Sierra Leone News

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Well, it’s been a while but I’ve been super busy! Anyway this is just a quick update. Salone na swit! The electricity - I don’t know if it’s Bumbuna has been CONStannntttt since June. May was terrible but since then it’s been great 24 hours non-stop more or less. The few times we suffer blackouts, it lasts not more than an hour!

Occasionally, (about 3x now) it’s gone off the whole night. Gradually, it’s becoming a non-issue. What will be great is if the wattage/power is boosted in the evening so that I can use the microwave! I look forward to that… Rome wasn’t built in a day..

The Salone Republic is up and coming… very soon there’ll be more progress, better roads, more businesses, ha ha ha… Na swit salone indeed…

As you know Sierra Leone will be celebrating 50 years of Independence on 27th April 2011. An independent committee has been created to oversee all the activities and it launched the full agenda for the 50th year including events planned for next year on Friday 6th August. The logo was also unveiled by His Excellency the President. The Vice President an his wife were also present.

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Here are some pictures to mark the day:

It’s been a while since I posted mainly because I’ve been so busy! Anyway, yesterday was double celebration for me - firstly, we welcomed a friend who’s come to stay for good and secondly because Ghana won against Serbia!

It felt really good. In addition, to these 2 pieces of good news, I’m aware of 4 for more Sierra Leoneans coming back from US for good…some have already enrolled their children in my kids school….very excited.

At the end of the day Sierra can only be developped by Sierra Leoneans…. and of course those of us married to them (ha..ha ha….)

With one year ending and another one soon beginning, I cannot but reflect on the past year as well as look ahead.

Thank God, we as a family have had a good year last year and the Bumbuna truly made our year! Also we have adjusted more to the environment and it gets better…

For Freetown and Sierra Leone as a whole here are some my wishes:

#1. Continuous 24/7 electricity
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To all my readers I wish you all bucket loads of joy and happiness in the coming year. Yes judging by the date, I should have posted this yesterday or before but man…I’m so busy!

But to do so I’ll have to drag myself from sampling the delights of the beach. (Of course sorry to those in the BIG Freeze - Our Christmas was spent in Bikini sipping chilled coconut… No need to make you even more jealous you get the idea! Nevertheless, I must say I do love truly white Christmases too but only once in a while  )

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Again this happened yesterday! We had a blast at the poetry night in Old School Friday night. I wrote about it some months ago here and I missed it a couple of times but last night’s was great! (although I forgot my camera :mad:)

Generally, people read poems they’ve written by themselves and some sing and showcase any musical talent they’ve got.
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Just to qive you a quick summary on what’s happening on ground level and after this I think I’ll pause on the bumbuna issue unitl something dramatic happens.

The Good News……..
#1. I’m getting nearly 24/7 electricy. This is almost fantastic for me but for people that have lived here all their lives, it’s almost unbelievable! But hey, I believe in miracles and this Bumbuna hydro is one BIG FAT miracle!!!

#2. Big Fat Savings - Last month in October, we used only about 15 gallons of diseal for our generator, down from 40-60 gallons we were using. The Bumbuna was officially commisioned on the 6th of November and so far this month we used only 4 gallons to supplement. This is to give you an idea of what’s happening. I look forward to not needing any fuel at all but hey this is Africa…. one needs a standby for everything!

#3. The other good news - but for NPA - is that there’s increase in revenue collection. Prepaid meters are being installed in every house thus those who didn’t pay for their electricity (freeloaders) before are being forced to pay now or do without light.

The Bad News….
#1. Generator dependent businesses who never believed the Bumbuna will come and thus didn’t prepare for it are going out of business…

I was at Zain’s blackberry launch this Friday at Country Lodge It was packed with people and although I saw a few familiar faces, there were many I didn’t know. I tried to listen hard to what was being said but I had to catch up as well.

Here are the essentials:
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