text:
Housing Finance in Sierra Leone
To download a pdf version of the full 2022 Sierra Leone country profile, click here.
In 2021, the Republic of Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone) had a projected total population of 8,141,343 and an estimated urban population of 3,531,063 (43% of the population), with a 3.1% annual growth rate in urban population. Freetown is the country's capital and biggest city, as well as its primary urban and commercial center. The development of buildings on the slopes is a recent and concerning occurrence. This has resulted in widespread deforestation and the development of dwellings on wet areas and forest reserves.
The economy is expected to increase 3.2% in 2021 after contracting 2% in 2020, boosted by greater mining and agriculture exports and the return of iron ore production. Fuel and food price hikes lowered 2022 growth projections from 5.9% to 3.6%. Higher import costs and currency rate depreciation pushed 2022 inflation from 12% to 22.1% (end-of-period). Sierra Leone's inflation is sensitive to global food and fuel costs, and inflationary pressures have risen since mid-2021. This was due to increasing agricultural investments and government assistance for SMEs via the Sierra Leone Microcredit Scheme (MUNAFA Fund) and the Bank of Sierra Leone's Le500 billion (US$40 million) special credit facility.
Total bank assets and deposits rose 20.8% and 23.2% in 2021. Nonperforming loans rose 2.5 percentage points to 15.2% of total loans. Most significant financial soundness indicators stayed above required criteria during the first quarter of 2022. Growth in monetary aggregates slowed, suggesting a fall in currency in circulation and bank reserves.
In 2021, the mortgage interest rate in Sierra Leone was 21%. A regular 50 kg bag of cement costs SLL 120,000 (US$ 8.29) in local currency.The average monthly rental fee for a freshly constructed home by a professional developer or contractor is US$1727.
Despite the government's strong commitment to enhancing energy capacity, investments and private sector involvement in the industry have been minimal. Obtaining cost-effective risk financing has been cited as a significant obstacle, particularly for renewable energy. The nation's legislative framework is open to the admission and establishment of foreign investment. After paying their taxes, foreign investors are permitted to transfer cash (earnings) from overseas, including dividends paid to a parent business established outside Sierra Leone. The repatriation of earnings is a further advantage for international investors.
Find out more information on the housing finance sector of Sierra Leone, including key stakeholders, important policies and housing affordability:
Macroecoomic Overview
Webistes
The Republic of Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone) had an estimated total population of 8,141,343[1] and an estimated urban population of 3,531,063[2] (43% of the population)[3] in 2021, with an annual urban population growth rate of 3.1%.[4] The capital, and largest city, is Freetown, which is also the country's major urban and economic centre.
Freetown is home to a growing number of the country's population, with a recent and worrying phenomenon being the expansion of housing into the foothills. This has resulted in mass deforestation and housing construction on wet lands and forest reserves. Torrential rains saturate the soil, which in turn triggers rapid movement of rain or debris causing land and mudslides. Mudslides and landslides, coupled with overcrowding in the dense clusters of homes in Freetown, have resulted in loss of lives, livelihoods and houses in recent years.[5]
The country has high levels of poverty (56.8% in 2018), of income inequality, and of youth unemployment, which are all attributable to overall slow growth and the lack of economic diversification.[6] Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) dominate the domestic private sector in Sierra Leone as they constitute 90% of all activity and provide livelihoods to approximately 70% of the population.[7] However, most SMEs operate in the informal sector and only 10% of SMEs are registered – reflecting the high prevalence of informal or unregistered businesses in the country.[8] The agriculture sector dominates the country's formal economy and accounts for a large proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. The sector employs around 54.9%[9] of the country's working population, making it one of the primary growth drivers. Other key sectors include services and industry, with each contributing 31.1%[10] and 5.2% to GDP respectively.[11]
The economy is estimated to have grown by 3.2% in 2021 after a contraction of 2% in 2020,[12] with growth being
driven on the demand side by higher exports from mining and agribusiness, and on the supply side by the resumption of iron ore production alongside recovery in other sectors. Manufacturing was the fastest-growing sub-sector, expanding by 12.3 % in 2021 after contracting by 6.7 % in the previous year. This was a result of its benefiting from the government's support to SMEs through the Sierra Leone Microcredit Scheme (MUNAFA Fund) and Bank of Sierra Leone's Le500 billion (US$40 million) special credit facility, as well as from increased agribusiness investments.[13] A surge in international fuel and food prices set back projected growth for 2022, with the revised rate being down to 3.6%, from 5.9% at the time of projection by the International Monetary Fund in July 2021.[14] Inflation is estimated to have declined to 11% in 2021, from 13.4% in 2020.[15] For 2022, inflation has been revised from 12% to 22.1% (end-of-period, 2022) due to higher import prices and exchange rate depreciation[16], even though the exchange rate remained relatively stable in 2021. Domestic inflation is vulnerable to global food and fuel prices in Sierra Leone and inflationary pressures have accelerated since mid-2021, driven by the post-pandemic rebound in consumption and global supply chain disruptions.[17]
Sierra Leone is 92 on out of 180 countries in the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index[18] with a Climate Risk Index (CRI) score of 85.83. The CRI indicates a level of exposure and vulnerability to extreme events, which countries should understand as warnings in order to be prepared for more frequent and/or more severe events in the future.[19] Sierra Leone is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing high temperatures, inconsistent weather patterns and recurrent storms, floods, mudslides, and a rising sea level.[20] Residents living in extreme poverty in Freetown are most exposed to the impacts and burdens of climate change, such as rising sea-level and temperatures, as well as the increasing intensity of rainfall.[21] Sierra Leone has adopted a National Climate Change Policy and its Medium- Term National Development Plan 2019–23 which underscores the need for aligning environmental, climate, and economic development plans to mitigate the causes of global warming and assist citizens adapt.[22]
[1] The World Bank (2021). United Nations Population Division. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=SL (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[2] The World Bank (2021). United Nations Population Division. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL?locations=SL (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[3] The World Bank (2021). United Nations Population Division. (Accessed 4 September 2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=SL
[4] The World Bank (2021). United Nations Population Division. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.GROW?locations=SL (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[5] International Institute for Environment and Development. (2020). Loss And Damage From Climate Change Has Pushed Sierra Leoneans Far Beyond Their Ability To Adapt. https://www.preventionweb.net/news/loss-and-damage-climate-change-has-pushed-sierra-leoneans-far-beyond-their-ability-adapt (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[6] African Development Bank. (2022). African Economic Outlook 2022 https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/african-economic-outlook-2022 (Accessed 5 September 2022) Pg. 189.
[7] https://www.intellecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Promoting-a-resilient-private-sector-Sierra-Leone-May21-1.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022).Pg 16.
[8] The World Bank (2022). Sierra Leone Economic Update 2022 : Leveraging SME Financing and Digitization for Inclusive Growth (English) https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099150006152211874/p1779940663f6b09308f080e2eaa3e7e4c2 (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg. 35.
[9] The World Bank. (2021) Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) – Sierra Leone, The World Bank Group, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=SL (Accessed 4 September 2022)
[10] The World Bank. (2021) Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO e estimate) – Sierra Leone, The World Bank Group, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=SL (Accessed 4 September 2022)
[11] The World Bank. (2021) Services, value added (% of GDP) – Sierra Leone, The World Bank Group, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.SRV.TOTL.ZS?locations=SL (Accessed 4 September 2022)
[12] African Development Bank. (2022). African Economic Outlook 2022 https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/african-economic-outlook-2022 (Accessed 5 September 2022) Pg. 189.
[13] The World Bank (2022). Sierra Leone: Leveraging SME Financing as Engine of Economic Growth and Job Creation. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/sierraleone/publication/afw-sierra-leone-leveraging-sme-financing-as-engine-of-economic-growth-and-job-creation (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[14] African Business (2022). IMF Staff Completes Staff Level Agreement on the Fifth Review of the Extended Credit Facility for Sierra Leone and Conducts the 2022 Article IV consultation. https://african.business/2022/06/apo-newsfeed/imf-staff-completes-staff-level-agreement-on-the-fifth-review-of-the-extended-credit-facility-for-sierra-leone-and-conducts-the-2022-article-iv-consultation/ (Accessed 5 September 2022).
[17] The World Bank (2022). Sierra Leone Economic Update 2022 : Leveraging SME Financing and Digitization for Inclusive Growth (English) https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099150006152211874/p1779940663f6b09308f080e2eaa3e7e4c2 (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg 2.
[18]The Global Catastrophic Risk Institute (2021) Global Climate Risk Index 2021 https://www.germanwatch.org/sites/default/files/Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202021_2.pdf (Accessed 5 September 2022) Pg. 46.
[19]The Global Catastrophic Risk Institute (2021) Global Climate Risk Index 2021 https://www.germanwatch.org/sites/default/files/Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202021_2.pdf (Accessed 5 September 2022) Pg. 3.
[21]African Cities. (2022) Breaking the cycle of housing deprivation in Freetown's informal settlements. https://www.african-cities.org/breaking-the-cycle-of-housing-deprivation-in-freetowns-informal-settlements/ (Accessed 4 September 2022).
The central bank in Sierra Leone (Bank of Sierra Leone) is 100% state-owned. The objective and functions of the Bank of Sierra Leone as set out in the Bank of Sierra Leone Act, 2011, are to formulate and implement monetary policy, financial regulation and prudential standards and to license, register, regulate and supervise financial institutions in the country.[1] The authorities are working to strengthen the regulation of the banking sector in Sierra Leone, including, with World Bank assistance, on improving the governance of the two state-owned-banks, being Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and the Bank of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's financial sector is underdeveloped, with a capital-adequacy ratio of 41.8% against a regulatory minimum of 15%.[2] The overall number of financial service access points is low and concentrated in the urban areas. As of 2020, Sierra Leone had a total of 105 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across 8 of its 14 banks, of which 3 banks had 5 or fewer ATMs in total.[3] Most of these financial access points are concentrated in the capital city of Freetown and other urban centres.[4]
Around 87% of the economically active population in Sierra Leone (mostly residing in rural areas) does not have access to formal finance.[5] Sierra Leone is primarily a cash-based economy, with only approximately 8% of women and 15% of men in 2018 being estimated to have bank accounts.[6] Formal financial services in Sierra Leone have been concentrated in the Western Province, which houses more than 50% of the region's bank branches. Until 2019-20, Sierra Leone had around 15 credit-only microfinance institutions (MFIs), three deposit-taking MFIs, and 17 community banks[7] operating in the country, primarily serving the rural population. Consequentially, a large majority of the population rely on informal sources of credit. However, with rapid mobile phone penetration, the country is witnessing increasing digital financial services (DFS) which are becoming more mainstream. In 2018, there were approximately 11 DFS providers in Sierra Leone (9 banks and 2 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). MFIs are the primary provider of brick and mortar-based financial services in poorer regions and offer small and microloans to marginalised and underserved communities and groups.
Digital finance is not diversified in Sierra Leone, and mobile money remains the main driver of DFS.[8] MNOs dominate the market, with 72% of the total active DFS accounts being with MNOs.[9] Bank and mobile network operator integration, and application programming interface (API) sharing, are increasing among industry players. Most financial institutions in the country now offer bank-to-wallet and wallet-to-bank services, and a large number of providers now share their APIs with other players in the sector. Fintech firms have also started to innovate in this area. While the legal and regulatory framework for advancing DFS has been strengthened over the past years, additional regulatory and policy reforms are required. The recently gazetted NPS Act covers the spectrum of important payment system issues, including recent innovations in the market such as fintech, payment systems oversight, and remittances among others.[10]
The banking system remained relatively stable in 2021 despite an increase in nonperforming loans. During 2021, total banking system assets and customer deposits increased by 20.8% and 23.2%, respectively.[11] The ratio of nonperforming loans (NPLs) to gross loans increased by 2.5 percentage points to 15.2%.[12] The commercial banks` average lending rate increased to 19.81% in March 2022 from 19.77% in February 2022, while the savings deposit rate remained unchanged at 2.27% in March 2022.[13] Growth in monetary aggregates moderated during the first quarter of 2022, reflecting in part a decline in currency-in-circulation and banks' reserves with the Central Bank. Credit to the private sector declined by 1.59% in the first quarter of 2022, after expanding by 8.27% in the fourth quarter of 2021.The banking sector remained relatively stable during the first quarter of 2022, as most of the key financial soundness indicators remained above their minimum thresholds. However, although the NPL ratio declined marginally from 15.23% in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 15.13% in the first quarter of 2022, it remained above the minimum regulatory limit of 10%.[14]
[1] Bank of Sierra Leone. https://www.bsl.gov.sl/About_Us.html (Accessed 17 September 2021).
[3] The World Bank (2022). Sierra Leone Economic Update 2022 : Leveraging SME Financing and Digitization for Inclusive Growth (English) https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099150006152211874/p1779940663f6b09308f080e2eaa3e7e4c2 (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg 52.
[5] Intellecap. Promoting A Resilient And Inclusive Private Sector In Fragile Contexts – Sierra Leone (2021).
https://www.intellecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Promoting-a-resilient-private-sector-Sierra-Leone-May21-1.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg 18.
[6]UNCDF. Sierra Leone: The State of Digital Financial Services in 2018. (2019) https://www.uncdf.org/admin/editors/ArticleItem/Index/4838?articleTitle=sierra-leone-state-of-the-digital-financial-services-in-2018#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20only%208%25%20of,Boosting%20Agriculture%20and%20Food%20Security . (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[7] U.S Department of State (2020) Investment Climate Statements: Sierra Leone. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-investment-climate-statements/sierra-leone/ (Accessed 4 September 2022).
https://www.intellecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Promoting-a-resilient-private-sector-Sierra-Leone-May21-1.pdf Pg 18.
[10] The World Bank (2022). Sierra Leone Economic Update 2022 : Leveraging SME Financing and Digitization for Inclusive Growth (English) https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099150006152211874/p1779940663f6b09308f080e2eaa3e7e4c2 (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg 50.
[13] bank of Sierra Leone. Monthly Economic Review Volume 26| Issue 03. https://bsl.gov.sl/MER%20March%202022.pdf (Accessed 5 September 2022) Pg. 11.
[14] Bank of Sierra Leone. (2022) Monetary Policy Statement. https://bsl.gov.sl/Monetary%20Policy%20Statement.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022) Pg. 4.
Poverty in Sierra Leone, which is associated with poor living conditions, overcrowding and poor public policies adversely affects the ability of poor people to earn enough to afford decent housing. In 2018, the overall poverty rate in Sierra Leone was 57%, with a total of 10.8% of the population living in extreme poverty. As in many developing countries, poverty rates are higher in rural areas than in the urban centre of Freetown (72.4% compared to 18.5%, respectively). This indicates that poverty in the country remains a largely rural issue.[1] Three districts have been identified as having the highest incidence of multidimensional poverty in the country: Pujehun (87.2%), Koinadugu (86.5%), and Tonkolili (85.4%).[2]
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is a Nigerian premier commercial bank with two branches in Freetown, operating through FBN Bank Sierra Leone, formerly registered as International Commercial Bank (ICB). The bank offers a mortgage for buying a first home, construction and renovation. The home loan is available to individuals with verifiable and steady income flow and is for a maximum tenor of 20 years, requires a minimum down payment of below 30% and the property to be financed must be for residential and not commercial purposes.[3] HFC Mortgage & Savings Bank offers a minimum mortgage rate of 22% and a maximum mortgage rate of 28% for a period of 20 to 35 Years.
The prevailing mortgage interest rate in Sierra Leone in 2021 was 21%.[4] The price of the cheapest, newly built house by a formal developer or contractor in an urban area in local currency units is SLL 1 151 600 000 (U$80 000) and the size of this property is 110-120 square meters.[5] The construction labour cost per square meter in local currency units for the cheapest, newly built house averages SLL500,000 per month (US$34,54) and the total construction cost per square meter in local currency units for the cheapest, newly built house averages SLL 15 000 000 (US$1 036). A standard 50kg bag of cement in local currency units costs SLL 120,000 (US$ 8.29).[6] The typical monthly rental price for the cheapest, newly built house by a formal developer or contractor in local currency units is SLL 25 000 000 (US$ 1727).[7]
[1] UNICEF. 2020. A Business Case and Fiscal Space Analysis For Social Protection In Sierra Leone. https://www.unicef.org/sierraleone/media/426/file/BCFSA-2019.pdf.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg. 8.
[2] Statistics Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone multidimensional poverty index 2019. https://www.statistics.sl/images/StatisticsSL/Documents/Sierra_Leone_MPI_2019.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg. 2.
[3] FBN Bank Sierra Leone. https://www.fbnbanksierraleone.com/personal-banking/loans-and-mortgages/personal-home-loan/#1457947296685-89b04a4b-7441ca15-0bdf033e-6226 (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[4] Statista (2020). Prevailing mortgage interest rates in Africa in 2020 by country. https://www.statista.com/statistics/789843/mortgage-interest-rates-africa-by-country/ (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[5] Interview conducted with Solomon Osman Bangura , an employee of Kabor Properties, on 29 August 2022. Kabor Properties . https://www.kaborproperties.com/ (Accessed 29 August 2022).
[6] https://www.dangotecement.com/sierra-leone / (Accessed 29 August 2022).
Sierra Leone faces challenges in providing decent affordable housing for the poor. The capital city Freetown, is situated on steep hills leading inland. In Freetown, older two-storey wooden houses have been replaced by structures built largely of concrete blocks, with corrugated iron or cement-asbestos roofs. In 2018, overall, 79.5% of households constructed the house in which they dwell and only 1.7% of households purchased their dwelling.[1] Rural village houses in the various provinces are traditionally made of sticks with mud walls and thatch or grass roofs and may be circular or rectangular in shape.[2]
Access to electricity is a challenge, both in terms of reliability and affordability. There is limited availability of
the electricity grid outside of Freetown and a few other major cities. The price of electricity is high due to key gaps in the country's electricity transmission infrastructure.[3] The gap in infrastructure not only impacts people's ability to access services, but also impedes job creation and poverty reduction.[4] The low energy access levels in rural areas are primarily due to transmission challenges and the country's energy needs are hugely under-served, with approximately 100 MW of installed power capacity by 2019-20.[5] Recognising the inadequacies, the government has aimed to increase renewable energy (solar and hydro) contribution capacities and the government also aims to increase its energy transmission from 25% (2019) to 60% by 2023.[6] A significant population of Sierra Leone lack access to essential water and sanitation services. Of the total population, only approximately 16% have access to vital sanitation services, with only 42% having access to essential water services.[7]
The World Bank approved a SLL535 billion (US$41.1 million) International Development Association (IDA) grant to support the establishment of an efficient and accessible land administration system in Sierra Leone in June 2022. World Bank assessments had revealed that only a tiny percentage of land in the rural and urban areas are mapped and recorded while institutional arrangements are opaque. The project will therefore help to strengthen the country's legal and institutional framework in the sector by financing the implementation of the core aspects of the 2015 National Land Policy, including the registration of customary and freehold land tenure.
The Sierra Leone Land Administration Project is aligned with the government's Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy (2020), which identifies lack of access and ownership of land for women as a key issue.[8] Sierra Leone operates a dual land tenure system where land in the Western Area is administered under freehold tenure while customary land in the provinces is covered by customary tenure systems. The project seeks to ensure equal tenure rights and access to land for women and girls by addressing the outdated legal framework, thereby closing identified legal gaps, and updating and harmonising the legal framework for the land administration sector. The project was prepared in close coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, which has supported the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure in Sierra Leone(which are principles and practices that governments can refer to when making laws and administering land, fisheries, and forests rights.).[9]
[1] Statistics Sierra Leone. (2018). Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) Report 2018. https://www.statistics.sl/images/StatisticsSL/Documents/SLIHS2018/SLIHS_2018_New/sierra_leone_integrated_household_survey2018_report.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg. xxxvi.
[2] Oni, Y. (2021) Sierra leone to commence construction of 5000 affordable housing units. Construction Review Online By Africa for Africa. https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/sierra-leone-to-commence-construction-of-5000-affordable-housing-units/ (Accessed 4 September 2022).
https://www.intellecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Promoting-a-resilient-private-sector-Sierra-Leone-May21-1.pdf. (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg 46.
https://www.intellecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Promoting-a-resilient-private-sector-Sierra-Leone-May21-1.pdf. (Accessed 4 September 2022).Pg 19.
[8] Jobomax Global. Jobomax launches new affordable housing in Sierra Leone (2 March 2022) https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jobomax-launches-new-affordable-housing-in-sierra-leone-301498136.html (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[9]Jobomax Global. Jobomax launches new affordable housing in Sierra Leone (2 March 2022) https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jobomax-launches-new-affordable-housing-in-sierra-leone-301498136.html (Accessed 4 September 2022).
Land administration in Sierra Leone is complicated. There are two types of land tenure: colonial land or freehold land, and customary land or leasehold land. Foreigners cannot own land under either of these systems but they can lease land and property for up to 99 years. There is no land titling system to validate ownership, so lease rights are hard to secure.[1]
In the World Bank 2020 Doing Business indicators, Sierra Leone is ranked 163 out of 190 countries. It takes 56 days to register a property in Sierra Leone compared to 51.6 days in sub-Saharan African countries. The cost of registering property is 10.6% of the property value in Sierra Leone compared to 7.3% in sub-Saharan African countries.[2] For more than 30% of Freetown households, access to housing takes place in one of its 60 informal settlements in a "panbody" shack, which is a small room made of zinc or a zinc room. Rent can cost anything between Le 60 000 (US$ 6) and Le 120 000 (US$ 12) per month and to have access to one of these, tenants need to advance two years' rent.
[1] Global Property Guide (2007). Sierra Leone: Overview. https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Africa/Sierra-Leone (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[2] World Bank Doing Business. Ease of Doing Business in Sierra Leone (2020) https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/sierra-leone#DB_rp (Accessed 4 September 2024).
The weakness of the land administration system has contributed to an environment where collection of taxes remains difficult; land markets are distorted; and urban planning and disaster risk management is undermined.[1] Customary land is land held under customary tenure and is mostly the property of indigenous land-owning families. Traditional leaders are not landowners but serve as trustees of such family property, this is complicated by variations in customary land practices among different ethnicities and that there is limited strategic coordination between the traditional conflict-resolution institutions, civil society initiatives and the statutory courts.[2] Although a legal framework exists that affirms that customary land in the provinces cannot be bought or sold, there are no safeguard mechanisms, protective oversight or redress mechanisms for dealing with violations. There is a general absence of well-established cadastral boundaries, and this is often complicated by corruption, mismanagement and gender-based discrimination. In Sierra Leonne nearly all ethnic groups practice patrilineal decent, with respect to succession, marriage and other family matters. Legal reform in 2007 removed the customary prohibition against women owning property and made men and women equal in the distribution of estates, but the law is seldom implemented. In many cases, women are denied the right to own land and inherit land upon her husband's death, with the latter being dependent on whether she bore children with the husband or willingness to remarry the male relations of her deceased husband.[3]
The Sierra Leone Collateral Registry is an initiative of the Bank of Sierra Leone with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to improve access to finance. The Collateral Registry, originally established under Part II of the Borrowers and Lenders Act, 2014, has undergone an overhaul after the enactment of the new Borrowers and Lenders Act 2019.[4] It is a web-based system that allows lenders to search for any registrations relating to prior security interests, as well as perfect and establish the priority for their security interests over movable and immovable assets provided as collateral. The Collateral Registry facilitates the use of movable and immovable property as collateral that may remain in possession or control of the borrowers and thereby improves access to secured finance. The priority among competing security interests is generally established according to the time of registration. However, inconsistent enforceability of credit agreements constrains credit provision. In practice, collateral is mostly employed as a symbolic pledge since it does not provide sufficient protection against credit risk. Financial institutions consistently report constraints to repossession and realisation of collateralised assets.[5] Sierra Leone lacks a modern credit reporting system. The Bank of Sierra Leone operates the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) manually via an Excel spreadsheet and the establishment of a digital credit registry would help with the digitisation of the underwriting process by credit providers.
[1] The World Bank. International Development Association International Finance Corporation Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Country Partnership Framework For Republic Of Sierra Leone For The Period FY21-FY26. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/851731590804122431/pdf/Sierra-Leone-Country-Partnership-Framework-for-the-Period-FY21-FY26.pdf. (Accessed 24 September 2022). Pg 95.
[4] Sierra Leone Collateral Registry. https://www.slcr.gov.sl/ (Accessed 4 September 2022).
[5] The World Bank (2022). Sierra Leone Economic Update 2022 : Leveraging SME Financing and Digitization for Inclusive Growth (English) https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099150006152211874/p1779940663f6b09308f080e2eaa3e7e4c2 (Accessed 4 September 2022). Pg 4.
Despite a strong commitment by the government to improve energy capacities, investments and private sector participation in the sector have been limited. Securing affordable risk capital has been identified as a critical challenge, primarily for renewable energy. To this end, the government aims to promote the sector through a number of initiatives, such as developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for mini-grid developers, promoting investments through financial incentives to investors in the renewable industry, and inviting independent foreign power producers.[1] The country has an open legal regime for the entry and establishment of foreign investment. There are no sectoral restrictions on foreign ownership of Sierra Leonean assets or businesses. Another aspect of benefit for foreign investors pertains to the repatriation of profits. Foreign investors are free to transfer funds (profits) from abroad after duly paying their taxes, and this includes dividends paid to a parent company incorporated outside Sierra Leone.[2]
The country needs to complement ongoing domestic revenue mobilisation efforts by deepening ongoing financial sector reforms to support domestic credit market growth.[3] Sierra Leone is on a development trajectory towards achieving middle-income status by 2035. Housing investment offers major investment opportunities that can boost GDP if the Government of Sierra Leone can develop an adequate policy tool to drive foreign and domestic investments in the housing industry in Sierra Leone.
https://www.intellecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Promoting-a-resilient-private-sector-Sierra-Leone-May21-1.pdf (Accessed 4 September 2022).Pg 19.
[3] The African Development Bank. African Economic Outlook 2021. https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/african-economic-outlook-2021 (Accessed 17 September 2021). Pg. 162.
Data on housing finance in Sierra Leone is not easily accessible. The Bank of Sierra Leone provides data on credit and interest rates. However, specific data on mortgage and mortgage rates in the housing sector is not available. Commerce & Mortgage Bank Sierra Leone Limited and FBN Bank Sierra Leone collect data associated with home loan mortgage finance, but this data is not disaggregated and is kept confidential by these financial institutions. Sierra Leone Property Solutions and Global Property Guide record data on properties in the country available for sale, purchase and rent. Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre records data on informal settlements in the country.
In Freetown, it is estimated that 66.6% of the population live in one or two rooms and that one in five residents sleep in a room with 10 or more people. 30,000 households depend on unsafe drinking water sources (2022. Homeleone). Approximately only 16% of the population have access to basic sanitation services, while 58% have no access to basic water services (2021. UNICEF). Sierra Leone also struggles with access to necessary infrastructure such as electricity and mostly relies on non-renewable energy resources. Sierra Leone has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world with the national electrification rate being approximately 26%, and only 6% in rural areas (2021. Sustainable Energy for All). The production and use of energy are concentrated in the household sub-sector, with almost 65% of lighting generated by inefficient, battery-powered torches or lanterns. Fuelwood provides nearly 90%of the domestic energy needs of heating and cooking (2021. Intellecap).
ACAPS Sierra Leone www.acaps.org
Trading Economics www.tradingeconomics.com
International Monetary Fund www.imf.org
Bank of Sierra Leone www.bsl.gov.sl
Know Your City www.knowyourcity.info
Neighbouring Countries Côte d'Ivoire Gambia Guinea Bissau Liberia Mali
2022 Housing Finance Yearbook: Sierra Leone Profile
Sierra Leone: Njie promises to invest heavily in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Housing finance lender Aviom secures funding from Aviator EMF
Sierra Leone: APC government did not embezzle public housing sale proceeds – says ACC report


