Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698841465241.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 THURSDAY, 30TH JULY, 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: 2 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 Thursday, 30th July, 2020.

2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON TUESDAY 28TH JULY, 2020.

III.

PAPERS LAID A.


THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 118, SUB-SECTION 7 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE ACT NO.6 OF 1991 GIFT FROM THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN SIERRA LEONE TO THE SIERRA LEONE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION FOR THE LATTER TO UPGRADE TIS INFORMATION SYSTEM AS MENTIONED BELOW|: I.

FIVE [5] DESKTOP PCS II.

ONE [1] LAPTOP III.

ONE [1] DVR IV.

ONE [1] LASER PRINTER B. HON.


MUSA FOFANAH CHAIRMAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SECOND SESSIONAL REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ON ITS ACTIVITIES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED SESSION, JULY, 2020.

C. HON.

KEIKURA VANDY CHAIRMAN, PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY SECOND SESSIONAK REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY 3 IV.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HON.
MATHEW S. NYUMA SECONDER: HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE FOURTH REPORT OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE BE ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE AND THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS COBNTAINED THEREIN BE APPROVED.

V. BILL THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT,2020 SECOND READING, COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY VI.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SESSIONAL SELECT COMMITTEES 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 _____________________________ Thursday, 30th July, 2020.

I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mrs Bintu Weston, Read the Prayers] [The House met at 10:35a.m.
in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Speaker, Hon.

Dr Chernor Abass Bundu in the Chair] 5 The House was called to Order 6 Suspension of S.O 5[2] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON TUESDAY, 28TH JULY, 2020.

THE SPEAKER: We shall now consider the record of Votes and Proceedings for our tenth [10] meeting held on Tuesday, 28th July, 2020.

We shall start by skipping Pages 1 through to 4 and start consideration from Page 5.
Any comments?

Any amendments?

HON.

SEMEON FEFEGULA: Mr Speaker, there is a comment on Page 4.

THE SPEAKER: And what is that?

HON.

SEMEON FEFEGULA: My name is deleted.

I was present on Tuesday and unfortunately I saw my name among those that took excuse.

THE SPEAKER: I am duly informed by the Clerks that you were not seen in the Well.

HON.

SEMEON FEFEGULA: Mr Speaker, I was in the Well on Tuesday.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, he was in the Well on Tuesday and I can attest to that.
THE SPEAKER: You are not record taker, it is the Clerks that take the record [Undertone] no, I listen to what the Clerks tells me.

They are the record taker and they keep the records.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, I am the Whip on this side.

I saw him in person on Tuesday and he also voted.

THE SPEAKER: Will you take it up with the Clerks later?

HON DICKSON M. ROGERS: Yes we would do that, but I just wanted them to do that correction.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

What else, is that all?

Page 5?


Any other correction or comment?

Page 6?

Page 7?

Page 8?

Page 9?

Can somebody move for the adoption of 7 the record of Votes and Proceedings for parliamentary sitting held on Tuesday, 28th July, 2020.

HON.

BRIMA MANSARAY: I so move Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON JOSEPH WILLIAMS-LAMIN: I so second Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [Record of Votes and Proceedings for parliamentary sitting held on Tuesday, 28th July, 2020 has been adopted] THE SPEAKER: Let me give notice that I plan to rise by 12:00p.m today [Applause].

III.

PAPERS LAID A.

THE LEADER OF GOBVERNMENT BUSINESS HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA [LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table in accordance with Section 118 Sub- Section 7 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No.6 Of 1991: Gift from the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone to the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration for the latter to upgrade its information system as mentioned below: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Five [5] Desktop PCS One [1] Laptop One [1] DVR One [1] Laser Printer B. HON.
MUSA FOFANAH CHAIRMAN, PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 8 HON.

MUSA FOFANAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I stand on S.O 18[7].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we took over the Committee last year in the Second Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic as a team of strong Members of Parliament.

Our achievement cannot be overemphasised, but there was a total disconnection between the Parliamentary Committee on Rural Development with the Ministry.
We came, we saw and then we fixed it.

Voluntarily under my leadership as Chairman, we conducted a national oversight from the Bonthe Municipality to Kailahun Council, Falaba Council and Farra-Kambia.

We also saw, we monitored, we made recommendations and we appreciate that a lot of progress has been made.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to submit to this Honourable House that we appreciate the Leader of the Opposition; Honourable Chernor Maju Bah who attended one of our summon meeting with the Ministry, I think his recommendation on that day showed a clear remarks that the leadership of this House are always in full support of Committees.
I also want to thank the Leader of the Coalition for Change [C4C] Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina who supported us as a Committee when we went on a consultative meeting in all the four regions of this country and as a veteran Mayor, I am sure that the contribution he made on that day was very useful for our Committee.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I also want to submit to this noble House that donor partners that spend their moneys in decentralisation, we will made sure to bring them together to prove to them that our oversight role is to support transparency and accountability.
I also want to submit to this House that we went to Makeni on the 10th July where His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio launched the grant for Local Councils; I think €23mln was launched on that day for four councils and Civil Society Organisations [CSO].
Of course, it was a great one because myself being the Chairman of this Committee made a statement and I assured His Excellency the President that we are happy because in the year 2018 we saw Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina who is the veteran Mayor pleading for the conditions and service conditions for Mayors, Chairman, Councillors and core staff.
When we took over we followed that same trend and today we have seen the 9 administration of the Sierra Leone People’s Party [SLPP] Government respected and increased salaries for Mayors, Chairman and their Deputies.

On that day also, we presented to His Excellency the President S.O 2 ‘de councillors wae na wi fot soga den sef wan fo leh de pa en blessing rch pan den fyn fyn wan’.
As we all know the Councillors means a lot because they own the wards and Members of Parliament own the constituencies so for sure we are all under the same pressure.

Mr Speaker, I want to submit to this noble House that all of us should pay attention to see that our Councillors have a better condition.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, our Committee followed strictly the waste management system in all the councils and Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to assure this noble House that we have made a lot of contributions and we are sure that implementing partners will pay lots of attention to it.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, finally, I also want to confirm to this noble House that under my leadership as Chairman of Local Government and Rural Development, we have seen a very strong collaboration between the House of Parliament Committee of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry, stakeholders, Paramount Chiefs of all the chiefdoms we visited, we paid courtesy call to not only the Paramount Chiefs, but even the Police, the Military and Section Chiefs just to harmonize what was missing because this Committee was looking for resuscitation and with a Committee that have some medical background, we were going around with our resuscitating machines to bring back the Local Government Committee to life.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, on that note, I beg to lay on the Table of this noble House a Report titled: the Second Session Report of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on its achievements of the aforementioned Session, July, 2020.

C. HON.

KEIKURA VANDY CHAIRMAN, PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY 10 HON.

KEIKURA VANDY: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, pursuant to Sub-Section 3, Section 93 of the 1991 Constitution, this Honourable House is empowered to monitor and look into the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies [MDA’s].

In that vein, this Honourable House gave me the responsibility to lead the Committee of Energy.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, tremendous efforts were made by this Energy Committee; we did due diligence, we tour this country nationwide and for clarity sake our first oversight was sponsored by this Honourable House in October, 2019.

Subsequent ones were carried out in February and March.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is crystal clear that the sector is challenged, but one thing I want to inform this Honourable House is that tremendous efforts were made by stakeholders in that sector to make sure that we get out of the energy quagmire.

In that vein Mr Speaker, everything about energy activities in this country is embedded in this Second Session Report and I am saying it with authority [Applause].
I want to extend my profound thanks to colleague Committee Members on both aisles, we did our work without political division and we worked together.

I want to thank them so much for their tremendous effort in concluding this Session.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to assure this House if I happen to succeed myself or if it happens any other person come to succeed me, we have prepared a platform for our successors; we have prepared the ground for them, they will know what exactly is involved in the energy sector in this country.

A lot of problems were envisaged, but I want to thank this Honourable House again for giving us the opportunity, for giving us the chance and for giving us the courage to go on oversight.
Moreover, I want to thank the leadership of the House because they are always at our disposals, we hang heads with them and we are very happy for chosen new Honourable Member that are doing their first term to serve as a Committee Chairman.
So for you to run as a successful Committee Chairman, you must acknowledge those that guided you and I want to say special thanks to my mentors; Honourable Mathew Sahr Nyuma- 11 Leader of Government and also Honourable Deputy Speaker- Sengepoh Solomon Thomas for guiding me on how to go about my Committee work.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table of this Honourable House the Energy Committee Second Session Report of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.

IV.
IV.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA SECONDER: HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, before we move on to the next item which is to be proposed by the Honourable Leader of Government Business, I have an announcement to make.

Yesterday; Wednesday, 29th July, I received correspondence from the National Secretary General of the C4C.
The correspondence that I received is dated Wednesday, 29th July and it purports to inform me about certain changes in the leadership of the C4C party in Parliament [Undertone] Order!

I have examined the correspondence very carefully and I have tried to relate it to the provisions if any contained in our Constitution; that is the National Constitution and the Standing Orders of this House.
Let me say here and now that I could not find any provision in either the Constitution [Undertone] what I am saying is for the record, whether all of the membership of C4C is here or not I am sure the record will be available to them in due course.
As I said; I checked through the National Constitution, I also looked through the Standing Orders of the House and I could find no provision that addresses this matter specifically, but I saw provisions from which I will draw guidance and inspiration and those are contained in the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No.6 of 1991.
I will refer Honourable Members to Section 77[1L] and as I said; there is no provision that is on all falls of on what has been address to me namely; change of leadership, but never the less I am prepared to draw inspiration and guidance from existing provisions from our Constitution and in accordance with Section 77[1L], it reads “ a Member of Parliament 12 shall vacate his seat in Parliament if by his conduct in Parliament by sitting and voting with Members of a different party, the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Leader of that Member’s party that the Member is no longer a Member of the political party under whose symbol he was elected to Parliament.” The correspondence I received does not relate to the removal of a Member from Parliament so therefore that provision that I have read is not directly relevant, but never the less I cannot be obvious of the spirit of the provision.
The correspondence I received was signed by the Secretary General of the C4C not by the Leader and even if it were [Undertone] Honourable Members please bear with me, even if it were signed by the Leader, I will deal with it as a moot point for now, I will not indicate what my reaction would have been, it would remain a moot point and I will deal with that issue when the time comes, but as of now let me make it categorically and abundantly clear that I will discountenance the correspondence that I have received and will therefore continue to recognise the Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina as the Leader of the C4C party in Parliament [Applause].
That is the announcement I would like to make at this point.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, before we proceed I want to stand on S.O 23 to inform the House about something that I just heard this morning.

THE SPEAKER: Very well.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: But wait, is it under S.O 23?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Yes Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Can you bear with us?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Okay Sir.


THE SPEAKER: I do not think that this is the moment we should raise S.O 23.

I will give the Floor to the Leader of Government to proceed.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker for providing some schooling for the leadership of C4C [Undertone] the Sectary General has no authority to 13 write to Mr Speaker, that is schooling [Undertone] it is not a palace school, but it is a matter of procedure.
THIRD SESSION OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC OF SIERRALEONE.

FOURTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE ON PARLIAMENTARY VETTING OF PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE’S INTRODUCTION Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service met on Wednesday, 29th July, 2020 and interviewed seven presidential nominees for appointments as follows: i. Director- Financial Intelligence Unit [FIU]; ii.
Four Members- National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA]; iii.

Minister- Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources; and iv.

Deputy Minister- Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources.
PROCEDURE The Committee conducted the hearing within the ambit of its established criteria and: ▪ Requested for public input into the vetting process to ascertain the suitability of the nominees for their proposed appointments; ▪ Requested for specified documents pertaining to their backgrounds and other related matters; ▪ Ensured that the nominees were cleared of any criminal record by the Criminal Investigation Department [CID] of the Sierra Leone police; and ▪ Ensured that each nominee had the relevant qualification and necessary backup experience to hold his or her proposed appointment.
14 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, probing questions put to the nominees covered wide ranging issues pertaining to their track records in other pertinent work situations, their declared assets and liabilities, fulfillment of their tax obligations and their visions for a successful and nationally productive tenure.

Issues of unsuitability or otherwise were closely looked into by the Committee.

FIFTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY, 29TH JULY, 2020.
Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor - Director, Financial Intelligence Unit [FIU] Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in Finance from Njala University College and a Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences with Honours from Fourah Bay College.

He has produced several publications on Financial Inclusion and Standards, Financial Crimes and the Integrity of the Banking Systems in Sierra Leone.

Prior to his appointment he was the Manager, Examination and Compliance at the FIU.
The nominee has over nineteen [19] years spanning experience in Administration, Project Management, Management Consultancy Services and prudential regulation on Banks and developing intelligence to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes.

The nominee in response to the Committee on the status of Financial Intelligence in mitigating crimes in the country said; “Mitigating financial crimes requires serious in intelligence network and resources.
As a country we have scored huge successes that have won admiration to the Government and donors.

We are not there yet, but we promise to build a sophisticated unit that will safeguard our economy” he concluded.

Reverend Joseph Philip Khanda-proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] Reverend Joseph Philip Khanda is an educationist with thirty [30] years teaching experience, advocacy in community development, public and private Sector 15 Management.
He has an adept knowledge in local governance and has worked extensively in rural communities both as clergy and development specialists.

In his response, he promised to lead colleagues at NaCSA in the work at Local Government levels that will enable the Commission responds appropriately to the local governance needs.
Mr John Caulker- proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] Mr John Caulker is a human Rights Activist and holds Masters of Science [MSC] Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.

