Patriotic Vanguard - Sierra Leonean Newspapers

Patriotic Vanguard
Who We Are
- Friday 8 July 2005.
Gibril Gbanabome Koroma (Editor and Publisher).

Email: gibrilkoroma@aol.com

The Patriotic Vanguard Team

North America

Gibril Gbanabome Koroma (Editor/Publisher)Vancouver, Canada

Simbo Conteh (Special Correspondent) (Vancouver, Canada)

Abdulai Bayraytay (Deputy Editor)Toronto, Canada

Kofi Akosa-Sarpong (Foreign News Editor), Ottawa, Canada

Zubairu Wai (Features Editor), Toronto, Canada

Abayomi Charles Roberts(General Editor), Edmonton, Canada

Sahr Musa Yamba (Senior Correspondent), Winnipeg, Canada.

Lans Omar(Arts and Entertainment Editor), Winnipeg, Canada.

Abdul Karim Anthony Kamara Jnr.(USA Bureau Chief), Philadelphia, USA.

Roland Bankole Marke(Special Correspondent), Florida, USA.

Issa Mansaray(Contributing Editor), Minnesota, USA.

Essa Thaim-Kurugba(Political Analyst), Maryland, USA.

Europe

Abu Shaw (London Bureau Chief/Business Manager)

Mohamed Boye Jalloh-Jamboria(Political Analyst), Norway

Patrick Hassan-Morlai(Special Correspondent), London, UK.

Ahmed Ojulla Bangura(Special Correspondent), Bradford, UK.

Australia

Edison Yongai,Sydney,Australia

Anthony B.Conteh (Tony Bee), Sydney, Australia.

Africa

Alpha Rashid Jalloh(Bureau Chief) (Freetown, Sierra Leone)
Isatu Gbla(Freetown)
Lans Joe Sesay Junior(Freetown)
Karamoh Kabba(Political Analyst), Freetown.

Introducing the Vanguard
It is normally expected of a publication, whether print or electronic, to introduce itself or to present the philosophy or consciousness that motivates it. This normally helps the reader to make preliminary judgments and in some cases to subscribe or refuse to subscribe to the publication. In our case, however, as for most African online newspapers, a subscription is not necessary. This is a service to our country and to our continent. But we owe it to our readers, especially those who don’t know us, to at least say something about ourselves and what we stand for.

We are mainly a group of Sierra Leonean media professionals in the diaspora with a sprinkling of other Africans from all walks of life. For many of us in this publication confronting the challenges of a new life in different lands and climes had temporarily silenced the pens (keyboards?) and in some cases provoked a change of profession. Others, like this writer, have stuck to this sometimes tormenting profession called journalism despite all the kafkaesque trials and tribulations we have gone through. We owe it to our people to continue; we have to continue, no matter where we are.

But not all of us are living abroad. A good number are back home in Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa. They are the backbone of this newspaper, the engine that hums beneath the carapace. We depend on them to give us accurate information about events from the fatherland. Information that is untainted by prejudice, bias or the skullduggery and professional prostitution that is rampant in Africa today.

For those of us in the diaspora, our job will be to examine this information, do further investigations and come out with critical analyses. We however will not only criticize, but will also make suggestions for improvement or change. We will be doing that not because we want to jump into bed with the government, but because we believe that is the only way to meaningfully help our people. Sending money to our suffering people is certainly a laudable way to help but contributing to and influencing better governance on the ground is, we are convinced, much more crucial. If for instance, the government at home in Sierra Leone chooses not to listen, at least the opposition and the international community will definitely take note and most probably act accordingly. That is if they are not blind supporters of the powers that be.

Patriotism
During and after the eleven- year war that has so devastated the country called Sierra Leone, many professionals, some of them highly qualified, have found themselves in various corners of the globe and many have been able, after enormous odds and obstacles, to create, for themselves and their families, a new home away from home. The irony of this is that most of the people who caused the evil war, a war that caused such inhuman suffering and displacement, are today back in the country, back to their former positions and privileges. They can be found in both the public and private sectors.

Vanguard

A vanguard is the frontline, the leaders of a movement, of an idea or of a cause. Over 80% of Sierra Leone’s population is illiterate, and the country is one of the least developed in the world according to the United Nations. And this is a country with only five million people, with an abundant supply of diamonds, gold, bauxite, iron ore etc. There is recent talk of oil having been discovered on its territory. From this brief introduction one can see that Sierra Leone has no business being poor.

We in the Patriotic Vanguard do not like this situation. We have therefore come together to be at the forefront of our people’s struggle to liberate themselves from their foreign and local pests. We are however not politicians, neither are we interested in political power. We also don’t believe violence can resolve the problems in our country. We are however sure the free flow of information, quality education, a profound understanding that democracy does not only entail the holding of multiparty elections is very important for our people. We will continue to emphasize that democracy certainly means more than elections and one of the things we are going to do in this paper is to regularly publish articles and commentaries on democracy for the benefit of the rulers and the ruled.

Those of us who live in Western countries have seen the benefits of lively, free debates and discussions in the parliaments of these countries and in the mass media. We see TRUE DEMOCRACY at work on a daily basis. We should therefore strive to see the same level of freedom in our countries of origin. There will be no serious development in an atmosphere of ignorance and suppression. We, on our part, shall strive to do this, at the moment, through the internet. Thankfully, the internet knows no boundaries and salutes no flag. So, without much ado, I would like to say, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Patriotic Vanguard !

Gibril G. Koroma

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR READERS
We wish to state categorically that the views and opinions expressed by our numerous writers and commentators do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Patriotic Vanguard as a collective. They are only what they are: individual views and opinions.We however urge and encourage anybody who disagrees or feels strongly about any views and opinions expressed on our pages to please write to the editor and express their own views and opinions or their own side of the story. We faithfully promise to publish same provided such submissions are devoid of personal attacks and offensive language.We thank you in advance.

Photo: Gibril Gbanabome Koroma.