text:
What is the difference between two sentence in meaning? [closed]
I have three sons who became a doctor.
I have three sons,who became a doctor.
I want to know the difference between two sentences. Please, tell me the difference in meaning.
박용현박용현
closed as off-topic by user3169, Nathan Tuggy, ColleenV♦, Peter, user24743 May 1 '16 at 4:23
"This question should include more details than have been provided here. Please edit to add the research you have done in your efforts to answer the question, or provide more context. See: Details, Please." – user3169, Nathan Tuggy, ColleenV, Peter, Community
There is a number mismatch in both. If all three are doctors then you should use "who became doctors", not "a doctor". – laugh Apr 30 '16 at 22:00
Sometimes adding a comma can change the meaning of a sentence. That doesn't seem to be the case here, though. – J.R.♦ May 1 '16 at 2:25
Both the sentences are incorrect grammatically; you are referring to a plural noun 'sons' that must take the plural noun i.e. dictors. So the correct sentences are:
I have three sons who became doctors.
I have three sons, who became doctors.
As for the difference between these sentences, the clause without a comma before the relative clause "who became doctors" is a defining relative clause in the former sentence. It means that you have more than three doctors. Out of them, three became doctors.
The clause with a comma before the relative clause is a non defining relative clause. It indicates that you have only three sons; they all became doctors.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged grammar or ask your own question.
Does a comma make any difference in this sentence?
What is the difference between two sentences
What's the difference between 'people that run' and ' running people'?
I don't know the difference between two expression 'envelope provided' and 'provided envelope
What is the difference between 'to be' and ' to become'?
I want to know the difference in meaning between 'to' and 'and'
What is the difference between shirt and shirts?
difference between the two sentences
Difference between "had hoped to" and "hoped to"
How can we express the comma when we speak?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
N. Korea Envoy: Imprisoned Kenneth Bae Must Serve His 15 Years Hard Labor
Published January 31, 2014 • Updated on January 31, 2014 at 8:03 am
North Korea will not release imprisoned American missionary Kenneth Bae until he finishes his sentence of 15 years hard labor, according to a rare interview with a Pyongyang diplomat, NBC News reported. Bae was leading a tour group in the secretive state in Nov. 2012 when he was arrested and jailed for so-called anti-government acts. North Korea's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hyun Hak-bong, told Sky News on Thursday that Bae was being treated well, but suggested that he would not be pardoned before his sentence was complete. Bae was moved to a hospital last summer after his health deteriorated. Hyun denied Bae was being kept in a labor camp, despite describing his sentence as "hard labor" and said he had been given access to medicine.