He is a peace builder and development catalyst through Media.

He is presently the Executive Director, Fambul Tok International Sierra Leone.
Mr John Caulker promised to use his twenty-five [25] years of development experience to promote project implementation and community sensitizations of NaCSA socio- economic safety nets projects in deprived communities.

Mr Aiah A. Thomas - proposed Member, National Commission For Social Action [NaCSA] Mr Aiah A. Thomas is a retired teacher and former principal of the Government Secondary School, Koidu Town.

He has over thirty [30] years of administrative experience.
He has served in varying capacities as Lecturer, District Coordinator Self- Reliance War Affected Victims Non-Governmental Organization [NGO] and Supervisor of schools to name but a few.

Mr Aiah A. Thomas promised to use his experience to bring innovations to NaCSA through collaborations and critical evaluations to safeguard the interest of the people and ensure the prudent use of resources from both donor and Government budget.
Madam Gladys Hasting-Spaine-Proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] 16 Madam Gladys Hasting-Spaine is a Gender Activist and consultant in various women programs.

She currently works as an Administrator in the Sierra Leone Women Forum that deals with women and children issues.

She is a member of many organizations including the National Committee on Gender Based Violence, Member 50/50 Group and presently President ACCORD 97 and Soja Town Women Organization.
In her response on how she would promote the rural women in the NaCSA poverty alleviation drives, the nominee remarked that she would ensure that with the help of his colleagues, programs for rural levels are given the required gender view so as to capture the deprived and desirable women and children in the most Safety Nets Programs of the Commission.
Mr Timothy M. Kabba- Proposed Minister, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources Mr Timothy M. Kabba is a versatile, performance-driven and goal-oriented professional with a strong background in petroleum engineering, leadership, management and strategy.

He has a proven success in oil and gas exploration, drilling, oil field development, oil production and reservoir operation.

He is the former Director General Petroleum Directorate.
In his interview, Mr Timothy M. Kabba deposed that he had severally appeared before the Appointments Committee when he was nominated as Director General.
“It is because of my position and my expertise that I have been nominated to serve as Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources.” Furthermore, the nominee said “my managerial experience and collaborative team spirit earned me enormous growth at the Petroleum Directorate which triggered the growth of a once moribund Petroleum Directorate to an attractive revenue generation sector.” He promised the Committee to use his managerial skills and multilingual prowess to attract more investments in the mining sector and to review mining agreements that are not in the interest of the country.
17 However, though the nominee was highly acknowledged for his good work, he was also cautioned to take due advantage of the recent aero-geological surveys to attract only reputable investors and give leverage to the artisanal mining where bulk of Sierra Leonean folks are involved.

Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding-Proposed Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding is a seasoned educationist and financial expert.
She holds a Master Degree in Accounting and Finance and was the Deputy Director of the FIU, the position she held with diligence and utmost credibility.

She has a proven knowledge in management spanning for over a decade period of national services.

In her response to how she would bring changes in the mining sector, the nominee said; “I will use my management and team work skills and to assist the Minister in mobilizing the professional staff towards meeting the National Mineral Policy.
I know the Ministry and the National Mineral Agency [NMA] have done marvelous work particularly in achieving the aero-mapping of our mineral resources that now give the Ministry a clear method to plan and exploit” she concluded.

The nominee promised to work assiduously to build on the positive trajectory of the mining sector.
RECOMMENDATIONS Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following presidential nominees to be fit and qualified for their proposed appointments and are recommended to the House for approval: i. Mr David Nyamakoro Bobor-Proposed Director, Financial Intelligence Unit [FIU]; ii.

Reverend Joseph Philip Khanda-Proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA]; iii.

Mr Aiah A. Thomas–Proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA]; 18 iv.
Madam Gladys Hasting-Spaine, Proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA)]; v. Mr Timothy M. Kabba-Proposed Minister, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources; vi.

Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding-Proposed Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources; and vii.

Mr John Caulker-Proposed Member, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Fourth Report is a unanimous decision of the Committee.
I therefore move that the Fourth Report of the Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.

Faithfully submitted, ……………………………… Hon.

Mathew S. Nyuma Chairman THE SPEAKER: The visitors in the upper gallery, I am a little concern about the cluster of people that I see in the middle.
It seems to run counter to the physical distancing regulations, would you please ensure that you occupy the other empty seats.

Maintain social distancing, physical distancing of a meter or two please.

There are plenty of seats in the lower gallery if the upper one is overcrowded.

Readjust yourselves please.

I thank the Leader of Government Business.

Any seconder?

HON.

BASHIRU SILLIKIE: Mr Speaker, I so second.


[Question Proposed] THE SPEAKER: I will take just two from each side of the aisle and then we conclude.

HON.

BASHIRU SILLIKIE: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today again we have nominees presented to this House for 19 approval by His Excellency the President Dr Julius Maada Bio.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the nominees have unanimously been agreed upon by the Committee to be approved.
To the nominees, of course you are occupying strategic offices of Government, the President has bestowed a lot of confidence in you, please go and make the President proud, make the Committee of Appointments proud that has recommended you to this House and by extension this Republic proud.

You are very lucky, a lot of people are outside there waiting to be nominated, but you have been chosen from the lot therefore please make us proud.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will talk on few of the nominees, but let me begin with the Minister that has been nominated to go to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, sixteen [16] months ago I stood in this Well to vogue for the person that was nominated to this House to go to the petroleum Directorate.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Timothy Musa Kabba has done us proud as young people of this country, he has gone to the Petroleum Directorate and he has done his bit.

He has developed that Directorate, he has brought the Directorate to the map and now it is very viable.

It has also please His Excellency to reappoint him to a very senior position in Government.
Mr Timothy Musa Kabba, I am very overwhelm, I am very pleased, I am very happy for your nomination because you have made us proud as young people, please continue making us proud and please do not disappoint us.

You are now taking a challenged Ministry, you are taking a Ministry that should be the bread basket of this Republic, the Ministry has suffered for a quite period of time and we now need serious reforms and you need to change the narratives in that Ministry.
Please go and change the narrative and develop that Ministry so that this country will develop and benefit again from the Mining Sector of Sierra Leone.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, of course, it is no secret that I cannot debate here today without mentioning the person who primarily supported me to be in this Parliament today, that is nobody but the Mama of the House.
I referred to her as the Mama of the House because I know she is the mother of all the Members of Parliament on my side of the House and she is the biological mother of the Leader and the Deputy 20 Leader of Government Business in this House [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Madam Ann Marie Baby Harding is a household name in the Sierra Leone People’s Party [SLPP] and in this country.
Madam Ann Marie Harding has done her own bit in the educational sector, she was a lecturer at the Milton Margai College of Education, she has lectured a lot of student who are now holding strategic positions in the Public Sector and in Government, thank you very much for that help.

She has also worked as the Deputy Director in the FIU; a very strategic department, she has done her own bit to develop the FIU to where it is today and I say thank you very much.
It has also pleases His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio to appoint her as the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources which is a very challenging department.

Madam Ann Marie Baby Harding, please use all of your powers, all of your wisdom and talent that you used at the FIU to help the Minister to develop that Ministry, you should work as a team, you should synergise.

You have a young Minister, but he is your boss so please work with him to contribute to the bread basket of this country.
The Ministry of Mines used to be the pillar of development, used to employ the highest public servant in this country, but today we are struggling and please go help the Minister to change the narrative.

Thank you very much His Excellency the President for bestowing that confidence in Madam Ann Marie Baby Harding.

I have no iota of doubt in my mind that she will make the president proud, she will make this Parliament proud and she will make the country proud.

Thank you very much.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me conclude with the FIU boss who is Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor.

Mr Speaker, I did my Master’s Degree with Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor at Njala University, he is a very studious person, very determined, very progress looking and he is now taking over at the hem as the Director at FIU, please make us proud.

I know what you are capable of doing and I know you perform.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, to all the nominees please make us proud, please do not disappoint His Excellency the President because what you will be doing is going to be part of our score card that will be read to this nation in 2023 and surely it will return us to Government.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker [Applause].

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

Honourable Lahai Marah, you have the Floor.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we are again completing another process here; the President appoint and we approved.

Mr Speaker, on Tuesday we approved the National Electoral Commission [NEC] Commissioner after discussing legality and so on, but at last he was approved and that is our job; the President appoint, we approve and let me say congratulations to the nominees because you will go through this Parliament for sure.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this debate I call it the other side of politics and presently, I am Lahai Marah and I am on this side of the House which is the Opposition side, we know what it means.

I went to CID for two nights and we know what it means [Interruption].

HON.

MOHAMED B. SHAW: Mr Speaker, Point of Order [Undertone] S.O.

34[1].

Mr Speaker, I want the Honourable Member to resume his seat before I make my point please.

THE SPEAKER: Which order?

HON.

MOHAMED B. SHAW: Mr Speaker, 34[1].


THE SPEAKER: Yes.

HON.

MOHAMED B. SHAW: Mr Speaker, the Honourable Member is deviating from the subject of the House; what we are discussing is nominees nominated from the President and they are here for approval, we are not discussing anything that has to do with CID or NEC nominee and I am sure what he is bringing on the Floor is controversial.

His CID issue has nothing to do with the nominees [Interruption].
THE SPEAKER: Thank you and you have made your point.

Honourable Lahai Marah, I uphold the point of order and I will reinforce the order that he has sighted with 32[5].

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Thank you Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I was just building the premises of my debate [Interruption].

22 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Lahai Marah, I will invite you to read 32[5] as well.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Thank you Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, some of us on this side of the aisle have suffered a lot and as a Member of Parliament, I went through a lot as an opposition and that is the [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Lahai Marah, I will cut you short and ask for the other speaker and let me assure you that the only reason why I recognise you is by courtesy of your Leader because I know you have a tendency to stray beyond what is relevant.

HON.
HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, please allow me [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: No, as I indicated earlier, I will rise at 12:00p.m and I am not going to allow any Member of Parliament to bring diversionary tactics into this debate, let us address the issue before the House.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, you can give me a time for me to work on please.

THE SPEAKER: I will not give you the time that you need.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, please allow me.

I am a Member of Parliament [Interruption].


THE SPEAKER: You are, but then you are subject to the rules of this House.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, I am within the rules.

THE SPEAKER: You are not, you are deviating.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, I am not deviating, it is only that you want [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: I will allow you three minutes only.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, the other side of politics is the theme of my debate and at the end of the day maybe a President is appointed from the All People’s Congress [APC] side that does not know me even after going through a lot in the Opposition I will still continue to suffer.

Mr Speaker, the reason why I am raising this point is related to the Honourable Foday Rado Yokie.
Mr 23 Speaker, I have been in this Parliament with Honourable Foday Rado Yokie since the year 2012 and Honourable Foday Rado Yokie [Interruption].

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, point of order.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Foday Rado Yokie is not in front of us and his not part of the nominees today so can we please advise the Honourable Member to go to the point please [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: I have allowed him three minutes and not more than three minutes.

HON.
HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Thank you very much and not more than three minutes please.

Mr Speaker, in 2012, Honourable Foday Rado Yokie suffered in this Parliament before us, he was denied the position of being a Member of the Economic Community of West Africa State [ECOWAS] Parliament and that is not all Mr speaker, he also went to jail.

He trained people like Honourable Bashiru Silikie in this Well [Interruption].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, point of Order 34 and I will read the Constitution.

HON.
HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Leader, please allow me to end my debate.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, order 34 and I want to also make citation from Section 61 of the 1991 Constitution [Undertone] Honourable Member, please sit I beg.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Lahai Marah, please take your seat and you may not even rise again [Laughter].

Let me listen to the Leader of Government Business.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I want to read the provision in the Constitution in Section 61; ‘Subject to this provision of the Constitution and of any Act of Parliament, the President may constitute offices for Sierra Leone, make appointments to any such office and terminate any such appointment.’ That is a power given to the President in Section 61 of the Constitution.

With all due respect to our Member, let us discuss the appointees in front of us please.

Thank you.

HON.
Thank you.

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, I am not questioning the powers of the President [Interruption].

24 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Lahai Marah, please take your seat [Undertone] I no longer recognise you.

Go ahead Honourable Member.

HON.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS-LAMIN: Thank you very much Mr speaker.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have distinguish personalities in our humble House today who are nominated by His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio for approval and I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity that I have my constituent among the nominees by the name of Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding and I want to say I doff my hat to her [Applause].

Mr Speaker, I have no doubt in me that she can definitely perform her duty.
Having known her for several years I am sure she will support Mr Timothy Musa Kabba who is soon to become the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources that you will bring more development to this country and it is stated in your cross examination that you will support the Minister in accomplishing the tax that His Excellency has imposed on the both of you and we will look forward to that.
Sierra Leoneans are yarning for job, they are eager to perform their duties and we have no doubt in all of the nominees seated here today that you will perform your duties.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when we come to qualifications in Sierra Leone, there is no doubt because the Sierra Leone People’s Party [SLPP] in particular we have them in abundant [Applause].
Mr Speaker, my only plead to the nominee’s is for them not to deviate from the right path, please do not disappoint us and let there be no infighting among Ministers as it was in the days of the APC, but we believe that you will work as a team in order for us to achieve our gold.

