We were driving to Logos Ship (floating book store), when we got to a sign that said no through traffic. But since the place we had just came from was completely blocked with traffic and we were directed this way, I just moved the sign to the side and let my driver drive the car past, and then I replaced the sign. Then all of a sudden, I see this policeman yelling at me. He was saying something like "You can't move that sign!" I tried to explain that we were told to come this way, but he wouldn't listen and kept on yelling at me. But since he didn't speak very good English, I couldn't really understand him. Anyhow, my driver came out, and told me to sit in the car while he argued with the police. Eventually we were allowed to leave, but then my driver found he had been pickpocketed.
Later, I was told that the police in Sierra Leone will try to stop foreigners for any reason (and sometimes no reason) at all. They essentially just want you to bribe them with money. What they'll do is they'll take you to the police station, and the people at the station will say there's no reason for us to be stopped, and just let us go, but the whole process is just extremely time consuming, so when a police tries to stop you, you need to just ignore them and keep on driving (since they don't have vehicles). In fact, the police don't even have the legal right to stop NGO's for any reason. Pretty much, this whole country is corrupt. Sad, but true. There's corruption in the police system, corruption in the government, corruption in the healthcare system, and even corruption with distribution of plumpy nut. President Koroma's new Anti-corruption Committee is helping out a lot (firing Minister of Fishery, Land, etc...), but it's a looooooooong process.
wow, that's sad that you can't trust the police in sierra leone! i'm glad your driver was nice enough to argue with the police for you hehe
ReplyDeleteya, it's kinda sad. uh...so as of now, I know 3 lizzy's...you mind giving me a clue which lizzy you are? thanks!
ReplyDeletecorruption w/in plumpy nut distribution?
ReplyDeleteIt is good you did not have any trouble with the police.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is definitely corruption w/distribution. Sometimes mothers sell them on the street, and either they didn't understand how important he food really is to their children's health (which is our fault for not explaining more clearly), or they really value that little bit of money more than their kid's life - which is just really, really sad. We also sometimes see boxes in the market - which means there's issues with the ministry of health or hospital selling it. Corruption is really prevalent. But the president is working on it and has set up an anti-corruption committee. And the committee has already caught some major important players w/in the government like the Minister of Fishery, etc.. It's working slowly but surely.
ReplyDelete