SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE OPENS COURTHOUSE
By Kanji Daramy

10th March 2004 - The Special Court for Sierra Leone today opened its ultra-modern Courthouse at the Special Court's Complex at New England Ville in Freetown. His Excellency the President, Alhaji Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, declared the Courthouse open and unveiled the plaque commemorating the solemn occasion.

The ceremony started at ten past ten in the morning with a short movie titled "Special Court for Sierra Leone - Moving Images". At twenty past the hour a skit was performed by the Rights' Players Drama Group, while a Procession of Paramount Chiefs took place at 10:50 a.m., followed by a Procession of the Judges of the Special Court at eleven sharp.

At five past eleven there was a fanfare by the Ghanaian Battalion Ensemble of UNAMSIL that heralded the arrival of His Excellency, President Alhaji Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Mr Hans Corell, Under Secretary General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations.

The Ceremony was punctuated by the National Anthem of Sierra Leone which was rendered by the Choir of the Milton Margai School for the Blind; silent prayer; an introductory address by Mr Robin Vincent, Registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone; an address by Justice Geoffrey Robertson QC, President of the Special Court; rendition of 'National Unity' and 'My West African Home' by the Milton Margai School for the Blind; an address by His Excellency Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, delivered by Mr Hans Corell, Under Secretary General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations.

At eleven thirty-five President Kabbah made his address and performed the official opening of the Courthouse for the Special Court, followed by a fanfare by the UNAMSIL Ghanaian Battalion Ensemble.

'For the Beauty of the Earth' was the final rendition by the choir of the Milton Margai School for the Blind before the Registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Mr Robin A. Vincent, made the closing address at eleven fifty-five.

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