By Russ Wellen, December 15, 2014 .
Occasionally, I like to surf JStor, the resource for scholaars, for articles about nuclear weapons and disarmament. I found a piece in the May 2007 issue of International Affairs by William Walker titled "Nuclear enlightenment and counter-enlightenment." Since it's not germane to the post, we'll skip explaining what that means. Instead we'll go straight to this quote: "A highly dangerous absence of political and instrumental mastery accompanied the rapid development and accumulation of nuclear weapons and delivery systems in the early Cold War." In other words, our technological achievements outstrip our ability to make moral choices about them. Or, perhaps, we just suffer from a blind faith that if we're able to develop advanced technologies — from nuclear weapons to artificial intelligence — we should certainly be able to develop the ability to manage them. On the face of it, that would seem light years less difficult.
… led to the replacement of the hitherto non-negotiable demand for complete nuclear disarmament by a pragmatic demand for a halt to nuclear proliferation and the arms race prior to elimination of the weapons. The shift was expressed in the 'Irish Resolution' of 1961." In effect, it proposed the elevation of non-proliferation to a universal norm. … The initiative gained impetus from the understanding shared by Moscow and Washington that they had to accommodate one another and engage in meaningful arms control, and that they possessed a common interest in the development of a non-proliferation regime.
The 1960s and 1970s therefore brought concerted efforts to construct an international nuclear order meriting that title. … recognition was given to the [nonproliferation] project's intrinsic universalism..
How could assertions that the possession of nuclear weapons by certain states served the avoidance of war be reconciled with assertions that their possession by others increased the likelihood of war? … How could states that renounced nuclear weapons be confident that a non-proliferation regime would not simply entrench the advantages and privileges of states that had already armed themselves 'legally'?
In other words, how could states without nuclear weapons be expected to trust states with nuclear weapons? After all, isn't that the farthest thing from a level playing field imaginable. According to Walker, the justification to that question is twofold.
One was that nuclear proliferation, according to the Irish Resolution, 'threatens to extend and intensify the arms race and to increase the difficulties of avoiding war'.
… was that the possession of nuclear weapons by the acknowledged nuclear weapon states was a temporary trust, and a trust which could not be extended to other states. Nuclear disarmament remained the eternal norm, which would eventually displace the provisional norm of non-proliferation. Although the injunction to engage in arms control and disarmament in the NPT's Article VI was vaguely expressed, the expectation attached to it was unambiguous.
You could understand why, however intrinsically unfair it sounds, it "could not be extended to other states." But what happened with "temporary"? That nuclear-weapon legacy states continue to keep them in their arsenals decades later is, in part, a function of how notoriously "vaguely expressed" the commitment to arms control and disarmament is in the NPT.
FYI, Article VI reads: "Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control." Vague enough for you?


