2007年VOA标准英语-Britain's Blair Says Farewell in Sierra Leone

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
30 May 2007

British Prime Minister Tony Blair continues his farewell tour of Africa in Sierra Leone Wednesday, the second stop in his three-country tour. The impoverished¹ in west African country is where the prime minister is widely credited with ending a brutal² 10-year civil war. Naomi Schwarz has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

Tony Blair (file photo)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair received a warm reception in Sierra Leone, a country that credits the prime minister with turning the tide in its brutal civil war and bringing an end to the 10-year nightmare.

In thanks, representatives of Sierra Leone's 149 paramount³ chiefs, local traditional rulers in the former British colony, will name Mr. Blair one of their own at a ceremony in the township of Mahera. In addition he will receive an honorary doctorate⁴ from the University of Sierra Leone.

As Mr. Blair considers his legacy⁵ after he steps down next month, Patrick Smith, editor of British-based Africa Confidential⁶ says Mr. Blair may hope people will remember his role in ending the Sierra Leone conflict.

"Sending the British troops into Sierra Leone in 2000 was regarded almost unequivocally as a foreign policy success," said Smith. "Three years later when he sent the troops into Iraq and Afghanistan it has been regarded almost unequivocally as a foreign policy failure. So he probably has a bit of nostalgia⁷ for Sierra Leone because of that."

Frances Fortune, with Sierra Leone non-governmental organization Search for Common Ground, says Sierra Leoneans have not forgotten the role the British played.

"England is Sierra Leone's best friend," she said. "Sierra Leoneans are very grateful to the support that the United Kingdom has given to the country to help them deal with the war and the aftermath of the war."

Britain has long had a close relationship with the West African nation founded with British help by freed slaves in the 1700s. Africa Confidential editor Smith says Mr. Blair also has personal ties in the country.

"Blair's own family had strong ties to Sierra Leone. His father was an examiner at the Furrow⁸ Bay College, which was one of the earliest universities in West Africa," added Smith. "So I think he has both the national and personal ties to Sierra Leone."

Search for Common Ground's Fortune says Sierra Leoneans hope the new leaders in Britain will continue to support development in Sierra Leone. She says infrastructure⁹, particularly roads and electricity, is still lacking, and this impedes¹⁰ growth.

"If we are going to be able to attract investors¹¹ we need to tackle some of the very larger issues that are limiting the ability of investors to come here and work effectively," said Fortune.

She said the country is also working hard to combat corruption¹² and poverty.

1 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

4 doctorate   

n.(大学授予的)博士学位

参考例句：

• He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
• Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士？

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

7 nostalgia   

n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧

参考例句：

• He might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth.也许是对年轻时幸福时光的怀恋影响了他。
• I was filled with nostalgia by hearing my favourite old song.我听到这首喜爱的旧歌，心中充满了怀旧之情。

8 furrow   

n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹

参考例句：

• The tractor has make deep furrow in the loose sand.拖拉机在松软的沙土上留下了深深的车辙。
• Mei did not weep.She only bit her lips,and the furrow in her brow deepened.梅埋下头，她咬了咬嘴唇皮，额上的皱纹显得更深了。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 impedes   

阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• High packing density greatly impedes the cooling of the array. 高存贮密度很不利于阵列的散热。
• The inflexibility of the country's labor market seriously impedes its economic recovery. 该国劳工市场缺乏灵活性，这严重阻碍了它的经济恢复。

11 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

12 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。