We have a very salient legacy in Sierra Leone and I invite you all to perform that salient legacy that is Sierra Leonean hospitality.
We have a lot of investors coming to Sierra Leone and I want you to use our natural facilities in Sierra Leone, sometimes it is not only on the formal bases, but please take then to river number two [2], take them to places for them to have a pleasant dinner, take them to places [Undertone] not to Kailahun, but to Jarma Bongon and I want to say the people of Jarma Bongon, Wonde; constituency 081 are very proud of you and I want to say a very special thank you to Dr Prince Alex Harding for his good work [Applause].
I want to also make a special reference to Haja Adama who 25 has done a very good work in rising up a beautiful and supporting wife to Dr Prince Alex Harding and we are also pleading to you to serve the people of this country and we believe that you will do that.

On that note Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I say a very big thank you [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I will now recognise the Honourable Abdul Latif Sesay.

HON.

ABDUL L. SESAY: Thank you very much Mr Speaker and I think this one is a bonus.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, due to the leadership decision I will step aside for Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara from Lunsar [Applause].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, point of order.

There is a provision in the Standing Orders, let him use it.

THE SPEAKER: For yielding?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes, let him use his standing orders because there is provision.

THE SPEAKER: You may yield and I will allow him to yield.

HON.
HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH [LEADER OF THE OPOSITION]: Thank you very much Mr Speaker and that power rest with you so please continue.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, if we have the provision let him use that provision [Laughter].

THE SPEAKER: Okay, I will allow the Honourable Member representing Lunsar.

HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, let me pay credent to my Honourable Member who is the Leader of the Port-Loko District; Honourable Abdul Latif Sesay.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today is an important day in the Parliament of Sierra Leone because I have witness the third nominated Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources in a Government of just two years and some months; that does not signifies development.
I want to say emphatically that Governments over the years have been emphasized that Government is continuity and for any development, I think a Government in waiting should be in a place of taking 26 note of certain weaknesses and develop on those weaknesses as to improve the statuesque [Applause].
For us to experience a transformation of that Ministry, I do not think it is necessary, but however, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources presented to us this morning, I have not known him before, but seeing him this morning shows that he could do more in that Ministry at this particular point in time [Applause].
The level of his interaction this morning shows that he is down to earth gentleman and we on this side of the aisle are not here to criticize fine things, but to support in order to give additional moral to it [Applause].
Mr Speaker, I know that Mr Timothy Musa Kabba will be approve in the shortest period of time and I want him to have in mind that Lunsar is almost dormant and if he goes to Lunsar he can only felt the presence of this current Government through the police, but the past Government instituted road networks, water supply, electricity etc and today none of that could been seen in Lunsar [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to call your attention that you were with me in the office of the Vice President when I made mentioned of this in the presence of the Vice President, but unfortunately nothing has been done about it.

If you go to Lunsar, it is almost a dark city and the people of Lunsar are only hoping on the reopening of the Marampa mines [Applause].

Mr Speaker, as Mr Timothy Musa Kabba is coming in as the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, I am saying that [Interruption].
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I am sure you do not want to be reminded.

Honourable Members to my right, the speaker is making a plead and a very powerful case on behave of the people of Lunsar.

Honourable Member, please go ahead.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I support you on that and it is a very powerful statement.

HON.
HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: Mr Speaker, Marampa mines is now dormant and I am sure a lot of efforts has been made towards the reopening of that mines and if you go to Lunsar, the cry of the people is the reopening of Marampa mines and let me remind this Government that the development of the third world is depending upon the operation of this mining company [Applause].
If you do the theory of the dominate 27 dependent and venerability in Economics you will discovered that the third world Economists are developed by this industry people, if you do not encourage them then there will be a problem.
Mr Speaker, the proposed Minister spoke about a moribund directorate he met, but the petroleum directorate was developed by the past Government; the APC Government met it as a unit and developed it to a directorate and created structures; it is not the proposed Minister who made those structures, it was the APC Government that made those structures and if today nominees are nominated into that good and fine office, I am sure the credit should be given to the formal Government of the APC and that also emphases that Government is continuity and if Government is continuity that credit must also be given to the formal Government [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in conclusion, I must say that the North is very much tolerant; if you go to Lunsar the people are very much tolerant, you will come in contact with lots of South Easterners working in the mines.

If today the mines are deformed, I am telling you that it is not only the people of Lunsar that are suffering, but your brothers and sisters are also suffering [Applause].
So therefore, I am imploring this Parliament to endorse the nomination of the Minister and his Deputy to be approve speedily so that Lunsar can shine again.

I thank you very much [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution to this debate and I am sure the proposed Minister will pay special attention to the case that is made out for the position of Lunsar town.

I would have like [Undertone] fine, I like the spirit demonstrated by the Chief Wipe [Applause].
I recognize the Honourable Lady and she is the last speaker before we wind up.

HON.

NENNEH LEBBIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise to add my voice to other speakers in appreciating His Excellency the President Dr Julius Maada Bio for the nominees we have before us this morning.

We normally referred to them as fine nominees not by status, but because of what we have read from their resumes.

We know they all have the capacity to run the offices to which they will be holding few moments from now.
I may not know all of the nominees, but I want to congratulate 28 you all in advance because I know that there is no controversy in your approvals this morning.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, please allow me to talk about one of the finest lady in every aspect of the word [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, at this point I want to talk about a darling sister Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding whom I have known for over a decade, she the woman of substance, she is a strong woman not the physical strength, but by way of efficiency and performance.

She has the capacity and she is efficient by all descriptions.
Mr Speaker, she has a proven record of efficiency and effectiveness right throughout the resume we have read and I quote “I will use my management and team work skills and to assist the Minister in mobilizing the professional staff towards meeting the National Mineral Policy.” Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I believe in this woman’s voice and I know she is going to do it.

Like I said earlier on Mr Speaker, I believe in her, I have known her for a decade now and I know she is a game changer.
Mr Speaker, I want her to know that this Ministry has a lot of challenges like you have heard from other colleagues, go there and make the women of this country proud, go there and make the Female Parliamentary Caucus proud because we always cry for women to be in leadership positions, please work closely with your Minister and work in the interest of this country.

One speaker mentioned that this Ministry has been the backbone of our economy in this country.
So know the challenges you will be facing, but I know as I have described you to have a character to be a strong woman I have no iota of doubt that you will go and bring some changes in that Ministry and please work closely with your Minister.

He is your brother of course from the same family, go and stand tall go and make us proud.

Women of Sierra Leone want to see more women.

The more you perform better the more you give the President the courage to have more women in governance.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members without much ado, I want to congratulate the nominees in advance and wish them well in their different offices.

I thank you very much [Applause].

29 THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable lady for her contribution.

We will now conclude the debate with the following speakers; Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella followed by Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina in that order.

HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA [LEADER OF NGC]: Thank you very much Honourable Speaker.
Mr Speaker, we are here approving another set of appointment and I just want to talk about the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resource.

The Honourable Member from Lunsar made a good point that there has been turbulence in that Ministry, three Ministers in two years it implies that the new leadership Honourable Minister nominated and Honourable Deputy Minister have a lot of work to do.

The fact that you are the third appointees means that there are challenges in that Ministry.
The Honourable Speaker before me emphasised the critical importance of minerals to our economy so you have quite a bit to do.

I want to make two key points; many of us have advocated over the years for a complete geological survey of our country so we know what we have.
We know when this administration came in, we saw the planes flying all over, we want to know hopefully what do we have in our locations and this is relevant because just last week; I think Friday or Saturday to be exact some of us from Kambia received text messages that we were been informed that the person who has won the new box site concession in Magbema and in Dickson will be coming to Kambia.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Sorry Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, I do not want to interrupt you.

HON.
HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Okay!

THE SPEAKER: You may continue Honourable Member.

Suspension of S.O 5[2] HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: We received text messages informing us that the winner of the concession for the box site deposit in Magbema in Kambia and Dickson will be visiting the area of course we called each other to say did you know in fact that we had box site, did you know in fact that there is negotiation were going on regarding box site?
I say to the new leadership if we who are we the communities and our 30 Paramount Chiefs and I checked with a few, do not even know that negotiations are going on.

Box site mining in Kambia is a serious issue, each manning company in this country in the last fifteen or more years has had issues with land rights, displacement of people with reclamation of the land after you mine as they do in other countries because some of those manning areas are unfertile agricultural land.
In some countries those agreements insist in reclaiming those lands once the manning is over, so we are concern that we did not know, negotiations were going on, we have been informed that somebody is coming to mine in our communities, of course we are going to ask our people did you know about this, what is in it, will the communities benefit, will the locals benefit, what kind of infrastructure will be built and what would happen to our agricultural lands?
So I say this to you, you are a new team and we want to know more.

Secondly, we also want to know what is the result of the area survey what do we have?

We have rumours that our areas might have gas, are they commercially viable, what is there?

Part of that information is to empower the people so that the locals, the councillors, the Members of Parliament and the Chiefs can plan for development as was done in Botswana.
Finally, I have been to many conferences on natural resource wealth, and most times when they want to look at the back case they compare Sierra Leone and Botswana in a number of those conferences, diamonds discovered around the same time what Botswana has become and where Sierra Leone decline and the endemic corruption in that distribution process.
So I just admonish you in your new responsibilities that you face challenges, we were promised that that sector will be revamped, that the rights of the people will be respected and in fact our nation will benefit.

So we just put that case to you to know that we in Kambia in particular there is a case in point.

We wish you well in your new responsibilities [Applause].

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

Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina, you have the Floor.

HON.
HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA [LEADER OF C4C]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in exercise the powers vested upon me, His Excellency the President in Section 61 Act No 6 of the 1991 Constitution, I am pleased to recognise the nominees present here 31 today.

Moreover, whilst I recognise all of you, I recognise two of Kono’s industrious sons namely Reverend Joseph Philip Khanda and veteran Principal Aiah A. Thomas who have made their indelible marks at KSS and in the spiritual realm.
I have no shadow of doubt that they will perform and they will become agents of positive change in those Institutions.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I recognise the Minister and Deputy Minister designate of Mines and Mineral Resources, I lure you and call upon you all to be mindful of Section 7 of Sierra Leones 1991 Constitution that if only we can earnest the natural resources including gold, box site, titanium, uranium, diamond were bound to have a resilient economy; mindful of Section 7 of Sierra Leones 1991 Constitution.
Your predecessors have worked so hard by legislating the artisanal mining policy, the geo-data mining policy and the Sierra Leone mining policy; three documents.

At a time I come to the realisation why Sierra Leone have been poor and has not properly utilised its natural resources because there was absence of a comprehensive artisanal mining policy.
His Excellency the President made at his first State Opening that he will review and bring new polices just within a years’ time, after ninety years or so we now have a comprehensive artisanal mining policy.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I also want the nominees here to know that we are almost at it complication of the 2020 Mines and Mineral Act, it will do Sierra Leoneans good by the time it is out.

Mr Speaker, there is a new don about to fall in the mining sector having the Minister designate here.
Mr Speaker, his multilingual strength could be a fine asset for this country.

He speaks well Russian, he speaks well French and English this alone is a decoy to woo potential investors in which scene we need to have no interpreter because he speaks the language of those potential investors especially investors that have background in Russia.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Minister designate for Mines and Mineral Resources is also an hybrid for national cohesion, his Linguistics strength in L1 ethnics, a speaker of Madingo, Mende, Thmene, Fullah, Susu and I am telling you he is a fine eye break foe the national cohesion that we dearly need in this country.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this Minister designate; Mr Timothy Musa Kabba is calm in crisis, he is diligent in business, he is also 32 gender sensitive in as much as you will be working with a woman.

He is effective, he is efficient and of an excellent attendance record [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I must also call to the attention today the Minister and the Deputy Minister designate of Mines and Mineral Resources that three herculean task you are about to face; what are they?
The band on excavators and bull dozers let there be a swift policies so that the artisanal mining will boost again [Applause].

Secondly, the late payments of Diamond Area Community Development Fund [DACDF] that was legislated by former President Ahmad Tejan Kabba for Chiefdoms and Councils to benefit, late payment of 2018 and 2019 DACDF make it an urgent task.

Finally, review of mining contracts.

I see mining contracts are so powerful than even the Act.
The mining contract is a creature for the very Act; the skill to review for the beneficiation of Sierra Leoneans.

I was a former Mayor and I know what am saying, when agreement are very powerful to the Act we see trouble, these are herculean task that you are about to face and I have no incline of doubt that you will definitely so mound them.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I call upon the House for the swift ratification for these fine nominees.

I thank you very much [Applause].


THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member and Leader of C4C.

I recognise the Leader of the Opposition.

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I join others before me even before proceeding in confirming that we on this side will endorse the nominees [Applause].

Mr Speaker, indeed like all other days; the approval of presidential nominees is something very important in this House like any other day.
We will never and will not question the authority of the President to hire and fire based on the Constitution.

Mr Speaker, but without missing words again we will remind the nominee for the position of Minister of Mines and Mineral Resource that there has been two before him if this House approves of him within two years the reasons we do not know.

So we expect him first to go and learn in trying to understand what the reasons might be because it is very important.
Whenever you have a house and the house has a story make sure you learn what the story is, 33 otherwise it will be difficult to sit and he is a very young man, very industrious, he has done well for himself because he is an accomplished young man.

He is fortunate to get a very good Deputy as well, a Deputy that has trained in school, but also has been trained at home and I am sure she will continue to receive those lectures at home [Laughter].
Mr Speaker, I am on my legs what is happening on that side [Undertone] I am just trying to say what I think whether it is true or not I am not too sure.

