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On Wednesday, 20th February 2019, the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland HE Tamba James Sylvanus Lamina, was chauffeured to the inner chambers of Saint James Court in a royal horse-drawn carriage to present his diplomatic credentials to the Queen. They discussed her special interest in Sierra Leone and the struggles to overcome its development challenges.

Following the ceremony, the High Commissioner delivered a speech declaring the break of 鈥渁 new dawn鈥� in Sierra Leone鈥檚 history.

High Commissioner Lamina underlined the increasingly shared view that 鈥渢he Athens of Africa is rising again鈥� and sent an open invitation to anyone interested in helping the country realise its 鈥済olden goals and glorious dreams.鈥�

Speaking on the long standing historical link between Sierra Leone and Britain, the High Commissioner acknowledged Britain鈥檚 positive role during Sierra Leone鈥檚 testy times 鈥� such as the civil war and Ebola outbreak.

Also present at the ceremony was his wife Mrs Salma Lamina; The Deputy High Commissioner Mrs Agness Dugba Macauley and her husband; Mr. Charlie Ojukutu Macauley; Her Royal Highness the Queen鈥檚 marshal of the diplomatic corps; and Patricia Scotland, the first female Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

There were several other high profile guests including Sierra Leone鈥檚 Minister of Information Honorable Rado Swaray, and Honorable Haji Kella, the Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Gender and Children鈥檚 Affairs. Both previous Deputy High Commissioners at the Sierra Leone鈥檚 UK mission 鈥� Mr. Tamba Ngegba and Mr. James Alie - were also present. To demonstrate his country鈥檚 inclusive agenda, the High Commissioner invited about 150 Sierra Leoneans from every walk of life to be part of this ceremony, organised to honour a milestone in the history of Sierra Leone鈥檚 diplomatic mission in the UK.