Farren Calls for Political Partnerships with Developing Countries

Speaking on the eve of departing on a four-day visit to Sierra Leone to help plan training programmes with local political parties there North Antrim MLA Seán Farren said:

“As we move towards restoring our political institutions we should also widen our horizons and begin asking what contribution we should be making to countries in the developing world.

“Countries like Sierra Leone suffer huge problems; problems that make ours seem petty and irresponsible by comparison.

“In Sierra Leone few people have proper jobs; education, even at primary level is not freely available to all; many schools operate on shift systems to share facilities with others; health services are basic and not widely available. Life expectancy is, therefore, several years below ours and many children die in infancy.

“Infrastructure in Sierra Leon e is poor. Most roads are unpaved and power is only available in towns and suffers frequent break-downs.

“All of these problems mean that economic activity is at a very low level, investment is difficult to attract and so the economy is mainly dependent on the international aid agencies.

“Politicians in Sierra Leone trying to wrestle with these problems have few resources either in terms of personnel or finance.

“A common goal that parties here in Northern Ireland could share is to develop partnerships with political parties in a country like Sierra Leone to help them develop their organisation, structures and policy making capacities.

“This week I shall begin some of that kind work with representatives of the Labour, Conservative and Lib-Dems but would hope to see future projects also involve other parties from Northern Ireland and the South. Such an undertaking would be a clear statement that we are committed to strengthening democracy not just here at home but in countries like Sierra Leone also emerging from political instability and conflict.”