Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698838882872.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 THIRD SESSION –FIRST MEETING FRIDAY, 7TH AUGUST, 2020 SESSION – 2020/2021 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: 35 First Meeting of the Third Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held Friday, 7th August 2020 2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2020 III.
LAYING OF PAPER LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 118, SUBSECTION 7 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE ACT NO.6 OF 1991 GIFT FROM GIZ COVID-19 SUPPORTED ACTIVITY TO THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AS MENTIONED BELOW: [i] 100 PCS HAND SANITIZERS [ii] 200 PCS VERONICA BUCKETS [iii] 200 PCS GLOVES [iv] 200 PCS TISSUES [v] 24 PCS INFRARED THERMOMETER [vi] 160 BAGS OF RICE [50KG] IV.
GOVERNMENT MOTION THE MINISTER OF FINANCE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE RATIFIES THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENT WHICH WAS LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2020 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT AMONGST THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND [AS 3 ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TRANSITION SUPPORT FACILITY] SUPPORT TO INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCIES IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES PILOT PROJECT] DATED 30TH JANUARY, 2020.
4 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ THIRD SESSION – FIRST MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Friday 7th August 2020 I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mr Anthony C. Kamara] [The House met at 10:00a.m.

in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Speaker, Hon.
Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu in the Chair] The House was called to Order 5 Suspension of S.O 5[2] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR THE SPEAKER: Let me say this again, and again, and again.

I believe we owe it to ourselves, to our constituents and to our consciences to be punctual in this Well of Parliament.

I have said it time without number, but still we have been found wanting time without number.

I want to appeal to all of us to please make punctuality part of our Deoxyribonucleic Acid [DNA].
I beg of all of you, it would yield nothing but good result for this Parliament and for the Nation as a whole.

Thank you.

II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2020.

Honourable Members, we now consider the Votes and Proceedings for Thursday, the 6th of August, 2020.

We would start by skipping pages 1 through to 4, and start from page 5.

Any amendments and comments?

Page 6?

Page 7?

Page 8?

Can someone please move?

HON.


SIMEON FEFEGULA: Mr Speaker, I so move THE SPEAKER: Any Seconder?

HON.

BRIMA MANSARAY: I so second Mr Speaker.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Record of Votes and Proceedings for Thursday, 6th August, 2020 has been adopted] III.

PAPER LAID LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA [Leader of Government Business]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table of the House the following items: In accordance with Section 118 subsection 7 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No.6 of 1991.
Gift from the GIZ Covid-19 supported activity to the Ministry of Youth Affairs as mentioned below: [i] 100 pcs hand sanitizers, [ii] 200 pcs Veronica buckets, [iii] 200 6 pcs gloves, [iv] 200 pcs tissues, [v] 24 pcs infrared thermometer [vi] 160 bags of rice 50KG.

IV.
GOVERNMENT MOTION THE MINISTER OF FINANCE DR. PATRICIA N. LAVERLEY [Deputy Minister of Finance]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, be it resolve that this Honourable House ratifies the following Agreement which was laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 6th August, 2020 project implementation Agreement amongst the Republic of Sierra Leone and the African Development Bank, and the African Development Fund [as administrators of the transition support facility] for support to Investment Promotion Agencies in transition countries pilot Project.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this Project consists of three components.

The first component entails investment marketing, outreach and training.

The second focuses on investment facilitation, investor services and investor aftercare.

The activities under this component some of them relates to provision of export guidance on facilitating and dealing with new and existing investors including provision of detailed information that are likely to be sought by new investors coming to Sierra Leone.
The third and final component is on data and knowledge management.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Sierra Leone remains very vulnerable to shocks due to lack of diversification and over dependence on mineral export.

Therefore, diversifying the Economy is a priority not only to make it more resilient but also to provide opportunities for our citizens.

As a result of attracting more private investment, our Economy would improve particularly in our strategic sectors.
This Project will contribute to building resilience through economic diversification and enhance job creation for our youth in particular.

Through enhancing the capacity of our investment promotion agencies to attracted Direct Investment [DI] the Project will contribute to Private Sector Development and that broadens the tax base and increase government revenue.
7 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in accordance with the financing Agreement an amount of $1Mln has been provided by the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund to the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Giving the importance of this Project, I move that this Honourable House ratifies this Grant Agreement between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the African Development Fund, for the implementation of the support to Investment Promotion Agencies in the Country; thank you.
THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Deputy Minister.

