By Karamoh Kabbah
A crowd of sympathizers caught party officials and supporters of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) by surprise on November 2, 2006 at Dulles Airport in Virginia. There were no preparations in place to manage such an unexpected large crowd of Sierra Leoneans on the corridors of the airport.
As the crowd gathered, a curios passerby who was mesmerized by enthusiastic people in brilliant orange color T-shirts, flags and banners asked; “What’s dis?”
Dr. Baimba Kamara, the National Executive Council (NEC) Chairman of the PMDC USA explained: “Soon the Interim Leader of the PMDC would be walking through one of those doors from Sierra Leone. We have come to say thanks for all the effort our partners for peace, worldwide, have made to bring peace to Sierra Leone. PMDC’s “Positive Change” philosophy includes changing every aspect of slow government in Sierra Leone, especially the prevailing undemocratic principles under the present administration. We will ask our partners for peace to help us one more time, one more time!” he stressed. Dr. Baimba continued, “So that we can conduct a free and fair election in that country. The entire nation is crying for change, but that will only come about with good electioneering. Once we usher in the “Positive Change”, there will be progress in a democratic system,” he confirmed. “And Sierra Leoneans will return home in their hundreds,” he threw his fist in the air. “We have come to ask for that help,” he concluded.
The delegation arrived at noon Eastern Time. Among those that came through the doors that Dr. Baimba pointed to in his brief oratory was the leader of the delegation, Mr. C F Margai.
Other members of the delegation included Mrs. Vivat Margai, Mr. Ansu Lansana, Pa Momoh Fofanah, Rev Momoh Foh, Rebecca Conteh, Mr. Femi Hebron and Mr. Sidikie Janneh. The top party officials at the receiving end were Dr. Baimba Kamara, Chairman of Washington DC chapter; Mr. Lamin Kondeh and Ambassador at Large and Chairman of planning committee of the interim leader’s visit, Hon. Dauda T Bangura.
Chanting of the PMDC “Positive Change” slogan and “One for All, All for One” salutation ensued as soon as the crowd got a glimpse of the emerging delegation towards them. Many shouted, “Positive Man Don Cam”, others threw their fist in the air in victory song that their Interim leader is here at last.
The delegation was supposed to have been here two days earlier, which was delayed by other important things on the home side.
NEC leaders, party supporters and many sympathizers drove in a motorcade for lunch at Best
Harvest restaurant on New Hampshire Ave.
The delegation then drove to their hotel in Columbia Maryland from where it will leave for Philadelphia. Below is the detail of the T-AT for “Positive Change”.
PMDC’s Trans-Atlantic Tour for Positive Change" Program
No.
Date
Day
Program
The USA Program
1.
November 1
Wednesday
Delegation leaves Freetown
2.
November 02
Thursday
Delaware/Pennsylvania/New Jersey - Delegation arrives in Washington DC, and moves to Philadelphia, PA. Meets with NEC, Planning Committees, PMDC family and members in Delaware. Teleconference with all chapters for program briefing. Meeting of resource people.
3.
November 03
Friday
Morning: Philadelphia, PA. 9:00 AM Delegation meets with PMDC PA/DE/NJ chapters executive.
Afternoon: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Meeting with Mayor Street at City
3:00 PM Meeting with Rev Soaries (former chairman of the Federal Election
Assistance Commission).
5:00 PM Inspection and photo up with donated school equipments in NJ
9:00 PM Dinner at Mr. & Mrs. Mussaffa’s residence.
4.
November 04
Saturday
Philadelphia, PA. Sightseeing to historical sites and Fundraising Dinner and Banquet
5.
November 05
Sunday
Morning: 9:00 AM church Service
2:00 PM Lunch at Susan Bona’s residence in NJ
4:00 PM Town Hall meeting in New Jersey
8:oo Dinner at Mr. David Rogers residence in NJ.
6.
November 06
Monday
Philadelphia, PA.
* Meeting with Congressmen Chaka Fatah and Robert Brady in the morning.
* Interview with media in the afternoon
Washington DC. Delegation depart to Washington DC and meets with Planning
Committees, NEC and Washington DC Executive.
10.
November 07
Tuesday
Washington DC. Interview with the National Press Club and Texas Radio Broadcast.
Rest and Scheduled sightseeing functions, etc. Meet with a SL dignitary at 7:00 PM
11.
