledged that peace and security are not yet iron-cast, and that Sierra Leoenans must therefore endeavour to ensure the past is not repeated by supporting the efforts of government and the UN to consolidate the fragile peace now in the country.
Mr. Berewa said Sierra Leone has suffered a lot but noted that the country is also prepared to face the realities for peace, security and development.
His party, he reiterated, would hold nobody to ransom for his/her political views and hope to compete in the elections with the message of truth.
He said the outcome of the elections would be a water-shed for the development of the country, and he admonished all to vote for the truth.
He concluded by appealing to the nation to embrace the peace building commission as a national process that is geared towards the establishment of sustainable peace in the country.