Posted on March 4, 2021 by Pnafrica
Today’s thirty-eighth
plenary sitting of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone
(Third Session) had a nuance of staccato, a kind of play and pause nature.
Hon. Solomon Sengehpoh
Thomas presided as acting Speaker for the third consecutive time in a row for
obvious reasons ranging from the substantive Speaker being out of the country
on international duty (Chief Envoy to Guinea) and upholding of the precepts
of parliamentary best practice, wherein Mr. Speaker’s interest (daughter confirmed
as High Commissioner to Kenya and confiscated properties to be revoked) was
among the businesses of the House.
The Lower Gallery was
attended by supporters of mostly the newest and newly sworn-in Member of
Parliament (MP) representing Constituency 010, Kailahun District, Hon.
Zainab Kama Brima. Her election and swearing-in add to the number of female MPs
to eighteen which attracted slight Female Caucus pomp.
Solomon Jamiru, Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation tabled, “Convention
A/P.1/7/92 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.”
The House however
reverted to Committee Room No.1, after Hon. Hassan Sesay, Opposition APC Whip
trumpeted the issue of the health and other facilities of MPs, which are
arguably poor as to be compared to other countries, although the country’s
economic status is not that buoyant.
This meeting was held
in closed doors and its outcome is unknown but one thing that is certain for
sure is that this is not the first time the said matter of conditions of
service for MPs is being raised in the Well.
The Leader of the main
opposition APC party, Hon. C.R.M. Bah took an opportunity to request a minute
of silence for the victims of the fatal road accident claiming the lives of
some nine footballers in Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone. The House
nonetheless, observed a minute of silence for the affected persons wishing
their souls eternal rest.
House Leader, Hon. Mathew
S. Nyuma, announced the constitution of a Committee to investigate the case of
water pollution reported by Hon. Alice. J. Kumabeh. Hon. Sarh Emerson Lamina
was appointed Chairman of the said Committee deputized by Hon. Yusuf Mackery
and other Members from across different political parties. Hon. Nyuma also
announced the Committees to which the newly sworn-in MPs (Hon. K. Davies,
Hon. H.J Fabba, and Hon. Z.K. Brima) are members. Each one of the three MPs is being
apportioned to serve in three different parliamentary sessional
select committees.
House Speaker, Hon.
Thomas took time to urge Special Select Committee Chairmen (Ethics, Corruption
perception, etc) to submit their reports by the next adjourned sitting of
Parliament, adding that, ‘Keeping these reports is not in our favor.” The
Speaker also instructed the House to provide the funding for the undertaking of
the said activities of oversight to polluted water areas. He also promised to furnish
facts to the House on the matter of alleged fraud for which
the Leader of
Government testified as a third prosecuting witness in Court, whereas, Mr.
Speaker, who is also a lawyer leads the prosecution.
On item No. 5
(Petition), the House was irresolute. Although not made very clear, this item,
credible sources have it that the Leader of the C4C Party, Hon. Saa Emerson
Lamina was to read a petition praying: “That this Honorable House hereby
Revokes and thereby declares as null
and void its earlier
Resolution passed on 21st June 2007 empowering the Government of the late
President Ahmed Tejan Kabba to compulsorily acquire two properties of Dr. Abass
Chernor Bundu and his family located at Plot 14, 28 The Loop, Wilberforce Loop,
Wilberforce, Freetown on the grounds that vital information had been withheld
from Parliament relating to the fact that the said properties had been the subject
of litigation before the highest Courts of Sierra Leone in
respect of which
Judgement had been delivered by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on
17th March 2006 and 10th January 2007 respectively, and that by this Revocation
the said Judgement of the Courts shall remain valid and shall prevail in
perpetuity,” in tandem
with the provisions of
S.O. 17.3.4. and 5. However, the timeliness of this revocation prayer has been
questioned, but observers say the current Parliament is now on the verge of righting
the wrongs of its predecessor at a time that is arguably more than expedient
for the individual in question. At the end of the day, this matter was not
dealt with and House Speaker, Hon Thomas said: “unfortunately we cannot
proceed today with the petition; we will proceed with the petition next week on
the next adjourned date.” Ears to the ground have it that the opposition had
asked for more time to study the document before a decision can be taken on it.
