By Fredo Ali Kamara, Winnipeg.
Many members of the Sierra Leone community in Manitoba, Canada, have nothing but praise, albeit from behind closed doors, for the Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba ( SALNAM) Electoral Commission 2009. However, on the part of the Commission, motivation mostly came from the level of understanding and support received from the general public.
Major among the sources of support included the staff of the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the Secretariat of the African Communities of Manitoba Inc. (ACOMI), and Mayor Samuel Michael Katz(photo). From within, elders of the community were not tight-lipped with opinion, suggestions and pep talk to candidates as well as to the Commission.
The Sales Manager of the Winnipeg Convention Centre, Paul Hauta, was away when I first called to ask for the use of the Centre for the Debate Night. In his place, Reyner Smith almost scared me off when he said the hall alone, without food, cost $780.00 per day. I did not say goodbye or drop the phone.
I only took a deep breath, explained to Reyner that SALNAM was just a new group of immigrants trying to organize themselves. I then threw a deadly punch: “You don’t want us to miss this opportunity simply because we are not financially viable, do you, Sir?” A few seconds ticked heavily away before I heard Reyner Smith saying, “Okay, Fredo, I’ll put my head on the chopping board here: You can pay $400 for the hall and arrange for the food separately.” I agreed and the rest was history. The Convention Centre arranged the seating for us, provided three stands and microphones free of charge, and further negotiated with us for less than $200.00 for the food. Unbelievable! A round of applause for you, good people!
Frank Ndomi, who represented the ACOMI Secretariat, did so selflessly and with all interest and dedication. He positioned himself between the voting area the entrance where there were not only voters lined up but children drumming, dancing and celebrating Halloween Day.
Frank also quickly produced an election evaluation form for all the representatives to fill out at the end of the day. As if that was not enough, when the voting ended after ten round hours, Frank virtually renewed energy and stayed for the counting of the ballots as well. Upon Frank seeing the arduous way the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Muckson Sesay, took each ballot from the box, held it up and bellowed out the number, Frank consulted his fellow-Ghanaian and suggested a more practical and efficient way which made the counting three times faster. Thumbs up for you, fellow!
Allow me to digress, just for a brief moment, to comment on the turn-out on Election Day. One word: “Amazing!” For one thing, I saw fellow-Sierra Leoneans whom I had not seen for years not even in town let alone in community events. Even Tony Sanni, freshly discharged from hospital, limped with crutches and came out to vote. And so did young Alhassan Sesay (Ojo) who was also admitted in hospital for months before the election.
As a member of the Electoral Commission, and from the location in which I served in the voting area, I had the privilege of comforting weeping voters as well. An elderly woman said, “Back home, I was nearly killed by rebels on the line as I was waiting to vote.” A man, with hands shaking, tearfully told me, “This is good. This is what we should be doing here as an example for our people back home.” Way to go, guys!
Back to appreciating those who helped the Sierra Leone community in conducting a successful election, the coming of Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz , elevated interest and pumped fresh impetus for the election.
“I don’t usually attend such events because I have over three to 4,000 invitations a year to deal with.” Those were the encouraging words of Winnipeg Mayor, Sam Katz, who, under very short notice, addressed an eager audience of Sierra Leoneans on the voting day, and cheerfully cast the ceremonial ballot.
Mayor Sam Katz emphasized, “I came here because I feel sorry for what happened in Sierra Leone. Also, I came basically to have an opportunity to welcome you to Winnipeg, and I want you and your families to enjoy the opportunities open to you in Manitoba and Canada.” As he was leaving, Mayor Sam Katz asked the Commission to give him an update of the election to see what he can do to help the community.
“I don’t usually attend such events because I have over three to 4,000 invitations a year to deal with.” Those were the encouraging words of Winnipeg Mayor, Sam Katz, who, under very short notice, addressed an eager audience of Sierra Leoneans on the voting day, and cheerfully cast the ceremonial ballot. Mayor Sam Katz emphasized, “I came here because I feel sorry for what happened in Sierra Leone. Also, I came basically to have an opportunity to welcome you to Winnipeg, and I want you and your families to enjoy the opportunities open to you in Manitoba and Canada.” As he was leaving, Mayor Sam Katz asked the Commission to give him an update of the election to see what he can do to help the community.
That pledge by the Mayor may have come as a result of earlier remarks by the Chairman of the SALNAM Electoral Commission 2009, Muckson Sesay, when he stressed, “The purpose of voting is to elect community leaders to help find community solutions to some of the problems which impact negatively on our ability to play a meaningful role in making Winnipeg the best city in Canada.” Mayor Sam Katz, we sincerely salute you, Sir.
