By Bockarie Allieu
FREETOWN, Oct. 11 (SALONE TIMES) – National Paralympic Committee of Sierra Leone last Thursday 30th September successfully concluded the Pre-Congress Meeting to sort out the issues of delegates.
The attendance was huge, the Secretary General and CEO, Alexander Thullah chaired the meeting as per the NPC Constitution.
He congratulated members for the hard work in the past years and more recently the success at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, praising the athletes and the entire delegation.
Alexander called on the house to be more focused and approached the elections with seriousness so that more success stories will he heard in the coming years.
He said Paralympic Sierra Leone is no longer a push over in fact it should be rated high considering the performance in Japan. He commended His Excellency President Bio, the National Olympic Committee, The National Sports Authority, The Ministry of Sports, CICA Motors; an agency of TOYOTA in Freetown.
The Team Leader Unisa Deen-Kargbo noted that the Committee which is now a movement is preparing for the qualification tournaments this year in Para Badminton in Uganda, Para Powerlifting in Georgia. Paralympic SLE will also participate in the Para Badminton Classification Course and Athlete Development Program Courses later this year.
He reported the effort of Soccer Star, Kei Kamara who offered a scholarship to athlete Juan Jackson for further studies in USA.
On the Elective Congress Mr Deen-Kargbo noted that it’s a Constitutional Mandate for the Paralympic to go to elections after every Summer Paralympic Games.
The elections will take place in the month of November. A final date and venue will be announced soon.
Among the positions to be contested and voted for by the entire house are President with a nomination fee of Le 500,000, Vice – President with a nomination fee of Le 300,000, Treasurer and Financial Secretary with a nomination fee of Le 100,000. The Regional bodies, The Women and Para Sports, Medical Commission, Legal Commission, Paralympians, We De 15 will all present their representatives with a fee of Le 100,000. All Proud Paralympians are automatic members of the executive. The Secretary / CEO, Ex Officio Members will be appointed among people of class in Para Sports.
A dress code of Black Suit with a placement of the Paralympic badge has been agreed on. The badges are out for sale at Le 25,000. Contact Mr Deen –Kargbo.
The meeting ended with the identification of delegates who should have VOTING RIGHT and those WITHOUT VOTING RIGHT based on their participation at the World Paralympic games. The full list of delegates will be published by the CEO who will be the head of the Electoral Commission.
Little People, Albino Association and Single Leg Amputee Football were all admitted as Delegates with Voting Rights. The National Olympic Committee continues to serve as the supervisory body.