November 08
Wednesday
Atlanta, GA. Delegation arrives in Atlanta, GA and rest for the day
12.
November 09
Thursday
Atlanta, GA. Delegation meets with the Carter Center and the Georgia PMDC executive and the SCIS/World Trade Center
13.
November 10
Friday
Atlanta, GA. Interview with CNN, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Black Clergy and a Fundraiser at Justin’s
14.
November 11
Saturday
Atlanta, GA. New Birth Church, WFRG Interview and Fundraising Dinner at the Renaissance
15.
November 12
Sunday
Atlanta GA. Church service and Town Hall meeting with Sierra Leoneans - Q & A
16.
November 13
Monday
GA and DC. Delegation meets with Georgia executives. Returns to Washington DC
17.
November 14
Tuesday
Washington DC.
* (Tentative) Delegation meets with a cross-section of the Congressional Black Caucus
* Visit Howard University International Law School at 12:00 Noon
18.
November 15
Wednesday
Washington DC. (Tentative) Delegation meets with the Secretary of the Sub-
Committee for African Affairs
19.
November 16
Thursday
Indianapolis, IN Delegation arrives in Indiana and meet with prominent Sierra Leoneans
20.
November 17
Friday
Indianapolis, IN PMDC Fundraiser and Banquet with Reverend S. Hunter. Delegation leaves for Wisconsin.
21.
November 18
Saturday
Morning: Wisconsin. Delegation meets with the PMDC executive
Evening: Wisconsin. Fundraiser and Dinner Dance. Delegation leaves for Ohio
(Tentative)
22.
November 19
Sunday
Morning: Ohio. (Tentative) Delegation may make a stop in some parts of Ohio Delegation leaves for Washington DC.
23
November 20
Monday
Washington DC. Delegation meets with US State Department officials at 11:30 AM.
Delegation meets with the National Endowment for Democracy at 3:00pm. Contact Dave Peterson
24.
November 21-22
Tuesday
Florida. The Interim Leader visits dignitaries in Florida
25.
November 23
Thursday
Washington DC and Maryland Interim Leader returns to Washington DC
Delegation Meets and dine with Sierra Leonean - Launch
* Delegation Meets and dine with some business executives - Dinner
26.
November 24
Friday
Washington DC and Maryland
* Sight seeing in the morning and dinner with Sierra Leonean business executives in the evening
* Interim Leader’s Teleconference with other Chapter executives 10:00 PM Est.
27.
November 25
Saturday
Washington DC Dinner and dance - fundraiser. Venue to be announced.
28.
November 26
Sunday
Washington DC
* Church Service and meeting with Washington DC Executives
* Final meeting with the NEC and Planning Committee
* Town Hall meeting at Takoma Park County
29.
November 27
Monday
London, UK. Delegation departs for London
The London Program
30.
November 28
London, UK. Delegation rests for the day.
The Holland Program
31.
November 29
Wednesday
Holland, EU The delegation arrives in Holland
32.
November 30
Thursday
The Hague. A Press Conference will be held
33.
December 01
Friday
The Hague. Meeting with the Dutch Development Minister
34.
December 02
Saturday
The Hague. General meeting with PMDC-NL executive and members. Meeting with Sierra Leoneans and fund raiser - (Tentative)
35.
December 03
Sunday
The Hague. General Meeting with all Sierra Leoneans
36.
December 04
Monday
Delegation is officially welcome in London
The London Program (Continued)
37.
December 05
Tuesday
London, England. General briefing
38.
December 06
Wednesday
London, England. Delegation meet the Press and Media
39.
December 07
Thursday
London, England. Chatham House. Meeting with politicians, business people, organizations and establishments etc.
40.
December 08
Friday
London, England. Meeting with Sierra Leoneans in UK.
41.
December 09
Saturday
London, England. Dinner and dance
42.
December 10
Sunday
London, England. Meeting with members of PMDC UK and Ireland
43.
December 11
Monday
London, England. Interim Leader remains in London the other delegation members return to Sierra Leone
44.
December 12-13
Tuesday-Wednesday
London, England. Interim leader attends other official matters in London
45.
December 14/15
Thursday/Friday
London, England. Interim Leader leaves London for Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Program
46.
December 16
Saturday
Freetown, SL
* Official welcoming rally for the Interim Leader in Freetown
* Interim Leader addresses supporters in Victoria Park or some other venue
* Official opening of the Western Area PMDC office.
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