It is not conceit on the part of the SALNAM Electoral Commission to imagine that besides the laid down requirements for nomination and voting eligibility, what also set the tone for a successful election was a well-managed Debate Night. The watch-word for that occasion was “Respect” for self and the opinion of others.
The Commission thanked all the candidates for coming forward to provide leadership for the community and assigned one row for them to sit together. Out of all the questions the Commission asked the presidential candidates that night, the last one seemed to have baffled them: “Give three things that you admire about your opponents.” Suffice it to say that the question went down very well in bringing out the good in each of the candidates.
Earlier, greetings and remarks from SALNAM donors including Wesley Penner and Eric Routhier, representatives of other African communities, and observers, coupled with the prestigious venue of the debate, must have impressed on all the candidates that the whole electoral process had to be taken seriously.
The Nigerian representative, Kenny Daodu, a distinguished business woman and Manitoba politician, was so impressed that she spontaneously “showered” $100.00 to the Commission. Thank you-o Auntie!
Two major reservations by elders of the community who wish to remain anonymous was that after the election results were announced, they cautioned the winners not to have any so-called “Victory Party” which the elders thought, would be divisive and provocative. Also, those same elders insisted that there should be no “Inauguration” but only a simple handing-over ceremony by the out-going President, David Mahdi and the newly-elected President, Allieu Sesay. “We are not a country or a nation, only a small community in Manitoba, Canada”, they stressed.
This write-up can only comment on the atmosphere at City Oasis where the official handing-over ceremony was held. It was, indeed, a huge celebration, after the community had waited for years for this occasion. The large hall was full of people mostly dressed in their best. From the entrance, one was greeted not just by the crowd of people, but also by the mixed scent of perfume and aroma of food. The speeches were quite in place and the ceremony proceeded smoothly and was graced by young Sierra Leonean cultural dancers.
So, the SALNAM Election 2009 started and ended very well. For those who care to know the cost and how the whole electoral process was financed, that might be an interesting topic for another story.
For now, a few concerned members of the community have wondered why there was no public acknowledgement and appreciation of the members of the Electoral Commission, Muckson Sesay, Nancy Sam-Hunter and me, during the handing-over ceremony. Certainly, that did not happen. But guess what: It was all good. The work had been done and that was all that really mattered. The Commissioners know that they tried their best in everything that they did.
That self-evaluation, call it consolation, was based on the precious time we devoted including paid work shifts that we gave up, the little conflict management that we provided, the effort we made to stay neutral in spite of vicious accusations from a small minority of unimpressed and unbelieving Thomases, and how we planned and catered for all the events in the whole electoral process.
The Commission also knows that a brand new era has begun. We wish that this history will be repeated every two years. Let there be peace and tolerance of opinion no matter how different. Above all, we ask all Sierra Leoneans to allow respect and love to permeate into the community. It is not too much for the Electoral Commission 2009 to call on the Sierra Leone community to institute September 1 to November 14 every two years as the time to conduct free and fair elections.
A few concerned members of the community have wondered why there was no public acknowledgement and appreciation of the members of the Electoral Commission, Muckson Sesay, Nancy Sam-Hunter and yours sincerely, during the handing-over ceremony. To us, it was all good.
The work had been done and that was all that really mattered. We know that we tried our best in everything that they did. That self-evaluation, call it consolation, was based on the precious time we devoted, including paid work shifts that we gave up, the little conflict management that we provided, the effort we made to stay neutral in spite of vicious accusations from a small minority of unimpressed and unbelieving Thomases, and how we planned and catered for all the events in the whole electoral process.
SALNAM Election 2009 has gone down as a milestone in the history of the Sierra Leone community in Manitoba, Canada.
Much to the community’s credit, there was no trading of insults or fighting by supporters of the three presidential candidates neither on nomination day, on the debate night nor on Election Day. The turn-out on each of the events was nothing short of wonderful, considering the fact that there was absolutely no Police involvement. Indeed, the jam-packed hall on the night of the handing-over ceremony trumpeted harmoniously that the SALNAM Election 2009 was a huge success.
A brand new era has begun. We humbly hope that this history will be repeated every two years. Let there be peace and tolerance of opinion, no matter how different. Above all, we ask all Sierra Leoneans to allow respect and love to permeate into the community. It is not too much for the Electoral Commission 2009 to call on the Sierra Leone community to institute September 1 to November 14 every two years as the time to election Executive officers that a capable and available to lead the community.
For those who care to know the cost and how the whole electoral process was financed, that might be an interesting topic for another story!
Comments