Back home now
listening to radio... No, not SLBC but Star... I'm looking for IRN on the
dial... Someone should remind all Salone announcers that these are PROVISIONAL
results... and NOT the final results. This announcer hasn't specified the
PROVISIONAL nature of these numbers she's reading... Oh brother... Wait, WAIT
for NEC's final results to pop the champagne or place the conciliatory call.
Please, all announcers should ALWAYS state that these are PROVISIONAL results.
Sigh... this is the kind of stupidity that drives me crazy. S/
From Lumley to
Puti... 10 polling stations visited... by 2:00 pm... and I'm so pleased to
report all seemed to be proceeding with efficiency and order. The general sense
amongst those I spoke to was very positive and optimistic. The police and
military along the routes have been pleasant, efficient and helpful. Way to go,
Sierra Leone!! So far so good...
Getting around
today... most people are walking from their homes to the polling stations and
back home. Some are waiting for the privately sponsored government buses... and
there have been some issues around not having enough buses... but for the most
part the city is moving, voting and strolling home proudly displaying their
"inked" finger. S/
I spoke to hundreds
of people today - so far - and one of the most interesting comments came from a
young man... a strapping, tall man in a sleeveless vest, side-tilted blue
baseball cap and low-slung jeans. I asked to see his inked finger to which he
said, "we're waiting a little while before getting into line to let the
older people, women, disabled and others vote first." I smiled broadly and
replied, "how gentlemanly of you... Thank you. Good for you." One of
the remarkable experiences of this year's elections. S/
It's remarkable...
Today is about the people of Sierra Leone... No colours, no politicians, no
political parties... just the voice of the people. One older, partially-blind
gentleman, KC Wilson who voted in Brookfields, said, "the last six months
have been rubbish. Today is the day. Today is our day." Mr. Wilson has voted
in six prior elections in Salone. Remarkable. S/
I dropped into the Women's Situation Room at the Bintumani Hotel around
9am. One of the organizers, Evette, told me of a few minor incidents... polls
not opening in time, etc. but they were up and running... and monitoring the
situation around the country... focused, of course, on gender-based issues. Later in
the morning, I followed up on a story of a man who beat his wife for voting for
a different party. The husband apparently seized his wife's voter ID card and
wouldn't let her vote. After police intervention, the woman cast her vote. She
later went to the King Harmon Hospital to treat her bruises and small cuts. The
Women's Situation Room can be reached by dialing 711. They will present their
report at a press conference on Monday at 10 at Shangri-La Restaurant. S/
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