For Public Release
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
It has come to the attention of the family of Chief Samuel Hinga Norman (photo), Late of Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, Southern Region, that members of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) under the direction of the Hon. Paul Kamara, Member of Parliament for Valunia and Gbo Chiefdoms, are in the process of erecting a monument or statue in the likeness of Chief Hinga Norman at or near his birth and burial place in Nguala near Mongere. While the Norman family y appreciates any legitimate effortsby his fellow citizens to keep Chief Norman’s name and memory alive following his untimely death at the hands of the special court for Sierra Leone, the family also wishes to make it known to the general public and all the parties involved in this project that the Hinga Norman family Norman has no prior knowledge of or involvement in this matter and has given no consent implied or otherwise for the establishment or erection of any monument or statue in Chief Norman’s honour. Neither does the Hinga Norman family plan to be a part of any ceremonies relating to the unveiling of such a monument or statue. Despite his status as a national hero, the children of Chief Hinga Norman are particularly disturbed by the fact that any group or political party would undertake such a project without their opinion or consent.
It is also to be recalled that:-
Both Chief Hinga Norman and his elder brother Albert also buried at this site were veterans of the Armed Forces of Sierra Leone;
Both Hinga and Albert Norman were at their time of death, ranking members of the Poro and Wunde Societies;
Chief Hinga Norman was at a time Regent Chief of Jaiama-Bongor Chiefdom;
- Chief Hinga Norman was a member in high ranking of the Society of Kamajors.
In any or all of those capacities, the family regards the burial site of Albert and Hinga Norman a sacred site. As such, no ceremonies, icons, monuments or likeness of Chief Hinga Norman should be erected at the site without the expressed permission of the family, and no ceremonies, libations or similar acts should be performed at the site without the expressed permission of the High Priest of the Kamajors and his counter-parts in the above named societies in consultation with the Hinga Norman family. Any monument as described above that may have already been erected prior to this release will be removed forthwith at the discretion of the family, and any disturbance or damage to the resting places of Albert and Hinga Norman will be the responsibility of the those parties involved.
The Resident Mister South, the Senior Paramount Chief, Bo District, the Paramount Chief of Valunia Chiefdom, the Town Chief of Nguala, the Member of Parliament, Bo North, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, South, the Chief Imam, Bo District, the Leader of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) and all other affected authorities are by this posting informed accordingly. The cooperation of everyone involved will be highly appreciated by the Hinga Norman family.
Respectfully;
Alfred M.SamForay,
Head, Hinga Norman Family.
Comments