Honourable Members, before I put the Question, I would like all of us to welcome back to the House the Honourable Deputy Minister of Finance.

Without saying more, I think the Minister now understands the reason why.

[Question Proposed] THE SPEAKER: I would take just three from each side and we will conclude i.e.

if I have three at all; if I do not, we would simply do the needful.

I see Honourable I.B.


Kargbo is not here, let us go straight to the Leadership then?

Is Honourable Kandeh Yumkella here?

He was here though, in fact he was not only here; he was the first to be here.

Honourable Emerson Lamina, I give you the Floor.

HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, there is no controversy attached to this particular Agreement.

The Agreement is very needful for our Country.

HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Mr Speaker, I yield to junior “Gbessay” [Laughter].
THE SPEAKER: You see, that shows indeed that you were not here [Laughter], your junior “Gbessay” has already preceded you.

I recognise the Honourable Moses Edwin.

HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: Mr Speaker, I have not spoken yet.

THE SPEAKER: Okay, sorry.

HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: I am here to speak Mr Speaker.

Yes, because it is not controversial however, I must have a say on it.

8 THE SPEAKER: I thought you have finished.

HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: I am not.


Mr Speaker, yes, I did say it is not controversial.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Investment Facilitation Fund for African countries especially Sierra Leone and the African Development Bank is very necessary looking at a topic which sates: “Transition Support Facility” for a country that is between transition, I am aware that Sierra Leone has been a Country graduating from transition in many areas from colonial rule to self-rule; from coups and counter coups; from wars and peace; from diseases and we are still fighting diseases.
So, Mr Speaker, getting a Grant at this point for diversifying our Economy is very necessary.

It cannot be gainsaid over and over that Youth unemployment and underemployment is so rife in this Country.

So, diversifying the Economy with building resilient job creation for our youth is very necessary because we need this money and we believe that will boom the Economy.

I thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution.

I recognise the Honourable Aaron Koroma.

HON.


AARON A. KOROMA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, indeed the Agreement before us here this morning is not a controversial one because it is a Grant and on that note, I want to commend the Ministry of Finance for going for such financing model because I am sure when we go for Grant, in most cases it will have little or no burden on government except some other conditions which I am sure I would just want to highlight.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, having gone through the document, I am sure we have local laws here.

We have the Local Content Policy and I think when our Ministers are negotiating some of these agreements, it is my expectation that they consider that we also have national Laws, especially when it comes to hiring of implementing officials.

When you look into the Institutional arrangement of the project, in 4.0.1 it says: “the fund shall recruit a reputable International Consulting Firm”.
I am sure if we are restricting this one to just International Reputable Consulting Firm; it debars reputable local consultants to compete because already with the dictate of the 9 Agreement, it already disqualifies local consultants.

And I am sure this is not good for Local Economic growth.
We have reputable personnel who are trained in recognised institutions in the world and are locally resident here, and I am sure they have the capacity to also advice or provide Consultancy services to some of these projects.

And more unfortunately is the amount that is allocated to the Consultancy.

Virtually, it is about Million Dollar, when you look at the disbursement schedule i.e.

the allocation of grant, it is about $1.113Mln.


And it will interest you to know that over a Million Dollar of the $1.113Mln would go to Consultancy and that Consultancy is not a Local Consultancy Company; is a Foreign Consultancy Company - It is like you are giving me the Cow and then you hold on to the rope.

So, I am sure going forward, I am suggesting to the Ministry that when once they are negotiating, let them know that there are Local Laws which they must take into consideration.
In spite of all other issues Mr Speaker, I am sure this is a very fine Agreement and I want to urge the House to speedily support the ratification of this fine Agreement, I thank you.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution and more especially for highlighting this crucial point about the amount of the allocation that will be going to International consultants.
I do not know how much is left [Undertone] but maybe next time when Agreements of this kind are being negotiated the word “International” should not feature too prominently- just “Consultant” so that it opens up the prospect of the Consultant being either National or International.

No more?

Is your turn indeed [Undertone]!

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH [Leader of the Opposition]: Mr Speaker, I endorse the Agreement [applause.]

