Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698831936926.pdf (Sierra Leone)
OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL, FREETOWN P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ [HANSARD] ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT FIRST SESSION - FIRST MEETING FRIDAY, 4TH MAY, 2018 SESSION – 2018/2019 OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL, FREETOWN P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ [HANSARD] ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT VOLUME: I NUMBER: 4 First Meeting of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held Thursday, 26th April, 2018.

2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY, 3RD MAY, 2018 III.

SWEARING-IN OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT [THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE 1991 CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE] IV.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
PROPOSER: HONOURABLE SIDIE M. TUNIS SECONDER: HONOURABLE SAA E. LAMINA V. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SESSIONAL SELECT COMMITTEES 3 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ FIRST SESSION – FIRST MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Friday, 4th May, 2018.
I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mrs Bintu Weston, Read the Prayers] [The House met at 10:05 a.m. in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Deputy Speaker, Hon.

Solomon S. Thomas, in the Chair] The House was called to Order 4 Suspension of S. O.

5[2] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR PARLIAMENTARY II.
SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY, 3RD MAY, 2018 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, we go through the record of Votes and Proceedings for the parliamentary sitting, held on Thursday, 3rd May, 2018.

Page 1?

HON.

P.C.

BAI FARAMA TASS BUBU NGBNAK IV: Mr Speaker, I want to refer you to No.

7.

The other name, ‘Bai’ is omitted.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please take note of that.

HON.
HON.

AIAH D. S. KASSEGBAMA: Mr Speaker, if you look at No 34, my name should be written as Honourable Aiah David Shek Kassegbama and not Shek David Aiah.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I have just been informed by the Clerk and I do verily believe that the names, as you see them in the records of Votes and Proceedings, were spelt by the National Electoral Commission [NEC] in the fashion in which you are seeing them.
These are the gazetted names and if you have to do any corrections, I have just been informed by the Clerk that you have to go back to the NEC to see that the proper names are written down.

I hope I am clear on that?

Any other observations or corrections.

Page 2.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Page 2.

Mr Speaker, Sahr is not my first name, but my middle name.

So, it should read Nyuma Mathew Sahr against No.

55.
55.

I beg to differ from what the Clerk told you that that was how the names were gazetted.

If you read this document given to us to certify us as Members of Parliament, you will realise that even the day elections were conducted, instead of Wednesday, we have Tuesday on this document.

So, they need to check their records and do the corrections.

As we are doing our corrections, let them do theirs as well.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I agree with you.


Mr Clerk, please ensure that the necessary corrections are effected accordingly.

Honourable Members, any other observations or corrections?

5 HON.

FESTUS M. LANSANA: Mr Speaker, No.

41.

My name should read Lansana Festus Mohamed and not Lansana Mohamed Festus.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please take note.

HON.

BERNADETTE W. SONGA: Mr Speaker, I think it is the same scenario here.

I did try to rectify mine on the day of nominations.
My name should read, ‘Bernadette Wuyatta Songa’ and not ‘Wuyatta Bernadette.’ So, if that has been gazetted as it is, then it needs to be rectified because I have made attempt to get that corrected.

Thank you.

My name is written against No.

71.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you, Honourable Member.

HON.

AMBROSE M. LEBBY: Mr Speaker, Page 2, No.

44.

My name should be Lebby Ambrose Maada.

Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please take note.

HON.


LAMIN JOSEPH-WILLIAMS: Mr Speaker, I made similar corrections yesterday, but the same mistake has been repeated in this document.

I want to draw the attention of this Honourable House to No.

39.

My name is Williams-Lamin Joseph.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, it has been said by your very self and the Clerk that the mistakes are not made here.

If we allow every Member of Parliament to go over his/her names here, then we will spend all day on that.
Let us go with your advice that we do it here and communicate with NEC, so that by the next sitting, our names would have been corrected.

THE SPEAKER: No, let us go ahead, Honourable Member.

Do you have any observations or corrections to make?

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: That is my observation, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Let us limit ourselves to the record of Votes and Proceedings.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

6 HON.

DOMINIC J. LAVALIE-TSHOMBE: Mr Speaker, Page 2, No.

42.
42.

I did similar corrections yesterday.

My names are Lavalie-Tshombe is a compound surname.

HON.

P. C. MATILDA YAYU LANSANA MINAH: Mr Speaker, my name is Matilda Yayu Lansana Minah.

THE SPEAKER: Which number, Honourable Member?

HON.

P. C. MINAH LANSANA MATILDA YAYU: Mr Speaker, No.

52.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please take note.

HON.

MOHAMED B. SHAW: Mr Speaker, my name is Mohamed Billoh Shaw and not Shaw Mohamed Billoh.

My name is written against No.

60.


THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, that is not for you to determine.

Let us proceed.

Any other observation?

Page 2.

HON.

HAFIJU MAADA KANJA: Mr Speaker, I am very sorry to take you back to Page 1.

Since we have been asked to proceed, I would like to draw your attention to No.

31.

My name should read Honourable Hafiju Maada Kanja.

THE SPEAKER: Are we dealing with Page 2, Honourable Member?

HON.

HAFIJU MAADA KANJA: Mr Speaker, S. O.

30 HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I rise on S. O.

34[1].

The Honourable Member just referred us to S.O 30.

THE SPEAKER: I would like to ignore that, Honourable Member.

Any other observation?

HON.

P.C.

KANGBAI JOE MACAVORAY III: Mr Speaker, Page 2, No.

45.

My name is Honourable Paramount Chief Macavoray III Kangbai Joe THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, take note of that.

Any other observations or corrections?

Page 2?

Page 3?

Page 4?

Page 5?

HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Page 5.

You can say the ‘Honourable Member from Constituency 019’ and not “Honourable Constituency 019.” I think 7 we need to go over it.

The Standing Orders are very clear on this issue.

You refer to Honourable Member by the Constituency.

THE SPEAKER: Hold on, Honourable Member.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I decline Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, any other observations?

Page 5?

Page 6?

HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Sorry, Mr Speaker, my attention was not there.

I know you read English, but I do not know if this sentence is correct.

The sentence reads, „„Hon P.C.

Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III took and subscribed to the oath.‟‟ THE SPEAKER: Which line are you referring to, Honourable Member?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Page 5, the first line, under item IV.
Mr Speaker, the first paragraph under ‘Swearing-in of elected Member of Parliament.’ I think something was omitted.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, your point is noted.

Page 6?

THE SPEAKER: Page 5?

Page 6?

Page 7?

If there are no corrections or amendments, would somebody move for the adoption of the record of Votes and Proceedings for the parliamentary sitting, held on Thursday, 3rd May, 2018 as amended?

HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: I so move, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any Seconder?

HON.


JOSEPH L. WILLIAMS: I so second, Mr Speaker.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Record of Votes and Proceedings for the parliamentary sitting, held on Thursday, 3rd May, 2018 has been adopted as amended] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, at this stage, I wish to recognise the presence of certain dignitaries amongst us this morning.

I want to start by recognising the presence of the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs Fatima Bio.
Madam First Lady, please stand for Members of Parliament to see you.

Again, I would like to 8 recognise the presence of the Chief of Staff, Major General Brima Sesay.

Let us also recognise the presence of the ECOWAS delegation to Sierra Leone.

You are all welcome [Applause].

At this stage, this sitting is adjourned for few minutes.

[The House was adjourned at 10:40 a.m. and resumed at 11:15 a.m.] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I would like to welcome all of us back.

III.
III.

SWEARING-IN OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT [THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE 1991 CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, in line with Section 83 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No.6 of 1991, in tandem with Standing Orders [1] and [2], we have Honourable Members who are going to subscribe to the oath of office before taking their respective seats.

In that regard I would like to call on the Clerk to proceed with the oath taking.
The following Members of Parliament subscribed to the oath: NAME CONSTITUENCY 1.

HON.

BAH CHERNOR R.M.

2.

HON.

KARGBO IBRAHIM BEN 3.

HON.

MANLY-SPAIN AJIBOLA EMMANUEL 4.

HON.

SESAY ABDOUL HASSAN 5.

HON.

KANU AMADU MOHAMED 6.

HON.

ALHADI LIHADI 7.

HON.

ALU-CONTEH ALUSINE KAINDE 8.

HON.

AMARA HAJA MIATTA 9.

HON.

BAH ALPHA AMADU 10.

HON.

BANGURA CECILIA MABINTY 11.

HON.

BANGURA HARIYATU ARIANA 12.

HON.

BANGURA IBRAHIM AZIZ 13.

HON.

BANGURA MOHAMED 14.

HON.

BANGURA ROSEMARIE 15.


HON.

CAREW SHERIFF MOHAMED KASIM 126 034 124 050 093 123 125 112 115 065 116 076 066 055 122 9 16.

HON.

CONTEH EMMANUEL SAIDU 129 17.

HON.

CONTEH IBRAHIM 18.

HON.

CONTEH JOHN CHARLES 19.

HON.

CONTEH KEMOKOH 20.

HON.

CONTEH SAMBA PAUL 21.

HON.

DAVIES KHADIJATU 22.

HON.

FOFANAH ABU BAKARR 23.

HON.

JALLOH TIMBO WURROH 24.

HON.

KABBA LAMIN FODAY 25.

HON.

KABIA MOHAMED 26.

HON.


KALOKOH MAHMOUD MARK 053 031 108 035 110 107 119 044 106 032 27.

HON.

KAMARA ABDUL KARIM 059 28.

HON.

KAMARA ABDUL KARIM 29.

HON.

KAMARA ALHASSAN JERO 30.

HON.

KAMARA ALUSINE BASH 31.

HON.

KAMARA ALUSINE OSAIO 32.

HON.

KAMARA IBRAHIM 33.

HON.

KAMARA IBRAHIM BUN 34.

HON.

KAMARA MOMOH 35.

HON.

KAMARA SAIDU BABAH 36.

HON.

KANU ALIMAMY BRUN 37.

HON.

KANU RUGIATU ROSY 38.

HON.

KARGBO ABDUL 39.

HON.

KARGBO FODAY ROLAND 40.

HON.

KARGBO JOHN SATTIE 41.


HON.

KARGBO PAPA ABDULAI 42.

HON.

KOROMA AARON ARUNA 43.

HON.

KOROMA ABDUL KARIM 44.

HON.

KOROMA DANIEL BRIMA 069 040 067 058 063 068 120 071 072 113 077 064 111 047 048 070 046 45.

HON.

KOROMA EMMANUEL ALLIEU 036 10 46.

HON.

KOROMA UNPHA SORIE GBASSAY 47.

HON.

KOROMA YAMBA PETER 48.

HON.

MANSARAY ABU 49.

HON.

MANSARAY AHMED 50.

HON.

MANSARAY MOMODU ESKIMO 51.

HON.

MARAH ALUSINE 52.

HON.

MARAH LAHAI 53.

HON.

ROLLINGS-KAMARA SIRAJIN MUNIRR 54.

HON.


SAMURA HAJARATU FAITH 55.

HON.

SANKOH HASSAN 56.

HON.

SESAY ABDUL LATIF 57.

HON.

SESAY DANIEL ABDULAI DR 58.

HON.

SESAY KUSAN 59.

HON.

SESAY OSMAN SALLIEU 60.

HON.

SILLAH FODAY ABUBAKARR FODAY 61.

HON.

TARAWALIE ISSAC 62.

HON.

TARAWALLY ZAINAB CATHERINE 63.

HON.

THOLLEY JAMES OZAN 64.

HON.

TIMBO OSMAN ABDAL 65.

HON.

TUCKER TOM ISSIC 66.

HON.

SHAW MOHAMED BILLOH 67.

HON.

TURAY ABDUL 68.

HON.

TURAY AHMED SAMBA 69.

HON.


TURAY ALHAJI SORIEBA 114 033 074 121 043 041 042 127 117 049 075 052 045 038 128 118 037 054 130 022 039 105 073 051 THE SPEAKER: Members of the gallery, this is a warning to all of you.

This is the House of Parliament and I am giving you the very first and last warning.

Otherwise we will send you out.

Get me the Sergeant-at-arm.

MR UMAR PARAN TARAWALLY [Clerk of Parliament]: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all Honourable Members of the APC for 11 successfully subscribing to the oath of office.

The packs you have received contained the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, the Standing Orders and other relevant documents to ease your work.

Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members of the All Peoples Congress, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate you heartily for coming to this Well of Parliament to subscribe to the oath of office.
I wish to inform you that this Nation is extremely proud of you to have taken the bold step to come to Parliament and subscribe to the oath.

This means you are ready to serve this Nation.

We are extremely proud of you and I want to assure you that you have a wonderful time here.

As Members of Parliament, you have three roles; i.e., to make laws, to represent your people and oversight functions.
I want to take this special time to congratulate Honourable Chernor R. M. Bah, the former Deputy Speaker of this House, the Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo and the Honourable Ajibola Manley-Spain.

I thank you for your leadership role in bringing this kind of impasse to a conclusion.

In every human society, there are bound to be conflicts because of our nature and nurture.

We are different and because of our differences, we are bound to conflict.
What is glorious or what is blessed is when people have the willingness to compromise and to settle their differences wherever that exist.

On that note, Honourable Members of the All People’s Congress [APC], I want to thank you very much for this kind of bold step.

The citizens are out there watching your actions and inactions.

I can say, with all honesty, that this Nation is very proud of you.

I congratulate you once more and I hope and pray that you have a wonderful time here.

Thank you very much.


[The House was adjourned at 11: 40 a.m. and resumed at 2:30 p.m.] [The Speaker, Hon.

Abass Chernor Bundu, in the Chair] IV.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Proposer: Honourable Sidie M. Tunis 12 Seconder: Honourable Saa E. Lamina HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I present to this Honourable House the First Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service on parliamentary vetting of presidential nominations.

1.
1.

Introduction Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, cognisance of its constitutional responsibility of vetting and approving appropriately qualified Candidates for appointments to ministerial positions, met on Thursday, 3rd May, 2018 and interviewed twelve [12] presidential nominees for appointment as ministers.

2.

Procedure The Committee conducted its hearing within its framework of procedures.
The nominees were interviewed on issues pertaining to their educational background to ensure that they have the relevant education and necessary back-up experience to effectively man the ministries they were appointed.

Further probing questions put to the Nominees covered wide ranging issues relating to their track records in the public service and other pertinent work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a nationally productive tenure.
Issues of un- stability or otherwise were also closely looked into.

3.

First Sitting of the Committee on Thursday 3rd May, 2018 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the following Presidential Nominees were interviewed on Oath: i. Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa, Proposed Minister of Finance Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa has been a Development Management Specialist for over twenty- five [25] years.
He has actively participated in National and Policy Sector Formulation, National Development Planning, Public Investment Programming, Project Design, Management and Supervision in both Public Sector and International Organisations.
13 Answering to probing questions on fiscal discipline, Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa said: „„Ways of instilling fiscal discipline will include cutting down on the leakages in the Economy as the Executive Order has already stated, introducing a Single Treasury Account, harmonising and effectively monitoring the Wage Bill.

These are some of the areas I will be concentrating on to put the Economy of this country back on track.‟‟ ii.

Col Rtd Simeon Nasiru Sherriff, Proposed Deputy Minister of Defence.
Col Rtd Simeon Nasiru Sheriff has had a brilliant Military Career as he was opportuned to be trained in several countries like the United Kingdom, United States of America, China etcetera.

Col Rtd Simeon Nasiru Sheriff is also a scholar and has a long list of Military Research Works to his credit.
Answering to questions on the present housing situation for the Military, Col Rtd Simeon Nasiru Sheriff said: ”If I obtain the approval of this Honourable House, I would try to develop a Housing Policy for the Military for the consideration of the Government.‟‟ Questioned on the Yenga Issue, Col. Rtd Simeon Sheriff said: “We must encourage integration and trade links with the Republic of Guinea.

This will help to build confidence and trust, and discourage conflict in the border area.‟‟ iii.
Alhaji Kanja I. Sesay, Proposed Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja I. Sesay is a Professional development Specialist with over twenty-five [25] years of work experience in developing countries including Sierra Leone.

He once headed and successfully managed the Post War National Commission for Social Action, [NaCSA], where he managed multi donor-funds in excess of sixty million United States Dollars [$60mln].
Responding to the Committee’s enquiries on how to ameliorate the blackouts situation in the country, Alhaji Kanja Sesay said: “As of now, the Government‟s total power supply is less than 100 megawatts.

There are, however, plans to utilise 14 renewable energy as sustainable alternative to boost the electricity supply throughout the urban centres.‟‟ iv.

Honourable Edward Soluku, Proposed Minister of Internal Affairs Honourable Edward Soluku is a former Member of Parliament from 2007 to 2012.
He is currently the Regional Deputy Chairman of his party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party [SLPP].

Reacting to the Committee about curbing indiscipline and lawlessness in the country, Honourable Edward Soluku said: „„I will ensure that I work with the law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to book.

Under the „New Direction,‟ we do not have „orders from above.‟ I will ensure that due process is followed in the enforcement of law and order in the country.‟‟ v. Hon.
Emma Kowa, Proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Honourable Emma Kowa is a Pharmacologist by profession, and had lived and worked in the United Kingdom [UK] for several years.

Returning home, she went into politics and was elected Member of Parliament from 2007 to 2017.
Answering to inquiries on her strategies to ensure that Government derive maximum needed revenue from the fisheries sector, Honourable Emma Kowa said she believed that Government should enforce stringent measures against poachers in the nation’s territorial waters.

She said: “I will ensure that revenues derived from licenses are paid directly into the consolidated revenue fund for sustainable development.‟‟ vi.
Mr Kabineh M. Kallon, Proposed Minister of Transport and Aviation Mr Kabineh M. Kallon was a Senior Collector at the National Revenue Authority [NRA] from 2006 to 2012.

He had previously served in several national institutions.
Answering to probing questions from the Committee on providing an affordable and efficient transportation system, Mr Kabineh Kallon said, ‟‟If my nomination is approved by this Honourable House, I will work together with technocrats in 15 the Ministry to do a feasibility studies and come up with a comprehensive transport policy for Government‟s consideration.” [Suspension of S.O 5[2] vii.
Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie, Proposed Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr Alpha T. Wurie is an outstanding scholar and lecturer at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

In politics, he has been one of the longest serving and most successful Ministers of Education in this country.

Questioned on ways of improving the health sector, Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie said: ”There were about 1,300 health facilities and about forty hospitals.

Of these, Government only own a third.


As a Ministry, they will need to register all the health facilities, and sign a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with them on the standard modus operandi for all health facilities.‟‟ viii.

Ms Baindu Dassama, Proposed Minister of Social Welfare, Gender & Children’s Affairs Ms Baindu Dassama has lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 2001 to 2015 before deciding to return home.
Talking on the issue of mainstreaming the gender policy, Ms Baindu Dassama said: “That all stakeholders will be brought into the process of gender mainstreaming as it is an integral part to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].‟‟ ix.
Bonapha Jonathan Tengbeh, Proposed Minister of Water Resources Dr Bonapha Jonathan Tengbeh is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over thirty [30] years of work experience in the design, project contract management and supervision of highways and civil infrastructural projects.

For the past twenty-three years, he has been working in the design, project management, and supervision of highway improvement schemes at various technical and managerial levels in Sierra Leone, Lesotho, United Kingdom and Qatar.
16 Responding to the Committee’s inquiries on the issue of improving the supply of clean and affordable water in the country, Dr Tengbeh said; that if he obtained the blessings of approval by this Honourable House, “I will try, and with the help of experts in the Ministry, to do a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the water situation and write a policy document for the consideration of Government.” x. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Proposed Minister of Information Communications Mr Mohamed Rahman Swaray is a Freelance Organisational and Human Resource Development Consultant and politician who has performed consultancy services for several national and international organisations.
Responding to the Committee’s concern about high tariffs levied by mobile companies, Mr Mohamed Swaray said he had had a lot of consultations with stakeholders on the matter.

He stated that one way of reducing tariff is to impose stringent penalties on defaulters.

He promised to encourage mobile companies to use the internet terrestrial backbone to enhance internet connectivity and speed.

xi.
xi.

Mr Adekunle Joliiff Milton King, Proposed Minister of Labour and Social Security Mr Adekunle Joliiff Milton King is until recently, a Senior Legal Adviser at the Petroleum Directorate in the office of the President.
Answering to Members’ concerns about the cost benefits of the National Social Security Insurance Trust [NASSIT] investments, Mr Adekunle King said that if he obtained the approval of this Honourable House, he would work together with the management of NASSIT to review all investments undertaken by the Trust, in order to ensure that they are in the best interest of the contributors.

xii.
xii.

Mr Alpha Osman Timbo, Proposed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Alpha Timbo is a private legal practitioner and politician.

Between 1991 and 1999, he was the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union [SLTU] who was 17 instrumental in the planning and implementation of the 6-3-3-4 system of education.

He also served as a member of the Board of Education that advised the Minister of Education on policy matters.
Talking about his strategies for improving educational standards in the country, Mr Alpha Timbo said, “We will all need to draw a clear line between community schools, Government owned schools and Government Assisted schools, draw up a solid curriculum and adequately reward teachers for quality output.‟‟ Mr Alpha Timbo went further to say that the flagship programme of His Excellency, the President, Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, which is free education, is achievable.
He said he would work assiduously to ensure that quality education is achieved in Sierra Leone.

4.
Recommendations Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees for ministerial appointments to be suitably qualified for their proposed appointments and are therefore recommended to the House for approval: [i] Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa, proposed Minister of Finance; [ii] Col Rtd Simeon Nasiru Sheriff, proposed Deputy Minister of Defence; [iii] Honourable Dr Alpha T. Wurie, proposed Minister of Health and Sanitation; [iv] Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay, proposed Minister of Energy; [v] Honourable Edward Amin Soluku, proposed Minister of Internal Affairs; [vi] Honourable Emma Kowa, proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources; [vii] Mr Kabineh M. Kallon, proposed Minister of Transport and Aviation; [viii] Ms Baindu Dassama, proposed Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs; [ix] Dr Bonapha Jonathan Tengbeh, proposed Minister of Water Resources; [x] Mr Mohamed Rahman Swaray, proposed Minister of Information & Communication; 18 [xi] Mr Adekunle Joliiff Milton King, proposed Minister of Labour and Social Security; and [xii] Mr Alpha Osman Timbo, proposed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the First Report is the unanimous decision of the Committee.