THE SPEAKER: I think they all recognise the tiring figure in the House [Laughter].

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Mr Speaker, we have other nominees for the FIU and NaCSA, Road Safety, all of them are relevant to the advancement to the advancement to the society, they all have a role to play.
So we want to assure them of our support moving forward, our doors are always open, but Mr Speaker I will remiss if I fail to mention this.
I am not too conversant with the NMA, not too conversant with its operations not the law, but there have been rumours around that the relationship in the past between NMA and the Ministry has not been a good one; they are rumours we do not know how credible they are, but if those rumours are true and they are things to go by we will encourage the players to ensure that the Minister going to that office is fully respected [Applause] the reason been Mr Speaker, like in this House when you speak we would listen, if you are not in and the Deputy Speaker speak we would listen, there is always a chain of command for success and good achievement.
THE SPEAKER: Indeed as the old saying goes; the box stops with the Minister and we expect the Minister to take full responsibility of his Ministry.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker, so I do not think I need to waste more time on that I will just want to encourage Mr Minister designate if approved, do not allow problems before solutions, if you can identify the solutions before the problems erupt, make sure you address them.
We are here, the Mines and Minerals Committee will be here, the Leader of Government Business is here, he has a responsibility in ensuring that he facilitate the activities within Government and I am sure he is a listening leader, do not hesitate to approach him because we would not want to see Institutions that the Ministry or Ministries are to be supervising having more 34 authorities than the Ministry itself; we would not want to see that [Applause].
I was here when the NMA Act was enacted, I was here when Ministers were approved and today I will be here again when we will be approving this Minister and his Deputy, so we want to make sure we give you your support; that is what I want to say as far as that is concerned.

Mr Speaker, once again I would join your chorus at the end of the day whiles congratulating them.
I am sure for us on this side as I have said, we will definitely support the approval and I am sure the Leader of Government Business will do likewise, but I do not know whether his colleagues will support his motion, but on this side we will support the motion.
Mr Speaker, before I sit, I was asked as you saw on both sides of the aisle there were many Members of Parliament who wanted to contribute, but unfortunately you promised this House on Tuesday when the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament was lobbying his colleagues for us not to sit today you were successful in convincing him for us to sit for few hours so we thank you Mr Speaker.

So I would not want waste the time of this House.


I think there is a group called Franciscan old student, they wanted to speak to the subject that has to do with the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources designate and the same with Honourable Zainab Catherine Tarawally wanted to speak also.

So Mr Minister designate just know they wanted to say good things about you that all I wanted to say.

Thank you very much Mr speaker [Applause].


THE SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of the Opposition as usual he is a man who recognises brevity to be the soul of wit and I am sure the Leader of Government Business would follow suit.

HON.

MATTHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, thank you very much for your contributions towards the presidential nominees.
Mr Speaker, we are happy as our colleagues on the other side and the other side of the House are in conformity with what we have on the Report; so we are happy for that, the Appointments Committee did a very good job to screen the presidential nominees and today they are in front of us and I know we are going to approve them.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we all talked about having policies, co-implementations, co- 35 enforcement all that surmounts to having somebody moving that particular policies and implementation and enforcement.

We have them today, we enact Laws and we make agreements here because we need to have somebody who is going to push all of those instruments we have given to the Ministries or the MDAs.
That is the reason we have them as said by the Honourable Member from the Opposition, thank you very much; that you cannot be a subordinate and you want to be the boss at the same time that cannot be acceptable in any form of administration.

That is what is happening at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Resources is no hidden secret [Applause].
The subordinate in one sector, he is just appearing to be the boss of the superior sector that is what is happening, but when you announce the Appointment Committee, I will urge the Chairman of that Committee that there are rules governing all of us, that the subordinate is a subordinate and the boss is the boss.
I will ensure that Parliament will drill them, Parliament at this time we are going to come in mark my words Mr Speaker, we are going to do that; this time there is not going to be any friendship, the birthday moment is over and this is time for us to work.
If you have been getting a free lane, this is time for us to do business, the business where Parliament will be involved that is why we have the oversight functions, I assure you Honourable Leader of the Opposition that you did not miss anything in that statement talking about NMA; I do not know anything about the NMA not about the Legislation, about the administration there is so many problems going on there, but we know if people cannot do it outside, we have the liberty to carry on our functions as Members of Parliament [Applause].
Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I am not seeing the prospective Leader of… oh, he is there; I hope you have taken notes.

HON.

MATTHEW S. NYUMA: He is here.

Mr Speaker, even if the Committee let us assume that such in terms of implementation or in terms of doing their oversight we will use the Standing Orders to come in as Supervisory Committee.
This is a moment of serious business so I do not want to go over that over and over he knows that he has to do the right thing, but you have questions from Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolleh 36 Yumkella about the aero-geological survey, we have not heard enough information about what happened.

I can remember when I was on the opposition beach we had the renewal agreement for the London Mining so I read it carefully together with the Honourable Musa Tamba Sam of blessed memory.
So I stood up, I was doing the debate and there was a Section in the agreement that list associate minerals so when you are talking about a particular set of minerals, when you are done you talk about exploration so if you tell us that you are going for diamond, you should have the list based on the exploration to give us the associate minerals.
So in the agreement they refused to tell us, I stood up and it was Abel Strong serving as the Speaker at that time and I read the provisions in the agreement and I said; “Mr Speaker, can you go to article etc.” and he said yes, can you read and he read, where are the associate minerals?

And he said oh well we do not have them now and I said; Mr Minister, this agreement is fraud, it is an agreement that we do not have to accept, but they had the number at that time, the past agreement.
So what you have just mentioned, when you refused to list the minerals that are supposed to be in a particular geological location after you have done your exploration, you should list them in the agreement and they refused to do so I said the agreement should not be accepted by the House, but majority carries the vote.
So what you have said is that you have the whole of the aero- geological survey map, but yet we have not seen it, it is not in the public domain and the Chairman for the Committee need to put more emphasis on that in order to educate the public so it will be good for all of us to understand what is in our different localities.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Peter Musa Moigua coming from a mining sector, Honourable Festus Mohamed Lansana coming from Tongo Field, Honourable Chernor Maju Bah coming from Non-mining sector field, we can just understand what is happening in their geological area in terms of mining.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, looking at the man himself in appearance and from the resume we know that he has the gravitas to carry on this particular office, there is no doubt in him carryout his responsibilities as Minister, but what we have is the string of challenges they have, a string of people who are refusing to respect the Ministry, a string of people who think they know and the 37 string of corruption within the Ministry, but I assure you that we will straighten the rough edges.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the FIU is an Institution with credibility and with some amount of knowledge in the Financial Sector.

Mr Speaker, I have tremendous respect for Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor, I have seen his resume and he need to carry certain things that will enable him to discharge his duty as a Director of this particular Sector.
You have work there as a Director and now that you will be serving as the head of the Institution and you told us in your interview that “mitigating financial crimes requires serious in intelligent network and resources.” So we believe you should have the muscle in gathering resources to ensure that there is what we called ‘money laundering’ which you are a specialist in that so that you can do your oversight as Director for that particular sector and as a Consultant also you have done some management project, we believe you can enforce because your predecessor said “increase the fine from ex-amount of Leones to 1bln” so putting that amount of money will give you the actual responsibility to see that there is huge crime in the Financial Sector.
Now that you have to work with Banks and you were working with the Central Bank, I know you have the knowledge in doing that of your job.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have seen the ‘bullet,’ but the question you have not answered for a very long time is the chemistry behind the ‘bullet’ [Undertone] we have been yearning to see the content in the gunpowder, but today we have seen the content in somebody carefully educated.
I think we can aid the Minister in fact, in supporting what today is referred to as one of the Ministries that people do not tend to obey their bosses, but I think with the strong administrative skills she has acquired for the past couple of years, I think she can do so many things in that Ministry to support the Minister because she stated it in her interview.
We know she is educated in terms of financial management, in terms of putting agreement together when it comes to financial systems those agreements that has to deal with the Ministry, she is very instrumental because she is not only having a First Degree, she is having her Degree with Masters.
So we believe with what you have been giving our Chairman and Leader 38 of the SLPP, with our successes in life as a political party since the days of President Hamed Tejan Kabbah of blessed memory, having the bullet, she has been the chemistry behind the bullet with the gun-powders and other things [Applause].
We believe a very strong man and a very successful man, a very good politician there is very strong rib behind and she is a very good big pillar with all the rods you can think about in building up that pillar is Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding [Applause].
Her posture sends a lot of signal within a sector; the way you carry yourself, the way you stand to defend issues, your uncompromising stands towards dealing with situation in a particular sector; you have demonstrated that one when you were serving as a Deputy Director at the FIU and I think Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor was a manager.
That Institution is a very difficult Institution that is why I said you have so many issues that you have to deal with; you were in a very small sector now you are going to a very bigger sector where you have to deal with a lot people, where you have to deal with people who are at the artisanal level.
I made a plea to the Minister and I said; do you have to deal with the artisanal miners because these are our own people, these are the people we are dealing with directly so think about them, make policies that will benefit them, look at agreements; my colleague from Port Loko, thank you very much because you talked about the mining agreement that is why we said be responsible enough Mr Minister to look at some of these mining agreements.

I know Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding will help you serve as a pillar.
When you see a man from an Opposition, when he was campaigning he said; “I am going to bring this party to governances” doing that one is the responsibility of a very strong woman.
Today, we have SLPP in governance with the support of Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding so I want you to give similar support and administrative support to your Minister so that we can succeed; so you can be able to allay the fears of Honourable Member from Port Loko so that we can review some of these mining agreements we are having in the Mineral Sector because it is very important and I know you will do that.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to say a very big congratulations to all other nominee’s and I know you have done your best to be at where you are today for this 39 appointment and as I said, I was very economical on certain words not to over-blot you to certain levels.

Thank you very much, but I hope that you all will live up to expectations.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I deliberately said that Mr David Nyamakoro Borbor have a little bit of knowledge, please do not assume you know everything, it is a system that you have to work with people, maintain the administration that is working with you and get rid of those who are not willing to work, that is why we have been very limited in describing you so that we cannot over-blot your qualifications or your aspirations that you are going there to do what can benefit all of you because you are the professional than anybody, so we hope that all of you will work together in uniformity, in terms of progress.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, those who are going to NaCSA, I reiterate the point that we have to ensure that we do our own oversight, you know what happened at NaCSA; the confusion, the ‘buhaha’ at NaCSA in terms of safety measures, in terms of disbursement of funds.

We are looking for credible people and we believe this set of people will join the team at NaCSA to make due diligence so that the work will be very easy.
Thank you very much, I know I spent a little bit of time, but I have to go over the express of minerals, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources so that we can understand what is happening in that particular sector.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker and thank you all for your audience [Applause].

Mr Speaker, I move that the Fourth Report of the Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, before I put the question, I would like to take the opportunity to recognise a few personalities in the Well: Madam Maria Bangura; National Chairlady of the C4C, the Mayor of Koidu City; Mayor Komba Sam, we would like to know these people; where are they?

[Undertone] thank you and you may take your seats.

Professor Thomas Yorma; Executive Director, Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, thank you.
Mr Paul Massaquoi; Executive Director, SLMA, Honourable Sam King 40 Brima; Deputy Minister of Agriculture, The Honourable Bintu Mayas; formal Member of Parliament and Chairperson of Guma Valley Water Company.

I see also Madam Fatmata Sawanneh; the National Women’s Leader, Abdala Sesay Esq; Manager Litigation and Sanction FIU, Frankily Campbell; Manager Research Policy and Cooperation FIU, Victor Moiwo; Formal Acting Director FIU [Applause].
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [Motion of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has been approved] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, it is now my pleasant duty to add my own voice of felicitations and congratulations to the nominees you have just approved.
There is no doubt whatsoever that they are all eminently qualified for the positions they have been appointed to, but I would also want to lead my own voice to the chorus of voices and concerns already expressed about the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and to ask the new Minister of Mines that he has got a lot of challenges awaiting him in that Ministry and as was rightly advised it will be prudent for him to start by studying his inheritance and doing so very quickly because from what has been coming to this House we are less than happy with development in that Ministry, but we are quite confident that with his capacities, experience and his intelligence he will be able to live up to the expectation not only of his Excellency the President Retired Brigadier Dr Julius Maada Bio, but this entire House.
So you go with our blessings, you go with our confidence that you will indeed excel in that Ministry as you have done elsewhere.

Good luck to all of you and of course you will be ably assisted by no lesser a personality than Mrs Ann Marie Baby Harding.

We wish you well in your new assignment supported ably by the one and only [Undertone] thank you and you have said it for me [Laughter].

You are kindly excuse and you may now take leave of us.
May we ask that you kindly leave the Well so we can continue with our proceedings?

V. BILL THE BILL ENTITLED: THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2020 SECOND READING 41 MR EDWARD H. SANDY [MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that the Bill entitled the Consumer Protection Act, 2020 be read the second time.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Civil Society groups, Media representatives, distinguish ladies and gentlemen, the issue of Consumer Protection Policy and Laws assume relative importance in Sierra Leone as a result of the rising tides of globalization in the world economy.

Consumer Protection Bill ends to enhance consumer welfare by creating legal frame work that aims to prevent production, supply and sale of harmful or defective goods.
It outlines consumer economic interest and provide for the maintenance of health and physical safety of products as well as services.