THE SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, you have the Floor.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I would follow but let me just make clarification on this; what he said I need to do some clarification on it.

Yes, there has been a standard but in this case they are urging us to work with the Local Firms.

You were talking about Page 3, Article 4[b], I will read, Mr Speaker.

You know, this Agreement has to do with three countries; Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia.

So, sometimes they would like to set the 10 International platform to have somebody who can work.
But what they are saying, even in Gambia, it would be applied the same way as in Sierra Leone; the Gambians would not apply with the intent of using consultants in the Gambia- they have to go for International Consulting Firm.

THE SPEAKER: What Article?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Article 4 No, is not a justification, what we are saying is that this Agreement has to do with three countries; Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia.
No, let me come, let me come [Undertone] I will read and you will understand; I have to read this one.

If you go to [d] it tells you about Gambia.

Sierra Leone is implementing now and when Gambia will be implementing, they will look for International Consultant definitely and that Consultant is going to be from an African Country; it is stated in the Agreement.
But let me just read [b]; “The fund shall recruit a reputable International Consulting Firm with extensive experience in investment promotion and facilitation in Africa”- take note of the words: “a consulting Firm in Africa”.

For the implementation of the Project, “The fund shall monitor the activities of the Consulting Firm.

The Consulting Firm shall work with local experts”.

So, they are not working alone; there is part for Local Content in this Agreement to coordinate the delivery of project outputs.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I think I just wanted to make that clarification because there is an Oversight Committee involved in this and the Youth and experts are also involved.

Also, we have what we call Integrity Check in project implementation; that is talking about Anti-Corruption Commission.

By and Large, I think this Agreement is not controversial.
I just wanted to clarify the point, I think it is very clear if you look at Schedule One; Project description gives a detailed account of what they are going to do.

It is about investment; we want to do investment and they will have to deal with the Ministry of Trade and the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency [SLIEPA].
We have to think of how do we give confidence to an investor, how do we maintain the investors we have, how do we think of Foreign Direct Investment [FDI] in our Country and how do we win them to come to invest in this Country?

This 11 Agreement is also looking at regional integration in terms of investment.
I mean we need to learn from it because of COVID-19; we need to do investment within our own local region taking into consideration the regional integration so that we can have development during the times of crisis like what we have now which is the COVID-19.

It is very difficult for you to really trade from here to America or the European countries.

But in Africa now, if you have this type of investment, there must be that conducive atmosphere and we are having the same climate in terms of business.
Thank you very much Honourable Leader of the Opposition for your comment and I would like to join you to ask the House to adopt, accepts or ratify this Agreement.

Thank you very much THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Leader of Government Business for his contribution.
Let me however say this; that I would want to take this opportunity to encourage our own reputable local consulting firms to upgrade their performance and their status to the level of being recognised as International Consulting Firms so that they can participate in bidding for such contracts; is very, very important.

Otherwise, we would end up losing a great deal of money that could easily have stayed onshore.

Madam Minister, perhaps you would like to make a few comments on the observations made.
DR. PATRICIA N. LAVERLEY [Deputy Minister of Finance]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as was rightly stated by the Leader of Government Business in relation to the comments on the recruitment of an International Firm in Africa to engage the local experts, the approach undertaken in the design of this Project is intended to strengthen local capacity within the Ministry of Trade and SLIEPA, to improve the efficiency in attracting FDI.
The result framework is in the official document and I would encourage Members of the House to look at the outputs and outcomes and the potential benefits and impact of this important Project for our Economy.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, be it resolved that this Honourable House ratifies the following Agreement which was laid on the Table of the House on Thursday 6th August, 2020 entitled: Project Implementation Agreement amongst the Republic of Sierra Leone and the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund as administrators 12 of the Transition support facility for the support to investment protection agencies in transition countries pilot project, dated 30th January, 2020.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Project Implementation Agreement amongst the Republic of Sierra Leone and the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund as administrators of the Transition support facility for the support to investment protection agencies in transition countries pilot project dated 30th January, 2020 has been ratified] IV.

GOVERNMENT MOTION THE MINISTER OF FINANCE HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, you know we have done the stakeholders consultation and we have also done the pre-legislative briefing with experts from the Ministry of Information and Communications from USDI and other reputable institutions in Sierra Leone on the cybercrime Act, 2020.

