Canadian Navy and High Commissioner visit Sierra Leone

Royal CDN Navy and High Commissioner visit Sierra Leone

For Immediate Release

Royal Canadian Navy ships and Canadian High Commissioner visit Sierra Leone

For immediate release: On March 19^th, 2017, two modern Royal Canadian Navy ships, the HMCS Summerside and Moncton, will berth in the heart of Freetown. The Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels will take part in Neptune Trident 17-01, the overarching Royal Canadian Navy deployment to West Africa, and includes engagements with West African nations to support joint training and foster relationships in the Gulf of Guinea region.

Personnel and crew will also participate in Obangame Express 2017, an at-sea maritime training event led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa. The Maritime Group will work with regional partners to support joint training, which aims to delay, disrupt, or destroy criminal or enemy forces or supplies en route at sea. The operation, Obangame Express 2017, is designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the region. Obangame means "togetherness," and comes from the Fang language of southern Cameroon and other parts of Central Africa.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy to work in cooperation with global partners in joint training activities to promote Canada's ability to successfully work together with partners and allies on multinational operations and missions,” said Harjit Singh Sajjan, Canada’s Minister of National Defence.

That same theme, Obangame (togetherness), can be applied to the visit of Commanders and crew of Summerside and Moncton as they engage with Government of Sierra Leone officials, girls and boys, orphans, youth, school-going children, men and women of Sierra Leone. Between March 19^th and March 25^th, the Captain and crews of the Royal Canadian Navy ships will help out and play with children at an orphanage in Cline Town, read to children in Aberdeen and visit historic sites in Freetown. Navy personnel will be joined by Her Excellency, Heather Cameron, the Canadian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, as they continue to demonstrate the togetherness of Canada and Sierra Leone.

“This month marks the 225^th anniversary of the Nova Scotians arriving from Canada and the establishment of Freetown in 1792. This is likely the oldest contact between Canadians and Sub Saharan Africa, and it is an honour to be in Freetown with two Marine Coastal Defense Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy – both of which have sailed to Freetown from Halifax, Nova Scotia.”

“2017 is also the 150^th anniversary of Canada’s confederation, when 4 provinces, including Nova Scotia, voluntarily came together to found a country called Canada. In this 150^th year, we are proud to celebrate Canada’s identity; our ethnic, linguistic, cultural and regional diversity; our beautiful environment; and, our rich history and heritage. Our anniversary celebrations focus on the themes of diversity and inclusiveness, reconciliation with our Indigenous peoples, youth engagement and leadership, and the environment.”

H.E. Heather Cameron, High Commissioner of Canada to Sierra Leone.

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Background

In 1792, 225 years ago, more than 1,000 former slaves from the U.S. and settlers left the shores of Nova Scotia, Canada, to return to Sierra Leone as free men and women. They settled in the nest along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean beneath the enclave of hills known as “Lion Mountain”. And, in commemoration of their return to West Africa, named their new home, “Freetown”.

Under the British protectorate, they built homes, schools and churches. They named roads, cultivated the soil, traded and built what is now a thriving metropolis. On March 11^th, 2017, the Mayor and dignitaries celebrated the founding of Freetown by these same settlers under the majestic Cotton Tree before the historic law courts on Siaka Stevens Street.

And so began the strong, rich relationship between the east coast of Canada and the west coast of Sierra Leone. The ancestors of those freed slaves and settlers blossomed and in 1961 formed the Republic of Sierra Leone, independent of Britain; a sovereign nation under the warm sun along the pristine coastline. In 1961, Canada and Sierra Leone established formal diplomatic relations and the connection between the two countries flourished.

The special affinity between the two countries is reflected today in a positive working relationship, which allows Canada and Sierra Leone to cooperate on a broad spectrum of issues, including the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. Canada was the 6th largest donor to the UN Peace-Building Fund, pledging $35 million through 2012. This support has included Canadian training, equipment and programs for police and Sierra Leonean peacekeepers. Canada has chaired the Sierra Leone PBC Country configuration since February 2009. Canada was highly involved with the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), which concluded its work in 2013, contributing $18 million over the life of the Court and chairing the Court’s Management Committee, presiding over one of its trial chambers.

Canada was one of the earliest responders to the Ebola crisis, and committed more than $130 million to help address the health, humanitarian and security implications of the crisis in West Africa. In 2014-2015, Canadian development assistance, estimated at $21.73 million for Sierra Leone, essentially targeted humanitarian assistance and health.

Canada also contributed in-kind efforts to end the Ebola outbreak, including the deployment of two rotating mobile laboratories (provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada - PHAC) and lab teams to Sierra Leone from June 2014 to May 2015); support to the deployment of health experts and emergency response personnel to UN agencies in the affected countries; the donation and delivery of more than $18 million worth of items of personal protective equipment to the WHO and, the donation of an experimental vaccine to the WHO. Based on an interim analysis of the vaccine during trials in Guinea, the E-Bov vaccine proved effective in protecting people exposed to Ebola, the vaccine is now being used in Sierra Leone.

In November 2014, Canada launched the “Join the Fight against Ebola” campaign, which led to the recruitment of seven Canadian healthcare workers and the deployment of 58 delegates through the Canadian Red Cross, to help manage existing Ebola Treatment Centres in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea (including 36 delegates who were specifically deployed to support response efforts in Sierra Leone).

From December 2014 to June 2015, the Department of National Defence also deployed Canadian Armed Forces healthcare and support staff to work at the UK’s Kerry Town treatment centre, where they provided medical care to 90 local and international healthcare workers.

Stephen Douglas

Journalist/Media Development Consultant

(currently based in Freetown, Sierra Leone)
Phone: +232 (0) 78 508 995

Skype: stephen.douglas63

"Quality journalism enables citizens to make informed decisions about their society’s development. It also works to expose injustice, corruption, and the abuse of power. For this, journalism must be able to thrive, in an enabling environment in which they can work independently and without undue interference and in conditions of safety."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon