The interim leader of the newly registered People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), Mr. Charles Francis Margai has assured the people of Sierra Leone that one of the goals of his party is to "rekindle the hopes and aspirations of compatriots".
Margai, in a public statement issued Thursday January 19 a few hours after the registration of his party in Freetown, said the PMDC is determined to reintroduce all the core values "taken away from the people of this country" by what he called "selfish and unprogressive leaders" who, he said, have served only their own interests with little or no regard for the welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry.
"With God’s grace,help and guidance, the future progress of this our beloved nation lies with the PMDC,this I can assure the people of Sierra Leone", Margai said.
The PMDC interim leader also noted that the founding fathers that ushered in Sierra Leone’s independence on the 27th of April 1961 "had a dream for Sierra Leone". That dream, he continued, was intended to put Sierra Leone on the international stage and that the march towards that goal was "not only reassuring but comprehensive enough to embrace all componenets of true Democracy".He added that tolerance, probity and accountability were the guiding principles in the forward march envisioned by the founding fathers of the country.
Margai however lamented that for some "reprehensible reason which may not be unconnected with greed and self-aggrandizement on the part of the leadership", the decades declined into decadence with those set goals, then degenerated into despair and wanton suffering.
"Domestic ideals were replaced by dictatorship short of a police state. Integrity, probity and accountability gave way to rampant institutionlised corruption with impunity; Sierra Leone is almost on the verge of collapse", Margai said.
Meanwhile in a letter to the Vanguard, Mr. Joko Lahai, on behalf of the PMDC’s UK/Ireland branch, observed that the current SLPP leadership have lost what he called the "moral credibility" to continue to govern Sierra Leone and that they have failed in every respect to protect and provide for the citizens of the country and that they rule with deceit and impunity.
"With the PMDC now in the political arena as a mainstream party, we hope Sierra Leoneans will begin to feel that all is not lost and that the PMDC, under the able and respectful leadership of Charles F. Margai, will turn the country round and give back to its people all that has been taken away from them by the gredy and irresponsible SLPP government", Joko said.
Photo: Charles Margai
We publish below Charles Margai statement and Joko’s letter.
INTRODUCING PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
The founding fathers that ushered in independence on the 27th day of April, 1961, had a dream for Sierra Leone. A dream that was intended to put Sierra Leone on the International stage with all the attributes that go with it. The
march towards this goal was not only reassuring but comprehensive enough to embrace all components of a true Democracy. In this regard, tolerance, probity and accountability were guiding principles in this forward march. This was to the admiration of all both within and without Sierra Leone. Sierra Leoneans of all ages, creed and status lived a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. This was however to be short lived.
For some reprehensible reason, which may not be unconnected with greed and self-aggrandizement on the part of the leadership, the decades declined into decadence with those set goals then, degenerating into despair and wanton suffering. Democratic ideals were replaced by dictatorship short of a police state. Integrity, probity and accountability gave way to rampant institutionalised corruption with impunity. Sierra Leone is almost on the verge of collapse.
The birth of PMDC was God sent, if only to rekindle the hopes and aspirations of compatriots.
As interim Leader of PMDC, I have pleasure in assuring all and sundry of PMDC’s determination to reintroduce all core values taken away from the people of this country by selfish and un-progressive leaders who have served only their own interests, with little or no regard for the welfare and well-being of the citizenry.
With God’s grace, help and guidance, the future progress of this our beloved nation lies with PDMC, this I can assure the people of Sierra Leone.
Charles Francis Margai (Interim Leader)
Joko’s Letter
Dear Editor,
Today, January 19 2006 marks a historical change in the political map of Sierra Leone with the registration of the People’s Movement For Democratic Change (PMDC) as a legitimate political party. What this means for all Sierra Leoneans is that at long last a real alternative for positive change has been presented to the nation. Sierra Leoneans have today been officially presented with a golden opportunity to move away from a deceitful, un-progressive, unreliable and selfish SLPP leadership and government.
The current SLPP government and leadership have lost the moral credibility to continue to govern Sierra Leone. They have failed in every respect to protect and provide for the citizens of the country and they continue to rule with deceit and impunity. With PMDC now in the political arena as a mainstream party, we hope Sierra Leoneans will begin to feel that all is not lost and that PMDC, under the able and respectful leadership of Charles F Margai will turn the country round and give back to its people all that has been taken away from them by the greedy and irresponsible SLPP government.
This article is meant to introduce PMDC while we await the right time and moment to publicise the manifesto and all other relevant documents that may be of interest to the general public. Hopefully this would be done within the next couple of weeks if not sooner.
On behalf of PMDC UK and Ireland Branch, I kindly ask that you please publish this article for the benefit of those millions who are waiting to begin to grab the gist of what PMDC is about.
Thank you and God bless.
JOKO.
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