text:
Southport Triathlon 2021
Brit Tate
Team Bottrill
Distance Standard
Finish time 2:12:23
Start time 08:59:01
Date 16 May 2021
Expand for details
Swim 21:59 1.5 km
Transition 1 3:16
Bike 1:05:55 40 km
Run 38:29 9.5 km
Participant (#662)
25-29 female
Age category is calculated based on the age of the athlete. The age at 31 December 2021.
View certificate Facebook Twitter Compare result
Swipe horizontally to view all splits
Split time
Distance Participant Time Position Pace Time Position Time of day
Swim 1.5 km 21:59 1:27 min/100m 21:59 09:21:00
Transition 1
Participant Time Position Time Position Time of day
T1 3:16 25:15 09:24:16
Bike 40 km 1:05:55 36.41 km/h 1:31:10 10:30:11
T2 2:44 1:33:54 10:32:55
Run 9.5 km 38:29 4:03 min/km 2:12:23 11:11:24
Other results for Brit
Per km.
West Lancashire Summer Triathlon 2021 29/08/2021 - 59:29 59:29 0.00 km/h - min/km
Aquasphere Epic Lakes Swim Derwent Water 2021 11/07/2021 3.8 KM 58:07 58:07 3.92 km/h 15:17 min/km
Horwich Triathlon 2020 23/08/2020 - 1:42:38 1:42:38 0.00 km/h - min/km
Worthing Triathlon 2018 08/07/2018 - 1:12:19 1:12:19 0.00 km/h - min/km
Link this result to my profile
Timing by Epic Events. Results Base is only responsible for registration.
For result queries please e-mail: info@epicevents.co.uk


Sometimes the nature of your products and business requires users to be able to pick up goods from your store location only.
Under Shipping Method, choose Stock Pickup only.
Then, under shipping, fill in the Shipping Title, Address, Country, City, State, Zip code, when the order will be ready, and any special instructions for pick-up.
Mai mult decât 1973 site-urile create SITE123 în US azi!


VET CLINIC OPEN DAY AND SANTA PHOTOS Tenterfield Vet Clinic at 8 Clarence Street. Tenterfield will be having Santa Photos and a Christmas Open Day on December 15 from 10am. There will also be a barbecue, clinic tours, equine dental demonstrations and bull testing demonstrations. Santa Photos on disc are $20. Contact Tenterfield Vet Clinic on 6736 2233. COOL CHOIR CELEBRATION CONCERT Deepwater School of Arts Hall Cool Choir's free half-hour celebration concert at 6.30pm will showcase choral performances of selections of its repertoire practised throughout the year, some with ukulele accompaniment. Then bop the night away with vintage 1950s and 60s band Wayne and The Wanderers. BYO drinks. Supper will be provided by the Hall Trust committee. Entry is free but bookings are essential for catering purposes. Call 0412 232 146 or email riverbend2371@gmail.com MEMORIAL CROSS BURIAL The memorial crosses representing those with Tenterfield connections who died in World War I, displayed in Bruxner Park over the Remembrance Day weekend, will be buried with due ceremony at the cemetery. All are invited to attend at 11am. This is being organised by the Anzac Centenary Steering Committee. CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY CELEBRATION Tenterfield Anglican Church will hold a Christmas Eve Family Celebration at 6.30pm at the Anglican Church on the corner of Rouse and Martin streets. This will be a short, fun-filled celebration of Christmas for the whole family. CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE Tenterfield Anglican Church will hold its traditional Christmas Day Service at 8.30am at the church on the corner of Rouse and Martin streets. Come along and celebrate.
Tenterfield Vet Clinic at 8 Clarence Street. Tenterfield will be having Santa Photos and a Christmas Open Day on December 15 from 10am. There will also be a barbecue, clinic tours, equine dental demonstrations and bull testing demonstrations. Santa Photos on disc are $20. Contact Tenterfield Vet Clinic on 6736 2233.
The memorial crosses representing those with Tenterfield connections who died in World War I, displayed in Bruxner Park over the Remembrance Day weekend, will be buried with due ceremony at the cemetery. All are invited to attend at 11am. This is being organised by the Anzac Centenary Steering Committee.
Tenterfield Anglican Church will hold a Christmas Eve Family Celebration at 6.30pm at the Anglican Church on the corner of Rouse and Martin streets. This will be a short, fun-filled celebration of Christmas for the whole family.
Tenterfield Anglican Church will hold its traditional Christmas Day Service at 8.30am at the church on the corner of Rouse and Martin streets. Come along and celebrate.