I therefore move that the First Report of the First Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.

The Report was signed by Honourable Mohamed Sidi Tunis, Chairman.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

SAA E. LAMINA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I second the Motion.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, before I give the Floor to the first speaker, considering the fact that we have twelve [12] ministerial nominees for approval, I would like to limit the contribution of Members of Parliament to three minutes per person and not more than four Honourable Members may observe and make comments on each of the nominees before the House.

You may therefore proceed.

HON.

SAA E. LAMINA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I so second the Motion.
Mr Speaker, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service got a beautiful memory yesterday when interviewing these fine Sierra Leoneans.

Most of these men and women are technocrats with a parade of intellectual portfolios.

I have known some of them over two decades ago, whilst some a decade ago.

Their contributions in pushing this Nation forward have been very interesting.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to wish them well and congratulate them in advance.
We expect them to be efficient and effective.

Some of these nominees are known to be radical progressive changers, especially in the educational and health sectors.

As Shakespeare once said, “Life is a stage.‟ This means former statesmen have danced and have left the stage.

This is a golden opportunity being given to them and we expect them to dance well and put the nation first.

We in the Coalition for Change [C4C] believe in putting this nation first.
Therefore, this same mantra will 19 employ our Honourable Presidential nominees who will soon be ministers to do well in their respective offices.

We expect them not to be partisan, but putting Sierra Leone first and that should be mantra they should tie on their neck.

We expect them to be servant-leaders in transforming this nation.

Yes, they can be laissez faire at times and despotic, but we want to encourage them to be assertive in bringing socio-economic transformation in this nation.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, amongst the nominees is Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa, Honourable Emma Kowa, Ms Baindu Dassama, Mr Kanja Sesay and a whole lot of them.

We also have Mr Alpha Timbo, who has been an activist in the education sector.

I believe the disconnect in the syllabi, the curriculum and the scheme of work that have brought education down will again be rekindled, so that our children will be great academics in engineering, medicine and in the legal sector.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to implore this Honourable House to speedily approve these nominees who have been nominated by His Excellency the President.

Thank You.

HON.

SHIAKA M. SAMA: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Honourable Member from Kono said that this is a golden opportunity for these nominees.

I also want to emphasise here that it is a golden opportunity for them to serve this nation.
When His Excellency the President and his party said we are now moving in the ‘New Direction,’ some of us were very happy because some people have always been suffering since the time they were born.

Our country is very rich in mineral deposits, but we are the poorest country on earth.

This is another opportunity for us.

Honourable Member, it is my opinion that Sierra Leone is the poorest country on earth [undertone].
As I was saying, this is another opportunity for us to change the fortune of our country.

Today, I am very thankful to God for this meeting.

I have always said that we are stronger together and no one political party can move this nation forward.

We have to move together, either we prosper together or we perish together.

As patriots, we should love all Sierra Leoneans and put this country first.
I am happy today because we have got brothers and sisters who are before us for approval to serve this nation.

20 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to mention two of our former colleagues; i.e., Honourable Emma Kowa and Honourable Edward Amin Soluku, commonly called ‘solution.’ Honourable Edward Amin Soluku, this is the time you have to prove to us that you are a problem solver as your nickname, ‘Solution’ suggests.

You also have the Honourable Alpha Timbo, who was my boss.
I was a teacher and he was Secretary- General.

I am happy that he is here, seeking our approval.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, amongst the nominees, we also have a lot of experienced people like Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay, Dr Alpha T. Wurie, Dr Bonapha Jonathan Tengbeh and Mr Mohamed Rado Swaray, a very young man.

I remember when I left University, he was still in college but we spoke about many good things about this country.
Today, he is in a position to act on those beautiful things we desire for our country.

I want to assure this team that we will support you because if you win, it will be a win for Sierra Leone and a win for Sierra Leoneans.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am also happy because we have the First Lady with us.

In my opinion the First Lady also doubles as the first adviser to His Excellency the President.
Therefore, it is good that we have the First Lady here to see what the representatives of the people are saying.

We will give the President all our support because God forbids, if he fails, we all fail and if he succeeds, we all succeed.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to congratulate the other nominees whose names I have not mentioned.

I want to remind them that this is a golden opportunity for them to serve this country.

They should put this country first.


I want to remind the nominees that there was no way the SLPP alone would have elected a President because it would have been done in the first round of the ballot.

Sierra Leoneans across party lines voted His Excellency to become President and I am happy when the President said that ‘I am not a President for the SLPP, but a President for Sierra Leoneans.

To me, that was a very positive statement and I want to commend him for those beautiful words [Applause].
21 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, before I take my seat, I want to congratulate our brothers and sisters from the All People’s Congress [APC] and all those who made it possible for them to be here today.

I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, three years before the end of the last Parliament, I decided that I will not be contributing to nominees presented to this House by the former President because we always showered praises on nominees, but when they go to their offices, they keep disappointing this Parliament [Applause].

That has been the reality and that is why we are on the right hand side of Mr Speaker.
The people who disappointed us in this Parliament and who heaped praises on people who failed us are on the left hand side of Mr Speaker [Undertone].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am very happy because I have seen men and women who are very progressive and professionals.

They are here seeking the approval of this House.

The people of this country will realise that the President made no mistake in nominating these Sierra Leoneans [Applause].
The President has not presented people to this House who are going to learn on the job, but a professional team that is going to keep the ball rolling.

After approval and subsequent appointments, we expect them to move this country in the new direction.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to assure the people of this country that this Parliament is not going to be Parliament as usual, but a Parliament that will help these nominees to achieve the ‘Agenda for Prosperity.’ I am saying this because our President has said that he wants to develop this country.

I am assuring you that with the supports from this House, these nominees are going to perform exceptionally.

They will perform beyond the imagination of many.


I want them to know that we do not want failure and failure will not be an excuse.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start with Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay.

He is my district chairman and I am the only old Member of Parliament from Bo District.

Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay is a performer.


When we lost the elections in 2007, others decided to join other political parties, others decided to look for offices, but he decided 22 to stand with the SLPP and to ensure that the SLPP return to power.

He is an experienced Sierra Leonean.

He had the option to remain in the head office in Freetown, but he chose to serve Bo District.

In 2012 general elections, he ensured that the SLPP scored 86% and that percentage increased in the just concluded elections.
We hope you will work towards resolving the electricity problems in this country.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa [Applause].

He is one of the people who helped the SLPP to win the elections because of his professionalism.

What happened in 2012 did not repeat in 2018 because of his expertise.

He has studied the economy, he has always criticised the APC led government on their bad economic policies.
Honourable Kandeh K. Yumkella once described the economy under the APC led government as ‘rankanomics.’ Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa knows the problems and that was why he has been on Televisions and Radios, explaining the problems and even proffered solutions.

That is why within a month, we know how much has been realised by this government through Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa.

We wish him well and this House will always support him [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Honourable Edward Soluku, aka solution, always have solutions to problems.

