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KDDAUK Members Courtesy Call to SL High Commission in London
(16th November 2018)

“UNITY IS THE KEY TO OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH”
H. E. Tamba John Lamina tells his Kono brethren ‼‼‼‼‼‼




Photos from the SL High Commission in London


The High Commissioner was today (16/11/2018) addressing a cross section of the Kono community who had gathered to pay a courtesy call on him and his deputy and to pray for the embassy staff and the country.

H.E. Tamba John Lamina happily welcomed the group to a place that he described as “Home for all Sierra Leoneans”.

The High Commissioner emphasised the need for Konos and all Sierra Leoneans to “come together as a single unit with the singular purpose of developing the nation”. He spoke at length on the need for peace and unity and the vital importance of bringing people together “leaving no one on the sides”.

Expressing his gratitude to HE President Julius Maada Bio for demonstrating his love for Kono “in so many ways” the soft-spoken diplomat urged his Kono brethren to respect that high confidence by uniting to serve as leading “examples of togetherness” to the rest of the country. “Real development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and unity” he admonished. “President Bio’s plans” the Commissioner pointed out, “envisages Kono far beyond just pieces of diamonds and broken dreams”.

The High Commissioner who himself was one time chairman of of KDDA was addressing the gathering flanked by his deputy HE Mrs. Agness Macauley who had also once served as Chairlady of the KDU.

In her contributions HE Agness Macauley underlined the theme of unity and emphasised the need for inclusion of everyone “as each and everyone is important and that importance must be recognised and respected”, she said.

Earlier on Mr. Aiah Tondoneh, who was leading the group, thanked the High Commissioner, his deputy and the rest of the embassy staff for welcoming them “so very warmly” and he prayed for their general welfare and for the resounding success of the New Direction under the leadership of HE President Julius Maada Bio. Mr. Tondoneh expressed his gratitude to the president for “recognising Kono in so many ways” and pledged support for the New Direction policies.

Drawing a parallel with the unwelcoming atmosphere of the past and expressing appreciation for the present Mr. Opas Tamba Jimmy-Kay summed up what everyone readily accepted was typically representative of H.E. Lamina’s open-approach style: “To set up this meeting, I just called him on the phone once and he immediately accepted without any long dragged-out protocols”!

The meeting that started with prayers ended with warm smiles and happy hugs!

- Written by Abdulai Briama

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