text:
Back to eBay Home
autopartsgeek2 (184687)
For 2005-2006 Chrysler 300 Thermostat Housing Dorman 88182HH 3.5L V6
Engine Coolant Thermostat Housing
2 available / 12 sold
ApproximatelyRM 122.91
Posts from United States
FREE Economy Shipping | See detailsfor shipping
Located in: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Estimated between Tue, 31 Jan and Thu, 2 Feb to 20147
Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the postage service selected, the seller's postage history, and other factors. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.
30 day return | Buyer pays for return shipping | See details- for more information about returns
Postage, returns & payments
Last updated on Jan 22, 2023 15:23:42 MYTView all revisionsView all revisions
New: A vehicle is considered new if it is purchased directly from a new car franchise dealer and has ...
New: A vehicle is considered new if it is purchased directly from a new car franchise dealer and has not yet been registered and issued a title. New vehicles are covered by a manufacturer's new car warranty and are sold with a window sticker (also known as a "Monroney Sticker") and a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. These vehicles have been driven only for demonstration purposes and should be in excellent running condition with a pristine interior and exterior. See the seller's listing for full details. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
88182HH
Manufacturer Warranty:
Chrysler 300 Thermostat Housing
Thermostat Housing
Product Name 2:
CS-SKU:
400:88182HH
Questions and answers about this item
No questions or answers have been posted about this item.
Ask a question - opens in a new window or tab
Postage and handling
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
PO Box, APO/FPO, Africa, Alaska/Hawaii, Albania, Andorra, Asia, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Central America and Caribbean, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Martinique, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Norway, Oceania, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Croatia, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Southeast Asia, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, US Protectorates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Venezuela
Free postage Free United States Economy Shipping Estimated between Tue, 31 Jan and Thu, 2 Feb to 20147
Will usually ship within 1 business day of receiving cleared payment.
Seller charges sales tax in
multiple states.
The buyer is responsible for return postage costs.
PartsGeek - Discount Auto Parts
1.2M Items sold
Back to eBay HomeReturn to top
Thermostats & Parts for Chrysler 300,
V6 Wristwatches,
Chrysler Car & Truck Engine Thermostats & Housings,
V6 Men Wristwatches,
V6 Luxury Wristwatches,
Complete Engines for Chrysler 300,
Bumpers & Parts for Chrysler 300,
Tail Lights for Chrysler 300,
Body Kits for Chrysler 300,
Spoilers & Wings for Chrysler 300


The Cultural Landscape Foundation will be hosting their What's Out There Weekend New Orleans April 01-02, 2017 with tours of the city's most significant landscapes. The TCLF interactive guide can be accessed at the link below.
New Orleans' cityscape includes parks, historic districts, university campuses, planned communities, and greenways- spanning the colonial era all the way up to the Postmodernist, and making it one of the nation's most popular destinations. Building upon the documentation gathered for the New Orleans Guidebook and Cultural Landscapes Guide, this What's Out There Weekend will take place during the first weekend of April and provide an opportunity for free tours of the city's most significant landscapes. Tours will include the Vieux Carré Historic District, Washington Square Park, City Park, Longue Vue Gardens, and Piazza d'Italia, among many others, and are led by experts in the landscape architecture and history fields.
For much more information about the landscape legacy of New Orleans, check out TCLF's interactive, online What's Out There New Orleans Guide, which includes historical narratives, landscape descriptions, and important biographies.
If you are interested in volunteering for the weekend, please contact Justin Lemoine at justin@elslastudio.com for more information.


text:
Q: Oscillation in number of deaths by coronavirus Looking the graphs that report the number of deaths by coronavirus in worldometer, I have noticed that for many countries there is a clear oscillation with a one week period.
See for example the graph for the UK and the US:

Why do you think this is happening? It seems to me that for some reason, the number of deaths is under-reported during the weekends.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Meet Handsome Foreign Men Seeking Ukraine Women for Dating. Join Free! Backed by Cupid Media. 14 Years Experience. Friendly Customer Support. Multi-Lingual Support. Review Matches for Free. Safe & Secure. 200,000+ Ukrainian Women.
and hanging out with my friends and family• Interested in business, marketin.
Start meeting new alternative to any of jewish singles in on the largest dating site.
: See 6527 traveller reviews and photos of Oakville tourist attractions.
67 candid photos, and great deals for Oakville, Canada, at TripAdvisor.


text:
STEAM Hub a natural fit for new director
August 1, 2018/No Comments
New STEAM Hub director ready to cultivate learning in Douglas County
With more than 20 years of experience as a STEM teacher and scientist, our new Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub director is ready to launch local efforts to expand students' career-mindedness to new heights.
Dr. Karl Topper is joining Douglas County Partners for Student Success in June, coming all the way from the balmy climes of Hawaii, where he has spent the past several years teaching second through seventh grade at local schools. And yes, Topper admits, he will miss the beaches.
But he's also looking forward to diving into Douglas County's growing STEAM community.
"I have been developing, implementing and sharing inquiry-based STEM learning throughout my career, so this position is a natural fit for me," said Topper, who has doctorate in soil science. "This position is also a great opportunity for me to meet and learn about the Umpqua community."
Topper's wife, Terri Squires, recently moved to Roseburg from Maui, and when he saw the opening for the STEAM hub, he jumped at the chance to share his breadth of knowledge with the community.
Throughout his career, Topper has served as professor of Environmental Science and Teacher Education at Colorado Mesa University, where he directed programs working with a variety of Native American communities to help them develop culturally relevant environmental science education. He has taught at the K-12 level for the past 11 years, and has worked on a wide range of science field projects, written over 22 publications, acquired numerous grants, and provided many STEM-related professional development workshops for teachers.
"We are thrilled to welcome Karl to Douglas County and our STEAM community," said Gwen Soderberg-Chase, director of Douglas County Partners for Student Success, which oversees the Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub. "Karl brings an extraordinary background in STEAM education to our efforts to provide students with a wide range of career opportunities. We are lucky to have him join our team."
The efforts behind DCPSS and the Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub involve reinforcing students' aptitudes for careers and educational paths that benefit from the knowledge and skills in disciplines that explore science, technology, engineering and math, with artful innovation. Ours was one of six regional hubs awarded a total of $2.8 million in state funds in February 2014. The Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub was awarded $325,000 to build a solid infrastructure to provide STEAM education in Douglas County.
Topper said he plans to meet early on with community stakeholders to learn what types of STEAM programs and support that local school districts, nonprofit organizations and private businesses would like to see developed. He would like to then help create STEAM-related programs to enhance student learning and interests within STEAM-related fields, as well as facilitate collaboration with local businesses to help connect students with jobs.
He also plans to pass on knowledge to teachers by providing STEAM professional development opportunities so that educators can integrate STEAM learning in their classrooms.
Topper said that rapid changes in technology mean a rapidly changing workforce, and Douglas County needs to ensure students are prepared. The area's rural nature, he said, makes it even more essential for the county to have a broad base of interested STEAM stakeholders working together.
"When kids see a meaning to their learning, their intrinsic motivation to learn increases such that a struggling student can be transformed into an excelling student," he said.
http://www.dcpss.org/steam-hub-a-natural-fit-for-new-director/
Douglas County Partners for Student Success
c/o Gwen Soderberg-Chase
1140 Umpqua College Rd Roseburg, OR 97470
Gwen.Soderberg-Chase@umpqua.edu
This isn't your grandparents' logging →


text:
Q: gradlew clean build doesn't work when trying to run project I'm trying to run gradle clean build from my project's(ballerina open source) root directory but keep getting this error
Build file 'C:\Users\notbe\Desktop\OS_Project\ballerina-lang\misc\debug-adapter\modules\debug-adapter-core\build.gradle' line: 12

* What went wrong:
A problem occurred evaluating project ':debug-adapter:debug-adapter-core'.
> java.lang.NullPointerException (no error message)

* Try:
Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output. Run with --scan to get full insights.

