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Help Make Sa Lone a better Help Make Sa Lone a better PlacePlace

It’s time we have someone to It’s time we have someone to represent Sierra Leone better than represent Sierra Leone better than anyone else. anyone else.

He is John Leigh.He is John Leigh.

Popularly known as JEL, Popularly known as JEL, the record shows that John Ernest the record shows that John Ernest

Leigh is a man of creativity, hard Leigh is a man of creativity, hard work and commitment with deep work and commitment with deep love and loyalty for his Country and love and loyalty for his Country and Party and that at any given time on Party and that at any given time on his job, he is seen acting in the best his job, he is seen acting in the best interests of the public. interests of the public. JELJEL Mother Sa Mother Sa

LoneLone

With the restoration of multi-party With the restoration of multi-party democracy in Sierra Leone in 1994/95, Mr. democracy in Sierra Leone in 1994/95, Mr. Leigh labored and was generous to help get Leigh labored and was generous to help get the SLPP and its presidential candidate the SLPP and its presidential candidate Ahmed Tejan Kabbah elected president of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah elected president of Sierra Leone in 1996. When that pleasant Sierra Leone in 1996. When that pleasant surprise came to pass, President Kabbah surprise came to pass, President Kabbah appointed Mr. Leigh as Ambassador to the appointed Mr. Leigh as Ambassador to the United States and as High Commissioner to United States and as High Commissioner to Canada. Mr. Leigh served for six years Canada. Mr. Leigh served for six years

Summary of JEL’s Summary of JEL’s AchievementsAchievements

II As Ambassador to the United States of As Ambassador to the United States of

America and as High Commissioner to America and as High Commissioner to Canada from September 16, 1996 to Canada from September 16, 1996 to October 1, 2002, I immediately set out October 1, 2002, I immediately set out to end all petty staff squabbles as well to end all petty staff squabbles as well re-orient the staff on the need to serve re-orient the staff on the need to serve the public interests at all times rather the public interests at all times rather than exploit and/or boss the public for than exploit and/or boss the public for private gain. private gain.

Made the once-disreputable Made the once-disreputable Embassy in Washington fully Embassy in Washington fully respected by the US and Canadian respected by the US and Canadian Governments as well as a friendly, Governments as well as a friendly, pleasant, efficient Government pleasant, efficient Government Office helpful to all Sierra Leoneans, Office helpful to all Sierra Leoneans, American friends of Sierra Leone American friends of Sierra Leone and would be investors. and would be investors.

IIII

John Leigh’s very first job after John Leigh’s very first job after secondary school at the Albert Academy secondary school at the Albert Academy was as a Third Class Customs Officer, was as a Third Class Customs Officer, Clinetown. Upon graduation from New Clinetown. Upon graduation from New York University Graduate School of York University Graduate School of Business Administration and internship Business Administration and internship at the Chase Manhattan Bank also in at the Chase Manhattan Bank also in New York, Mr. Leigh became a Senior New York, Mr. Leigh became a Senior Research Fellow at the Bank of Sierra Research Fellow at the Bank of Sierra Leone, Freetown. Leone, Freetown.

Initiated and resolutely pressed Initiated and resolutely pressed forward innovative counter-coup forward innovative counter-coup activities against the violent and activities against the violent and nation-wrecking illegal AFRC/RUF nation-wrecking illegal AFRC/RUF junta without any let-up from the junta without any let-up from the very first day of the May 25, 1997 very first day of the May 25, 1997 coup and until the Peace was finally coup and until the Peace was finally concluded. concluded.

IIIIII

Persuaded the US Secretary of State Persuaded the US Secretary of State Albright not to recognize the AFRC Albright not to recognize the AFRC junta but to retain recognition of the junta but to retain recognition of the duly elected SLPP exile Government duly elected SLPP exile Government of President Tejan Kabbah as the of President Tejan Kabbah as the legal government of Sierra Leone legal government of Sierra Leone after it was overthrown by the after it was overthrown by the AFRC. AFRC.

IVIV

Prevented the AFRC junta from Prevented the AFRC junta from buying weapons with Government buying weapons with Government money held in American banks. money held in American banks. Thereafter, transferred signature Thereafter, transferred signature authority over the $10 million authority over the $10 million balance held in the accounts to the balance held in the accounts to the exiled Government of Tejan Kabbah exiled Government of Tejan Kabbah in Conakry. in Conakry.

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VIVI

With no money coming to the Embassy With no money coming to the Embassy from Conakry or Freetown after the from Conakry or Freetown after the AFRC coup, and determined to restore AFRC coup, and determined to restore the Constitutional Order in Sierra the Constitutional Order in Sierra Leone via the return to full power in Leone via the return to full power in Freetown of our duly elected Freetown of our duly elected Government and Parliament, I Government and Parliament, I begged/borrowed funds from family & begged/borrowed funds from family & friends to help keep the embassy friends to help keep the embassy operational. operational.