He told the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service that the adage, ‘orders from above’ are no longer tenable and I know he will perform.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to conclude without somebody I always consider as an elder brother, Mr Mohamed Swaray.

We saw what he did and I want to restate here that he a professional media practitioner.
He is calculated and we saw how he manhandled the APC propaganda team.

This is a man we believe will change and develop the Information Technology of this country.

We all know the problems we are facing with poor network in this country and high tariffs being levied on subscribers.

Sometimes we pay for calls and text messages we did not make.

However, I want to assure this House that with Mr Rado Swaray, he will definitely correct those excesses.
I want you to work with NATCOM and other agencies under your Ministry’s supervision.

23 With those few words, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to ask this Honourable House to approve these nominees.

I thank you very much.

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
I want to take this singular opportunity to thank His Excellency the President, Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for appointing eminent and abled Sierra Leoneans in various positions to help him actualise the dreams of transforming this country through the ‘New Direction.’ Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will quickly talk on some of the nominees before us this morning.

I want to start with the proposed Minister of Finance, Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa.
We know that the state of the economy of Sierra Leone is in a very bad shape.

In other words, the economy of Sierra Leone is in shamble and that was why the President met with IMF and World Bank personnel at State House, where he described the economy of this country as ‘in the worst situation since independence’ [Applause].

However, we have to ensure that government salvage the current economic mess we find ourselves.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to state here that there are lots of challenges with the economy of this country.

I am happy for the nomination of Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa as Minister of Finance and I know that he will work towards overcoming these challenges this country is facing.

I think he has a very huge task in transforming the Economy of this country with regards to the ‘New Direction’ and for development.
I have no doubt that he has what it takes, as a very senior economist, to transform the lives of the people of this country for the better.

I wish him well and I want to urge this Honourable House to approve the nomination of Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Dr Alpha T. Wurie, proposed Minister of Health and Sanitation.
I want to remind him that the health situation in this country is in a moribund state, and that was when the Ebola struck this nation, we were quickly being overpowered by the Ebola scourge and that exposed the health situation in the country.

We have referral hospitals in our districts; but regrettably, these referral hospitals are not functional.

In other words, they are not working.


As far as I am concerned, we have a very fine policy in this country; i.e., the Free-Health Care 24 Programme, but it was never functional.

It is not working and it did not work at all [Applause].

As we speak, report has shown that Sierra Leone has the worst record of infant and maternal mortality rate in the sub-region.

Therefore, we need a strong personality like Dr Alpha T. Wurie to go to that Ministry and transform it for the better.
It has been said by health experts that the health of a country is when you have a healthy human resource.

I hope that if this House approves your nomination, you will work towards improving the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

Again, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Ms Baindu Dassama, proposed Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs.
I want to remind the proposed Minister of that Ministry that the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs deals with vulnerable people like women, children and the physically challenged; but for the past five years, we have seen ministers and deputy ministers physically confronting each other [Applause].

They abandoned their work and that was very unfortunate, abandoning the needy to fend for themselves.

The respective ministers were busy fighting for supremacy, moneys, vehicles, etc.
We hope that when the new Minister takes over the administration of that Ministry, what used to happen will not happen again.

I am sure this Honourable House will approve her nomination, so that she will go and work for the needy.

I want you to work with whosoever that is going to be appointed as your Deputy Minister in order to actualise the dreams of the President.

Finally, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Dr Bonapha Jonathan Tengbeh, proposed Minister of Water Resources.
The cliché is that, ‘water is life,’ but we have been encountering acute water problem in this country, especially in the urban areas like Freetown.

Based on the proposed Minister’s educational background mentioned in this report by the Leader of Government Business, we want you to go there and address those challenges.

I thank you very much for listening.

HON.


DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am a Member of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, representing the National Grand Alliance [NGC] party.

I am very confident that we have before us 25 notable men and women who will deliver on the ‘New Direction’ agenda [Applause].

I want to commend them and to also remind them that this nation has lots of challenges.
They have a huge responsibility and we indicated that where they would need expertise, we are ready to help.

For the NGC, we should put this country first.

Secondly, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to take this opportunity to welcome our brothers and sisters from the APC party.

We need a full House to deliver on the President’s promises and we hope we will all work collectively to help the Republic of Sierra Leone.

I also want to welcome First Lady to the People’s House, thank you for joining us.
Finally, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the challenges are huge and we do not have time to waste.

We pray that inclusivity the President talked about will be honoured.

I want to thank you very much.

HON.

NENNEH LEBBIE: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I am going to be very brief; perhaps the three minutes will even be too much for me.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start by thanking the President, Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for presenting these very fine personalities to us for approval.
I can assure this House that this is a very good team and it is a good team that will help to actualise the ‘New Direction’ agenda of the President.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to congratulate them in advance.

I have gone through their resumes and I know that this House will approve these fine personalities.

But on a very special note, we know our leadership is poised to see that education is given urgent attention.
I want to believe that he is going to work very hard in order to ensure that his dreams are actualised.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to appeal to Mr Alpha Osman Timbo, proposed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to note the previous Minister of Education was busy searching for ghost teachers.

I am sure all the ghosts are now resting in their graves [Applause].

We want to see the educational system moves forward.
We also want the new Minister, if approved by this House, to ensure 26 that teachers who have been teaching without approval are approved this time.

Our teachers are very frustrated.

I really do not want to state the reasons for the abysmal performance of our teachers, but that cannot be unconnected with the non-approval of teachers.

Mr Speaker, although this is not a good reason, but a teacher going to school without nothing in his/her pocket or purse it is indeed frustrating [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when you go through the teaching discipline, even as primary school teacher for three years, you are expected to be gainfully employed.

Some of these teachers are volunteers in their different schools.

I have served as a Chairperson in one or two schools in Bo District.

Regrettably, it was very difficult for volunteer teachers to receive monthly honorarium or stipend.

This is because schools are financially stranded.


This is why I am calling on the new Minister, if approved by this House, to be functional this time round and make sure that we have our teachers gainfully employed.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the other nominee I want to talk about is Honourable Emma Kowa, proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

I want to congratulate her in advance.

I am proud of her and I know she will perform.


However, one thing I want her to take note of is the fact that Sierra Leoneans do not eat good fish because they are not available in the markets.

I am saying this with all sincerity because I am a woman and I always go to the market.

I know that when you go there, the only fishes you will be seeing are herrings, ‘bonga,’ etc.

We have very good fishes in our waters and we are blessed with very good fishes.
We have to ensure that Sierra Leoneans are given the opportunity to eat very good fish.

I know you have the competence and you will perform.

I also want to believe that your performance is going to be exceptional.

In other words, you will perform exceptionally well in Jesus’ name.

The President has said that he is going to serve Sierra Leone and not the SLPP alone.

He belongs to the SLPP, but he is not going to serve the SLPP alone.
Let us all think Sierra Leone and serve Sierra Leone well, so that this country will move in the direction our leadership wants.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to thank you very much.

27 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I would like at this stage, to thank all Honourable Members who have taken the Floor to speak.

I must confess that there is a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction because the House is now complete in its composition.
With the arrival of Honourable Members of the APC, I hope they will take this opportunity to make their presence felt in the House.

I have been paying special attention to see if they could catch the Speaker’s eye; but whilst they are preparing to make up their minds, let me turn to the other side.

HON.

BERNADETTE W. SONGA: Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to join the other Honourable Members of Parliament, who have spoken, to thank His Excellency the President for nominating this team to Parliament for approval.