It also establishes the National Consumer Protection Commission which will serve as a regulatory institution for matter on consumer protection.
The current treads and accomplishments in the world trade and globalization of market call for a commitment on the part of the Government to defined and implement the regulatory frameworks that set the foundations initially and sustains over a period of time all the broad based development strategies the Government outlined and pursue and is already actualizing.
One set regulatory regime that must be implemented to complement the new direction agenda and to also meet private sector developments strategy is an appropriate consumer protection law.

The decision to engage in the development and implementation of a comprehensive consumer protection policy and Law learnt credence to Sierra Leone wider commitment to reform the regulatory lands scape and to ensure that regulatory reforms are streamlined with pro-development activities on the new direction agenda.
As a key enabler of the new direction and executive summaries support for disadvantage groups with fair legal protection and justices for all, the issue of fair legal protection is further deepen by the activities of governance in pillar even which emphasis promotion of human right.
The Consumer Protection Law therefore is a Government regulation design with the objective of promoting and protecting the rights of consumers in a free market economy and implemented by an institution design to ensure the rights of consumers as well as fair of trade are sustained.
Invariably, it has been established that there are simile absence of proves defining one how various economic actors engage and interact with each 42 other in the platform of economic and noneconomic activities or pertaining to consumer issues.
Also the notion that consumers are often times aggrieved when substandard products are sold openly at retail trade, expired products are bound at whole sales levels and businessmen openly clued with price fixing for commodities such as rice, cement, flour and other essential commodities.
This shift in strategy focus on consumer protection legislation necessitated the review of the Consumer Protection Bill 2004, the Consumer Protection Act 2014 and the Bill now entitled the Consumer Protection Act 2020 as gazetted in volume C 25, 29, 9th June, 2020.

The Consumer Protection Act 2020 provide for the protection and promotion of consumer interest as well as the establishment of the National Consumer Protection Commission.
The Consumer Protection Act provides a diverse range of rules that are directed at providing redress to individual consumers and businesses that suffer unfair exploitative, unsafe and hazardous conditions as they try to access or use goods or services hence the Consumer Protection Act 2020 is intended to make better provisions and promotion of the interest of consumers and related to that purpose to provide for the establishment of the National Consumer Protection Commission, the National Consumer Council and a National Consumer Tribunal.
Generally, the legislation encapsulate measures in response to collective interest, the establishment of a Consumer Protection Commission and processes of seeking redress when aggrieved these legislations guidelines ensure provisions outlining consumer rights and obligations preventing deceptive and misleading advertising on fair use of barging power, passive behaviour and other objectionable business conducts with provisions addressing on fair contract terms standard from contract for buyers and protection in the sale of goods including warranties.
It had been established that Sierra Leone was on a staple path to economic recovering prior to the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, in spite of identified gaps in consumer legislation.

The present Act therefore seeks to address; firstly, restrictive and abusive market practices, secondly, exploitation and unfair treatment of consumers, thirdly, compromised to consumer’s health and safety in their daily consumptive lives.
The Consumer Protection Act 2020 is structured into three parts; Part one encapsulate the preliminary provisions which deals with applications, interpretation and non- 43 derogation Clause.

Part two outline of the following the establishment of the National Consumer Commission of Sierra Leone and the composition of the commission; the functions, powers and duties of the Commission, tenure of office of members of the Commission etc.
Part three deals with the consumer rights relating quality of goods and services.

Part four dealing with prohibitive conducts visa-vis misleading and deceptive conducts on fair terms injunction and declaration and rebecks.

Part five deals with the investigations powers to obtain information documents and evidences.

Part six deals with the enforcement and remedies outline before us court orders, compliances persecutions etc.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Consumer Protection Act 2020 provides the necessary framework to cube abusive market practices, these regulatory frameworks enforced by the Law shall now be fully utilize to reduce the prevalence of market structures that selftify consumer protection and the competitive processes within existing market structures in Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is my honour, my privilege and a personal pleasure as a Minister of Trade and Industry to present to you the Consumer Protection Bill herein submitted for due consideration and ratification.

Thank you all for your attention [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: Can you now move please?

MR EDWARD H. SANDY: On that note, Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members, I therefore move that the Bill be read the second time.

Thank you.
Thank you.

[Question Proposed] THE SPEAKER: As outlined by the Minister, I am sure you all agreed that is not a very difficult Bill, nor is it controversial, but a very necessary Bill that needs to be enacted.

We will therefore proceed expeditiously to do so.

Yes Madam, you have the Floor.

HON.

VERONICA K. SESAY: Thank you Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am going to do justices and do as you likely said.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to thank the Minister for bringing this long awaited Bill, it is a non- controversial Bill, we were expecting that this Bill would have been here ever since and 44 talking about consumer protection, it itches in everybody’s life, talking about consumer one would like to ask who is a consumer?

We are all consumers including Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament and our constituents so it is for us to do justice in trying to protect them.
A consumer is a buyer; the end product.

So to say they are bringing a Bill to protect individuals or to protect the consumers, I think it is a non-controversial, it is just a matter of crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s, but is very important and why do we want to pass laws on this?

It is in order to protect you and me against the unfair practices.
As you heard from the Minister so many things were going wrong, so many people were taking the challenge or the onus to say we are consumer protection; there were series of controversial complaints that were coming up to the Committees as business people complaining other people that people are extorting monies from them and now that there is a Law and there is going to be a Commission so it is necessary for complaints to be channelled to the Commission and the consumer protection is related to consumer’s rights that enable them to make their own choice because as you heard from him, sometimes if you go to Abacha is because of poverty, sometimes people do carried expired goods on auction; they go selling and sometimes when it is out-dated they say we will go and throw it at bomeh and you will see people scrambling for that; so now this law will protect the consumer, it will help in making sure that the business person, the manufacturer or the buyer have their own protection.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as a Chairperson, I was following up closely because we had three bodies that formulates; that they call ‘Consortium’ and I believe they are working together to pilot this Bill with the Minister and also the body that is charge with the responsibility of condemning or saying this goods is out-dated, I believe that they are working together that is the Standards Bureau because they are the only body that is charged with the responsibility because they have the machines, the laboratory is there to condemn certain goods.
So with that I think it is very necessary for this Bill to be passed and I believe it is going to be the fastest Bill because it hitches on everybody’s life.
We are all consumers and this is the very reason why we have all those illnesses hypertension, hepatitis B etc because sometimes you see these people 45 bringing all sort of goods and sometime if you even go the factories; they have stamps that can erase and because of poverty you can even buy sardines, when you open the sardines instead of oil purring down, it is water which means it is out-dated and I think this Bill will help us.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, other countries have done it; Europe, Asia, American etc have their own Laws, so I want to say thanks to our ‘talk and do’ President who wants to replicate this type of Laws in our country.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am sure this Bill is non-controversial; I know everybody will come to say something because it hitches on your own life so nobody will condemn it.
Mr Speaker, it is because of this uncoordinated information between the Consortium, the Ministry etc so if we are all together with Parliament, the Committee on Trade and Industry, the Consortium, the Commission we would work together and most time talking about Consumer Protection, it has been passed in some of the MDAs quietly; MDA like the National Electricity Act, the National Medical Supplier Agency Act, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, the Trades Mark Act, the Borrower and Lenders Act 2014, the National Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit Act, the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Act, Weight and Measures drugs it goes on and on and on; it is there and I believe the Commission will work in collaboration with these other Agencies so that they can pursue the fight for consumer’s protection.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with these few words, I just want to ask my colleagues to join me and pass speedily this very important Bill that is in front of us because I want to live long, Mr speaker too wants to live long and the Minister himself because I know he is a proactive Minister [Undertone] yes of course.
So with that I just want to ask you all to join us and the Committee Members who are going to be called to join the Minister and the Commission, but I want to give you a massage; each time you hear of Committee Members going on oversights to go and see because all what we have said here helped us in the Committee to go and see whether what we have said here are complying.
I want to send the message to everybody in the Unit even the Commissions to know that the Honourable Members are very important and pivotal in 46 this Commission so each time you hear about us, we are not going there to go and find money because that is what sometimes they say, but we are going to do our oversight functions, that is why we do not even ask you to support us.

If we do not have the bus we take our cars to go.


So Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to thank Mr Minister for this long awaited Bill, you are going to make history and you are going to save lives in Sierra Leone.

Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Lady for her contribution.
If I may just make a little rethought and not only one to live long, but I want to be protected against sub- standard products that are coming into this country and I think Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella when we come to wrap up, you will have your opportunity.

Yes sir.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, the Consumer Protection Bill is so important [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: Please, let us make it short.

HON.
DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Mr Speaker, like the Chairperson for Committee on Trade rightly stated that we need to do justice to this Bill, we will join her to do justice to this very important Bill and I want to appreciate the Ministry of Trade and Industry for taking up this bold initiative to ensure that Sierra Leone join giant countries like the United States of American who established theirs in the 60s, but Mr Speaker, when we were at the pre-legislative hearing we were not able to complete the process of looking at this Consumer Protection Bill [Interruption].
THE SPEAKER: Do not worry you will have the opportunity again.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Yes, I am coming Mr Speaker.

In 1985, a United Nation [UN] Resolution was passed and the Resolution passed in 1985 was 39248 and from that time it was only in 1996 to which activity I participated when Dr Kadie Sesay was Minister of Trade and Industry, we set up the Standardisation Act No.

2 of 1996; that is the Standards Bureau.


From that time, the only organizations that were surrounding the Ministry of Trade and Industry in pursuing the issue of safety of consumers as was mentioned by no less a person but John F. Kennedy in the 60s; the 47 issue of information sharing, the issue of choice and the issue of right.
Mr Speaker, I think it is but prudent that we give commendation to those organizations that is there was an organization set by the late Roskin Kabba; Consumer Protection Agency of which later on they formed a merger and called it a ‘Consortium’, we need to give them commendation.
In as much as we are commending the Ministry of Trade and Industry, we need to commend those people and not to describe them as people just jumping into the field and do the likewise; these people were ensuring that my life, your life, the lives of Sierra Leoneans are protected by checkmating the actions of those service providers, the action of some of the traders.
Mr Speaker, I happen to be the Secretary General of traders in this country for couples of years and I want to cite an example, when we were about to approved or to knock off the Part IV of the Seditious and Libel Act and when we were about to approved or enact the Independent Media Commission [IMC] Bill, we struggled in Room one to get what is Civil Society, it is only because people of this country could not pay back on the 6th May, 2020.
Mr Speaker, we came to this House of Parliament and the Civil Society Movement Sierra Leone woe Members of Parliament to give us the support to go to Foday Sankoh and we went to Foday Sankoh that was the turning point of the peace.

When we were about to allocate representation to the IMC, some people were saying Inter-religious Council is a Civil Society Organization [CSO] and I said no, Inter-religious Council is a faith based organization, but not civil society organisation.
Mr Speaker, unto the time we passed that Bill or an Act of Parliament we were not able to define, to get a civil society movement though they are existing outside there; Mr Speaker, this country is rascal to the highest degree.

Mr Speaker, in as much as the Consumer Protection Bill is so important, we will definitely support the process, but let us ensured that the T’s and I’s are properly doted.
Mr Speaker, when you look at the Bill that we wanted to transform into an Act of Parliament [Undertone] can you please learn.

Mr Speaker, am I protected Sir?


Mr Speaker, as I mentioned, the Consumer Protection Bill that we are discussing here will definitely highlight the issue of the right to safety, the issue of right to choose and the issue of the right to be informed and the right to be heard, so it is very 48 important Bill that needs to be supported, but let us cut the T’s and dot the I’s before ever we go ahead.

Thank you Mr Speaker [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution.
Honourable Hindolo Moiwo Gevao then we will certainly wrap-up.

HON.

HINDOLO M. GAVAO: Thank you Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker we want to commend the Ministry and all those who made meaningful input in the Bill.

We have had the pre-legislative and some of us have been taking time to look at the bill properly, we want this House as usual to be given the opportunity to look at it with our usual lens [Applause].
Going through the Bill, I noticed that they concentrated too much on goods, very little mention of services and when you are talking about consumer, you will take cognisance of services and goods as well and we have started doing some work on that one, we would not want to belabour the House and I think it will be proper if the usual is done to this Bill and a proper Act is passed eventually.

THE SPEAKER: I thank you for that observation.

Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella.

HON.


DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, we want to commend the Minister and the Committee for bringing this work to conclusion and most times, we listen to Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo giving us some of the history of governance, but today I will do the same.
When you and I were in Cabinet back in 1994 to 1995, I signed the Instrument of Ascension of Sierra Leone to the African Standards Organisation; our Cabinet at that time approved the first set of rules for establishing, for transforming the department of Weights and Measures in the Ministry of Industry to a Standards Bureau by share coincidence two years later, I was at United Nation Industrial Development Organization [UNIDO] and for many years I supported the establishment of a Standards Bureau and a Standards Bureau lab in Sierra Leone training a lot of people.
I am proud that yes as Director General, I found the money together with my team to build what exists today as a Standards Bureau lab at Ferry Junction.

Consumer protection is crucial; one of the most famous advocates for consumer protection was Ralph Nedal in the United States.

Ralph Nedal did so well in 49 mobilising the citizens of the United States and across the world.
Around many of the issues the Minister mentioned that he was strong enough to run even for presidency in the United States of America, he devoted thirty [30] years of his life doing nothing, but visiting factories and also services to ensure that consumer’s rights and health were protected.

This is a critical issue to put it in fact in stack ways that people will understand why this is important; drugs particularly West Africa is full of adulterated or counterfeit drugs and it is killing a lot of people.
I remember we gave a lot of support to the pharmaceutical here and across the region to deal with an issue like that, but building materials.

