Hello everyone!  

From Winnipeg, Canada, respect to all my fam, fans, and friends!

The weekend vibes are here – SALNAM announces annual financial report, the Israel/Gaza war, Guinea closes border with Sierra Leone, Adebayor in the question of the day, plus lots more. You're about to read another bone-cracking edition of “Behind the Scenes". This column is the radical thoughts of one guy called Lans Omar aka the “Golden Child” - born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Let's do this: SALNAM has dropped the bomb again! This time with a massive announcement of the 2023 Annual Financial Report released on Sunday October 22, 2023. The Sierra Leone community is currently sitting at $20,830.43 in its coffers. This is very impressive and kudos to President Mohamed Moe Koroma and the entire executive! Oona impress me good, nar for continue the good job!

In this financial report, there are lots of expenses paid off by the current executive including a $1,500.00 for the designing and developing of the new SALNAM website, Folklorama expenses, Canada Day at the park, plus more. In the expenses section of the financial report, something really caught my attention - an outstanding Shaw internet bill of $846.72 incurred by the past executive and cleared from collection by the current executive. Seriously? Damn! The SALNAM financial report also noted a balance brought forward as of September 30, 2022 of only $8.86 (eight dollars and eighty-six cents); this is the only amount inherited and handed over to President Mohamed Moe Koroma from the past executive.

Switching gears: Usually, I don’t rub my big mouth in political events outside of Sierra Leone politics, not even Canadian politics; but for almost a month now, the entire world is witnessing the genocide of Palestinian people by the brutal act of Israel. For almost a month, Israel has dropped over 10,000 bombs on innocent Palestinians; damaging and erasing schools, hospitals and even refugee settlements. Israel stole the Palestinian lands and occupied the very heartland of the Palestinian people – West Bank. Israel is even using nuclear weapons on babies just born in hospital. Sadly enough, Canada, of all countries on planet earth, is supporting this genocide. We all know why Canada and the West are supporting Israel, right? The West is supporting Israel because Palestinians aren’t white people, they are Arabs - Brown people. Palestinians aren’t Christians/Jews; they are Moslems. Palestinians don’t conform to the nasty ways of life in the West; they go strictly by Islamic laws/rules. Judgement Day is just around the corner, and all of you that are supporting this evil act of Israel will surely face the wrath of God! Trust! 

Next stop:  Guinea sef don turn trouble zone! The country taken the drastic measure of shutting its borders with neighboring Sierra Leone and other countries in the aftermath of a daring prison break. This morning at 5:00am,  armed individuals stormed a prison the central prison in the capital of Conakry and successfully took off with a former head of state and two additional inmates. Reports from the BBC indicate that the city of Conakry was rattled by heavy gunfire as the situation unfolded. The armed assailants swiftly blocked access to the city center, leaving residents and authorities stunned. The streets of Conakry witnessed the presence of military vehicles, as they patrolled in response to the prison break.

Question: Political comedian Adebayor has given up the big battle, the dude has been noticeable silent over the past weeks following Samura Kamara's missed opened-goal no goal keeper penalty at the SLPP/APC dialogue. So, we will be witnessing some peace and quietness now that the comedian is gradually off the pitch. Salone nor to serious country.

Finally: Again, the weekend is here! I finished putting up the Christmas lights, no travelling this coming week but I'll be in London, UK, for the Sierra Leone Grammy Awards nite - the Afro Arts Productions awards on Friday November 24, 2023. It's a quiet weekend and I'll be chilling at Alaska's place this afternoon with the boys for some pepper soup. 

Fellas, take it easy as you party this weekend – if you plan to have some good time and get a drink, you know the rules, right? If you’re drinking, don’t drive – if you’re driving, don’t drink. Have a great weekend! Lonta. 

I'm out of here!  

Cheers fellas!

The Golden Child.