2007年VOA标准英语-New Political Party Enters Sierra Leone's Polit

By Naomi Schwarz
Bo, Sierra Leone
07 August 2007

In Sierra Leone, where presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for August 11, a brand new party has entered the political scene long dominated by the People's Party, or SLPP, and the All People's Congress, or APC. Naomi Schwarz visited the Bo region to see the impact of the new party.

Posters in Bo show support for the new PMDC party

SLPP supporters chant for their party at a rally in Bo, Sierra Leone's second largest city and the commercial center of the diamond region. This city is also the heart of SLPP territory, and banners and T-shirts blanketing the city prove it.

Ibrahim Jabati, 23, says he is voting for the SLPP candidate, Solomon Berewa.

"I am going to vote for Solo B., the only way out," he said.

Berewa is the current vice¹ president and the country's de facto leader since 2002, when President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah retired² from an active role and appointed Berewa his successor.

Jabati says he is voting for Berewa based on his proven track record.

"Because he done things that I have seen. So I prefer to support him," said Jabait. "Because he has done well for the country."

But many Sierra Leoneans disagree with Jabati.

opposition3 candidate Ernest Bai Koroma, ahead of presidential elections, 06 Aug 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070811/0914501.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A man passes in a Freetown suburb, a poster for opposition candidate Ernest Bai Koroma, ahead of presidential elections, 06 Aug 2007

During a brief interlude of sun in a rainy day, in a small village a few hours away, APC supporters are rallying for their candidate, Ernest Koroma. At the rally, Samuel Kamara says the ruling party has not brought progress to Sierra Leone.

"We decided⁴ to have a change," said Kamara. "And this time around we mean positive change."

He says the country has received millions of dollars in aid since the civil war ended in 2002, but people are still living in poverty.

Back in the city of Bo, many residents also say they want change. But they say they do not trust the APC to bring it about.

Mohamed Gibateh, a nurse in Bo hospital, has voted for SLPP in the past. He says he would never vote for APC.

"All what we are seeing today trouble, it was caused by APC," he said. "They brought everything."

The APC ruled Sierra Leone for more than 25 years, after independence. The president during most of those years, Siaka Stevens, banned other political parties. Sierra Leone, rich in diamonds, gold, and other mineral resources, was one of the world's poorest countries.

APC and SLPP are the two main parties in the race

Since the return of multi-party democracy in 1996, the APC and the SLPP have been the two main contenders. But this year, voters like Gibateh are turning towards a third party.

"Francis Charles Margai is the only man we hope can bring changes in this country," he said.

Charles Margai is the candidate of The People's Movement for Democratic Change. Margai is a well-known politician, but the movement is brand new. He had been a high-level member of SLPP, and left the party when he lost the vote to become its candidate in this year's presidential elections.

Now he and his party are gaining more and more support among people like Gibateh who used to vote for SLPP.

Although the movement's overall popularity is still quite low, compared to the APC and SLPP, analysts⁵ say Margai could have a big impact on the outcome of the election and reshuffle the political deck for the two main contenders.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。