People sell us iron rods that are not good enough and after five years our building begin to crack and we do not know why, we think it is the massena that why we need a testing lab, you buy fuel at the gas station you pay for ten litters what you read may not be ten litters we call that metrology, you buy generator on the label it says 5KVA.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Dr Kadie Sesay formal Minister of Trade and Industry who did a lot of work with us, the Minister for Trade and Industry in Sierra Leone during her time and also Minister of Development Cooperation working very closely under the late President Hamed Tejah Kabbah; working with us over several years to get the supported project document defined to be able to get support for this, but again as I said standards and standardizations run across all product from pharmaceutical to building materials.
Lubricant was a big issue here back when we were Ministers.

People take used lubricant put it in a can, seal it and sells it to us and our engines messes up.

Generators; we have done tests on generators that save 5KVA or 10KVA, but the output for the 5KVA is actually three, you take it to your house, you are assured that it will take one fridge, all the light, you put the freeze on, it blows up, you think the children messed it up.
These are all issues related to testing, standardization, but also consumer protection.

We wish you well as you execute this, it is an important responsibility, but particularly watch the pharmaceuticals; it is significant proportion of drugs in our markets are adulterated or in fact fake drugs.

I wish you well and thank you very much.

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

Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina, you have the Floor.

HON.
HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: Mr Speaker because this Bill is not controversial, I think I will endorsement.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: Mr Speaker, but with a statement.

THE SPEAKER: Yes!

HON.

EMERSON S. LAMINA: That with the Consumer Protection Bill 2020, I am secured that when I buy goods or I go out for a service that displeased me, I can go back to that shop and request that displeased me.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I happened to be a Member of Parliament for the EU Parliament, I can attest here that one of the back-drop of our fishing products and other products that we produce from here is still to see the ‘light of day’ in the EU Parliament because of the absence of this particular Bill, but with this Bill, we are guaranteed to make impact in the EU Trade Markets.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, like EU citizens, like UK citizens, like United State of America citizens, Sierra Leonean citizens can be proud of a Bill that will protect all our consumers including Members of Parliament and Mr Speaker.

I therefore have no doubt in this Bill, I will go ahead to ratify and call upon all to ratify this particular Bill.

I thank you.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member.

Sierra Leone has been a dumping ground for bad products for a very long time.
Let us hope this is the beginning of the end of that era.

Opposition Leader please!

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I join others in commending the Minister and his team for their efforts and we hope to continue with him along this journey until we come to the conclusion.
I also appreciate the zeal of the Chairman, I hope he is going to be retained in that Committee; Honourable Hindolo Moiwo Gevao; Chairman of the Legislative Committee, I hope he is going to be retained.
I admire his zeal and I look forward to again working with him in 51 ensuring that we have a fine document and Mr Speaker, like the Honourable Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Industry said; this Bill itself deals with both goods and services and we heard from the Chairman of the Legislative Committee that even though services have been captured, but they have not been extensive.
So we hope that when the Committee sits those in the service sector would also be invited so they will have their say because Mr Minister, one of the complaints we received from the public was that enough Bills were not published so most of them that went to the Government bookshop to procure the Bills were unable to secure them.
I am sure the Leader of Government Business in the near future will be advising himself to see whether we would start to have Bills and not Acts since they are prepared for the consumption of the public starting from the lowest to the top for soft copies to be available so that whoever wants to access the Bill for their input will have access to them.
It is not everybody that will have the resources to go and buy Bills from the bookshop even though they are not expensive, but Le10,000 and Le20,000 today people need that for them to get a cup or two of rice; it is something we should be looking at in the future the Leader of Government Business to get Bills published through soft copies.
People can go then to buy the Acts, but we have to make the Bill available to the public so that they would participate, but Mr Speaker as I said, it is a good Bill and it is a relevant Bill, but since the Service Sector because when you talk about the Banks, the Telecoms, the Fuel industry have goods when petroleum products come in, but their service area as well is a huge chunk; those who procure give us services so we want the service area to be looked at with a critical lens.
Mr Speaker, again as I said, I am sure I will be in the Committee to see what I can do.

I thank you very much and look forward to the conclusion eventually when the Minister will say thank you to this House for getting the Bill through.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you Leader of the Opposition.

Leader of Government Business, you have the Floor.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you very much Honourable Members for your contribution and thank you Mr Speaker.
All of us here are consumers, but not all of us 52 can be suppliers or retailers so our business like Members said in their contribution is that this Bill is not controversial and it seeks to address what affect us as consumers because all of us are consumers irrespective of what you are you are a consumer, if you are a supplier or a retailer you are a consumer in another sector so it is a very good Bill and thanks to the Minister for bringing us to speed on this, it has been here before and you have brought it again so that we can look at it, but Mr Speaker, I will just try to make reference to one or two things in my debate.
If you look at the Bill by sections, like what Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolloh Yumkella said; we need to have laboratories standard ones to look at some of these goods because if you want to test the quality of goods, you have to take them to the lab and they made provision for that.

As I said it is good for us to look at our Oversights when we pass some of these Laws, Section 27 of page 19; testing of goods, subject to complaints.
So we are expecting to have standard laboratories as said by Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolloh Yumkella that was a very good one; we need to have them Mr Speaker.
There is no way you are going to talk about I have made a complaint and if you do not go into it for example, if you are talking about fuel; we have what we call ‘premium’, we do not have the categories of petroleum products Mr Speaker, all of them: we have regular, we have premium, we just go and buy and all of them by petroleum products, they have different prices in other countries; but we do not even have the standards we just go and buy petrol with the same price.
That is the reason most of the time we have problems with our vehicles, so if you go to the mechanics, he or she will tell you ‘oh this one, change this part’ but you keep on coming with the same fault because you have not traced the origin of that particular fault; sometimes, it is the fuel we use so thank you for that one.

It is mentioned in Section 67 of the Bill, I have always reminded Members about enforcement.
Mr Speaker, if this Bill gives a whole remedy in Part IV about enforcement and remedies; that it has to do with a lot of compliance.

So if you do not have a section dealing with that: say let us comply, let us do enforcement and it is clear in the Bill in Section 131, it is clear that there must be an enforcement and the more we enforce, it will help us because if you do not enforce, they have vulnerable people who are consumers.

So it has to do with the Commission to ensure there is enforcement.
53 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the court is so much involved in this business; everywhere in the Bill they mentioned about the court system.
So for me, we have the tax compliance court, it is for us to campaign to have a court assigned for consumers alone so that consumers can get justice because if you look there is an Appeal Section for it, there is High Court even an enforcement, there is provision also for an Inspector in Section 15, page 15 and they are going to give the Inspector a whole lot of responsibilities to go into premises and do what they feel like.
So it is good for us to have a Court system wherein they can address some of those things speedily because we know how our Court works here; sometimes they are delayed so that will frustrate the Consumer.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, like I said earlier on for the Court system there is principal for natural justice, so when you think you are aggrieved with or you are not satisfied with the judgement given to you at the High Court, you go to the Appeal court that is good for everybody; for the Consumer or those who are supplying those goods or the retailers.

As I said; we are talking about Consumer’s rights, part 3, a lot was mentioned about Consumer rights to the quality of goods and services.
We know what is happening; I said in the opening statement here during the pre-legislative meeting that I went to one of the pharmacies at Lumley to buy Augmentin, they gave me a substitute drugs, giving me different components.

Augmentin in one component is different from given me another component of the same drug; they are not the same.
So when I went back, I said I am here to change this medicine and he said; S.O 2 ‘bot u don kerango e don tay in fact na yesterday’ I looked at him and I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but I refused to create a scene at the place; I called the Pharmaceutical man and said; you people have to look at this pharmacy, I gave the description of the place; that go to this pharmacy and I explained the whole scenario to the head of the Pharmaceutical Board and he said he is going there, but I did not follow up the issue anyway.
Mr Speaker, what I am trying to portray here it is that it is good for us to have this Bill, it gives you a whole lot of leverage as to how you can operate and where you can make complaints; you do not need to call individuals, it does not 54 have to do with your personality, there must be somewhere we can go and make complaints and we are given the right as Consumers to be protected and as a Consumer, I have been abused because I bought this drug and I said the components are not the same and you are telling me it has taken a day.
What has that got to do with the component of drugs?

I said Augmentin and you gave me different types of drugs.

So it is good for us to know the consumer’s right; it is about Education Mr Minister.

As I said in my opening statement, all of us are consumers; so if you are talking about the right of the Consumer, Honourable Hindolo Moiwo Gevao, you have to stress about the area of educating the masses.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Honourable Dr Yumkella talks about the quality of Drugs and of the Pharmaceutical in Section 47; ‘consumer’s right to quality goods.’ I should be able to determine the quality of the goods.

If you give me the goods, saying the goods are good for consumption or service, I should be able to determine.

So with all of these things mentioned Mr Speaker, I just want to reiterate the point that there are so many good things about the Bill.
I will give a different label for example misrepresentation is also in this Bill.

If you give me the different label in trying to do advertisement for you to sell, it is not the actual component or service giving to me there is a prohibition Clause, conduct of prohibition is also available in this Bill.
So I think we are on the same page, on the same platform that this is good for us and we have experts; Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolloh Yumkella have worked in that Ministry, I will urge you at this moment to join the Committee to give your expertise to the Committee so that we can have a proper Bill in front of us and pass it into Law.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Leader of the Opposition is also a Member of that Committee, I pray that you will have chance to be there to lend your voice to that particular aspect dealing with the Consumer’s right because it has do with a lot of legal issues.
Like I said; you are a Lawyer, let us advocate for Consumers Court because it is good for us and the Bill is talking a lot about Court issues; talking about giving the right to the Inspector, coming from the verdict of the Commission, so we need to advocate for that because all of us here are consumers and you said the service be addressed by 55 Honourable Leader so let us look at this Bill in a true sense or for us to have our rights as consumers and make sure that where we need to make corrections we do so.
Thank you Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Leader of Government Business.

Mr Minister, you have the Floor.

MR EDWARD H. SANDY: Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members of this House, let me first acknowledge the wisdom of this House and the attention that you have given the Consumer Protection Bill, its invariably clear that this Bill is the people’s Law if passed and the recommendations for having a thorough debate on it as proposed by the Honourable Chairman of the Legislative Committee.
We open today, I would let to just reference Part I, Clause I which is the essence of this Bill itself being a legislation referencing the supply of goods or services and with the concerns that public education and awareness raising should be part of the functions of the Consumer Protection Commission itself, I will acknowledge and it is within the Bill itself that will be the component of their functions.

So on that note Mr Speaker, I therefore move that the Bill be read the second time.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I rise on S.O 51.

THE SPEAKER: Yes!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: To commit the Bill to the Pre-Legislative Committee and it is a special plea with my colleagues from the other side to join the Legislative Committee as to make this Bill a very good one for consumers.

Today we are in Parliament, tomorrow we will be out of this place and we can be consumers with no power.
So it is good for us to protect the Institutions and to have strong Institutions, so how do we do it by Law, so Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolloh Yumkella, I am really talking to you and the plenary for you to join them, I have followed you on this consumer Bill for a very long time, I have read so much about you, we need you to be there.

Like Honourable Emerson Saa Lamina said, this one gives us a lot of platform in terms of 56 trade in the EU.
Mr Speaker, I moved for the committal of Bill to the Pre-Legislative Committee.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Mr Speaker, I so second.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] THE SPEAKER: Mr Minister, you are excused, thank You.

Go on Clerk.

The Bill Committed to the Legislative Committee [Pursuant to our Standing Orders 51 [1], the Bill entitled “The Consumer Protection Act 2020” has been committed to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny] THE SPEAKER: Thank you.
Honourable Members, I will now continue with the reading of the Membership of the various Standing Committees under Section 93 of the Constitution Act Number 6 of 1991.

I will recommence where I stopped last; that was I have gone as far as the Public Accounts committee.

I will simply read out the names of the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the various Committees, the others you will be able to see for yourselves when the document is made available in the usual way.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE Hon.


Sengepoh Solomon Thomas Chairman Hon.

Titus Abdul Kamanda Deputy Chairman Hon.

Alusine Kanneh Hon.

Boston Munda Hon.

Francis Amara Kaisamba Hon.

Peter Musa Moigua Hon.

Ibrahim Aziz Bangura Hon.

Aaron A. Kamara Hon.

Salieu O. Sesay Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 57 Hon.

Daniel Brima Koroma Hon.

Emilia Lolloh Tongi Member Member LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Hon.

Hindolo Moiwo Gevao Chairman Hon.

Sama Sandy Deputy Chairman Hon.


Sengepoh Solomon Thomas Hon.

Chernor R. M. Bah Hon.

Alieu Ibrahim Conteh Hon.

Dr Ibrahim B. Kamara Hon.

Kekura Vandy Hon.

Muniru Lansana Hon.

Musa Lahai Hon.

Emmanuel Agibola Manley-Spain Hon.

Alpha Amadu Bah Hon.

Daniel B. Koroma Hon.

Dr Roland F. Kargbo Hon.

Foday M. Kamara Hon.

Musa Fofanah Hon.

P.C Sahr Youngai Mbriwa Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Hon.
Francis Amara Kaisamba Chairman 58 Hon.

Moses Andrew Edwin Deputy Chairman Hon.

Festus Mohamed Lansana Hon.

Alieu Ibrahim Conteh Hon.

Dr Ibrahim Bum Kamara Hon.

Momoh Bockarie Hon.

