2003 Press Releases

A GREAT DAY FOR KONO:  KOIDU GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL RENOVATED AND KONO PEACE DIAMOND ALLIANCE LAUNCHED

August 27, 2003

Freetown, Sierra Leone
Contact: PAO Kevin Green
Tel: 226481 ext.209

August 27, 2003, was a day of exceptional promise for the people of Kono, and all of Sierra Leone.  On this day, in Koidu Town, U.S. Ambassador Peter R. Chaveas handed over the newly rehabilitated Koidu Government Hospital to H.E. President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. The rehabilitation of the Hospital was funded by the United States Government, through USAID.  Later that day, President Kabbah formally launched the Kono Peace Diamond Alliance, a coalition comprising the Governments of Sierra Leone, the United States (USAID), and the United Kingdom (Dfid), industry experts, community representatives and others – all working to improve the legality and profitability of diamond mining in Sierra Leone.  U.S. Ambassador Peter R. Chaveas remarked during the ceremonies that “the United States is committed to the people of Kono and committed to assuring that diamonds become a genuine asset to the economic future of Sierra Leone and its people.”

The U.S. Government spent $579,765 rehabilitating Koidu Government Hospital.  Its implementing partners were PREMIER URGENCE, a French non-governmental and non-profit organization, and the people of Koidu itself.  The partners restored the war-damaged district hospital and assisted reintegration by employing 80% local labor, including ex-combatants and war-affected returnees.  The new hospital is complete and ready to provide health care services.  Local authorities are pleased with the quality of the rehabilitation and President Kabbah expressed thanks to all involved.  Ambassador Chaveas reported that similar work on the Kailahun Hospital would be completed in about two months.

The launching of the Kono Peace Diamond Alliance is an important step towards improving control and management of Sierra Leone’s diamond industry.   Diamond smuggling, money laundering, abuse of official position, and unfair labor practices have plagued the industry for years.   In 2002, only $41 million of the projected $300 million worth diamonds mined in Sierra Leone were legally exported.  Ambassador Chaveas emphasized the role Sierra Leone diamonds played in the terrorism perpetrated by the RUF and warned of the danger that those diamonds "may now or in the future support the activities of terrorist organizations elsewhere in the world."