* Exception is:
org.gradle.api.GradleScriptException: A problem occurred evaluating project ':debug-adapter:debug-adapter-core'.
        at org.gradle.groovy.scripts.internal.DefaultScriptRunnerFactory$ScriptRunnerImpl.run(DefaultScriptRunnerFactory.java:92)
        at org.gradle.configuration.DefaultScriptPluginFactory$ScriptPluginImpl$2.run(DefaultScriptPluginFactory.java:221)
        at org.gradle.configuration.ProjectScriptTarget.addConfiguration(ProjectScriptTarget.java:77)
        at org.gradle.configuration.DefaultScriptPluginFactory$ScriptPluginImpl.apply(DefaultScriptPluginFactory.java:226)
        at org.gradle.configuration.BuildOperationScriptPlugin$1$1.run(BuildOperationScriptPlugin.java:69)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$RunnableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:402)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$RunnableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:394)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$1.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:165)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:250)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:158)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:92)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.run(DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.java:31)
        at org.gradle.configuration.BuildOperationScriptPlugin$1.execute(BuildOperationScriptPlugin.java:66)
        at org.gradle.configuration.BuildOperationScriptPlugin$1.execute(BuildOperationScriptPlugin.java:63)
        at org.gradle.configuration.internal.DefaultUserCodeApplicationContext.apply(DefaultUserCodeApplicationContext.java:48)
        at org.gradle.configuration.BuildOperationScriptPlugin.apply(BuildOperationScriptPlugin.java:63)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.BuildScriptProcessor$1.run(BuildScriptProcessor.java:44)
        at org.gradle.internal.Factories$1.create(Factories.java:25)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProjectStateRegistry$ProjectStateImpl.withMutableState(DefaultProjectStateRegistry.java:200)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProjectStateRegistry$ProjectStateImpl.withMutableState(DefaultProjectStateRegistry.java:186)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.BuildScriptProcessor.execute(BuildScriptProcessor.java:41)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.BuildScriptProcessor.execute(BuildScriptProcessor.java:26)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.ConfigureActionsProjectEvaluator.evaluate(ConfigureActionsProjectEvaluator.java:34)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.LifecycleProjectEvaluator$EvaluateProject$1.run(LifecycleProjectEvaluator.java:106)
        at org.gradle.internal.Factories$1.create(Factories.java:25)
        at org.gradle.internal.work.DefaultWorkerLeaseService.withLocks(DefaultWorkerLeaseService.java:183)
        at org.gradle.internal.work.StopShieldingWorkerLeaseService.withLocks(StopShieldingWorkerLeaseService.java:40)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProjectStateRegistry$ProjectStateImpl.withProjectLock(DefaultProjectStateRegistry.java:226)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProjectStateRegistry$ProjectStateImpl.withMutableState(DefaultProjectStateRegistry.java:220)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProjectStateRegistry$ProjectStateImpl.withMutableState(DefaultProjectStateRegistry.java:186)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.LifecycleProjectEvaluator$EvaluateProject.run(LifecycleProjectEvaluator.java:95)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$RunnableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:402)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$RunnableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:394)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$1.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:165)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:250)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:158)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:92)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.run(DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.java:31)
        at org.gradle.configuration.project.LifecycleProjectEvaluator.evaluate(LifecycleProjectEvaluator.java:67)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProject.evaluate(DefaultProject.java:695)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProject.evaluate(DefaultProject.java:143)
        at org.gradle.execution.TaskPathProjectEvaluator.configure(TaskPathProjectEvaluator.java:35)
        at org.gradle.execution.TaskPathProjectEvaluator.configureHierarchy(TaskPathProjectEvaluator.java:62)
        at org.gradle.configuration.DefaultBuildConfigurer.configure(DefaultBuildConfigurer.java:41)
        at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$ConfigureBuild.run(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:302)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$RunnableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:402)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$RunnableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:394)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$1.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:165)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:250)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:158)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:92)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.run(DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.java:31)
        at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.configureBuild(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:210)
        at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuildStages(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:151)
        at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.executeTasks(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:134)
        at org.gradle.internal.invocation.GradleBuildController$1.execute(GradleBuildController.java:58)
        at org.gradle.internal.invocation.GradleBuildController$1.execute(GradleBuildController.java:55)
        at org.gradle.internal.invocation.GradleBuildController$3.create(GradleBuildController.java:82)
        at org.gradle.internal.invocation.GradleBuildController$3.create(GradleBuildController.java:75)
        at org.gradle.internal.work.DefaultWorkerLeaseService.withLocks(DefaultWorkerLeaseService.java:183)
        at org.gradle.internal.work.StopShieldingWorkerLeaseService.withLocks(StopShieldingWorkerLeaseService.java:40)
        at org.gradle.internal.invocation.GradleBuildController.doBuild(GradleBuildController.java:75)
        at org.gradle.internal.invocation.GradleBuildController.run(GradleBuildController.java:55)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ExecuteBuildActionRunner.run(ExecuteBuildActionRunner.java:31)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.ChainingBuildActionRunner.run(ChainingBuildActionRunner.java:35)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.BuildOutcomeReportingBuildActionRunner.run(BuildOutcomeReportingBuildActionRunner.java:58)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ValidatingBuildActionRunner.run(ValidatingBuildActionRunner.java:32)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.BuildCompletionNotifyingBuildActionRunner.run(BuildCompletionNotifyingBuildActionRunner.java:39)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.RunAsBuildOperationBuildActionRunner$3.call(RunAsBuildOperationBuildActionRunner.java:51)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.RunAsBuildOperationBuildActionRunner$3.call(RunAsBuildOperationBuildActionRunner.java:45)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$CallableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:416)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$CallableBuildOperationWorker.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:406)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor$1.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:165)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:250)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.execute(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:158)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.call(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:102)
        at org.gradle.internal.operations.DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.call(DelegatingBuildOperationExecutor.java:36)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.RunAsBuildOperationBuildActionRunner.run(RunAsBuildOperationBuildActionRunner.java:45)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter$1.transform(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:49)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter$1.transform(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:46)
        at org.gradle.composite.internal.DefaultRootBuildState.run(DefaultRootBuildState.java:78)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter.execute(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:46)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter.execute(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:31)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.BuildTreeScopeBuildActionExecuter.execute(BuildTreeScopeBuildActionExecuter.java:42)
        at org.gradle.launcher.exec.BuildTreeScopeBuildActionExecuter.execute(BuildTreeScopeBuildActionExecuter.java:28)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.execute(ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.java:78)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.execute(ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.java:52)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SubscribableBuildActionExecuter.execute(SubscribableBuildActionExecuter.java:59)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SubscribableBuildActionExecuter.execute(SubscribableBuildActionExecuter.java:36)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SessionScopeBuildActionExecuter.execute(SessionScopeBuildActionExecuter.java:68)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SessionScopeBuildActionExecuter.execute(SessionScopeBuildActionExecuter.java:38)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.GradleThreadBuildActionExecuter.execute(GradleThreadBuildActionExecuter.java:37)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.GradleThreadBuildActionExecuter.execute(GradleThreadBuildActionExecuter.java:26)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ParallelismConfigurationBuildActionExecuter.execute(ParallelismConfigurationBuildActionExecuter.java:43)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ParallelismConfigurationBuildActionExecuter.execute(ParallelismConfigurationBuildActionExecuter.java:29)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.StartParamsValidatingActionExecuter.execute(StartParamsValidatingActionExecuter.java:60)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.StartParamsValidatingActionExecuter.execute(StartParamsValidatingActionExecuter.java:32)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SessionFailureReportingActionExecuter.execute(SessionFailureReportingActionExecuter.java:55)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SessionFailureReportingActionExecuter.execute(SessionFailureReportingActionExecuter.java:41)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SetupLoggingActionExecuter.execute(SetupLoggingActionExecuter.java:48)
        at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.SetupLoggingActionExecuter.execute(SetupLoggingActionExecuter.java:32)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ExecuteBuild.doBuild(ExecuteBuild.java:67)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.BuildCommandOnly.execute(BuildCommandOnly.java:36)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.WatchForDisconnection.execute(WatchForDisconnection.java:37)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ResetDeprecationLogger.execute(ResetDeprecationLogger.java:26)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.RequestStopIfSingleUsedDaemon.execute(RequestStopIfSingleUsedDaemon.java:34)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ForwardClientInput$2.call(ForwardClientInput.java:74)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ForwardClientInput$2.call(ForwardClientInput.java:72)
        at org.gradle.util.Swapper.swap(Swapper.java:38)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ForwardClientInput.execute(ForwardClientInput.java:72)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.LogAndCheckHealth.execute(LogAndCheckHealth.java:55)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.LogToClient.doBuild(LogToClient.java:62)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.BuildCommandOnly.execute(BuildCommandOnly.java:36)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.EstablishBuildEnvironment.doBuild(EstablishBuildEnvironment.java:81)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.BuildCommandOnly.execute(BuildCommandOnly.java:36)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:104)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.StartBuildOrRespondWithBusy$1.run(StartBuildOrRespondWithBusy.java:50)
        at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.DaemonStateCoordinator$1.run(DaemonStateCoordinator.java:295)
        at org.gradle.internal.concurrent.ExecutorPolicy$CatchAndRecordFailures.onExecute(ExecutorPolicy.java:63)
        at org.gradle.internal.concurrent.ManagedExecutorImpl$1.run(ManagedExecutorImpl.java:46)
        at org.gradle.internal.concurrent.ThreadFactoryImpl$ManagedThreadRunnable.run(ThreadFactoryImpl.java:55)
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
        at org.gradle.api.internal.file.collections.DefaultConfigurableFileCollection.from(DefaultConfigurableFileCollection.java:123)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.file.DefaultFileOperations.configurableFiles(DefaultFileOperations.java:104)
        at org.gradle.groovy.scripts.DefaultScript.files(DefaultScript.java:169)
        at jdk.internal.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor121.invoke(Unknown Source)
        at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.BeanDynamicObject$MetaClassAdapter.invokeMethod(BeanDynamicObject.java:479)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.BeanDynamicObject.tryInvokeMethod(BeanDynamicObject.java:191)
        at org.gradle.groovy.scripts.BasicScript$ScriptDynamicObject.tryInvokeMethod(BasicScript.java:128)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.ConfigureDelegate.invokeMethod(ConfigureDelegate.java:77)
        at build_cmidk5i57oua36g0q1x6vu1dv$_run_closure2.doCall(C:\Users\notbe\Desktop\OS_Project\ballerina-lang\misc\debug-adapter\modules\debug-adapter-core\build.gradle:12)
        at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
        at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62)
        at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
        at org.gradle.util.ClosureBackedAction.execute(ClosureBackedAction.java:70)
        at org.gradle.util.ConfigureUtil.configureTarget(ConfigureUtil.java:154)
        at org.gradle.util.ConfigureUtil.configure(ConfigureUtil.java:105)
        at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultProject.dependencies(DefaultProject.java:1190)
        at jdk.internal.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor104.invoke(Unknown Source)
        at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.BeanDynamicObject$MetaClassAdapter.invokeMethod(BeanDynamicObject.java:479)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.BeanDynamicObject.tryInvokeMethod(BeanDynamicObject.java:191)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.CompositeDynamicObject.tryInvokeMethod(CompositeDynamicObject.java:98)
        at org.gradle.internal.extensibility.MixInClosurePropertiesAsMethodsDynamicObject.tryInvokeMethod(MixInClosurePropertiesAsMethodsDynamicObject.java:33)
        at org.gradle.groovy.scripts.BasicScript$ScriptDynamicObject.tryInvokeMethod(BasicScript.java:132)
        at org.gradle.internal.metaobject.AbstractDynamicObject.invokeMethod(AbstractDynamicObject.java:160)
        at org.gradle.groovy.scripts.BasicScript.invokeMethod(BasicScript.java:81)
        at build_cmidk5i57oua36g0q1x6vu1dv.run(C:\Users\notbe\Desktop\OS_Project\ballerina-lang\misc\debug-adapter\modules\debug-adapter-core\build.gradle:8)
        at org.gradle.groovy.scripts.internal.DefaultScriptRunnerFactory$ScriptRunnerImpl.run(DefaultScriptRunnerFactory.java:90)
        ... 127 more

I have tried different versions of git from 5.1.1 to 6.1.1 but none of them have worked. I also have tried googling what I could change in the build.gradle file specifically the dependencies block but none of my searches on google came up with anything.
Here is what is currently in the dependencies block:
dependencies {
implementation 'org.eclipse.lsp4j:org.eclipse.lsp4j.debug:0.7.1'
implementation project(':ballerina-lang')
implementation 'org.apache.commons:commons-compress:1.18'
implementation files(org.gradle.internal.jvm.Jvm.current().toolsJar)
}

Any help would be great.


