In the meantime, steps are going to be taken to at least minimize and, if possible, completely eliminate the smuggling of these our precious resources by ensuring that no one citizen of Sierra Leone resides in any mining area without proper documentation. Furthermore, a central marketing arrangement will be instituted for the sale of these precious minerals through open competitive bidding. Countrymen, I have spoken at length over several issues. I hope the AFRC will have their goodwill and cooperation and also those of the international community to take our country out of the doldrums of rancor and the dependency syndrome. We appreciate that the going would not be easy.
Hard choices have to be made and hardship has to be endured.
With God's help, we shall overcome. I thank you all for your patience.