I must confess that these are fine Sierra Leoneans.

The President is one person who, as the saying goes, ‘Jesus knows me by my name.’ This means that the President knows us by our names as individuals and our capabilities.
In other words, he knows those who can deliver.

It was on that note he made these nominations to Parliament for approval.

I have no doubt that these Sierra Leoneans will deliver.

Their works have caught the imagination of the President.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am going to talk about two nominees, Honourable Emma Kowa, proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Ms Baindu Dassama, proposed Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs.
These are fine women who are going to ensure that the ‘New Direction’ is achieved.

I have been the Chairlady globally for the Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio’s Women’s wing for four to five years now and I have worked with these women.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have worked with Ms Baindu Dassama in the UK.

One thing we need to know is that she is also the Organising Secretary of the SLPP Branch in the UK.

She is very accommodating and you can call on her at any time of the night.
As long as it is an SLPP issue, she will attend to your concern.

This woman has passion for children.

I am saying this because any time you are opportune to speak with her, she always expressed her passion for children.

She was once a teacher and that is why she will not stop loving children.

When I saw her name for that Ministry, I 28 burst into tears because you have to put people in the right places; people who believe in His Excellency’s ‘New Direction’ dreams.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Ms Baindu Dassama is a woman of substance and also a woman of principles.

She is a woman that believes in delivering what she stands for and I am sure that Ministry will never be the same again with her presence there.

That Ministry is going to be different because she is going to introduce positive changes.

In the next six months to one year, you will come back here to tell us that Honourable Bernadette W. Songa did say it in this House.
This is because we will see the difference in that Ministry.

I want to wish you all the best, Ms Baindu Dassama.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to briefly talk about Honourable Emma Kowa, proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

This is the iron lady you have to reckon with [Applause].

Her middle name is ‘Madam Principle’ and she can deliver without hesitation.

She believes in delivering without mowing.

She is very hard working.


I said she is principled because by every indication and every aspect of life, she is disciplined.

I am convinced that the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources will not be the same again.

She is going to make sure that leakages are tackled.

That Ministry has so many leakages and I am sure she is going to close those leakages permanently [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, these two fine women are going to work for the women of Sierra Leone.
His Excellency the President promised 30% quota of women’s representation in governance and I am sure he is going honour that promise.

And with nomination of these women, it brings a lot of fulfilment and satisfaction to me as a woman.

Their appointments indicate that we have started putting women in positions of trust.

Today, we are here to approve you as a Parliament and we want you to go out there and make all women proud.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am passionate about health because I am a health practitioner.

Therefore, I want the Minister of Health and Sanitation to know that the expectations are very high.

I am sure you stand to deliver in that Ministry and we will be there to support you.

In other words, this House will support you; and hopefully, we 29 will not have to run back to the UK or the United States of America for medical check- ups.
We will be doing that in Sierra Leone because we have a good healthcare provider.

When I spoke with my daughter yesterday, she said: “Mum, you are not feeling well, why can‟t you come to UK for check-up?

You have been in Sierra Leone for all these months.

Come back Mum.” I told her that we will have check-ups done in Sierra Leone and that is my wish, Mr Minister.

I thank you.

HON.

VERONICA K. SESAY: Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Indeed, there is hope for the 30% quota of women’s representation in governance, which means that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to congratulate my brothers and sisters from the other side, especially the lady because we have been waiting for you.

We have been crying because we want to see the women at work and we in the SLPP have passion for our women folks.
This is why we have been waiting for you and I want to state that we are ready to work together.

I believe you are going to work with us and I wish to welcome you.

I want to congratulate you, especially the old Members of Parliament who were saying that our President was a fake Brigadier.

Today, he is the Minister of Defence and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces [Applause].

He is now a five-star general of any other position.

Now, what do you have to say?


You have to work with us and the SLPP is ready to encourage you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to once again congratulate the President for giving us these fine gentlemen and women.

The names listed in this Report are household names and you do not have to struggle to find out about these Ministers.

Few years ago, to see the ministers of your country was very difficult [Applause].

They have been working very hard and I know that they will do it again.
I want to remind them that the slogan of the SLPP is ‘Paopa Salone for bεtεh’ and Salone for bεtεh.’ We believe that if Sierra Leone develops, all of us will have enjoy because ‘wi na komra party.

I have no doubt that an expert will be heading the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

He was the architect of the ‘Sababu Education’ and we are going to have 30 ‘sababu health.’ Please Sir, go there and revive the free healthcare for our people.

I have no doubt that you will do it.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when you look at the present educational system in this country, it is difficult to identify first term, second term or third term.

We are very confused, but with the Honourable Alpha Timbo, I know he is well prepared and knowledgeable in that area.

I want to assure my colleagues that they will soon hear first term and when it ends then the second term will start.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Energy because Energy is the backbone of a country’s development.

It can easily break or make the country, but I have no doubt in the nominee to the Ministry of Energy.

He is going to do it because he has done it at the National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA].

I believe the President made no mistake to nominate you because Energy is the backbone of this country’s growth and development.
You have to prove it to the people who are saying ‘blackout tiger’ or whatever.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about security; i.e., the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Defence are intertwined.

I want to inform the two nominees to those Ministries that the security of this country is in their hands.

I have no doubt in your ability to perform, but you have to prove it.
For the proposed Minister of Internal Affairs, he is commonly called ‘Solution.’ This means he is a solution to problems and I believe he is going to solve those problems as far security is concerned.

Again, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to remind the proposed Minister of Defence that the President is going to use the tax-payers’ moneys to pay or buy uniforms and other materials for the Armed Forces.
Therefore, you have to tell them that you are there to protect the lives and property of everybody, including the APC people.

Sometimes it is heart rendering to see our soldiers in big uniforms.

You may see them neatly dressed today because they are in Parliament, but there are problems that need urgent attention.

31 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for the proposed Minister of Information and Communication, I want to state here that information is power.
We will rely on his capacity to turn things around.

He has heard from the other side, but I trust him because he will not disappoint us.

You have to pay attention to the local mobile companies like Africell and Orange.

Finally, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to remind my sisters that we are going to do exactly as Oliver Twist; i.e., we are going to ask for more.

Thank God that we are asking for 30% and I know that the President is going to appoint more as Deputy Ministers.
I trust him because he is a man of his words and he will make sure men and women coexist side by side.

I am saying this because during the Commonwealth Conference, he said he would ensure that one man and one woman coexist.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, despite my exultation, there is still a deafening silence from the Honourable Members on my left.

HON.
HON.

FODAY M. KAMARA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am very happy for giving me this opportunity to contribute on the nominees.

I am glad, as many speakers have observed, to see a full House.

This is Sierra Leone and I hope that we will continue to work as Sierra Leoneans.

We have to put Sierra Leone first in whatever we do.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have read the content of this Report and when I saw some of these names and their qualifications and experiences, I smiled to myself as if I knew this was going to happen.

I knew we do not lack people with academic qualifications.

Sierra Leone is not short of academics and technocrats.

The problem we have in Sierra Leone is performance.

I want to congratulate these nominees and wish them well in their respective positions.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, one of the speakers, in a humorous manner, asked why the APC Members of Parliament are on the other side of this House.

I am glad he brought that up because we in the NGC campaigned on the platform of ‘change.’ The 32 change is already here and we are in opposition.

However, that does not mean we are going to argue unnecessarily against things we feel that are good for this country.