Finished Measurements: 60″ wide, 14.5″ deep at center.
Yarn: approximately 200 yards total aran-weight yarn. I used Knitted Wit Victory Aran in Emerald City (green) and Ghostly (grey).
Needles: US9/5.5mm circular needle, 24" or longer, or size needed to get gauge.


Looking to buy a new axe? Perhaps you want a Spanish guitar, a steel string acoustic, an amplifier, or something as simple as cheap sets of strings.
This is a comprehensive directory of shops that sell guitars and related equipment and accessories.
Sometimes it's a bit difficult to decide whether a particular store is trustworthy, or whether or not they deliver quickly and provide good customer service.
One of the great things about this directory is that you can read comments and feedback from other people who have been a customer of a particular shop to help you make your decision – and of course you can leave your own feedback to help others.


44Board has a great selection of high quality snowboard equipment. We carry the brands you have come to depend on like Burton, Jones, K2, Rossignol, Ride, Union and many more! From boards, boots, and bindings, 44Board has it all!


Just discovered Novica, and I couldn't be happier with my purchases. Quality materials, quality metal work and a beautiful end product. I wore these to work today and got so many compliments!
These earrings are just really cute and fun! In my opinion, they can be dressed up or down. They?re very versatile and very unique.
Very high quality earrings. They are stunning. The picture is very accurate. I loved the Artist statement which made me want to purchase it more.
"Our motifs are Balinese and include jawan (silver bubbles) and bun (swirls). These motifs are challenging because they require a delicate hand for an intricate process."
"I'm Made Sugi and I was born in Bali in 1975 as the second of four children. My hometown has a lot of jewelry artisans working with silver who have inspired me.
"After finishing my education, I got married and had two daughters and two sons. My children made me more responsible and active. I feel blessed to have this life and a healthy family.
"I helped with my husband's silver workshop and then began designing. I enjoy this art and have learned a lot. My husband and neighbors taught me how to craft jewelry. In the beginning, I cleaned, melted and shaped silver, until I was finally able to craft my own designs.
"Once, I had to help clean many silver pieces and sprained my finger and was unable to use it until now. My motto is never to give up, keep working and increase productivity.
"We use silver, gemstones and pearls. We are helped by 15 jewelry artisans who use traditional tools. Our motifs are Balinese and include jawan (silver bubbles) and bun (swirls). These motifs are challenging because they require a delicate hand for an intricate process.
"In designing, I'm inspired by our culture and tradition. This makes our creations different from that of other countries and even jewelry from other regions in Indonesia. We hope people around the world like our jewelry so that Bali's silversmiths can continue this craft and also earn a living."
Sterling Silver Cultured Pearl Chandelier Earrings Indonesia, "Moonlit Orbs"
Cultured Pearl Filigree Chandelier Earrings from Peru, "Beautiful Gala"
24k Gold Plated Cultured Pearl Filigree Chandelier Earrings, "Artisanal Gala"
By Peruvian artisan Alfredo Inga, these chandelier earrings feature intricate filigree work crafted of 24k gold plated sterling silver. Petite cultured pearls dangle within and below each earring.
The luminous and fantasy like nature of our unique pearl chandelier earrings makes them desirous to all. The first appearance of a chandelier earring dates back to 2500BC. However, this style did not become popular until Richard Graziano featured the earring in Vogue in its November 1999 issue. Ever since, this style has taken off. The artisans of Novica have put together a unique collection of earrings by pairing the fashionable chandelier style with pearls. History shows that the pearl served as a symbol of wealth, power, purity, and femininity. In Europe, only royalty and the very wealthy were allowed to wear pearl jewelry. This elegant gem was much adored by Julius Caesar, and Cleopatra's sacrifice of a pearl was made to declare her love for Marc Antonius. In the ancient Inca and Aztec civilizations pearls were believed to have magical powers. Thanks to the artisans featured on NOVICA you can now own a pair of extraordinary and stylish pearl chandelier earrings. You can adorn yourself in pearls that make you feel like royalty. And whether you believe, like the Incas and Aztecs, that pearls have magical powers or not, wearing pearl earrings from this exquisite collection will be a magical experience.


