The Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington DC last week joined the Virginia House of Delegates at the Capitol, Richmond, United States of America to commemorate Sierra Leone’s Diamond Independence Jubilee. Delegate Candi Mundon King, an African – America introduced Ambassador Sidique Abou- Bakarr Wai of Sierra Leone to the Virginia House of Delegates, re-counting Sierra Leone’s relationship with the Black people of Virginia in United States of America.
“We are related to Sierra Leone in many ways. The Black Nova Scotians who were shipped to Sierra Leone in search of greater freedom actually left The State of Virginia for Nova Scotia, and later found themselves in Sierra Leone. And fortunately, as Black Delegates in the Virginia House of Delegates, we have strong ties with Sierra Leoneans we are living with in our neighborhoods”, Delegate Mundon King said. She further dilated on the course Sierra Leone has taken since Independence in 1961.
“Sierra Leone has flourished as an Independent country, endowed with huge mineral deposits, peaceful, and very friendly people”, Delegate King noted, emphasizing on the beauty of Sierra Leone, and the democratic strides pursued by the current government. “In recognition of our ties with Sierra Leone, we are today 2nd March, 2022 celebrating the country’s 60 years of Independence from Colonial rule. We are very proud that we are a part of Sierra Leone”.
The history of Sierra Leone enticed the Virginia House of Delegates as they showered a big applause for the people of Sierra Leone, and the role of Sierra Leoneans in the Virginia community, United States of America.
Sierra Leone was represented at the event by Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, Head of Chancery – Rakie Macarthy, Cultural Attaché – Ibrahim Labor Fofana, and PEL Koroma, the Information Attaché.
The Sierra Leone Embassy staff in Washington D,C and the Sierra Leone diaspora community representatives were also introduced to the Virginia Senate Seating where Ambassador Abou- Bakarr Wai was spectacularly recognized by the Senate Governor Winsome Sears for his introduction of the Police Body Camera while he was attached to the New York Police Department.
