Bintumani is the name of Sierra Leone’s tallest mountain but it is also the name given to a conference of citizens that has happened twice before. Bintumani I was the first of such events and it was a demand by citizens for the National Provisionary Ruling Council (NPRC) administration to negotiate peace with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) because citizens by then had lost faith in the junta’s to capacity to end the war. Bintumani II was held when citizens demanded a multi-party general election, election before peace overextended military rule. Bintumani III is a national dialogue conference on democratic consolidation for peace and national cohesion scheduled for the 23 – 25 May. Now that we have an idea about the Bintumani III, The major question on many Sierra Leoneans lips is “Is this really necessary”? Is the time right for such conferences? According to Thomas Dixon a writer from the New Age Newspaper, “Sierra Leone has seen legions of conferences from the pre-independence era when Sir Milton formed a bipartisan front to the recent constitutional review committee that was set by the recent past President Koroma, little or nothing has been implemented. ” So far there has been a lot of debate and controversy about Bintumani III, majorly due to the fact that many don’t know what it entails or some just don’t think the country is ready yet for another conference due to a number of failed conferences as stated by Dixon But according to Hon. Habib Bakarr Munda from the Sierra Leone Telegraph the conference is worth a try as the two previous editions have been a success. Citizens according to him after the fifth democratic general elections and peaceful transfer of power from one civilian government to the other, for certain reform measures, in order to strengthen the democratic governance arrangement systems, transparency and accountability, rule of law, property rights, constitutional reform, electoral system, women’s right, youth empowerment, and the decade-old chieftaincy norms that can suit the current demands and trends of the society And to achieve this he says, “I hold a strong view that, Sierra Leoneans should give Bintumani Three conference a chance. This will enable us all as a country and people to evolve through the required stages and processes of democratic and good governance pathways.” The Bintumani III continues to be surrounded by controversy as Former Vice President Chief Sam Sumana decline an invitation to moderate a session at the Bintumani III conference scheduled for the 23 – 25 May which is less than 4 days to go