VIIVII

Shortly after President Kabbah’s Shortly after President Kabbah’s overthrow, I persuaded Gen Sani overthrow, I persuaded Gen Sani Abacha’s officials to hold RUF Foday Abacha’s officials to hold RUF Foday Sankoh incommunicado after his scary Sankoh incommunicado after his scary broadcast calling for the RUF to come broadcast calling for the RUF to come out of the bush and join the AFRC to out of the bush and join the AFRC to illegally govern Sierra Leone. Sankoh illegally govern Sierra Leone. Sankoh was held incommunicado in Abuja from was held incommunicado in Abuja from June 1997 until the Lome Conference. June 1997 until the Lome Conference.

VIIIVIII

With help of C.E.S. American With help of C.E.S. American Missionaries based in Kabala, he Missionaries based in Kabala, he persuaded the US Congress (House persuaded the US Congress (House & Senate) to support the restoration & Senate) to support the restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone, of democracy in Sierra Leone, persuaded President Clinton to persuaded President Clinton to cease his pro-Liberian policies and cease his pro-Liberian policies and help end the RUF war. help end the RUF war.

VIVVIV

Engaged the international media, Engaged the international media, including BBC, CNN, ITV, Radio including BBC, CNN, ITV, Radio France, South African Radio, etc. to France, South African Radio, etc. to get the governments and peoples of get the governments and peoples of the world not to ignore the suffering of the world not to ignore the suffering of the people of Sierra Leone during the the people of Sierra Leone during the AFRC/RUF war but to lobby AFRC/RUF war but to lobby democratic Governments to intervene democratic Governments to intervene on the side of the duly elected SLPP on the side of the duly elected SLPP Government. Government.

XX

Successfully redefined the RUF war Successfully redefined the RUF war for the International Community as a for the International Community as a criminal enterprise to plunder criminal enterprise to plunder natural resources, especially natural resources, especially diamonds, rather than view the diamonds, rather than view the violence in our country as a civil violence in our country as a civil war, as was generally assumed by war, as was generally assumed by our leaders and by world our leaders and by world governments. governments.

XIXI Persuasively explained to the US the Persuasively explained to the US the

logic behind the positive role the logic behind the positive role the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian-dominated ECOMOG forces Nigerian-dominated ECOMOG forces were playing in Sierra Leone and were playing in Sierra Leone and establishing that Nigeria’s role was establishing that Nigeria’s role was not inconsistent with US interests. not inconsistent with US interests.

XIIXII

Obtained Immigration Protection for Obtained Immigration Protection for Sierra Leone refugees in the US and Sierra Leone refugees in the US and Canada. This Immigration Protection Canada. This Immigration Protection enabled all undocumented residents enabled all undocumented residents from Sierra Leone in the USA and from Sierra Leone in the USA and Canada and arriving refugees, the Canada and arriving refugees, the legal right to reside and hold legal right to reside and hold employment in their respective country employment in their respective country of domicile and thus avoid deportation. of domicile and thus avoid deportation.

XIIIXIII

Succeeded in 2000 in persuading US Succeeded in 2000 in persuading US President Bill Clinton to reverse its President Bill Clinton to reverse its pro-Liberian policies and to adopt pro-Liberian policies and to adopt pro-Sierra Leonean policies to pro-Sierra Leonean policies to alleviate war suffering, the very first alleviate war suffering, the very first time such reversal has occurred in time such reversal has occurred in the 200-odd years of SL-US the 200-odd years of SL-US relations. relations.

XIVXIV

Obtained $100 million in US military Obtained $100 million in US military aid to re-arm and re-equip ECOMOG aid to re-arm and re-equip ECOMOG and to re-train 7 ECOMOG and to re-train 7 ECOMOG Battalions as airborne paratroopers Battalions as airborne paratroopers to flush the RUF out of their crime-to flush the RUF out of their crime-infested barfas. But for Lome, infested barfas. But for Lome, ECOMOG was ready to flush out the ECOMOG was ready to flush out the RUF. RUF.

XVXV

Rendered the Liberian Embassy in Rendered the Liberian Embassy in Washington and its American Washington and its American lobbyists totally ineffectual in lobbyists totally ineffectual in defending President Charles Taylor defending President Charles Taylor against allegations of unjust war against allegations of unjust war mongering, the abuse of children as mongering, the abuse of children as soldiers and the plundering of Blood soldiers and the plundering of Blood Diamonds. Diamonds.

XVIXVI

Developed American and Canadian Developed American and Canadian friendships helpful to Sierra Leone friendships helpful to Sierra Leone such as the Amistad Committee in such as the Amistad Committee in New Haven, Connecticut, the Gullah New Haven, Connecticut, the Gullah Groups in South Carolina and Groups in South Carolina and Georgia, US Congress and Canadian Georgia, US Congress and Canadian friends of Sierra Leone in Ottawa. friends of Sierra Leone in Ottawa.

