THE CURIOUS STORY OF 33 PORTLAND PLACE - DELVING INTO THE UNKNOWN?

There is something curious, if not intriguing about secretive governments and their operatives so much that even when in those rare instances when they seem to be making things transparent, more questions needing urgent answers appear to hound every sentence.

Take the matter of a recent press statement on the website of the Sierra Leone High Commission informing all and sundry that Captain Patrick Kemokai General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority had been sacked over allegations of corruption. That story raised eyebrows because quite too many people know just what has been going on, not only down at the quay, but within the corridors of the Transport and Communications ministry headed by Dr Prince Harding an individual believed to be neck-deep in the slime of corruption that is now a hallmark of the Tejan Kabbah administration.

And so when the self-same Sierra Leone High Commission issued a press statement indicating that it had struck a deal that had salvaged something from that controversial sale of Sierra Leone High Commission property of 33 Portland Place, the suspicious antennae went into quick revolutions trying to find where the catch was for it is rare for Sierra Leone government operatives to publicly talk about money and other resources garnered on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone.

And so despite all, the Sierra Herald must congratulate STJ, High Commissioner Sulaiman Tejan Jalloh that is, for making public the final settlement over the 33 Portland Place matter that had seemed to be unending with all sorts of speculations coming into the atmosphere of confusion created by a government which has been secretive after the initial accusations against the late man in the post.

In order to appreciate the effort of STJ and Foreign minister Momodu Koroma, one needs to go back into the history of 33 Portland Place and for those who never had the chance to visit the Sierra Leone High Commission in the sixties. Indeed the late Ambrose Ganda carried some interesting pictures and his accompanying articles showed just how much self-respecting Sierra Leoneans were peeved over the matter.

In one court matter over this property, the court papers, published on the internet gave a brief insight into the background of 33 Portland Place:

Until 1999 the properties known as 33 Portland Place ("Portland Place") and 4/4a Weymouth Mews (the "Mews") (together, "the Properties") were occupied by the High Commission of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The Claimant was the leasehold owner by assignment of the Properties under a lease (the "Lease") originally granted by Howard De Walden Estates Limited (the "Head Landlord") on 2 June 1960. The Claimant became the assignee of the Lease at some time before 8 December 1993. The Lease expires in January 2021.

So now you know. That the property was acquired way back in June 1960 and one would add that its regal splendour was maintained until a set of exploiters, corrupt people of a criminal mind and enterprise, occupied those premises calling themselves the people's representatives of Sierra Leone.

No running away from the fact. It was during the APC occupancy that the property was thrown to the dogs. Left largely in a state of near complete disrepair, the occupants boasting and calling themselves diplomats representing the interests of the government and people of Sierra Leone got so uncaring in their selfishness and greed that at certain points, utility bills could not be paid with the result that electricity, gas and telephone lines were routinely cut. A visit to the place never inspired confidence with decay, neglect and filth all around for all to see.

Whatever happened next is best explained by those directly involved for it would seem that the late Prof Cyril Foray, either by design or otherwise could have entered into a deal that would have given the High Commission's premises some degree of respectability. The deal would have seen the loss of 33 Portland Place while acquiring suitable accommodation worthy of a government worth its salt. No doubt, the High Commissioner, all by himself, would not have succeeded in clinching any deal without the express approval of the Sierra Leone government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

The recent announcement by the STJ administration could be seen as a somewhat Pyrrhic victory for a government that had at one stage taken the matter to court and accusing the Davenport organisation of fraud, hastily withdrawing that claim in court and now settling for an out of court settlement that would see the Tejan Kabbah administration getting a cool eight hundred thousand pounds (£800,000). How that money would be spent and for what purposes are best explained by the government and STJ, but it is the hope that the London mission would be transparent enough to tell the nation about the matter post-deal.

The story of the Sierra Leone High Commission is one that reflects on the international image of the All People's Congress party headed by Stevens and Momoh as well as the attitude of others who "usurped" the throne. The credibility of the Sierra Leone High Commission in London had reached such an unprecedented low ebb that funds meant for the running of the mission were never authorised to be in the accounts of the High Commission, but instead were all diverted into the private accounts of the High Commissioner at post.

And why this? Because the corrupt elements within the APC then, entered into an agreement with a certain Philip Brothers organisation involving the country's produce and the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board. It is believed that a court order froze the accounts of the High Commission as it was proven that the government had breached its obligations. Any doubts? Take a look at this report by the Auditor-General and this should give an idea of what had been happening.

Overseas missions
London Mission - Payment to the private Account of His Excellency
Payment of £10,000.00 and $263,170.00 US dollars respectively were paid to the private account of His Excellency contrary to Financial Order 298. Expenditure documents pertaining to the disbursement of these amounts were not susceptible to audit.

Questions now needing answers are:

Is STJ using this same method to process High Commission funds?

If so would the £800,000 be paid into his account and what happens to all interests accrued?

Has the Philip Brothers case finally being resolved?

What is the fate of all properties of the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board overseas as in London?

Questions and yet more questions.