By: Tejan Mansaray
INTRODUCTION
Today’s forty fourth plenary sitting of the Fifth Parliament (Second Session) of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone was brief and ubiquitous.
MOOD
The ambiance of today’s sitting was not energetic, the Upper and Lower Galleries were entirely empty of strangers except a few journalists due to COVID-19 preventions measures, the number of MPs was curtailed and mood permeated with an uneasy calm but pristine
ORDER PAPER
Item No.3 (Laying of Papers), (A) The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr. Priscilla Schwartz was not around (without any excuse) to lay ‘The Emergency Alert Telephone Call Regulations, 2020’
The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991(Act No.6 of 1991)
Constitutional Instrument No. 9 of 2020. Patricia Laverley Deputy Minister of Finance tabled five items including amendment to Financing agreement on agriculture value chain development project with IFAD grant, loan agreement revamping of aquatic environment, dollar credit line financing and framework agreement for protection of investment between Sierra Leone and ABEDA all of which were later approved after a short debate.
(C)Water Resources Minister Philip K. Lansana also laid Electricity and Water Licencing Rule, 2019
Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act, 2011(Act No.13 of 2011)
Statutory Instrument No. 10 of 2019 and five other regulations.
Item No. 4 , Motion of the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service, fourteenth report of the second session approved the appointment of Dr. Prince Alex Harding as Chairman NCP, Panda Noah Minister of Internal Affairs and nine other Presidential nominees. This debate was unique and brief with the excusing of the reading of the full text of the report.
ISSUES
Perhaps the most topical issue has to do with the parliamentary privileges and welfare (at stake) of a certain main Member of Parliament (MP)/who is being accused of sedition and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The House also held a close doors sitting at Committee Room No.1 prior the plenary to wit nothing is known about the purpose.
Due to COVID-19, the House continues its reduction (145 to 74) in the number of MPs per sitting but not negating quorum consideration due to suspension of the relevant SO.
Also, the main opposition APC did not participate on the debate for the confirmation of eleven presidential nominees including Dr. Alex Prince Harding Leader and Chairman of the governing SLPP although same was not the case for two other government motions. The opposition MPs were the last to stream into the Chamber of Parliament initially provoking concerns of an outright boycott.
The issue of social distancing was not shelved but thoroughly practiced.
The Media reform of the Parliamentary Press Gallery is in full gear this time with the call on all Journalists to submit a copy of their Media licenses and academic qualifications. This comes after the Administration called for fresh re application for media accreditations.
The House’s cautioning that Water Regulations are yet to take effect could not not go unnoticed.
POLITICS
The biggest theatre of politics is expected in the coming hours as House Speaker accompanies Leaders of Political Parties including two Paramount Chiefs to State House for a meeting with President Julius Maada Bio. The import of this meeting is unstated but cannot be unconnected to the spate of growing political tensions between the government and main opposition political party and perhaps the role of MPs in all of the unfolding issues. There seem to be a bipartisan sympathy for detained opposition MP, Hon. Lahai Marah. The spirit of bipartisan corporation is being threatened especially when the Bo Declaration was signed to halt growing political tensions that ensued at the onset of the life of current Parliament.
The main opposition was lay back in today’s sitting but however exhibited pragmatism that was reciprocated by the government bench.
CONTROVERSY
The biggest controversy is that of parliamentary solidarity over detained MP – provoking a debate over parliamentary ethics and that of parliamentary privileges and immunity. Is the alledge action of Hon. Marah protected as per SO26 ( Privilege motions)?
MR. SPEAKER
Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu as usual displayed brevity, fairness and a sense of dialogue. His arbitration was faultless though he could not enter the Chamber on time. His strict call for safe distance is ever resounding.
MP ON POSTER
The absence due to his dentation makes Hon. Lahai Marah a poster child despite not being for a too palatable course.
Hon. Matthew Nyuma and Hon. Hassan Sesay displayed high sense of maturity over what was to be the most thorny issue of the detention of Hon. Lahai Marah.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The House stands adjourned sine dine.
Clerk of Parliament Hon. Paran Tarwally disclosed that the State Opening of the Third Session is to be on the 28th May, 2020 but noted that due to COVID-19 they are contemplating on doing it virtually.
Also, MPs are expected to hold a two day malaria sensitization on Friday and on Monday.
The Committee on NGOs and NaCSA held a meeting with officials of NaCSA just after the plenary sitting which unearthed a barrage of ‘mismatches, typos, and several unresolved issues’ on the management of government assistance to vulnerable groups of people for the first and second phase of national Covid-19 lockdown.
