April 12, 2021
By Mohamed M. Sesay
Delivering his mournful tribute to the former but now late Vice President Dr. Albert Edward Joe Demby, the Deputy Speaker of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone Hon. Solomon Sengepoh Thomas encouraged the Demby family and the nation to celebrate the life of late Dr. Demby. He said Dr. Demby was an exceptional Vice President in terms of his service to humanity and his contribution towards the restoration of peace and democracy in Sierra Leone.
Expressing his grief at the official laying-out in state ceremony for the late Dr. Demby, Hon. Thomas acknowledged that indeed it is a difficult moment for the lives of not only members of the Demby family, but also the nation as a whole. He added that the nation as well as the Demby family would have loved the former vice president to be here so that we can continue to benefit from his experience and guidance.
He further stated that the former and now late Vice President served at one of the most, if not the most difficult time in the history of Sierra Leone- the days of the civil war. He said the country needed Dr. Demby and the former President Alhaji Ahmed Tejah Kabba to have used their experience in getting this nation the needed peace which is the peace citizens are now enjoying.
“Martin Luther King once said, whatever role is placed in your hands as a human being, make sure you play such a role well. Even if you assign a role as a cleaner clean well so that on days like this, somebody somewhere will get up and say that this individual was a cleaner but he cleaned well. The former vice president was an exceptional vice president. He played his role well and that is the more reason we are here in celebration of his death. Of course we know that a time like this is so difficult and sad, but let me state distinguish mourners that as a parliament, we stand with the family and we mourn with you. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. As a nation and as a family, who are we to question the decision of God? Our God Almighty! When we mourn, let us mourn with caution. It is the Lord that giveth and it is He that has taken. Blessed be the name of our God”, he said mournfully.
On his part, the Leader of the National Ground Coalition in Parliament Hon. Kandeh yunkelah said he first met Dr. Demby in his capacity as Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. H said Dr. Joe Demby received him and provided the needed assistance he went for. Through many sources, Hon. Yunkelah noted that he had heard of the direct role played by Dr. Demby in organizing civilian teams in order to defend various cities during the civil war. He emphasized that he also know Dr. Demby for his gallant role played in restoring civilian rule and ensuring that peace prevails in the country. “May the Almighty reward him for helping to bring peace to Sierra Leone as one of the Key architect of peace”.
He continued that Dr. Joe Demby being a principled man he was, he had confided in Dr. Demby about his interest to come back home and go into politics with the desire to lead the Sierra Leones People’s Party (SLPP). He disclosed that Dr. Joe Demby interviewed him asking him what he has done for his community. On that day, he said Dr. Demby wanted to probe his character; he wanted to know whether he has done community service or whether he can serve his community people well. He confessed that Pa Demby served the Kenema Community very well noting that Dr. Joe Demby’s passion during his service in the medical profession was not only to cure people, but also to provide charity for the people in the Kenema community.
“When I made the difficult decision to leave the SLPP to form the National Ground Coalition (NGC), Dr. Demby was not pleased with my decision. But he later respected my decision. I learnt a lot from Dr. Demby in terms of principles on good governance. May the almighty forgive him for his own errors, may perpetual light shine on him, and may we live to see this democracy that he has built progress, evolve and become a true pluralistic, inclusive and non-tribal democracy,” he grieved.
The Leader of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Party, Hon. Emerson Lamina also paid tribute on behalf of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Party to man who has served this nation diligently and consciously. He sorrowfully said the former vice president Joe Demby could be best described as a friend to the Kono people especially during the time of the eleven years interregnum.
He vividly recalled that Dr. Joe Demby supported the Civil Defense Force with his own very resources with a view of restoring peace and democracy in the country. In 2001 when they sought admission at the University, Hon. Lamina also disclosed that Dr. Demby declared that all displaced students coming from Kono should have scholarship free of charge.
“Today, I am fairly educated because from my first year in college in 2001 on to my post graduate master’s degree, I did not pay a single scent. May the light perpetual shine upon this great man. He was humble, passionate, friendly and accessible. May the soul of former vice president Joe Demby Rest in perpetual peace”, he sadly lamented.
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis noted that since the demise of Dr. Demby, he has been remembering him as a patriotic and a great man.
Hon. Tunis disclosed that he personally benefited from him a lot especially when he (Tunis) was a young man attending school in Kenema, they were used to going to Dr. Demby for medical treatment. As recent as 2018 when he became Leader of Government Business in this House of Parliament, Hon. Tunis also confessed that Dr. Demby was his secret weapon because Dr. Demby was one of those people that he had to call upon every given moment when he needed an advice.
“The first time I called upon him and he asked Tunis what is your problem? I said “pa, thin ruff” (things are difficult) right now in Parliament and Dr. Demby will say that he will come over to see me and I will say I will go over to see you sir. Dr. Demby insisted and came to my office and was there for almost two hours advising me as to how to deal with my colleagues in parliament. This man lying in that casket was my secret weapon and I will forever remain grateful to him. I can confirm to everybody seated here today that indeed Dr. Demby was a patriotic Sierra Leonean who wanted to see peace in this country, and he fought for peace in this country. Doc, may your soul rest in peace” he sorrowfully concluded.