Musa Lahai Hon.

Edward George Hon.

Mustapha Musa Sellu Hon.

Lahai Marah Hon.

Alusine Marah Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara Hon.

Hassan A. Sesay Hon.

Salieu O. Sesay Hon.

Rebacca Yei Kamara Hon.


P.C Sahr Yongai K. Mbriwa Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIOL COOPERATION: Hon.

Ibrahim Ben Kargbo Chairman Hon.

Haja Miata Amara Deputy Chairman Hon.

Abdul Titus Amara Hon.

Mohamed Billoh Shaw Hon.

Simeon Fefegula Member Member Member 59 Hon.

Bernadette Wuyatta Songa Hon.

Emilia Lolloh Tongi Hon.

Mohamed Kanneh Hon.

Joseph Telson Koroma Hon.


Unpha Sorie Koroma Hon.

Ibrahim Aziz Bangura Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara [69] Hon.

Abdul Karim Koroma Hon.

Foday Mario Kamara Hon.

Aiah D. S. Kassegbama Hon.

P.C Alhaji Paria Kawalleh Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE: Hon.

Daniel Brima Koroma Chairman Hon.

Cecilia Bangura Deputy Chairman Hon.

Osman Wurie Jalloh Hon.

Hindolo Mowio Gevao Hon.

Mohamed Konneh Hon.

Nenneh Lebbie Hon.


Ishmail Sama Sandy Hon.

Abu Kemokai Hon.

Brima Mansaray Hon.

Momoh Bockarie Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 60 Hon.

Mohamed C. Kabbia Hon.

Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Dr Mark Mamoud Kalokoh Hon.

Hamidu Hola Mansaray Hon.

Fransis Saa Bhendu Hon.

P. C Kandeh Finnoh III Member Member Member Member Member Member MINES AND MINERALS COMMITTEE: Hon.

Emerson Saa Lamina Chairman Hon.

Rebecca Yei Kamara Deputy Chairman Hon.

Musa Mewa Hon.
Musa Mewa Hon.

Amadu Kanu Hon.

Joseph B. Kamara Hon.

Dickson M Rogers Hon.

Musa Fofanah Hon.

Bashiru Silikie Hon.

Alex Mattia Rogers Hon.

Moses B Jokie Hon.

Edward George Hon.

Alhaji Soriba Turay Hon.

Dr Mac Mahmud Kalokoh Hon.

Kussan Sesay Hon.

Tom Isaac Tucker Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 61 Hon.

PC Sahr Yongai K M’briwa Member HEALTH AND SANITATION COMMITTEE: Hon.

Moses Yoki Chairman Hon.

Bernadette W. Songa Deputy Chairman Hon.


Dickson M Rogers Hon.

Abubakarr Fofana Hon Josephine Makieu Hon.

Maada Hafiju Kanja Hon.

John Sarty Banya Hon.

Unpha Sorie G Koroma Hon.

Emmanuel Alieu Koroma Hon.

Haja Miata Amara Hon.

C ecelia M Bangura Hon.

John Charles Conteh Hon Abdulai D. Sesay Hon.

Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella Hon.

Musa Fofana Hon.

P.C.


Prince M. Pewa Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE: Hon.

Musa Fofanah Chairman Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Deputy Chairman 62 Hon.

Mario Faday Kamara Hon.

Mohamed S. Rahman-Coker Hon.

Festus Mohamed Lansana Hon.

Abu Kemohkai Hon.

Mohamed Sidi Tunis Hon.

Peter Musa Moigua Hon.

Komba Kamanda Hon.

Abdul Latiff Sesay Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara Hon.


Rugiatu Rosy Kanu Hon.

Yamba Peter Koroma Hon.

Hariatu Faith Samura Hon.

Abdul Turay Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Foray C. Gondor II Member TECHNICAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Hon.

Festus Lansanah Chairman Hon.

Abu Kemohkai Deputy Chairman Hon.

Maada Hafiju Kanu Hon.

Emerson S. Lamina Hon.

Foday Lamin Kabba Hon.

A;lusine Marrah Hon.


Abdul S Marray Conteh Member Member Member Member Member 63 Hon.

Brima Mansaray Hon.

Dickson Rogers Hon.

Quintin Salia Konneh Hon.

Bai Sama Kamara Hon.

Rugiatu Rosy Kanu Hon.

Ozan J. Thorley Hon.

Manuel A Koroma Hon.

P.C.

Alie Badara Sheriff Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Hon.

Dominic Lavalie-Tsumbay Chairman Hon.

Joseph Williams-Lamin Deputy Chairman Hon.

Christopher K. Vandy Hon.


Neneh Labbie Hon.

Bernadette w. Songa Hon.

Sheku Munirr Turay Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Hon.

Francis Amara Kaisamba Hon.

Joseph Telson Koroma Hon.

Marie Bangura Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara Hon.

Alusin Bash Kamara Hon.

Paul Samba Conteh Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 64 Hon.

Haja Matia Amara Hon.

Dr Roland F. Kargbo Hon.

P.C.

Cyril F. Gondor II Member Member Member AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: Hon.

Salieu O. Sesay Chairman Hon.


Foday Lamin Kabba Deputy Chairman Hon.

Aron A Koroma Hon.

Amadu Kargbo Hon.

Daniel B Koroma Hon.

Saidu Baba Kamara Ho.

Ahmed Joseph Kanu Hon.

Mohamed S. Rahman- Coker Hon.

Ishmael Sama Sandy Hon.

Josephine Makieu Hon.

Alice J Kumabeh Hon.

Yusuf Mackrey Hon.

Bai Sama Kamara Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Hon.

Musa Shiaka Sama Hon.

P.C.

Matilda Y.M.


Lansana Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE: 65 Hon.

Nenneh Lebbie Chairman Hon.

Alice J. Kumabeh Deputy Chairman Hon.

Jopseph Williams-Lamin Hon.

John Sarty Banya Hon.

Ambrose Maada Lebbie Hon.

Osman Wurie Jalloh Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Hon.

Massay Ngahinteh Aruna Hon.

Musa P. Moigua Hon.

Ibrahim Conteh Hon.

Hajariatu Faith Samura Hon.

Cathrine Zainab Tarawallie Hon.


Yamba Peter Koroma Hon.

Cecelia Mabinty Bangura Hon.

Samba Turay Hon.

P.C.

Damba K.F.

Marrah III Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member TRADE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: Hon.

Veronica Kadie Sesay Chairman Hon.

Charles O. Abdulai Deputy Chairman Hon.

Joseph Abdul B. Kamara Hon.

Abu Bakarr Fofana Hon.

Sahr Juana Member Member Member 66 Hon.

Osman Wurie Jalloh Hon.

Tennyson Hindolo Sandy Hon.


John Charles Conteh Hon.

Bai Sama Kamara Hon.

Francis S. Bhendu Hon.

Alhadi Lihadi Hon.

Alpha Amadu Bah Hon.

Abdulai D. Sesay Hon.

Unpha Sorie Gbassay Koroma Hon.

Abu Mansaray Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Haja Bintu F. M. Kajue Koroma Member DEFENCE COMMITTEE: Hon.

Maada Hafigu Kanja Chairman Hon.

John Sarty Banya Deputy Chairman Hon.

Aloysious B. Ansumana Hon.

Abdul Muniru Lansana Hon.

Alpha Fode M. Jabbie Hon.


Francis A. Kaisamba Hon.

Alusine Alu Conteh Hon.

Benjamine Turay Hon.

Komba Kamanda Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 67 Hon.

Issa Tarawallie Hon.

Alusine O Kamara Hon.

Abu Mansaray Hon.

Hassan Sankoh Hon.

Tom Isaac Tiucker Hon.

P.C.

Kangbai J Makavory Member Member Member Member Member Member INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Hon.

Alusine Kanneh Chairman Hon.

Musa Lahai Deputy Chairman Hon.

Charles O Abdulai Hon.

Momoh Bockarie Hon.


Dominic J. Lavalie-Tshombe Hon.

Moses B. Jorkie Hon.

Alice Jebbeh Kumabeh Hon.

Joseph Telson Koroma Hon.

Musa Shiaka Sama Hon.

Ibrahim Bum Kamara Hon.

Almamy Brum Kanu Hon.

Emmanuel Conteh Hon.

Lamin Foday Kabba Hon.

Mohamed Bangura Hon.

Rugiatu Rosy Kanu Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 68 Hon.

P.C Alie Badara Sheriff Member ENERGY COMMITTEE: Hon.

Christopher Vandi Chairman Hon.


Alex M. Rogers Deputy Chairman Hon.

Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella Hon.

Sahr Juana Hon.

Massay N’gahinteh Aruna Hon.

Moses A. Edwin Hon.

Foday Musa B. Jalloh Hon.

Abdul S. Marray Conteh Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Hon.

Hassan Sankoh Hon.

Alhaji Soriba Turay Hon.

Alimamy Brum Kanu Hon.

John Charles Conteh Hon.

Hajariatu Faith Samuira Hon.

Ibrahim Conteh Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C Bai Farama T.B.
P.C Bai Farama T.B.

N’gbnak IV Member INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: Hon.

Boston Munda Chairman Hon.

Ambrose Maada Lebby Deputy Chairman 69 Hon.

Brima Mansaray Hon.

Quintin Salia-Konneh Hon.

Bashiru Silikie Hon.

Veronica Kadie Sesay Hon.

Musa Lahai Hon.

Alusine Kanneh Hon.

Dr Mack Mamoud Kalokoh Hon.

Benjamin Turay Hon.

Hassan Sesay Hon.

Abdul Kargbo Hon.

Ibrahim Ben Kargbo Hon.

Abdul Latif Sesay Hon.

Papa Abdul Kargbo Hon.


P.C Bai Kurr K. Sanka III Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member TRANSPORT AND AVIATION COMMITTEE: Hon.

Dickson M. Rogers Chairman Hon.

Emilia Lolloh Tongi Deputy Chairman Hon.

Edward George Hon.

Mohamed Kanneh Hon.

Horace E Vincent Hon.

Boston Munda Hon.

Bashiru Silikie Member Member Member Member Member 70 Hon.

Alex Mattia Rogers Hon.

Alieu Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Abu Mansaray Hon.


Timbo Wurror Jalloh Hon.

Ozan J Thorley Hon.

Alusine Osayo Kamara Hon.

Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Alhadi Lahadi Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Bai Shebora S. Gbereh III Member TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Hon.

Isaac Tom Tucker Chairman Hon.

Emmanuel Saidu Conteh Deputy Chairman Hon.

Rosemarie Bangura Hon.

Alhadi Lahadi Hon.

Alieu Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Abdul Titus Kamara Hon.

Teneson Hindolo Sandy Hon.


Samuel G. Panda Hon.

Charles O. Abdulia Hon.

Aloysious Ansumana Hon.

Horace E. Vincent Hon.

Mohamed Kanneh Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 71 Hon.

John Charles Conteh Hon.

Abu Bakarr Fofana Hon.

Rebecca Yei Kamara Member Member Member Hon.

P.C Bai Farama T.B.

Ngbnak IV Member COMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES: Hon.

Lahai Marrah Chairman Hon.

Dr Mark Mamoud Kalokoh Deputy Chairman Hon.

Mohamed S. Rahman Coker Hon.


Joseph Bash Kamara Hon.

Samuel Genewai Panda Hon.

Munir Sheku Turey Hon.

Brima Mansaray Hon.

Musa Fofana Hon.

Paul Conteh Hon.

Papa Abdulai Kargbo Hon.

Isaac Tarawallie Hon.

James Ozan Tarawallie Hon.

Ambrose Maada Lebbie Hon.

Boston Munda Hon.

Foday Mario Kamara Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III Member 72 COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Hon.
Arun Aruna Koroma Chairman Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara [Cons.

59] Deputy Chairman Hon.

Alusine Kainde Alu Conteh Member Hon.

Almamy Brum Kanu Hon.

Zainab Catherine Tarawallie Hon Emmerson Saa Lamina Hon.

Musa Fofana Hon.

Rev Horace E. Vincent Hon.

Ahmed Joseph Kanu Hon.

Amidu Holla Mansaray Hon.

Kekura C. Vandy Hon.

Hindolo Moiwo Gevao Hon.

Mohamed Billow Shaw Hon.

Bai Sama Kamara Hon.

Mustapha Sellu Hon.

P.C.


Kandeh Finnoh III Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member COMMITTEE ON LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY: Hon.

Hassan A. Sesay Chairman Hon.

Saidu Baba Kamara Deputy Chairman Hon.

Mohamed Bangura Hon.

Timbo Wurror Jalloh Member Member 73 Hon.

Osman Wurror Jalloh Hon.

Josephine Makieu Hon.

Abdul Munir Lansana Hon.

Alusine Bash Kamara Hon.

Mustapha Musa Sellu Hon.

Moses Andrew Edwin Hon.


Alieu Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Abdul Kargbo Hon.

Mohamed S Rahman Coker Hon.

Musa Fofana Hon.

Emilia L. Tongi Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C Bai Farama T.B N’gbnak IV Member COMMITTEE ON LANDS AND HOUSING: Hon.

Quinton Salia Konneh Chairman Hon.

Sahr Juana Deputy Chairman Hon.

Emmanuel Sahe Gbekie Hon.

Timbo Wurror Jalloh Hon.Abdul Latif Sesay Hon.

Abu Bakarr Fofana Hon.

Alhaji Soriba Turay Hon.


Ibrahim Tawa Conteh Hon.

Alex Mattia Rogers Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 74 Hon.

