SLPP, APC, PMDC Flagbearers Take the Podium August 7 in SLAJ’s Presidential Debate

At a press conference organized by the Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, SLAJ, who doubles also as the Chairman of the SLAJ Debate Committee Mr, Philip Neville informed the public through his colleagues that the proposed presidential and vice presidential debate is schedule to take place on the 5^th and 7^th August 2007.

He explained that all modalities have been put in place to make the event successful and emphasized that the organizers of the debate are not creating a platform for violence or the use of insulting remarks by any candidate against the other. “We are not going to tolerate any of these behaviours from any candidate”, he stressed.

Mr. Neville spoke about the role of ex-combatants in the national politics of the country and appealed to them to comport and behave themselves well. “Don’t allow yourselves to be used by politicians who would later dump you like waste papers after using and misusing you”, the SLAJ VP admonished.

He also commented on the publication of the Concord Times edition of 27^th July 2007 captioned: “APC plans to take power by hook or crook”. The publication alleged that Mr. Neville, Olu Gordon of the Peep Magazine and Mohamed Koroma of the African Champion held a meeting with the APC Secretary General Mr. Victor Bockarie Foh and Alpha Kanu, the presidential spokesman of Ernest Koroma.

At the meeting, the Concord Times Editor claimed that they agreed to disrupt the elections. “This is not only stupid but ridiculous”, stated Mr. Neville who debunked the information as “paid up”.

Meanwhile the participants to the presidential debate have assured of their commitment to attend.