We will consider it after the recess.


BILL THE CYBERCRIME ACT, 2020 INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING: THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SECOND READING; COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, thank you very much.

So Committee on Information, take note please.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, what the Leader has just done is to remind Members that all of us will have to look at the Bill and look at it properly; that is what he has just done.

So, we should look at the Bill and make sure we do as much research as we could and avoid coming later to complain as usual.

13 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I have two announcements to make.
The first concerns the training of Members of Parliament in the use of these new gadgets that we have in front of us.

It would not take long; if possible I do not think it will take more than half an hour.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we will disenfranchise other colleagues who are not around.

We need to give them enough notice please.

I like my colleagues, especially my colleagues on the other side.
THE SPEAKER: In another words, what the Leader of Government Business is telling me is, you are anxious to leave.

I yield, simply because if we do the training now it would have to be done again for the absentee Members of Parliament [MPs].

So, I yield, I know everybody is anxious to take a break.

So, I withdraw.
So, I withdraw.

Honourable Members, the other announcement I have, you could recalled that on the 24th of July, the House adopted a resolution for instituting a Fact Finding Mission to Makeni City to investigate the unfortunate incident that occurred there resulting in the death of innocent citizens of our Country.

I also understand that the victims of the violence there, not all of them have been buried some are yet to be buried.
I think we should consider sending a representation at the time of the burial so that this House is represented or seen to be represented and be part of it.

But in the context of carrying out the Fact Finding Mission, I would like to announce the following names of Members who will constitute and represent the House not representing political parties; you will be working in the interest of the House.

You will be representing the House of Parliament in the Fact Finding Mission.
The names are as follows: i. ii.

iii.

iv.

v. vi.

Hon.

P.C Sahr Y.K Mbriwa II - Member & Chairman Hon.

Daniel B. Koroma Hon.

Dr Ibrahim B. Kamara Hon.

Moses A. Edwin Hon.

Samuel G. Panda Hon.

Musa Fofanah - - - - - Member “ “ “ “ vii.

Hon.

Foday Mario Kamara - “ 14 Honourable Members, this list has been put together as a result of consultations.
The Terms of Reference [TOR] for the Committee will be determined in consultation with me, I would first of all like to discuss the on-going processes to ensure that we avoid duplication of effort and conflict of effort between us and the Executive.

So, I will be consulting to see what has been done by the Executive to see whether there are other areas that need to be further looked into that our Committee will then concentrate on.
In order to avoid that, I will be carrying out the necessary consultations to put the TOR of the Committee together.

If that is acceptable, may I please get somebody to move the acceptance of this Committee?

I would really want a Motion.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, there was a Motion for this Committee.

THE SPEAKER: Yes there is, but it is for the composition.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: So, the Motion should be moved by the one who proposed it.

THE SPEAKER: No, it is now for the House.

HON.


CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that this House approves of the list as pronounced by the Honourable Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any Seconder?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I second the Motion.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Committee list as pronounced by the Speaker has been approved] HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, let me observe.


There is a substantive Mover of the Motion, we need to co-opt him, he must have a reason why he moved the Motion.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: This Committee is supposed to be an independent Committee working for Parliament.

15 HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Independent, but there is somebody who initiated the Motion, the substantive Mover of the Motion.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Leader, they have made a request to the House, the Speaker has approved through a Motion, now Parliament is constituting a Committee; they could be part of those that we will be talking to but they would not be Members of the Committee.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: There must be a reason why he moved the Motion.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: That is it; we will be talking to them.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: So, we need to hear from him, he should be co-opted.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: No, let us keep him out HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Why?

THE SPEAKER: Let me explain, what we are implementing is a resolution of the House adopted on the 24th of July and what that resolution says is that the House should constitute a Fact Finding Mission to investigate the incident that occurred at Makeni City that is what we are seeking to do.
I hope it is clear now and we have just approved a Committee’s composition, is now left with me after consultation to draft the necessary TOF for that Committee to avoid duplication, avoiding conflict with the Executive is doing as much as possible.

I thank you for your understanding.

Honourable Members, with that, the good news is we have come to the end of our proceedings today and we shall now adjourn the House sine die.

ADJOURNMENT [The House rose at 11:45 a.m. and was adjourned Sine die] 16 17