Sierra Leoneans Fight Back Against Granting Lebanese Nationals Citizenship
Published: 1/Mar/2016
Source: Makoni Times (Sierra Leone)
By Ranger
The Lebanese started entering Sierra Leone after the first Serian war in the 1940s and 50s. Some even came earlier than that. The Lebanese have become the most favored people when it comes to trade, business, and opportunities. Our former leaders worshipped them. People living in the mining cites such as Kono, Tongo etc knelt down to them. During the politics after independence a Lebanese known as Jamil Sahid Muhammed who came from a humble stock became Sierra Leone’s richest man, and he wielded so much power. Sierra Leoneans doing it tough, as well as the elites bend down to them because of their riches made from our beautiful land many may never leave again. THE QUESTION NOW IS:
HOW CAN A PEOPLE WHO HAVE BENEFITTED IMMENSELY FROM THE CROOKED SYSTEM WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE SINCE INDEPENDENCE NOT FULLY INTEGRATE INTO OUR SYSTEM AND WAYS OF LIFE BUT WANT FULL CITIZENSHIP IN A NATION THAT HAS CHANGED THEIR DESTINY?
Can you imagine how many in the diaspora have fully integrated into the different countries they find ourselves, marry cross culturally, and raise children from different backgrounds? Splendid! !
But how many weddings in Sierra Leone have you attended where a Lebanese woman weds a Sierra Leone man. How many of these mix marriages have we seen in Sierra Leone before. Although I do not say they don’t occur but it is minute for a people who benefitted from this land over 70 years ago. FOR ME THIS IS WHERE THE DISCUSSION SHOULD COMMENCE, AND FULL INTEGRATION SHOULD BE THE CRITERIA TO OBTAIN SIERRA LEONE CITIZENSHIP.
Until the Lebanese see Sierra Leone as their home, and not just a place to grab and go sit down in London, showing that is proving it practically. For instance supposing my taste for 2016 is to date a Lebanese woman in Freetown. Will it be that easy than dating a Guinean Fullah Musu residing in Freetown.
Sierra Leoneans Fight Back Against Granting Lebanese Nationals Citizenship