KAMPALA (Reuters) – Sierra Leone plans to introduce new laws on diamond trading to boost earnings by ensuring most of its stones are polished before being shipped out, government officials said.

President Ernest Bai Koroma, who won an election in September on a promise to tackle corruption and heal divisions in the war-torn country, said the new policy would be put before parliament “as soon as possible”.

“We have not benefited as much as we should have from our mineral resources and that is why we are going to … put in place a mining policy that will ensure that we move away from having low returns,” Koroma told reporters late on Thursday.

Interesting… but why would Sierra Leone need a law for that… why don’t they just do it? Any ideas?

Consenting to the manifesto and declaring campaign open, leader of the party and presidential nominee, Vice President Solomon Berewa referred to himself as “a disciplinarian and not a benevolent dictator.” He told his party stalwarts that the real activity of campaigning will now start and assured all and sundry that the things in the manifesto are achievable.

“I am proud of the SLPP manifesto 2007. It will serve as a platform to take the country forward,” he stated.

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If what the movie portrays is negative it’s because the truth was negative. The truth must not be hidden. The movie specifically clarifies that this is in the past and that there is now peace in Sierra Leone. Banning the movie would be censorship, and if you want to project a positive you are welcome to make more movies about the new more peaceful Sierra Leone, that is “freedom”.

Sierra Leone is at peace again and I want to visit in 2008, but first I need to learn more about it.

This blog will be more of a personal collection of facts and thoughts, but feel free to read it if you’re interested in Sierra Leone.