By: Melvin Tejan Mansaray
Today’s fifth plenary sitting of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone was less bantering but interesting.
MOOD
An easy calm permeated the atmosphere of the House with a late start and many empty seats of course not as a result of the Covid-19 readjustment of MPs attendance.
ORDER PAPER
The OP exclusively dealt with the ‘Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio’ moved by Hon.Mathew S. Nyuma Leader of Government Business and seconded by Hon. Francis A. Kaisamba.
ISSUES
Day two of the presidential debate captured fresh issues from across the political divide.
Issues such as; smaller political parties not having a fair but proportionate time on the floor, the APC wanting to commence the debate, motion carried to shorten the debate from five to three days due to the funeral of late Hon. A.O. Kamara, the lessening of time from twenty to ten minutes per speaker and a very patchy SATCOM service.
The debate in harness unearthed issues around the repeal of the criminal libel law, ICT, the efficiency of the SLBC, media, environment, the need for politicians to send their kids to public schools, neglect of disability issues, ACC, fragility of the country’s peace, Section 76.1(two sim), politics of continuity and change, protection of SALCAB,, the fiber optics, MPs subtle canvassing to Chairman and belong to lucrative committees, deforestation of Falaba, the long silence of certain MPs, two presidential addresses, some MPs NASSIT number issue, etc.
POLITICS
The unending ingratitude attitude by the APC and SLPP over their achievements in governance.
Will the APC or SLPP ever praise themselves for good work or continue to see no good in themselves in a constant state of cross opposition, attack and defend, defend and counter attack.
Also, the constitutional implications of Lawyer Francis Gabidon’s article on dual citizenship and the attrition it caused to the Fourth Parliament.
The legi-judicial effect of this issue will forever remain if the manifesto promise on diaspora involvement is not kept.
CONTROVERSY
Did MPs financially contributed to the free quality education as public was made to understand when the resolved to do so.
Were the salaries pledged by MPs towards the free education actually deducted by the Government still remains unclear.
MR. SPEAKER
Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu was forthright, clarify thorny issues at the onset. He was flawlessly judicious unlike in the first day of the debate.
MPs ON POSTER
The Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo’s ode to peace and national unity will always be remembered.
Hon. Holla Mansaray’s début address to Parliament resurrected memories of his late father Hon Eskimo.
Hon. Hindolo Gavao’s contribution will never go unscathed by the APC for obvious reason ( blocking the APC mini convention).
WHAT’S NEXT
The sitting stands adjourned to 6th July 2020.
The review process survey for the Parliamentary Standing Order is on course with Hon. Rosaline Jariatu Smith serving as the National Consultant.