Yusuf Mackery Hon.

Edward George Hon.

Joseph Abdul B Kamara Hon.

Massay N’gahinteh Aruna Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Bai Farama Tass Bubu Ngbak IV Member COMMITTEE ON TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: Hon.

Ibrahim Tawa Conteh Chairman Hon.

Mohamed Billoh Show Deputy Chairman Hon.

Sahr Juana Hon.

Alpha Fode M. Jabbie Hon.


Massay N. Aruna Hon.

Musa B.

Foray Jalloh Hon.

Osman Wurie Jalloh Hon.

Emmanuel Sah Gbekie Hon.

Aron A. Koroma Hon.

Zainab Catherine Tarawallie Hon.

Saidu Baba Kamara Hon.

Ahmed Samba Turay Hpn.

Lahai Marah Hon.

David Aiah Shek Kassegbama Hon.

P.C.

Kangbai Joe Makavory Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 75 COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WELFARE: Hon.

Rose Mary Bangura Chairman Hon.


Hajariatu Faith Samura Deputy Chairman Hon.Alusine Marrah Hon.

Cecelia Mabinty Bangura Hon.

Abdul Karim Koroma Hon.

Emmanuel Sahr Gbekie Hon.

Benjamine Turay Hon.

Simeon Fefegula Hon.

Hindolo Moiwo Gevao Hon.

Alice Jebbeh Kumabeh Hon.

Joseph Williams-Lamin Hon.

Mohamed C. Kabbia Hon.

Moses A. Edwin Hon.

Titus Abdul Kamara Hon.

Komba Kamanda Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.
P.C.

Bai Sheborah Sehba Gbereh III Member COMMITTEE ON WORKS AND PUBLIC ASSETS: Hon.

Bashiru Silikie Chairman Hon.

Sheku Muniru Turay Deputy Chairman Hon.

Foray Bamba M. Jalloh Hon.

Abubakarr Fofana Member Member 76 Hon.

Ambrose Maada Lebby Hon.

Simeon Fefegula Hon.

Kusan Sesay Hon.

Ahmed Joseph Kanu Hon.

Alieu Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Saa Emerson Lamina Hon.

Paul Samba Conteh Hon.

Saidu Baba Conteh Hon.

Lahai Marrah Hon.

Amadu Kanu Hon.


Salieu O. Sesay Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Bai Sheborah Sehba Gbereh III Member COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AFFAIRS: Hon.

Abdul Kargbo Chairman Hon.

Abdul Latif Sesay Deputy Chairman Hon.

Abu Bakarr Fofana Hon.

Alusine Alu Conteh Hon.

Alusine Bash Kamara Hon.

Amadu Hola Mansaray Hon.

Tennyson Hindolo Sandy Hon.

Yusuf Mackery Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

Lavalie T. Dominic Jaybeh Member 77 Hon.


Samuel G. Panda Hon.

Aloysious B. Ansumana Hon.

Sahr Charles Hon.

Francis Saa Bendu Hon.

Mohamed Billow Skaw Hon.

Sheku Munir Turay Hon.

P.C.

Balasama Alie Marrah III Member Member Member Member Member Member Member COMMITTEE ON GENDER AND CHILDREN’S AFFAIRS: Hon.

Zainab Catherine Tarawallie Chairman Hon.

Rebecca Yei Kamara/ Rugiatu Rosy Kanu Deputy Chairman [3:03:24] Hon.Haja Miata Amara Hon.Isaac Tarawallie Hon.

Ahmed Turay Hon.

Paul Samba Conteh Hon.


Emmanuel Saidu Conteh Hon.

Joseph Bash Kamara Hon.

Dominic J. Lavalie-Tshombe Hon.

Ibrahim Tawa Conteh Hon.

Josephine Makieu Hon.

Bernadette Wuyatta Songa Hon.Dockson M. Rogers Hon.

Emmanuel Sahe Gbekie Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 78 Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Hon.

P.C.

Haja Bintu F.M.K Koroma Member Member COMMITTEE ON NACSA/ NGOS: Hon.

Dr Roland Kargbo Chairman Hon.


Rugiatu Rosy Kanu/ Amadu Kanu Deputy Chairman [3:03:39] Hon.

Peter Yamba Koroma Hon.

Abu Bakar Fofana Hon Abdul Karim Kamara [Con.69] Hon.

Papa Abdulai Kargbo Hon.

Abdul S. Marray Conteh Hon Mustapha Musa Sellu Hon.

Charles O. Abdulai Hon.

Ishmail Sama Sandy Hon.

Joseph Bash Kamara Hon.

Lavalie T. Dominic Jaybeh Hon.

Josephine Makieu Hon.

Alyosious B. Ansumana Hon.

Paul Saa Sam Hon.

P.C.

Maltida Y.M.


Lansana Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES AND ETHICS: Hon.

P.C Ali Badara Sheriff/ Balasama Marrah III Chairman [3:03:48] 79 Hon.

PC Matilda Yayu Lansanah Minnah Deputy Chairman Hon.

Dickson Rogers Hon.

Alusine Kanneh Hon.

Christopher Keikura Vandy Hon.

Veronica Kadie Sesay Hon.

Saa Emerson Lamina Hon.

Quinton Salia Konneh Hon.

Titus Abdul Kamara Hon.

Abdulai D Sesay Hon.


Abdul Turay Hon.

Mohamed Bangura Hon.

Ibrahim Ben Kargbo Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

Agibola Emmanuel Manly-Spain Member Hon.

Alusine Bash Kamara Hon.

P.C.

Haja Bintu F.M.K Koroma Member Member COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Hon.

Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella Chairman Hon.

Bai Sama Kamara Deputy Chairman Hon Saidu Baba Kamara Hon.

Emmanuel Koroma Hon.

Segepoh Solomon Thomas Hon.


Joseph Williams- Lamin Member Member Member Member 80 Hon.

Alusine Kanneh Hon.

Sahr Charles Hon.

Komba Kamanda Mansaray Hon.

Ibrahim Kamara Hon.

Timbo Worror Jalloh Hon.

Amidu Hola Mansaray Hon.

Ibrahim Tawa Conteh Hon.

Moses B. Jorkie Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Hon.

P.C.

Prince Mambu Pewa Member COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT: Hon.

Yusuf Mackery Chairman Hon.

Joseph Bash Kamara Deputy Chairman Hon.

Aiah D.S.


Kassegbama Hon.

Abdul Kargbo Hon.

Alpha Amadu Bah Hon.

Kusan Sesay Member Member Member Member Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara [Cont.

59] Member Hon.

Ibrahim Aziz Kamara Hon.

Samuel Genewa Panda Hon.

Ambrose Maada Lebby Hon.

Dominic Tshumbe Hon.

Alusine Kanneh Member Member Member Member Member 81 Hon.

Momoh Bockarie Hon.

Abu Kemohkai Hon.

Hassan A. Sankoh Hon.

P.C.

Sahr Youngai Kontanday Member Member Member Member COMMITTEE ON SPORTS: Hon.
Alusine Alu- Conteh Chairman Hon.

Alpha Amadu Bah Deputy Chairman Can someone please move?

Leader of Government Business!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I move that the Committees so read by Mr Speaker and the names in the Committees be approved by the House.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Point of Order Mr Speaker.


Before the seconder comes in, I just want to make the observation that I have been moved to four Committees in two years, so in this particular case I would like to yield my Chairmanship to my Deputy who is Honourable Foday Mario Kamara to chair that Committee on Political Affairs [Undertone] I would like to yield my Chairmanship to him.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, they can do that internally.

HON.
HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: No, well I want it to be known before you adopt.

The reason is, I have built up three Committees and when I build it up I am suddenly moved.

So this one I want to give the opportunity to [Interruption].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolloh Yumkella, you are an expert in building Committees.

HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Mr Speaker, I would like to give that opportunity now to my Deputy to chair that Committee.
82 THE SPEAKER: We will adopt all the Committees except that one and it would be referred back to the Committee of Selection.

Did I hear a seconder?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Yes Mr Speaker, I second the motion.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [Motion moved by the Leader of Government Business as announced by Mr Speaker for Membership has been carried with the exception of the Parliamentary Committee on THE SPEAKER: Any Announcements?

Yes, okay go ahead!
Yes, okay go ahead!

Political Affairs] HON HASSAN A. SESAY: Sorry Mr Speaker, I stand on S.O 23.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce to Honourable Members that our colleague, Honourable Amadu Kanu just lost his mother this morning and the old lady, Madam Yeigbeh Kanu will be laid to rest this afternoon.

I just want it to be known by Members of Parliament.

As I am speaking, they are already in Moyamba to lay her to rest at Ribbie.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, may we rise please and observe a minute silence [A brief moment of silence observed].

May the soul of the faithful departed rest in peace and May Allah forgive her mistakes on earth and grant her Aljaanah.

HON.

PETER Y. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, I rise on S.O 23 Sir.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we all could remember the sad events of the 17th and 18th July, 2020 in Makeni City and we note the magnanimity of the President in setting up and sending out a group to Makeni to convey messages of sympathy and oneness; we appreciate that.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as we speak, there is looming tension in Makeni because the emotional and mental situation of parents, friends and relatives of the deceased is sure that they are in a confused state.

As we speak, no stakeholder including ourselves and I stand on behalf of the Bombali caucus to register our concern that we have no clue about what is happening with the corpses and those arrested.
The wish; and we did register that to the group that came that we would like to be given the opportunity to accord a very befitting burial for those important sons of that area.

We were promised by the group that that message will be delivered or conveyed to His 83 Excellency.

Mr Speaker, as we speak, the Mayor of the City is very concerned because on a daily bases moment by moment she keeps getting plethora of concerns.

We as Members of Parliament have not been excluded from that mental experience.
So we want to register our concern and to ask your kind office and the leadership of the Parliament to intervene in helping us get these bodies back to Makeni and to be allowed to give them the burial that will help in ameliorating the concerns and the tensions that are there already.

For those detained, we do not know their whereabouts, for those that are in the Morgue, we do not know what is happening.
As of last night, the Mayor was following up with the CID and with Doctor Owis and she will be told one thing from the CID point of view and another thing from the Pathologist; so everybody is confused.

So the tensions are there and it is for this Parliament to take note of this; that we would not want a reoccurrence of this sad experience that has for now touched on the nerves of everybody there.
We want to appeal to your good office Sir and that of the leadership of this House to kindly help our President to be aware of this and to register our request that we would like this bodies to be released immediately back to the families so that they would be accorded the necessary befitting burial and for us also to be informed as to what is happening with those detained.

Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: Very well!


Two things: First, with regard to the sentiments expressed, I am sure the entire House will endorse and would refer this request to the Leader of Government Business working in concert with the Chairman of the Internal Affairs Committee.

Secondly, we adopted a resolution here to establish our own committee to investigate this particular matter.
I would want to engage the leaderships of the various parties represented here on Monday at 12:00p.m; I hope Monday is not a Holiday?

I want the timing agreed here [Undertone] we have PSC when?

[3:14:22-32] Okay let us say at 1:00p.m to be on a safe side.

At 1:00p.m I would like the leadership of the various parties represented here to meet with me in my Chambers on Monday to talk about the committee that we had passed here with regard to the incidents in Makeni.

HON.
HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: Mr Speaker I stand on S.O 23 Sir.
Mr Speaker, if you follow the news within the last two weeks, there is this situation of the Mortuary in 84 Sierra Leone burring people; the other time it was 50 and just two days ago it was about 60- just within the same month and at a time like this when we have series of situations around the country, we would want the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and that of Internal Affairs to come to this House and explain to us the category of people being buried because this is also raising some concerns by the public, the more it continues to happen and there is no clarity on the people being buried and according to the Mortuary, people have not come up to ascertain or identify the corpses.
How do you keep somebody in the Mortuary and you expect me to go and identify the person when the bodies are not being displayed on National Television?

So let them come to this House and explain to us what is happening.

THE SPEAKER: Please put it in term in the form of a question to the Minister.

HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: I will Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

Put it in the form of a question and I will ensure that the Minister is brought to Parliament to answer your question.

HON.
HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: Mr Speaker, let me just make an addendum to what he has just said.

Mr Speaker, it was announced on the Radio that there are bodies in the Mortuary that are yet to be identified and that people who are interested or know they have dead bodies in the mortuary should go and identify those bodies.

So it was announced on the Radio publicly; this is something that has been nationwide announcement.

So for me [Undertone] of course it was announced.


THE SPEAKER: The Honourable Member has agreed to submit a question on the matter and that question will be directed to the appropriate Ministry.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Honourable Members, we have just announced the Committees and you know what is happening.

The last time we announced the Supervisory Committees, so there is going to be training on Wednesday for all Chairman and Deputies at 11:00a.m and only lunch will be provided.
So from there we will spring into the Oversight Committees.

My expert in changing Committees; 85 Honourable Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, I will still invite you to come; come and have some time with us please.

Thank you.

HON.

OSMAN C. ABDULIA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, couple of weeks back after the burial of our late colleague; the late Almamy O. Kamara, we received a thank you letter from the family.

I think the leadership must have known that.


So I want to reiterate that one to the leadership, the Government, His Excellency the President and everybody that patronised and made representations for our late colleague to have a befitting burial.

In that same vein, the family wants to announce that the fortieth day ceremony will be on the 1st and 2nd August, 2020 in Sumbuya.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


ADJOURNMENT [The House rose at 1:55p.m and was adjourned to Thursday, 6th August, 2020 at 10:00a.m] 86 87