There was also the
reallocation of seats of Hon. K. Vandy occupying the seat of the late Hon. A.
O. Kamara, while Hon. Sarty Banya takes the seat of Hon K. Vandy, and, the
newest MP, Hon. Brima takes the seat of Hon. Banya.
On the plethora of
Personal Explanations (SO 23), Hon. C.R.M. Bah gave notice of complaint that
the SLRA is not working and, the issue of cargo tracking agreement, operating
without a ratified agreement and no clear terms of conditions, promising to
table a motion if the needful is not done on the subject matter.
Hon. Alice J. Kumabeh,
said the polluted water she complained about is now far better than two-three
weeks ago, but her intervention was ejected by Hon. Nyuma and House Speaker, both
of whom urged her to wait until after the findings of the newly established
ad-hoc
committee to
investigate the issue. She also talked about the welfare and security of MPs
but that also was overruled by Mr. Speaker, noting that they have discussed it.
Hon. A.A. Koroma,
stood on Section 56.3 of the Sierra Leone 1991Constitution averting attention
to current serving Ministers (Resident Ministers, Minister of Defense, Deputy
Foreign Affairs Minister, etc) serving in dual capacities, arguing that
Paolo Conteh, former Ebola Response Chief was relieved off duty before serving
as Ebola Coordinator. Mr. Speaker ruled that it was
very much contentious,
however, Hon. Nyuma called for a notice to be served to wit, arguing on the
issue of profit, “ give us notice, it is a debating point.” Hon. Koroma however
served a notice of motion that Ministers serving in dual capacities be relieved
of their duties.
Hon. A.K. Kamara said
the telecommunications network in Kambia is problematic and Orange mobile
company has listened to their plea and is constructing towers for which he
expressed gratitude and thanksgiving for more communication poles.
Hon. A. B.Fofana,
complained to the Minister of Works overloads of road contracts and the road
from Bo to Matotoka not being done well due to the sidelining of
stakeholders. This point was countered by Hon. Bashiru Silikie, Chairman
Works Committee, and Deputy Leader, whose point of motion was countered by the
Speaker that his objection does not subsist and he should not defend
contractors as the issue affects the MP’s constituency. A letter to the Works
Committee is to delve in-depth into the matter.
Hon. Saa Charles said
he has been writing questions to Ministers as demanded by the Speaker but they
have not been answered, he questioned the reality of question time and accused
the Speaker of failure to make sure that these questions are answered. Mr.
Speaker however asked for a follow-up on the Clerk’s Office, not the Speaker.
“Your questions are currently being processed, one of the Directors told me,”
Mr. Speaker said, noting that by next week, action should be taken. The timing
of the depositing of the questions was however downplayed by the Leader of
Government Business on the grounds that a motion can not overlap into another
session.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura,
flagged the issue of the ONS press release on the ban of the use of political
party Marshalls, calling on the Defense Committee to summon the ONS Director to
explain the motive of the press release at, “ a time that the Police
(SLP) cannot provide security for most people, at a time that the
SLP withdrew Samura Kamara, Sam Sumana, and his (Hon. Bangura) very own
security guards.” Hon. Afiju Kanja, Defense Committee Chairman said that the
claim will be ascertained and the reason behind the decision. He however questioned
if it was a motion being moved by the MP or not, promising, “ I will do
so by summoning the ONS Director on the next adjourned date.”
Hon. Dr. M. Kallokoh
repeated concerns over road accidents talking about nine deaths and twelve
hospitalized members of his soccer team. “The issue needs stakeholder
intervention, may their souls rest in peace.”
Coming up, a pre-leg
on the bill Cybercrime Act 2021 on Wednesday, Pollution Committee meeting just
after sitting, etc.
The sitting stands
adjourned to Thursday 11th March 2021.
Story By: Melvin Tejan Mansaray