We are a constructive opposition and we will continue to be like that.
When we did not vote for the speakership and Deputy Speaker, people did not feel good about it.

Everybody has been talking about putting Sierra Leone first and not individuals.

Therefore, we are looking at Sierra Leone and not individuals.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when I read the Committee’s Report, I found out that these nominees are suitably qualified, as far as we are concerned, to push this country forward.

All we are praying and hoping for is their performance.
We have to make sure that the step we have taken will ensure a bright and prosperous future.

Somebody gave reasons why the SLPP is seated on the right hand side of the Speaker and the APC is seated on the left hand side.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to believe, as one Honourable Member said, that the past Ministers in the APC led Government contributed to these sitting arrangements in this House today.
Therefore, I want to appeal to the new Ministers, if approved by this House, to go all out and make sure that Sierra Leone does not retrogress.

We are not praying for Sierra Leone to fail because if these nominees fail, Sierra Leone has failed.

We are not praying for that and if those seated on the right hand side of the Speaker bring forth good policies and programmes, I will support them wholeheartedly.
In the same token, if those on the left hand side of the Speaker say good things for the growth and development of this country, we will support them.

We want you to succeed, but you have to perform.

It is performance and self-sacrifice that are lacking in this country.

The moment people are appointed to certain positions, they forget about everything and focus on themselves.

I hope you will perform this time round.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

HON.

EMILIA L. TONGI: Thank you, Mr Speaker.


I am Honourable Emilia Loloh Tongi, Independent Candidate from Constituency 001, Kailahun District.

I would like to congratulate all the twelve proposed Ministers we interviewed.

They are brilliant Sierra Leoneans.


33 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am not going to talk for more than the stipulated three minutes, but I would like to talk to Col Rtd Simeon Nasiru Sheriff, proposed Deputy Minister of Defence and Honourable Dr Alpha T. Wurie, proposed Minister of Health and Sanitation.

Mr Speaker, for the past 56 years, Constituency 001 has been forgotten by successive governments.

People in that part of the country sometimes asked whether they are part of Sierra Leone.
I said ‘why are you asking such question?’ We have three Councillors in that Constituency and one of the sections has never got the opportunity to have medical centres.

Pregnant women usually walk on foot when they are in labour to another section to give birth.

Interestingly, sometimes they give birth on their way to the other sections and we have lost a lot of them under this circumstance.
In fact, some encounter miscarriages because of the perilous ordeals they usually go through in trying to locate a health centre.

Some even died with the foetus.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in the Holy Bible, God commanded the human race to go to the World and multiply and that mission is given to the women.
And as a woman and a mother, it would have been good for the Government of Sierra Leone to construct a conducive and comfortable maternity centre for the pregnant women, lactating mothers and children.

The people in that part of the country explained this problem to me in tears.

For the past 56 years, these women have been crying.

At one time, I wrote to the Chairman Kailahun District for his intervention.

I have been writing letters, but with no response.


The women in that part of the country asked to represent them in Parliament and to advocate on their behalf.

They are very optimistic that I will help to solve their problems.

I am asking the proposed Minister of Health and Sanitation to ensure that facilities are provided to the remote parts of this country.

I want to remind the proposed Minister that Freetown is not Sierra Leone.
When you get out of Freetown, you will see your people and what they are doing and how they are suffering.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to zoom in on the Minister of Defence.

My father was a soldier and that is why I love military.

But what I would like you to do is 34 that when the war broke out, Kailahun District was severely affected.

Guineans have laid down a very good foundation by putting barracks where they have their soldiers who are well placed.

The Yenga issue is another problem.


The Yenga issue is still not solved and aggression is still ongoing.

The Liberians would come to cause trouble and mayhem.

So, I am appealing to the Minister of defence to make sure that the Yenga issue is laid to rest once and for all.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, our Sierra Leonean soldiers are elites and very intelligent.

I would like to propose for the creation of a Military Academy, an Academy where our boys can learn road construction skills.
Senegalese are leaving their country to come and construct our roads.

I think we can also undertake that venture.

Therefore let us think about it and see how best our gallant men and women can be recruited into the Military Academy and be doing something for this country.

I thank you very much.


THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I am sure the Honourable Independent Member did not wish to imply in her contribution that her predecessor in that constituency did not work hard enough to resolve those problems in that Constituency.

It may well have been that expectations have grown much higher than her ability to deliver as indeed is the case for many other constituencies around the country.
I think we have reached the point where we should consider rounding up the debate; and before I call on the Leader of Government Business, I want to turn to my left and ask the Deputy Leader of the Opposition whether he has anything to say in this debate.

HON.

IBRAHIM BEN KARGBO [Deputy Leader of the Opposition]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, without any attempt on our part to demean the importance of this debate, I want to state here that we will prepare ourselves for a future debate.
Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I applaud the Honourable Member for at least breaking the silence of the Opposition.

May I now invite the Leader of Government Business to make his contribution?

35 HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS [Leader of Government Business]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start by thanking my colleagues for their brilliant contributions.

I also want to thank my colleagues on the other side for breaking the silence.
I want to assure him and his team that my leadership will continue to engage them in a fruitful dialogue to ensure that we move this Parliament and the nation forward.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today is a very important day as we are here to approve the first set of presidential nominees for ministerial positions.

These nominees are very important considering their roles in the governance system of this country.

We have a very bad economy we inherited.


My colleague from Constituency 061 described our Economy as ‘rankanomics.’ I have never heard that kind of terminology, but I am sure the Honourable proposed Minister of Finance, Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa, knows exactly what the Honourable Member meant.

I want the proposed Minister of Finance to understand that our Economy is in a very bad shape.

You have to ensure that you go the extra mile as you have started, in order to ensure that this Economy is back on track.
For me, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Alpha Osman Timbo, proposed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, has the most important job to do; the flagship programme ‘Free Education’ of the President.

I want to remind him that free education should be free education.
The president has promised the people of this country and he has started delivering, considering the fact that with the help of the Honourable Minister of Finance, huge amount of money has already been committed for that particular project.

I want to inform the proposed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education that the said Ministry cannot be treated as usual.
We have to ensure that we take care of our teachers; we have to ensure that we provide the necessary infrastructure for the free education to be achieved.

I want the proposed Minister to understand that in the next two to three years, when this country will begin to feel the effect of free education, you will get triple enrolments in the primary and secondary 36 schools.

Therefore, you must prepare yourself to ensure that there is absolutely no hindrance in the free education programme.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am not worried about Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay, proposed Minister of Energy and Mr Jacob Jusu Saffa, proposed Minister of Finance.

They have been performing very well in this country.

When Jacob Jusu Saffa joined the campaign team, he lectured Sierra Leoneans what economics is all about and what a good economy is supposed to look like.

So, I know what our economy has gone through.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have no iota of doubt on Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay because he has performed both in the past and in recent times.

Politically speaking, Bo District was almost in a messy situation at some point because of the penetration of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change [PMDC]; but with his support, he decided to work on his own to ensure that the National Grand Coalition [NGC] is deterred from making inroads in Bo District.
When the leader of the NGC, the Honourable Kandeh K. Yumkella boosted about his support in Sierra Leone, Bo District was one of the districts that he depended heavily for votes, but with the steadfastness of the Alhaji Kanja Ibrahim Sesay, he stopped him at the check point in Bo.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have two of our colleagues; i.e., Honourable Emma Kowa, proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Honourable Edward Amin Soluku, proposed Minister of Internal Affairs.
I want to remind them that they are going there to represent Members of Parliament.