XVIIXVII

Persuaded the US and Canadian Persuaded the US and Canadian Governments to hold President Governments to hold President Taylor of Liberia accountable for the Taylor of Liberia accountable for the RUF occupation of large parts of RUF occupation of large parts of Sierra Leone; the plunder of our Sierra Leone; the plunder of our natural resources as well as for War natural resources as well as for War Crimes and Crimes Against Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Humanity.

XVIIIXVIII

Persuaded the US and Canadian Persuaded the US and Canadian Governments to support the United Governments to support the United Nations to send a large Nations to send a large peacekeeping force to enforce the peacekeeping force to enforce the peace in Sierra Leone. In all, the peace in Sierra Leone. In all, the United Nations spent at least $2.8 United Nations spent at least $2.8 billion in and on behalf of Sierra billion in and on behalf of Sierra Leone by 2007. Leone by 2007.

XIXXIX

Obtained vast Humanitarian Aid for Obtained vast Humanitarian Aid for the people of Sierra Leone from the the people of Sierra Leone from the US and Canada. Also worked with an US and Canada. Also worked with an American NGO to ship containers of American NGO to ship containers of rice to orphanages in Sierra Leone rice to orphanages in Sierra Leone and assisted SL NGOs to obtain aid and assisted SL NGOs to obtain aid for war victims. for war victims.

XXXX As soon as he received proof from the As soon as he received proof from the

American Government in early 2000 that American Government in early 2000 that rebels and foreign interlopers had illegally rebels and foreign interlopers had illegally exported 6,000, 000 carats (six million exported 6,000, 000 carats (six million carats) of Sierra Leone Blood Diamonds in carats) of Sierra Leone Blood Diamonds in 1999, he obtained support from the 1999, he obtained support from the American Government and permission from American Government and permission from President Kabbah to make arrangements to President Kabbah to make arrangements to obtain compensation from all those foreign obtain compensation from all those foreign leaders and governments behind the rebel leaders and governments behind the rebel war. war.

XXIXXI He then successfully negotiated an He then successfully negotiated an

agreement with a law firm in agreement with a law firm in Washington, DC to pursue for the Washington, DC to pursue for the benefit of Sierra Leonean war victims, benefit of Sierra Leonean war victims, survivors and our government, survivors and our government, compensation for war damage against compensation for war damage against all the foreign interlopers that aided all the foreign interlopers that aided the AFRC and the RUF or traded in the AFRC and the RUF or traded in Blood Diamonds. Blood Diamonds.

XXIIXXII

Wrote a truthful, professional-style 10-page Wrote a truthful, professional-style 10-page memo in absolute good faith to President memo in absolute good faith to President Kabbah in the Oil Exploration matter to Kabbah in the Oil Exploration matter to sensitize our Government as to how best to sensitize our Government as to how best to frame Natural Resources agreements so as frame Natural Resources agreements so as to insure the protection and safety of people to insure the protection and safety of people in war zones as well as send a message to in war zones as well as send a message to donor nations that Sierra Leone is ready to donor nations that Sierra Leone is ready to properly manage her natural resources and properly manage her natural resources and thus ready for development assistance, not thus ready for development assistance, not just humanitarian aid. just humanitarian aid.

XXIVXXIVo Participated in numerous activities of Participated in numerous activities of

the Ahmadiyya Mission in America, the Ahmadiyya Mission in America, many of whose leaders had served as many of whose leaders had served as teachers and school administrators in teachers and school administrators in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone.

o Contributed permanently to the Contributed permanently to the advancement of international diplomacy advancement of international diplomacy by initiating the now-diplomatic practice by initiating the now-diplomatic practice of identifying rogue Heads of State by of identifying rogue Heads of State by name. name.

XXVXXV

Donated thousands of dollars to Donated thousands of dollars to numerous Sierra Leone organizations in numerous Sierra Leone organizations in America during my tenure as America during my tenure as Ambassador. Departed from Ambassador. Departed from Washington with Sierra Leone-USA and Washington with Sierra Leone-USA and Sierra Leone-Canadian relations at Sierra Leone-Canadian relations at their highest level of friendship and their highest level of friendship and cooperation in 40 years and with cooperation in 40 years and with Diasporans proud of their Ambassador Diasporans proud of their Ambassador & Embassy. & Embassy.

XXVIXXVIo Early in his tenure, obtained Early in his tenure, obtained

supplies and skilled labor to supplies and skilled labor to refurbish the embassy building to refurbish the embassy building to make it more modern and pleasing make it more modern and pleasing to the visiting public. to the visiting public.

o Established a school at the Bank of Established a school at the Bank of Sierra Leone to prepare staff for the Sierra Leone to prepare staff for the Chartered Institute of Bankers Chartered Institute of Bankers Certificate Examinations. Certificate Examinations.

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When You think of Sa When You think of Sa Lone, Lone,

Think of John Think of John LeighLeigh