Travelogue
From the Caribbean to the Lion Mountain
With Theophilus Sahr Gbenda
Melanie Seecharan, a Trinidad and Tobago national, paid a friendly visit to Africa for the very first time in her life, with Sierra Leone, also popularly known as the Lion Mountain, being her destination.
The main motivation for embarking on the very long and expensive trip is to meet a friend she has been in contact with over a period of time, and to visit the country for the purpose of establishing a charity. The said friend happens to be David Ahmad Jalloh.
Melanie set off for the trip three weeks ago, flying all the way from Trinidad and Tobago to London, and then to Casablanca, and onward to Sierra Leone, since there is no direct flight available. The flight took her three days, costing about Four Thousand United States Dollars.
Arriving in Sierra Leone, Melanie received what she referred to as a very warm reception and unprecedented hospitality not only from her primary host, David, but also another friend Amadu Cain-ka Kamara, and from each and every person she encountered from the airport to the centrally located Hotel Cabenda situated on Signal Hill Road in Freetown.
Though coming to Sierra Leone for the very first time, Melanie told only few family members and friends out there in Trinidad and Tobago about her trip to Sierra Leone.
Melanie is a homely Christian Catholic, with passion for showing love and care for animals, particularly stray dogs. She also has great passion for helping people deemed to be vulnerable in welfare and economic standing terms.
She therefore came to Sierra Leone with a great sense of empathy and a clear conscience built on mutual trust and partnership.
“The atmosphere is good, the people are friendly, the food is amazing, and I do feel at home”, says Melanie, who has since paid visits to places like Banana Island, Number Two River Beach, Aberdeen/Lumley Beach, the Cathedral House on Siaka Stevens Street in central Freetown, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the National Museum.
In all the places visited, Melanie saw beauty and the extraordinary work of nature, most of which she was seeing for the very first time. She took many pictures of interest as well as videos.
As part of her charity work, Melanie, inspired by thoughtful emotion and love, provided support to a number of children at an event attended by family members and well-wishers. The items presented to the targeted children include snacks, copybooks, pens, cyrons and school bags.
Melanie was thrilled by the emotions and sentiments expressed by the children who received the gifts, saying, “I see the need to do more, and wishing other well-meaning citizens will come onboard”.
The charity foundation when established, will be dedicated towards providing humanitarian and educational support to needy children in a more sustainable and voluntary way.
“Offering help to needy people should not be a ‘pappy show’ to gain media publicity, but rather about showing empathy and affection”, Melanie said.
Trinidad and Tobago is a Caribbean country with a population of less than two million people, mostly from diverse West Indies and West African origins. The country also has many other races and multiple religions.
The country is said to be a melting pot with mixed cultures, a pleasant variety of foods including rice, plenty of touristic sites, posh hotels and luxurious private and public buildings.
Trinidad and Tobago is a third world country that thrives on an oil and gas economy, with a huge touristic potential.