VOA常速英语2007-Sierra Leone Sacks Anti-Corruption Chief

By Kari Barber
Dakar
24 October 2007

Sierra Leone's new government has replaced the chief of the country's anti-graft body. Many say the commission has failed to stem rampant¹ corruption² which has crippled the post-conflict nation. Kari Barber has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

The new Commissioner³ of Sierra Leone's Anti-Corruption Commission Abdul Tejan-Cole has worked as a human rights lawyer and for international justice bodies. Many say the man he is replacing, Henry Joko-Smart, failed to do enough to investigate corruption and bring those responsible to trial.

A top official in the ruling All People's Congress party, Alimamy Koroma, says the new government of President Ernest Koroma wants to outdo the former administration's efforts in battling corruption.

"I cannot say they did nothing," he said. "They did something, but they could have done more. And that is what we are looking forward to is doing more in the area of curbing⁴ corruption."

Experts say corruption has stifled⁵ the resource-rich nation's ability to rebuild its infrastructure⁶ and economy following civil war.

Sallieu Camara of the Freetown-based watchdog Network Movement for Justice and Development says the dismissal of former commissioner Joko-Smart was what people wanted and expected.

"The sacking, or dismissal, from the anti-corruption commission did not come as a big surprise for most Sierra Leoneans because, based on his performance, many people knew, even before the elections, that he would be one of the first casualties," said Camara.

He says that after the war, people were hopeful the anti-graft body would help bring an end to impunity⁷. Many, he says, expressed disappointment and frustration⁸ when high-ranking officials charged with corruption were not brought to court.

Earlier this year Britain, Sierra Leone's former colonial ruler and biggest financial backer, criticized the commission for its poor performance.

Camara says the first challenge for the new commissioner will be to restore confidence in the anti-corruption commission and its commitment to its work.

"People have lost confidence in the institution of the anti-corruption commission," he said. "They have a responsibility in the first place to restore that confidence and trust."

Camara says the commission's staff is small, and so Sierra Leoneans must provide information to the commission about possible cases of corruption. He says citizens are not likely to do that when if they are not confident the commission will follow through and bring those guilty to justice.

The monitoring group Transparency International recently released a list of nations with the highest perceived rates of corruption. Sierra Leone ranked among the world's worst, at 150 of about 180 countries.

1 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

5 stifled   

（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵

参考例句：

• The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
• The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

8 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。