November 5, 2021
Honesty Pays
The story in the international news recently that a driver in Liberia found the sum of $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars) inadvertently dropped by a traveller and returned it intact calls for deep reflection by all patriots and believer’s, in God. It is rare and phenomenal. That paragon of honesty is one in ten thousand.
By way of a suitable digression, it is dishonesty that has caused us to be in the dire straits condition in which we find our country today.
It is stark dishonesty that has caused Sierra Leone with almost all the mineral and natural resources to be the scum of the earth. It is dishonestly/ corruption that has caused us to create an Anti-Corruption Commission which can also be known as an Anti-Dishonesty/ Corruption (ADC) .
That unique individual who found that treasure had many alternative ways in which he could have used that amount to make himself rich. The simplest way is that he could have invested it in business to make profits. He knows all this but why did he shy away from doing so?
There is no witness no accuser as potent as the conscience that dwells in every person’s breast, That man was alone but his conscience would not allow him to rest with that amount which he did not earn by his own sweat. In religious circles conscience is known as the third person, it keeps nagging at you for wrong doing. Now that man has what is known as a clear conscience. In spite of his spectacular deed nincompoops would keep telling him that he did the wrong thing. The Bible states in Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches….”Our incumbent leaders have inherited massive dishonesty /Corruption and should not go down that path. In future Sierra Leone could be in a state of Nirvana with determination.
How many of us could have returned that $50,000? Search your conscience! Honesty pays.
Need to Reconcile Sentencing
In courts there is always sentencing for misdemeanors and crimes that they vary according to the crimes committed and the discretion of the Magistrate or Judge what has been happening and sometime sickening is the reckless manner in which some of our magistrates and judges have been handing down sentences. They vary in such a way that there seems to be no standards or yardstick for sentencing. The sentencing officials are very likely to take refuge in the DISCRERIONARY powers they have but these should be within limits and reasonable. This is in spite of the fact that discretion is the better .part of valor according to an English proverb.
These discrepancies have been going on in minor cases but when it comes to major crimes the public is concerned greatly. My attention has been drawn mainly to the disparity of sentencing where; life sentences are concerned. One judge sentenced man to life imprisonment for rape of a minor while another judge sentenced an accused to 15years by the same offence. How about that Mr. Chief Justice? This situation creates room for suspicion about the integrity of the light sentencing judge. Anything can happen between end of trial and judgment.
Life sentence means that the culprit should be incarcerated till death but when it is scaled down to 15 years we have our doubts. Judges were not as well paid as the Secretary to the Minister of Finance Le 86,000 monthly so they have to survive. Man must live oh!
Scratch and Win
Scratch and win seems to be another shadowy institution like Wealth Builders that turned out to be Poverty Builders. ACC or ADC should watch the footsteps of this institution with a view to nipping them in the bud. Lonta.
Watch out for this column on Monday next. Ishala.