If you perform, I believe His Excellency the President, Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio is going to call on more former Members of Parliament to be Ministers.

If you fail, however, we are out of the equation completely.

Therefore, I want to urge you to take the discipline you have got from this Parliament to your offices.

Your colleague parliamentarians are here to help you succeed.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to briefly talk about Mr Kabineh M. Kallon, proposed Minister of Transport and Aviation.

He is going to a very important Ministry.

There are lots of challenges in that Ministry.

But we are going to give you a Committee 37 from Parliament that is going to give you a lot of support.

We have the experience from Parliament and we are going to give you people with lots of experiences to ensure that you succeed in that Ministry.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Ms Baindu Dassama is the proposed Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs.

A lot of Members of Parliament have spoken about her and I want to inform her about ‘Mike Tyson.’ However, I want to confess here that you are very strong, but we do not however know who is going to be your Deputy.

As Leader of Government Business, I want to appeal to you to take care of the person that is going to be your deputy.

No fighting this time round and S.O.


2 ‘no kƆs kƆs.’ Please, we want to have a very descent Ministry of Social Welfare and Children’s Affairs with no scandals.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Adekunle Joliiff Milton King, proposed Minister of Labour and Social Security is a lawyer and I believe the Ministry of Labour has a lot of issues.

I hope he will use his legal experience to address labour issues in this country.
To the proposed Deputy Minister of Defence, I want you to consider what my colleague, the Honourable Independent Member of Parliament said in her contribution.

I am very happy with the answers you provided to the Committee.

You said if given the opportunity, you will ensure that accommodation for our gallant men and women will be taken care of.

But I think you should also consider constructing a barrack at Yenga, in the Kailahun axis, so that we will have a real presence of our troops.
On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to wish the nominees best of luck.

I know it is a very difficult situation that the proposed Minister of Finance has inherited, but with the kind of energy he has demonstrated, I want to believe he will succeed.

I want you to also understand that you have a President who is in a worry to develop this country.

If you begin to write essays that you will present to him to do this and that, you are not going to be there for more than two months.
I want to remind you that the queue is very long because the SLPP has been in opposition for ten years.

Therefore, we expect you to perform well.

As a Parliament, we will ensure that you perform because if you fail, we will criticise you here; and if His Excellency the 38 President hears that parliamentarians are criticising you, the next minute they will call you to a meeting.

If you continue to underperform, the next thing is to fire you.
So, my advice to you is that you have to be focused and do your work diligently.

With those few words, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to appeal to this Honourable House to quickly approve these nominees.

I thank you very much.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Motion of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has been ratified] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, it is now my turn to say a word or two to the new Ministers who have been duly approved by this Honourable House.
Before doing so, I will first of all like to applaud and congratulate His Excellency the President, Rd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, for choosing a fine set of distinguished ladies and gentlemen for his first appointment as Ministers of his Cabinet.

Congratulations are due for a number of reasons.

First, the ladies and gentlemen who have just been approved represent a macrocosm of Sierra Leone.

The entire Sierra Leone is represented in this Parliament.
I think you can easily identify one or two amongst the new ministers.

This is indeed a new departure and a new beginning that needs to be fully applauded by this nation.

The task ahead is not an easy one.

No one should under estimate the difficulties and the challenges ahead.

But I am sure all Honourable Members would share the belief that those difficulties and challenges are not insurmountable.
With dedication, with the right attitude to work with the disposition to achieve the impossible, I believe we can move this country forward.

Honourable Members, one piece of advice I would like to give to the new Ministers is to deliberately adopt a policy of living by example.

I want you to go to your Ministries and lead by example.
I want you to follow the exemplary way that the new President of the Republic of Sierra Leone has manifested; and in doing so, keep in mind that there is already a vision that has been crafted by President Julius Maada Bio, which is encapsulated in the ‘New Direction’ manifesto.

You have to adopt that vision and follow it to the latter.

It is only when you do that success is assured, not only for yourselves as an individuals, but for the Government you represent.
The Public is full of high 39 expectations and those expectations are palpable everywhere.

However, I want to share the view of this Honourable House that you are all capable of living up to those expectations.

I am confident that with the high educational attainment you possess and the wealth of experiences and professionalism you have acquired over the years, both individually and collectively, you will not disappoint the President, this nation and the general public.
Finally, Honourable Members, I want to remind Members of the Opposition that their arrival to this House this morning fills me with a great sense of satisfaction.

Now we have a House that is complete and total in composition.

I have never known some of you to be taciturn to avoid a debate when you are invited to engage in one.

You have always been forthcoming.

I can understand, why perhaps on this side you decided on this occasion to differ your contributions to the next sittings.
I fully understand the reasons, but I want to implore the Leader of Government Business as he has promised to continue to engage with Members of the Opposition to do so because we are in this together.

This nation cannot afford anything else, but moving forward and succeeding to the glory of the people of this country.

Once again, Honourable Members, I want to take this opportunity to thank the new Ministers and to wish them well.

I know they are capable of excelling and that they cannot do otherwise.
I want to re-echo what the leader of Government Business has just mentioned that the queue of capable people who are ready to fill your places is getting ever longer.

They are watching your every step and they will continue to watch your every step and they will be very keen to see your every fault and to highlight those faults.

Please, do not ever make the mistake of believing that you are entrenched in those Ministries.
You could easily be removed in the same way you have easily been noticed and appointed by His Excellency the President.

There is a long queue of capable and experienced people to replace you if you do not perform.

The President has already hit the ground running and the nation expects his Ministers to do likewise to hit the ground running.

I thank you and I wish you well.


40 Honourable Members, I will now invite the Leader of Government Business to announce our Parliamentary Delegation to the next Session of the ECOWAS Parliament.

HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, these are the names of delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria: 1.

Honourable Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah, Leader of Delegation; 2.

Honourable Sidie M. Tunis, Deputy Leader of Delegation; 3.

Honourable Ajibola Manly-Spain; Member 4.


Honourable Veronica K. Sesay; Member 5.

Honourable Musa Shiaka Sama; Member Thank you very much.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Members of the ECOWAS Parliament as announced by the Leader of Government Business have been approved].

HON.
HON.

DIXON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, based on the current circumstance, it is rather unfortunate that we cannot announce the Seasonal Select Committees today because our colleagues from the APC are just coming today and they have not supplied us with their list.

Therefore, I want to move that we postpone item V on the Order Paper to the next sitting of Parliament.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable member, is that a Motion or just a proposal?

HON.

DIXON M. ROGERS: It is a proposal, Mr Speaker.


THE SPEAKER: Would you like to move?

HON.

DIXON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move to amend the Order Paper for the deletion of item V. THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: I so second, Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed Put and Agreed to] 41 [Motion to defer the announcement of Sessional Select Committees has been carried] V. ANNOUNCEMENTS MR UMAR PARAN TARAWALLY: The Parliamentary Induction Committee wishes to inform Members of Parliament that the training will continue on the following days; 1.

Monday, 14th May, 2018; 2.

Wednesday, 16th May, 2018; 3.

Monday, 21st May, 2018; and 4.

Wednesday, 23rd May, 2018.


All sessions start at 9:00 a.m. in the Committee Room No.1.

All Members of Parliament should endeavour to attend the training and on time.

Thank you.

[The House rose at 4:50 p.m., and was adjourned to Tuesday, 8th May, 2018 at 10:00 ADJOURNMENT a.m.] 42