SIERRA LEONE: SIR SAMUEL BANKOLA-JONES EXPRESSES RESERVATION AT JUDICIAL SWEARING-IN COLONEL JUXON-SMITH ARRIVES

Record ID: 565955

  • Title: SIERRA LEONE: SIR SAMUEL BANKOLA-JONES EXPRESSES RESERVATION AT JUDICIAL SWEARING-IN COLONEL JUXON-SMITH ARRIVES
  • Date: 29th March 1967
  • Summary: CEREMONY OF SWEARING IN JUDGES; THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, SIR SAMUEL BANKOLE-JONES MAKES SPEECH BEFORE HIS SWEARING-IN (SOF); COLONEL JUXON-SMITH ARRIVING BY LAUNCH; SOLDIERS ON PARADE. TRANSCRIPT: BANKOLE-JONES: "BUT WHAT WORRIES ME TODAY IS THAT WHEN I WAS APPOINTED CHIEF JUSTICE, WHEN I WAS FIRST APPOINTED A JUDGE, I TOOK THE OATH BEFORE THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. REPRESENTATIVE OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. AND ABOUT TWO OR THREE HOURS AGO I GOT A LETTER TO COME HERE TO TAKE THE OATH BEFORE THE NATIONAL REFORMATION COUNCIL. I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THAT, BUT I AM NOT QUITE CERTAIN IN MY MIND WHETHER I AM DOING THE RIGHT THING. I HAVE NOT YET ADVISED MYSELF WHETHER THE SUSPENSION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE SUSPENSION OF WORKINGS OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL ARE THINGS WHICH, AS A JUDGE, ONE OUGHT TO CONTRIBUTE TO. BUT THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES AND, AS I SAY, I AM READY TO SUBJECT MYSELF AND GIVE THE UTMOST SUPPORT TO YOUR COUNCIL." Initials RM/V/BHH/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th April 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE
  • Country: Sierra Leone
  • Reuters ID: LVA85D2EWIDHLSMUTJS4J2V9U1QS
  • Story Text: THE NEW MILITARY LEADER OF SIERRA LEONE, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ANDREW JUXON-SMITH, SAID IN FREETOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE WANTED TO END BRIBERY, CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM "WHICH HAVE BESMIRCHED THE NAME OF SIERRA LEONE AND MOST OF BLACK AFRICA". THE JUDGES WHO WILL PLAY A LARGE PART IN ANY SUCH DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION WERE SWORN IN ON SUNDAY BY MR. WILLIAM LEIGH, THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE AND A MEMBER OF THE RULING NATIONAL REFORMATION COUNCIL.

    THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS IN SIERRA LEONE IS THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR SAMUEL BANKOLE-JONES. BEFORE TAKING HIS OATH OF OFFICE, SIR SAMUEL EXPRESSED PRAISE AND SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL REFORMATION COUNCIL, BUT EXPRESSED SOME RESERVATION....
    COLONEL JUXON-SMITH ARRIVED AT FREETOWN WHARF BY LAUNCH YESTERDAY AFTER A CAR AND RIVER JOURNEY FROM THE AIRPORT. HE RECEIVED FULL MILITARY HONOURS FROM A 96-MAN HONOUR GUARD. COLONEL JUXON-SMITH WAS APPOINTED BY THE REFORMATION COUNCIL AS ITS LEADER IN PLACE OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL AME ROSE GENDA, WHO HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO THE POST SHORTLY BEFORE. THE NEW LEADER HAS PROMISED TO FIRMLY DISCOURAGE TRIBALISM IN SIERRA LEONE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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