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A former Canadian defense minister has resigned from his position as Honorary Consul for Sierra Leone, citing the continued detention of Canadian-Sierra Leonean citizen Hawa Hunt as a violation of fundamental human rights.
David Pratt, who served in the role for over a decade, submitted his resignation in protest of Hunt’s ongoing imprisonment.
Hunt, a 43-year-old mother of three, has been detained in Sierra Leone since December 22, facing charges under the country’s Cybersecurity and Crime Act for alleged “insulting messages” posted on social media, which were critical of President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio.
Pratt, in his resignation letter to the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner in Washington, D.C., expressed his deep concern over the handling of Hunt’s case. “I believe very strongly that Sierra Leone needs to have a higher regard for human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, than has been on display recently,” he stated. “Under the circumstances, I feel I can no longer continue as the honorary consul for Sierra Leone and hereby tender my resignation.”
Speaking to Postmedia Calgary, Pratt described his “shock” at Hunt’s arrest and deemed her continued detention “overkill.” He emphasized that his resignation was intended to send a strong message to Sierra Leonean officials.
“I hope that if somebody in the embassy or the Sierra Leone Foreign Ministry does look at the letter, they will understand that at least this particular honorary consul was not happy about the way they dealt with a Canadian citizen,” he said.
Pratt, who has maintained a 35-year connection with Sierra Leone, including serving as a special envoy, highlighted his role as honorary consul as primarily facilitative, aiding Sierra Leoneans in Canada and Canadians in Sierra Leone.
His resignation comes amidst growing international concern for Hunt’s well-being in Pademba Road Prison, which Pratt described as “not a nice place.”
Despite Hunt’s public apology to the president and first lady, and multiple denied bail requests, she remains in detention.
Was he happy when Hawa Hunt was insulting the first gentleman, and his first Lady right. Most of those big Vons that are serving understand the rulling government are sheep in a wolf clothing. They are really giving the president tuff time.
Mr. President please sir, serve your conscience as far as God knows u doing your best. U can’t certified everybody all together. Hawa Hunt was so rude the president and his wife, freedom of speech also have limitations and not in this case where she disgrace our president her president and most of are there supporting her.
Let me ask u Mr minister is this a Freedom of speech?
This Minister don’t Understand the Words the woman used in Krio this is Sierra Leone we have our own Laws it will be better for him to jump into the sea.Big Countries like China do the same but nobody talks.
You’re a fool, China doesn’t endorse democracy, so you can’t compare Salone to China in terms of human rights.
Someone can kill and issue will resolve talk less of an abusive language.
Today is for Hawa Hunt tomorrow might be you
That’s the question
Pademba Road prison not a nice place for Not a Nice Person
Mr former minister pls do us a favour pls ban yourself from coming to Sierra Leone because u resigning from ur position is not enough for me.some of guys think Sierra Leone is a garbage for u so called foreign diplomats.we are a sovereign state we have our own laws and we go by them we would not allow u guys to dictate to us ok.
More like the “Paopas” live, in their minds, in their “own sovereign state with their own laws.” We are not part of the “banana republic of Salone” you are creating. Since when “insulting” became a criminal matter? Bo oona lef wi bo. Den kuss oona demi god.
One of the 48 laws of power states: Know who you are dealing with. Do not offend the wrong person. Does free speech also include insulting someone’s personality?
If you cannot bear the heat of the fire you must go to the kitchen
Ooo slaone this case done pass murder
But wait mamy kus nor get fine na court e gain? N are belive say this tin done happen before the law day pass na parliaments but hmmm
Sierra Leone is a sovereign country on it own and such misbehavior should never be tolerated from anyone against their fellow not to talk of insulting the first gentle family of our country. These foreign folks want to dictate what should be done in our country and in most times they’re happy with such nonsense to an extent of even inciting war in our country. Look at Netherland keeping Adebayoh safe in their country and at the same time supporting him to create unrest in our country and these same people where still after someone they called a drug lord suspected to be in Sierra Leone expecting our government to extradite him whilst they have fail and refuse to do the same in Adebayoh’s case. One thing I am happy for our government they pretend as if they don’t know and reject your opinion silently. Hawa Hunt should serve the period of time she is given as punishment in prison for doing such disrespectful thing to the state and it first family. If she is released now she will do more than what she did just like Mohamed Kamarainba when he was released from pademba road prison on bail and later flew to America where he is now and causing social media noise against the country’s integrity.
The money ministers are stealing cannot be compared to this hunt case .
It’s better u free her or we deny salone people visa to Canada.
This is inhumane on the part of maada bio and his slay queen .
We are going to organize nationwide demonstration very soon
Go and fck yourself with your visa, who cares…
Resignation is not enough. He should drink poison and die or go hang in the bush.