"This begs the question as to whether the SLPP is actually serious about committing themselves once again to similar failed promises they made 10 years ago. Or is it that the party was busy persuading Berewa their Presidential Candidate to yield to the idea of putting together and presenting a manifesto for this election?"
By Teddy Foday-Musa.
Manifestoes are documents that reflect the policy aims and objectives of political parties all over the world. Projects that are to be carried out by political parties when elected as governments, are not only catalogued in these manifestoes, but also used as a campaign tool in order to convince the electorates to cast their votes for them.
Therefore, it is political gain on the side of political parties, and at the same time, a sign of respect for the electorate when manifestoes are presented early to them by political parties. This will enable the electorates to read through such manifestoes and come up with the decision of either supporting such a party or not.
On the other hand, if the people detect blunders presented in the manifestoes, the said political party will get the advantage and opportunity of rectifying such a blunder. But all of this should be done well ahead of the stipulated election date. That is the only time when the electorates and the political party will benefit from what I refer to as the “Early Mandate Request” (EMR).
One would have expected the April 1951 SLPP to have done very well on account of this manifesto issue. But unfortunately, the SLPP is only coming up with a manifesto for our all important 2007 elections four weeks to the election date-11th August.
This begs the question as to whether the SLPP is actually serious about committing themselves once again to similar failed promises they made 10 years ago. Or is it that the party was busy persuading Berewa their Presidential Candidate to yield to the idea of putting together and presenting a manifesto for this election?
Well, this could be anybody’s guess, since during the start of Berewa’s campaign; he made it categorically clear to all and sundry that he doesn’t believe in manifestoes. This was a written statement on the SLPP website too.
However, the SLPP being the oldest political party in the country should be seen to rise to occasions like presenting manifestoes and nominating a presidential candidate all in time and within the principles of our constitution.
The SLPP should have presented their manifesto long since to Sierra Leoneans, in order to allow them an opportunity of thoroughly reading through it with TIME at their disposal for an honest decision to be taken by them. This would have enhanced the exercise of their right to vote (franchise) for what they understand and believe in. And let us don’t forget that it is the duty of any government to provide citizens such an opportunity. This is more so the reason why governments enhance the activities of Electoral Commissions. And in this case, we are not only talking about SLPP as a political party, but at the same time as a government of the day.
Therefore, releasing a manifesto only in four weeks’ time to the election date makes it difficult for Sierra Leoneans to actually know what the SLPP has in store for them after 10 years of bad governance. To most Sierra Leoneans, this lateness is a clear pointer to the fact that the SLPP does not believe in the integrity of Sierra Leoneans to vote on policies presented on paper. They are taking the people for granted and rely on other crude and undemocratic methods to win their votes.
Therefore, the SLPP Manifesto is nothing more than a mere “White Elephant.” To many Sierra Leoneans at the moment...It is presented TOO LATE and TOO BAD for most Sierra Leoneans to comprehend and digest anything stated in it.
E-mail: tfodaymusa@yahoo.ca
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