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Boost
For Rural Information Needs
By Yusuf Alghali
In
what could be described as a big boost to the
information needs of remote rural communities,
the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in
collaboration with the Sierra Leone Broadcasting
Service (SLBS/TV), has acquired new sets of audio-visual
equipment, a modern sophisticated outside mobile
broadcasting unit in addition to four new Land
Rover vehicles.
With
the new sets of equipment, residents of remote
villages or towns in the provincial regions will
now have the opportunity of accessing relevant
news, features and other forms of information
that had otherwise been accessed mainly by owners
of radio, television and satellite sets in the
city and other major towns.
Speaking
shortly after the formal presentation and demonstration
of the new media equipment at the Presidential Lodge
on Wednesday evening, 8 October 2003, President
Kabbah congratulated the Sierra Leone Broadcasting
Service for its timely achievement. He recalled
that some decades ago long before the proliferation
of television sets, government had relied heavily
on the use of mobile broadcast equipment to reach
out to residents of the most distant villages and
towns.
He
also recalled that many important issues pertaining
to government policies and general issues affecting
the socio-economic well being of citizens were
shown for
viewing by the country folks through the use of
pre-recorded films on cinema projectors.
The
President emphasised that the new machines be
used especially for the benefit of rural communities
so as to enable them learn about what the government
was doing and also to hear important messages
that could guide local development as well as
provide entertainment.
According
to Mr. Graham Mackinley, whose company procured
the sets on behalf of the SLBS, the equipment
could "serve as an excellent platform from
which to broadcast government information to those
who are unable to receive television".
He
suggested that the audio-visual equipment could
also be used with recorded video or audio cassettes
on subject matters ranging from Presidential or
Vice Presidential addresses; addresses by government
ministers; SLBS TV or Radio current affairs programmes;
important ceremonial events; health and sanitation
issues, including HIV/AIDS
and prevention of other infectious diseases like
cholera and typhoid; cultural events; elections
coverage; programmes onthe work of commissions such
as the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA)
and National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilisation
and Reintegration (NCDDR). The unit can also be
used for presentations using powerpoint for computerized
slide shows and for new farming methods and techniques.
Mr.
Mackinley noted that the machines could also be
used as a mobile public address system for significant
public events or for special occasion. He expressed
the hope that Minister of Information, Professor
Septimus Kaikai and staff of the SLBS were satisfied
with the audiovisual and outside broadcast equipment.
In an interview, Professor Kaikai, who along with
the Director-General of the SLBS, Mrs Gina Banda-Thomas,
witnessed the event at the Lodge, expressed how
delighted he was by the acquisition of the machines,
pointing out that it was in keeping with the Head
of State's vision for a more decentralised system
of governance that allows for informing the remotest
regions about government's activities. He stressed
that the procurement of the devices was a worthy
investment.
-End-
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