text:
Canada, Canadian Basketball, NBA, NCAA, FIBA, HS, U Sports
2019-2020 NBA Season Preview – Eastern Conference
SoundChek
Got Next
Tim David Harvey
Hello Irving...
Come fly with me. Let's fly, let's fly away. On Air Canada's last stopover welcomed in Atlanta. This will be the last season we see Toronto Raptors dunking legend Vince Carter soar above the rim. Enjoy this 'One Last Dunk' whilst he's still up there. And although the 42 year old seems forever young, this Hawks team is a young one of the future lead by Steph Curry like star Trae Young with the ice tray. If San Francisco Warrior D'Angelo Russell has ice in his veins, then this guy has it in his whole nervous system. Pair him with Duke Rookie Cam Reddish and the big, big man Lakers draft pick of DeAndre Hunter and you have a potential big-three of the future. And they still have big names and contracts like Jabari Parker, Evan Turner and Chandler Parsons in reserve. Chopped and screwed Atlanta basketball right now sounds as good as the ATL music scene in the early 2000's. Hawk that!
The Hornets just lost their hive with Kemba Walker buzzing off to Boston. They ended up getting Terry Rozier back in return from the Celtics. But just how far can this city buzz with him Nicolas Batum and Miles Bridges? Charlotte will still be good, but right now their most exciting player is still in the front office like the Jumpman on their lapels. Marvin Williams is still here. He seems to have been around longer than those iconic uniforms. But like an Emeka Okafor he never did quite turn out into the player they thought he would be. Let's hope the same doesn't happen for a franchise that looked set for the stars hosting last year's A.S.G. with their once franchise face leading the way.
I hope you ticket stub save your last dance card. Because Dwyane Wade is gone. And he isn't going to come back like 'Bad Boys' too. Even if he is Heat for life. Whiteside has left the white hot franchise too. So what talents are left in South Beach? Oh yeah some guy called Jimmy Butler. Look at him…look at him. It's his team now. But look at Philly and Minny. And do you remember Chicago? Dwyane Wade does? Butler doesn't exactly have the reputation of staying in house for long. But having this Florida franchise all to himself might make him and his Mark Wahlberg entourage the star he's always wanted to be. And at least the dragon Dragic, young man Justice, Canadian Kelly and Waiters are still here with Butler. And Udonis Haslem too one more time. The Heat lifer and legend destined for the rafters is set for one last season like his brother in sleeveless arms Wade. Will you have this dance?
It's a kind of Magic. With Dwight Howard back in Hollywood. It seems even longer ago that he was a Mickey Mouse superstar in the Magic Kingdom. Seemingly even longer than when Shaq and Penny were that dynamic duo before Shaq and Kobe. Now this Disney roster looking for a plus reads like a list of could be's and could have been's. Aaron Gordon, Markelle Fultz, Nikola Vucevic, Mo Bamba, Evan Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, Terrence Ross, D.J. Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams. Sleep on them now and this Magic spell could trick you. But they're going to have to pull more out the hat if they want to shock the Wizards in their division.
The best, blazing beating back-court in the league of John Wall and Bradley Beal have finally got some help. And we're not just talking about slept on spark plug, Six Man Isaiah Thomas. Or they'll need him and everything else they've got more than ever now with Wall still banged up with injury. But their new top ten drafted Power Forward Rui Hachimura has the ability to be a star right now and a super one once the 2020 Tokyo Olympics happens in his native Japan. I'm Bogna and Wagner they also have a few former young Lakers like Bryant (Thomas not Kobe) to solidify their own young core. That's enough to do more than get over the wall. Whether it be the injury to their leading man or the one their President is threatening to put up.
Boston lost Kyrie Irving…yeah we all knew that was going to happen about halfway through his first season. But they gained Kemba Walker. So you lose some, you win some. Like losing Al Horford too. They still kept their future of Tatum and Brown however, minus Rozier. And Hayward is way on the mend. Add Enes Kanter and the huge Tacko Fall too and who knows how big Boston can be. You can just see it now Fall blocking the Celtics Laker rival LeBron whilst everyone in the Garden screams, "TACKO TUESDAAAAAAY!" Even this Laker fan would love to see that if it shut up his timeline on any given Tuesday. Celtic pride still has a green day.
They didn't get Kevin. They didn't get Kyrie. Brooklyn did. New York didn't even get Zion. New Orleans did. It seems the N.Y. Knicks are as cursed as biting that bog red apple, but the garden could still be Eden again. The one big they did get instead of the Pelicans was the slept on star Julius Randle. And the one Duke star they did draft was the Maple Mamba of what could be the greatest Canadian since Steve Nash in R.J. Barrett. They lead a talented team that features Dennis Smith Jr, Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier, Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilikina, Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington and Taj Gibson. Make all the rotten apple jokes you want but we may finally have a New York team more concise than the one across that bridge.
No championship in Brooklyn until Kevin comes back. But oh how good is a Durant and Kyrie Irving one/two punch going to be? No matter how long it lasts. And they added DeAndre Jordan to a Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie supporting cast too. The fight for N.Y. looks as classic as the vendetta of that Def Jam beat 'em up game. New York basketball like the battle for Los Angeles on the West Coast looks big market classic again. But like the Lakers we hate how the Nets did D'Angelo Russell. Especially after his coming out/revenge season last year made him the King of the B.K. like a SLAM Notorious B.I.G. cover. That was juicy. But things done changed and let's just see how bad these boys can be against teams ready to die.
Must Read: 2017 NBA Finals Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors
Can you still trust the process with Jimmy and J.J. gone? Well the Sixers still have a big three of Simmons, Embiid and Tobias Harris. And they added the Celtics big man Al Horford too. It seems like a more focussed unit, but it's about as deep as modern rap these days. Philly need a new creed after being Rocky knocked out by Kawhi Leonard's Raptor series winning shot that went all around the world before destroying Philly's one. The process is still ongoing trust, but this superteam in Apollo shorts just had it's cape trod on.
How can you go from championship to commiseration in one Summer? Losing Leonard that's how. But this Raptor reigning champion and first in Canadian history is more than just Kawhi. Like they were more than Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and DeMar DeRozan. No matter how much these guys will always be Dino legends. So don't worry Drake you don't need to suit up. We've already seen on a Kentucky practice run how "Steph Curry" with the shot you really are. The Raps still have Lowry, Gasol, Siakam, Ibaka, VanVleet and enough teeth to make a meal out of their title defence. Protect this Jurassic Park. The 6 still has numbers.
Lauri Markkanen is better than you think. Zach LaVine is better than you think. As is Denzel Valentine. Pity the Chicago Bulls aren't though. Give it a few seasons of change in the Windy City and Coby White could change all that Bull####. But until then the Bulls will be propping up the Eastern Conference standings like the Jordan statue outside the United Center does their legacy. Chicago has taken enough hits. It's a beautiful city that deserves better than to be ignored now. But like a Common album the let's love rule and have the last word, Chi-city will rise out the storm to gold glory of legend once again.
Remember when LeBron was in The Land again? Yeah it seems like a lifetime ago doesn't it? Still Cleveland still has Love. And Kevin making his name talking about the need to start the conversation on mental health is so underrated in all areas. Canadian Tristan Thompson is still with the Cavs too like Delly and the young core of glue guys like microwave scorer Jordan Clarkson and all dunking Larry Nance Jr. But as of right now 'All You Need Is Love' is just a Beatles song, because this team needs to get by with a little help from their friends in what's set to be a helter skelter season as it was last once the King's story became once upon a time in Hollywood.
Just when you thought the Pistons had died like the automotive industry refuses to, Motor City rides again down 8 Mile road. Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson formed a nice one, two punch and then it got even more heavy handed in the paint with Andre Drummond. Now the force of a frontline is built like a pickup truck. You don't want to play pickup basketball with these two GMC's. You may end up as a DNP like DMC on an off-season run. And now there's a Rose blooming in Motown as Derrick grew from the concrete again for the legend of his classic, redemption song career. He was built for this city like Detroit rock. Put your hands up. We love this city.
Indiana lost pace when they lost Victor Oladipo to injury last season. But once he's back expect the Pacers to speedway race away like the Indy 500, especially with Sabonis and Turner in tow. Running the picket fence like those classic Hickory Hoosier jerseys. But we may need a few more glue guys to fill them before this team gets to really live like white pickets. Last season they were in the red like those classic vests. But this year it could be all about the glittering shorts. It hasn't been this exciting in the Fieldhouse since Coach Bird like Gene Hackman watched Reggie nail three's like he used to in the Garden. And this time, nobodies going to choke.
Milwaukee were the team to beat last year. And then the Raptors did exactly that on their way to becoming champions and the Buck stopped right there. But postseason Giannis Antetokounmpo still beat James Harden for the MVP and now he has one of his brothers on his 'Most Improved' Khris Middleton, 'Splash Mountain' Brook Lopez side. And don't forget the slept on but never stepped on Eric Bledsoe. Still in this league right now who else would you really want to start a franchise with other than the Greek Freak? Still so young, but old enough to contend party. As tall as they come, but still runs like a guard. Still gives it all for club and country, check a FIBA feed. Truly the most valuable player in the association. And the reason next season Milwaukee are stopping everybody. Buck it!
Related Topics:Boston CelticsBrooklyn NetsEastern ConferenceFeaturedIndiana PacersMiami HeatNBA Season PreviewPhiladelphia 76ersToronto Raptors
Watch THIS Work! The WNBA Bets On Women
Fight and win like a girl...
Ten years ago the motto of the Women's National Basketball Association was to, 'Expect Great'. Now a decade later and into the roaring 20's of a whole new one and world, the league that tells you to watch them work truly has for all it's worth.
The WNBA and CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) has reached a monumental moment in the leagues history and its time to read all about it on Los Angeles Sparks twin superstar Chiney Ogwumike's Twitter thread.
It tells us the CBA means…
When it comes to players salary and compensation there will be a 30% increase to the salary cap as the higher max pay player salary jumps like Lisa Leslie's first dunk from $117,500 to $215,000. Whilst there will be an additional compensation for those top tier Candace Parker players around $300,000. Moving millions this is thee first time the league has moved units like this in six figures. And like Russell Westbrook why not? Because for every player like him there's an Ogwumike. For every Candace a LeBron. Every Luka Doncic a Breanna Stewart. Every Larry Bird a Sue. Kobe Bryant, Diana Taurasi. For every Michael Jordan a Lisa Leslie.
Every insufferable, couch potato chip, sexist fans who unlike a Suffragette doesn't believe women deserves equal pay needs to check their pockets…yep like Rakim said that's nothing but lint. Now paid in full these women deserve this and more like diversity at the Oscars. Just as good as the men like Michelle Wie (she's not the logos sons wife people) golfing with the guys of you claim you're "woke" on social media but can't wake up to this then you're about as woke as still in bed gone half 12 in the afternoon. It feels like all those trumped up people who had a problem with a female 'Ghostbusters' reboot. Or those old men who would rather bully a 17 year old girl with Aspergers online than believe in the actual happenings of climate change.
Sure there's an argument that sportspeople shouldn't be paid these ridiculous amounts of money. But the point is if the men get paid this much then why shouldn't the women?
This should have happened a long time ago. But at least it's happening now.
Working mothers are also finally getting their due in a groundbreaking deal on this date. Players will receive a salary whilst on maternity leave with an additional new childcare stipend. Whilst up to $60,000 of progressive family planning benefits for veteran players for costs for adoption, surrogacy, oocyte cryopreservation, fertility and more. No longer will go hard greats like Skylar Diggins-Smith have to play whilst pregnant and hide it to protect herself whilst the CBA lists it as a "condition".
Must Read: Courtside Column - Season of change
Perks of the game that the men have had for years and the world class women deserve just as such also include individual hotel rooms for players, more mandatory leg room on flights (how important is this for basketball players? The NBA would cry personal foul if the King and them would be forced to fly economy), and further for the finances, off-season job opportunities with league partners that along with the salary rise will mean that WNBA players won't, overplayed and underpaid have to go overseas in the off-season to earn more money to make ends meet in foreign leagues. Something which has been a conditioning condition and pay for play issue since the leagues inaugural inception.
And let's not forget about the players mental health too in major improvements across the board and world to an issue still surrounded with stigma despite the lengths taken and measures made. More resources will be offered in addition to the adoption of a Nutrition Council that will aid peak performance by offering players a commitment to this optimization.
But it's probably the stand made by the WNBA and the CBA against violence to women which is the most important. Ending domestic and all sorts of violence to women which has happened to players around the league and still happens everyday, effecting everyone needs to end NOW like it should have never happened. It seems like such a ridiculously obvious thing to say…but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be said.
Again and again until we don't have to.
The wide world has finally met the standards of the women's game and league on the way to leveling the playing field. More of the same…do we really need to add the please now?
Betting on sporting events is a losers game. But betting on women-like the ones in this league-is a sure thing.
The game changed for real today.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 20 Pts, 20 Rebs, 10 Asts first Canadian NBA triple-double since 2006
Edilson J. Silva
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 20 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists joins elite NBA company
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Hamilton, ON) became only the second Canadian basketball player in NBA history to record a triple-double — and the first in nearly 14 years, since Steve Nash in 2006.
Gilgeous-Alexander racked-up 20 points, career-high 20 rebounds and 10 assists in the 117-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former one-and-done Kentucky Wildcat continued his efficient campaign shooting 8-of-12 field goals, connecting 2-of-3 triples and 2-of-2 from the foul-line.
Steve Nash recorded three triple-doubles in his illustrious 18-year career, the last one on April 19, 2006 — Nash finished with 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
The 20 rebounds is also a record-high by a Canadian guard and only the second 20/20 double-double by a Canadian — Jamaal Magloire notched a 22 point, 21 rebound game against the Toronto Raptors' on March 21, 2004.
Most rebounds by a Canadian in the NBA
Samuel Dalembert (Montreal, QC) holds the record for the most rebounds in a NBA game with 23 against the Golden State Warriors on March 20, 2009. Followed by Magloire 22 and Tristan Thompson with 21.
Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the youngest guard to record 20-20-10 stat-line and joins Russell Westbrook as the only guards with a 20-point, 20-rebound triple-double over the last 30 seasons. He is also the youngest player in NBA history with a 20-rebound triple-double, passing Shaquille O'Neal.
RJ Barrett became the first Canadian basketball player to record a triple-double at the NCAA level in nearly 35 years during his lone freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils.
The OKC Thunder continue their playoff push with their 18 victory in the last 25 games and currently sit in 7th place in the western conference.
Must Read: Raptors' Nick Nurse to coach Canada at 2019 FIBA World Cup
The Canadian guard is currently averaging 20 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists — shooting 46.4% from the floor, 33.6% from three-pointers and 81.6% from the foul-line while turning the ball over just 1.9 per game.
Canada NBA All-Star Drought
The 2020 NBA All-star game in Chicago is less than month away and as it currently stands, Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't currently rank as one the top fan vote earners in a guard heavy western conference. Nevertheless, the Canadian stud could end Canada's eight year NBA all-star game drought by earning a coach's selection.
Canadian Basketball Insider Newsletter
NBA3 weeks ago
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 32 points most by Canadian against the Raptors
Clippers Leave Lakers Under The Tree On LA Christmas Day
NCAA3 weeks ago
Abu Kigab career night powers Boise State Broncos
Deck The Hall With Kobe, KG and Timmy
Subscribers Services
Copyright © 2008-2020 BasketballBuzz Inc. All Rights Reserved.