TODAY IN PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 28 APRIL 2020

0
167

INTRODUCTION

Today’s forty third plenary sitting of the Fifth Parliament (Second Session) of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone was long awaited and hugely significant.

MOOD

The climate of today’s sitting was ‘covidish’ in nature, characterised by a downsized attendance, seating position readjustments due to COVID-19, late start, brief and profoundly political.

ORDER PAPER

The OP featured as usual (prayers and record of votes and proceedings) and, Announcement by Speaker – which unveiled Hon. Mathew Sarh Nyuma as Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie Deputy Leader, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay Chairperson SLPP Parliamentary Caucus, Hon. Sidi M. Tunis Speaker ECOWAS Parliament/Ex Officio Member SLPP Leadership, etc.
Also, Hon. Nyuma laid papers on (A) The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) – 2018 Annual Public Procurement Assessment Report.
(C) The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Sam King Brima’s – Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency Regulations, 2020.
The Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency Act, 2028 (Act No 5 of 2018).

ISSUES

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice’s, The Imposition of Curfew Order, 2020
The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 (Act No.6 of 1991)
Constitutional Instrument No.7 of 2020 and (4) Ratification
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice
The Constitutional Instrument No.7 of 2020 on the Imposition of Curfew Order, 2020 which was laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday 28th April 2020 be ratified were not considered nor ratified due to an opposition concern that such a law should not be partially looking at Kambia District alone when the entire country is under partial curfew, thus not being helpful for the COVID-19 fight.
Other issues that surfaced were:
No stranger except accredited members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery were allowed at the Upper and Lower Galleries due to COVID-19 social distancing measures.
Again, SO3(2) was indefinitely suspended allowing MPs to speak from seats that they were not initially allocated to.
The subject of reduction of 146 MPs to 74 as COVID-19 measure was also noticeably effected.
The absence of the outgoing Leader of Government Business Hon. Sidi M. Tunis and the deliberate discountenancing of his name and contributions for two sessions by every MP that took the Floor rang a bell.
The announcement of the new position of Chairperson SLPP Parliamentary Council and Ex Officio Member could be a dynamic subject for another day, more so when left wing undertones prayed for similar positions.
The comportment of Hon. Nyuma was admirable in one or two situations that could have caused stalemates.
The issue of the presentation of rules and regulations for the State of Public Emergency (SOPE) in two weeks and not done did not just past under the opposition bridge.
A claim was made that security forces are intimidating people.
The absence of the AGMOJ raised and alarm too.
The spirit of the Bo declaration subdued what was anticipated to be bantering sitting.
Media accreditation came to the fore but that can be better shelved for subsequent dissections especially if the timeliness is to be examined.
A few MPs tendered felicitations to the new Leader of Government Business but with non of them saying thank you or farewell to the outgoing leader.
The presence of the ‘Bullet’ in the Well was only accorded with recognition but not parliamentary confirmation for his new NCP job.

POLITICS

Arguably, today typified the notion that there are permanent interests in politics and no permanent friends, looking at how MPs treated the change of power from Hon. S. Tunis to Hon. M.S.Nyuma.
Another concerning political matter is how the thorny issues were back benched for a post plenary leadership meeting at the Speaker’s conference Room.
Why the AGMOJ did not show up could be a politics just between the Legislature and the Executive.

CONTROVERSY

This will be hinged on the Executive’s failure to present rules and regulations for SOPE as was agreed upon.
Why presenting a curfew legislation for only Kambia when in effect, an interdistrict curfew is already in force nationwide.
The lack of wholesomeness in the Government’s rationale behind the curfew and other covid measures is deeply pondering but this was quickly and smartly eschewed by the new Government Business Leader to avoid the occurrence of the unexpected.

MR. SPEAKER

Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu continued his flawlessness although he did not keep to promptness on timing of entering the Chamber as he promised.

MP ON POSTER

Hon. Sarh Bhendu’s reflection on the status of the SOPE and the unfinished business of the House set him apart from his colleagues.
Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma, exhibited a true sense of leadership contrary to the expectations of skeptics that he will manifest hard-line and unbridle actions and reactions. Opposition Leaders praised Hon. Nyuma’s comportment.

WHAT NEXT

The House stands adjourned to Thursday 7th May, 2020.
Also, for the first time MPs were giving an idea in advance notice of what is to come up in the business of the House, thanks to Hon. Nyuma’s introduction of Notice Paper.
Some expected items are: approval of Dr. Alex Prince Harding and others, the Audit Report 2018, Public Order Act, Diplomatic agreements, etc.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments