Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698080327366.pdf (Sierra Leone)
i. 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 –SECOND MEETING TUESDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY, 2021 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: 33 Second 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, 2nd February, 2021.

2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON TUESDAY 26TH JANUARY, 2021 III.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER IV.

LAYING OF PAPERS IV.

PAPERS LAID [A] THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR 2018 TO 2020.
[B] THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (a) LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECOWAS BANK FOR INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT [EBID] AND THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE FOR THE PARTIAL FINANCE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHONOLOGY IN KOIDU TOWN KONO DISTRICT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE, LOAN NO: 147/AP/LA/BIDC/EBID/0S/2020.
(b) LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK REGARDING THE MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT IN SIERRA LEONE, DATED 26TH JUNE 2020.

(c) FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT [INSTALMENT SALE FINANCING] BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK, MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT.
(d) AGENCY AGREEMENT [INSTALMENT SALE FINANCING] BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK, MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT.

(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT, REGARDING THE MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT.

3 V. MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HON.
MATHEW S. NYUMA SECONDER: HON HASSAN A. SESAY 4 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ THIRD SESSION – SECOND MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021.

I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mr Anthony Kamara, Read the Prayers] [The House met at 10:00a.m.
in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Speaker, Hon.

Dr Chernor Abass Bundu in the Chair] The House was called to Order 5 Suspension of S. Os.

5[2] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [II] CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON TUESDAY 26TH JANUARY, 2021 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, we shall now take up the Votes and Proceedings of the 32nd Sitting held on Tuesday, 26th January 2021.
In keeping with our practice we shall skip the first four pages and start consideration from page 5.

Any comments or amendments on Page 5?

Page 6?

Page 7?

Page 8?

Page 9 and page 10?

Thank you.

I see no comment and no amendment.

Can someone please move for the adoption of the Record of Votes and Proceedings for the Parliamentary Sitting held on Tuesday, 26th January, 2021?

HON.

BRIMA MANSARAY: I so move Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you, any seconder?

HON.


JOSEPH W. LAMIN: I so second Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Corrections of Votes and Proceedings for the Parliamentary Sitting held on Tuesday 26th January, 2021 has been adopted] III.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER THE SPEAKER: The announcement I have to make Honourable Members is related to item III on page five of the Record of Votes and Proceedings.
You will recall from our last Sitting that although several Members wanted the issue to be discussed in the Well I asked that it would be left with me to deal with it in the Chamber.

Accordingly, I invited the National Coordinator of NaCOVERC and his team and the Leadership of the major political parties in Parliament.

We arrived at the conclusion that the number plates of Members of Parliament shall serve as your pass, let me repeat so there can be no doubt about it.
Your number plates as Member of Parliament shall serve as your 6 pass in lieu of the E-pass that was proposed by NaCOVERC, you are also entitled in addition to yourself in your vehicle to two other persons.

For those of you with drivers, you would have your driver and those of you with security equally have your security with you to be able to pass and re-pass the highways to and from the provinces.

However, NaCOVERC is insisting that you must undergo the test.
I myself have subjected myself to the test and I believe it is in the interest of every Member as well as the entire Membership of this House that we subject ourselves to the test.

I would not want to sit here and expose myself to any risk especially since the Scientists have let us believe that people in my category age wise like I.B Kargbo indeed and myself… HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH [Leader of the Opposition]: Mr Speaker, both of you are just from Conakry did you do the test when you returned?
THE SPEAKER: Yes we did.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: We want to see your certificate Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: I am sure the Honourable I.B Kargbo would be more than happy to show you since you are sitting right next to him his own certificate.

I would crave the indulgence of all Members, we are law makers and we have made the law and that law is in the national interest.

It is also in the interest of every Member of Parliament that we do undergo the test.
I am sure no Member of Parliament would wish to carry the virus to the extent of contaminating other Members of Parliament.

So, it is good for you and for your colleagues.

Please let there be no debate about this.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGER: Thank you very much Mr Speaker for that brilliant idea.
Honestly, I want to support your idea of every Parliamentarian and staff of this Parliament to take the test because if we have to implement some of those laws, we as the law makers should be seen doing what we are going to tell people to do.

My only problem with that Mr Speaker is the long time the result is taking to come out because I did my own COVID-19 test on Friday and as I am speaking I have not got my result.
So, in as much as we are appealing to MPs to do the test we should also be telling them 7 that they should speed up with the result otherwise some of us want to go to our Constituencies, we can’t go if the test results are not out.

Thank you Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Government Whip for that statement.

There are two issues involved.

There is a principle as to whether or not Members of Parliament should take the test that is the primary issue.
The second issue is the time it takes for the test results to be released.

On that second issue we can continue to engage with the leadership of NaCOVERC, but let us address the issue of the principle first, whether or not the entire Membership of Parliament should subject themselves to the test.

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

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA [Leader of Government Business]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I think we have an announcement from you I don’t know why we have generated the announcement to a debate because the air conditioner is not working properly and I think we need to proceed.

Mr Speaker, I know everything we do here is by the force of law, you are subjecting law makers to undergo test I want to see where the force of law is coming in.
We don’t have that one in our regulations and we have not passed such laws in this House.

Mr Speaker, think about the ramifications, I have told you this in your office.

For me please Mr Speaker, let us have Leadership meeting on this one after sitting and discuss it properly so that we can involve major players in this business.

Point two, I think we need to progress because of the atmosphere we are in presently.

I rest my case Mr Speaker.


I know it is difficult for you to understand but that is the situation.

Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of Government Business for his comments on the issue.

Much as I appreciate the point that he has made let us also bear in mind that Members of Parliament are role models for the entire country and let us also bear in mind that unlike other developed countries who have developed a vaccine for corona virus, it is not accessible to us because of cost.
So, therefore the only real measure available to us is containment, we should seek to contain the corona virus rather than 8 cure it.

We do not have the cure and we do not have the means to cure it.

Therefore, the least we can do is for us to concert our own effort as a nation to contain the corona virus and to contain it in a way that it doesn’t spread far and wide.

But I agree if it is the wish of the Leadership that we consult further on this issue we shall meet when we arise in my Chamber.
Thank you.

Shall we proceed?

IV.

PAPERS LAID [i] THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, sorry before I lay the paper I want to do an amendment to the Order Paper.

Sorry for coming in late with that, it is a concern about the loan.

I am going to remove the Loan Agreement from the Order Paper because it is not ready at the moment and I want to have further discussion with the Minister before we can proceed with that.
I am very concerned about that so I was able to just meet the Minister this morning so I have changed my mind to take it off the Order Paper.

So, Honourable Leader of the Opposition, are you satisfied with that explanation?

Okay we can discuss the other one.

Honourable Members, before I lay the report I want to amend [a and b] and now [c] becomes [a] and [d, b] and [e, c].

That is the amendment Mr Speaker, with your leave.

THE SPEAKER: Do I have a seconder to that?

HON.


BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I so second.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Motion moved by the Leader of Government Business to amend the Order Paper THE SPEAKER: We shall proceed accordingly.

has been carried] HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table of this House report on the state of the Public Service Commission for 2018 to 2020.
9 THE SPEAKER: The distance between any Member of Parliament and I is sufficient for me to feel relatively safe.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, you are maintaining adequate social distancing don’t worry about that.

THE SPEAKER: And this means that those who raised that matter are not allowed to approach me at any time.
[ii] THE MINISTER OF FINANCE DR PATRICIA N. LAVERLEY [The Deputy Minister of Finance]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with your leave I beg to lay on the Table of this Honourable House the following papers: (f) LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECOWAS BANK FOR INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT [EBID] AND THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE FOR THE PARTIAL FINANCE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHONOLOGY IN KOIDU TOWN KONO DISTRICT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE, LOAN NO: 147/AP/LA/BIDC/EBID/0S/2020.
(g) LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK REGARDING THE MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT IN SIERRA LEONE, DATED 26TH JUNE 2020.

(h) FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT [INSTALMENT SALE FINANCING] BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK, MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT.
(i) AGENCY AGREEMENT [INSTALMENT SALE FINANCING] BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK, MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT.

(j) TECHNICAL ASSISTANT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT, REGARDING THE MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRENGTHENING PROJECT.

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

MATHEW S. NYUMA SECONDER: HON HASSAN A. SESAY HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, be it resolved that the Ninth 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.

The Third Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone Ninth Report of The Committee on Appointments and the Public Service on Parliamentary vetting of presidential nominations.
Introduction Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, in tandem with its constitutional obligations, met on Friday, 29th January, 2021 and interviewed five Presidential nominees for the following appointments: [i] Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, [ii] Deputy Minister, Planning and Economic Development,[iii] Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), [iv] Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] and [v] Board Member, Board of Directors, Sierra Leone Airports Authority.
Procedure The Committee maintained strict consistency with its established procedure.

The nominees were interviewed on issues pertaining to their educational background to ensure that they have the relevant education and necessary backup experience to hold such important offices of the State.
Several probing questions put to the nominees covered wide ranging issues relating to their track record in pertinent work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a nationally productive tenure.

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

Eleventh Sitting of the Committee on Friday, 29th January, 2021.
The following nominees were interviewed on oath: 11 Dr Turad Senesie – Proposed Minister, Ministry of Lands and Country Planning Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Dr Turad Senesie, prior to his appointment to the Lands Ministry, was part of the 26 Presidential Ministerial nominees this Committee vetted in May, 2018.
He was then adjudged by the Committee as suited for Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education on: ”having over 25 years of professional teaching experience and a proven competence in monitoring and evaluation; possessing a track record of timely implementation of institutional policies, norms, systems and control, and above all maintained quality educational standards throughout his teaching career.” During scrutiny for the current position, the Committee still acknowledged these outstanding qualities attributed to the renowned academics three years ago and focused on how these deserving attributes could now be useful in solving the myriads of perennial and maladministration, confused land policies and wide citizenry discontents regarding the unsatisfactory handling of land issues over the years.
Responding to the Committee on the dismal performance, Dr Turad said” I acknowledge that problems exist and so I am going to the Ministry with an open mind set to work with the professionals, evaluate as a researcher what worked well ,what did not work and why; taking full cognizance of all statutory documents governing the Ministry.

After my sojourn, I intend taking on board as an aspect of the mandate that has been neglected for decades i.e.
planning of cities, towns that would lead to creations of micro and mega cities with full land availabilities for all modern life amenities.

I know it would not be easy to immediately reverse the negative trend but I will consult and seek professional advice from my team, this House and the Oversight Committee in particular to help me sail through these turbulence situations.
On the issue of tension over land distribution in the Western Area, we need to know that there are two types of land tenure systems in Sierra Leone; you have the one that is statutory which deals directly with Western Area and you have the customary system, and you have laws supporting those two systems.

The question is: are we going to operate 12 outside that box that would create a kind of chaotic environment or we use the law to ensure that there is equitable distribution of land resources across board.
I will choose the later because when you implement laws you go by policies and you are guided rather than thinking otherwise.

There is a national policy on land that was developed in 2015.

What has happened to that policy since 2015 to date is the question.
There is also an implementation plan, all these require careful examinations” In conclusion, the nominee was cautioned to review and act on all documents earlier requested by Parliament during the time of his predecessor, the outgone Minister, Dr Denis Sandy and to work diligently with all in the interest of the Country.
Reverend Dr Jonathan Titus Williams –Proposed Deputy Minister, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development Reverend Dr Williams is an internationally acclaimed Clergy and development specialist spanning over two decades of clean track record of mentoring and managing various Church Ministries at home and abroad.
His strong academic backgrounds in Missiology and Administration coupled with his innate ability of leadership have always placed him at the helm of affairs as exhibited in the following amongst others: • 2000-Date- Country Director, African Leadership (AL) in USA • 2009-Date- General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone • 2016-Date–Chairman, West African Regional Alliance [WARA], Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso The Committee acknowledged this diverse background more so when the nominee exhibited profound knowledge on development projects, Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations in Sierra Leone that form part of an important operational segment of the Development and Planning Ministry.
Responding to issues critical to the development of the nation ranging from the interpretation of the Mid-Term Development Plan to coordination of the Ministry’s mandate, Dr William said he was already acquainted with the Ministry and its work having collaborated with them for 13 years.

He furthered that as a Deputy Minister, he would work passionately with the Minister and professional team to achieve Government’s aspirations.
“Popularizing any Development Plan and mobilizing resources to meet its goals is herculean.

As a team we will ensure a paradigm shift from political needs assessment to real or felt needs assessment especially in our deprived communities in a bid to lead Government’s poverty alleviation drive”, Dr Williams Concluded.
Dr Sao –Kpato Hannah Isata Max-Kyne, Proposed Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] Dr Sao Kpato Hannah Max–Kyne is renowned academics of no mean standing, a career development specialist with extensive productive tenure in both the Non-Governmental Organizations and Governmental Development Agencies.

She is on record as one of the contributors to academic growth as a seasoned Lecturer of Public Policy, Sociology and Development at varying levels in our Universities.
In August, 2018, the Committee adjudged her suited for a Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA owing to the desirable qualities of proven academic and analytical skills in developmental issues and her timely prolific outputs observed for over years.

She was commended highly by the Committee for her exemplary performance at the Deputy level and hence left no scintilla of doubt in the Members minds that she could move on track with the numerous projects and plans left behind by her predecessor.
Responding to the Committee on her ascendency to Commissioner Level and vision for NaCSA, she said: “One thing I must state in terms of the aims and objectives of the organisation is that it will not change, irrespective of the change in leadership.

But it is very obvious that if I take on the seat, the leadership style will change.

And leadership changing means decision at the ultimate level will change.
I will be in better position to bring into NaCSA a lot of leadership qualities I did not have the opportunity to utilize in the past.

It is very clear that as a Deputy you play a more supportive role than being in the driver’s seat because there can only be one driver at a time”.

14 She promised to work with her Deputy for the good of the organization and the good of the nation making sure their project implementations meet the required standards of Government and donor partners.
Jimmy Batilo Songa, Proposed Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] Jimmy Batilo Songa holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees B.Sc.

[Nursing] and M.SC [Governance, policy and politics] from the United Kingdom.
By profession, he is an adept Mental Health Specialist and has held several managerial levels in various health work situation bordering on the provisions of professional medical rehabilitation and counselling services for people recovering from mental health problems.

He exhibits great aspirations for private sector development and enterprise management as an alternative for faster economic growth.
Answering questions from the Committee relating to respect of his superior and how he would balance public work with political interest, Mr Songa said “I always have respect for leadership [especially women in authority] and would ensure I uphold the tenets of NaCSA regulations as enshrined in their statutory documents.
I will advise my supporters to understand the difference between Public office and Party Office; the time to serve the State and time for politics.” He promised to work collaboratively with all staff to achieve an impressive accomplishment of NaCSA programmes.
Pa Komrabai Maylie Kamara, proposed Member Board of Director Sierra Leone Airport Authority [SLAA] Pa Komrabai is a traditional leader with two decades of experience in Chiefdom administration spanning from Local Court Chairman to his current position as the Chiefdom Speaker in the Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom in the Port Loko District.

Prior to his ascendency to the local leadership he was a professional driver and assumed the District Driver Union Chairmanship in the Kaffu Bullom from 1998 to the year 2000.
He 15 is an unassuming character with wealth of experience that will hopefully link the Airport management and the locals in any social corporate engagements.

Responding to how he would represent his people on the board, the Chief said “the Sierra Leone Airport Authority [SLAA] is a blessing to our locality and I wish to always convince management that the presence of our interest in any future plans would go a long way in consolidating the gains we have made so far”.
He concluded that the consideration of the youths in the current extension and face lifting projects of the Airport and any other future development projects for Kaffu Bullom by Government would be welcomed by the indigenes.

4.
4.

Recommendations Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees to be adequately qualified for their proposed appointments and they are recommended to the House for approval: [i] Dr Turad Senesie – Proposed Minister, Ministry of Lands and Country Planning [ii].
Rev Dr Jonathan Titus Williams –Proposed Deputy Minister, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development [iii] Dr Sao-Kpato Hannah Isata Max-Kyne, Proposed Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] [iv] Jimmy Batilo Songa, Proposed Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action [NaCSA] [v] Pa Komrabai Maylie Kamara, proposed Member, Board of Director Sierra Leone Airport Authority [SLAA] Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Ninth Report reflects the unanimous view of the Committee.
I therefore move that the Ninth 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.

Thank you very much for your attention.

16 Signed…………………………… Hon.


Mathew S. Nyuma Chairman and Leader of Government Business THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, before I call for a seconder for that Motion let me observe, I think you may have experienced from the atmosphere in the Well but there is indeed some technical shortcomings in the air conditioning system and therefore it likely going to impact negatively on the duration of this Sitting.

So, for every contribution we have to make, we have to keep them short.
I wouldn’t like to sit here sweating.

I understand the technicians are at work but we don’t know how quickly they will succeed in rectifying the problem.

So, probably we have to reduce the number of contributors and the time.

Thank you Mr Leader.

So, let me call for a Seconder.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: I so second Mr Speaker.

[Question Proposed] HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, let me observe please.

I think it is said that every meeting of this nature should have some adherence to COVID-19 rules.
I just want to ask that the Sargent at Arms go up the Gallery to see if everyone is wearing a face mask because from what I am seeing there are lot of people there without face masks.

THE SPEAKER: Good observation, before he goes there let us start from the Well.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: I agreed with that Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: And to that end I will put mine on.


Honourable Members, the latest technical report I have received about the air conditioner to which I made reference just a few minutes ago, is that there is a major fault and is very unlikely that it cannot be remedy within the shortest time.

In fact it may not be remedy until after we rise.

On that note, therefore I will take barely two speakers from each side of the aisle and will not proceed with the Bill today.
Therefore, I am releasing the Deputy Minister of Finance.

She may take leave of us and the NRA officers.

So, two speakers from each side of the aisle starting with the seconder.

17 HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Thank you Mr Speaker.


We are all adhering to the law on masking up, I also want to call the attention of my colleagues in the House that these are the regulations we ought to have approved in this House and that never came to us, but because we are law abiding people we are doing it because we want to set an example but I also want to remind those that are concerns that these are regulations that also have been with us and approved by us, but at last they never did.
However we will comply.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, and today again we are in the situation where we have to approve people that come before us that are being nominated by His Excellency the President to serve in various capacities.
I will start [1]; for country sake, [2] because I have always advocated for women, I will start with the lady, we all like women, and quite apart from that the woman I am going to start with I have known her 35 years ago when we were all students but I was little bit senior for her.

But having followed her for all the years that I have known her, I have no reason to doubt her capacity to serve in the position that the President nominated her to serve.
She has been very consistence in academics pursuit and very focused in what she has been doing.

And of course she has always delivered wherever she finds herself.

I know Mrs Max Kyne as a go getter, when I knew her she was Marcathy but the Max Kyne I am not so familiar with it, but I know the individual.

She has been somebody very prudent in whatever she does, but I have no reason to doubt her ability to serve in the capacity as Commissioner of National Commission for Social Action.
I was present in the interview when she was vetted and her answers do not surprise me one bit because I knew that she is somebody who is a team player and institution of that nature requires somebody who gets that spirit to work with people and always listen to other suggestions to ensure that she does not have a monopoly of knowledge that is one person I know to have that character.
So, for that reason not only because she is a woman, but because she is capable and also let us always try to give them the support they require because that is what give them the spirit to continue to move on.

So, Madam Max Kyne we will support you and give you all the relevant support that you 18 required from this House and always make sure that you refer to Parliament when necessary so that we always give you the support you required.
I also want you to remember that you are going to serve Sierra Leone and not a political party, and not specific interest.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me say one thing, I raised an issue but it was when her deputy came for approval that certain areas we want to see facilities taking to communities that actually need them like markets, I will say it about my Constituency particularly.

The market that we have in my Constituency has been built over 50 years ago, the population is not stable.
In such communities we want to have markets to cater for the extension because the town has grown, if a market was built for a population of 5000 people now they are over 20,000 people you can imagine how cluster that will be.

I am just giving that as an example; and there are various communities across the country that requires such facilities, I want you to pay attention to that, and to take them to where they are really needed not for political reasons but based on needs assessment.
So, I want you to take note of that, I think I mentioned that, and your deputy who is going to be your back up man was there to give an appropriate answer to that, I know that you are going to work together.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, having said that, I will now come to somebody because I know a colleague of mine from somewhere will be watching to see if I will say something good about the next person I am going to talk about.
I say S.O [2] ‘d Mamie e yon’ because we have all known Mr Jimmy Batilo Songa to be serving and now I am seeing a smile somewhere.

So, I know they were waiting to see if I will say he is a good man, he is a good person.
Despite the fact that he belongs to the other side, is a fighter, I want you to come with the fighting spirit to support Mrs Max Kyne in other to achieve her goal neither for Sierra Leoneans, S.O [2] nor to SLPP biznes o’ (Laughter) Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me use this opportunity to say one thing; we are all in different parts of political divide, but let us understand that we are first Sierra Leoneans before we belong to parties and let Sierra Leone be put in front.
Mr Songa, I have no doubt that you are prepared to work with Mrs Max Kyne and for Sierra Leone 19 you will all achieve because we are here as Sierra Leoneans in this Parliament that is why we always argue but we remain to be friends because there was life before politics and there will be life after politics so let that be the watch word.
We don’t want to multiply our enemies, if you cannot create new friends in politics don’t multiply your enemies, let us continue to stay with our political opponents but not enemies in life.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, having said that, Dr Turad Senesie I will take this opportunity to ask you to stand up please and give him applause.

You know why I give you that special treatment; it is because even our Speaker demonstrated bias for you before he started.
Mr Speaker, I am speaking, and I am on my legs, I am in mid-flight Please.

I am sorry about the word Sir.

You are positive about him taking a position… THE SPEAKER: Bias is the wrong word.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: I take that, sorry Sir.

THE SPEAKER: I always welcome same people, same personal attention.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, I am sorry may be I am excited.

THE SPEAKER: I suspect.

HON.


HASSAN A. SESAY: On a more serious note Dr Senesie you saw even the Speaker given a mark of approval; I believe you are going to bring sanity to that Ministry that was in disarray because of one individual.
Dr Turad, your answers during the vetting process when we interviewed you were very impressive, but I think I made one statement that the theories and the parities there is a difference but we want to see you actualise the pronouncement you made when we interviewed you during that process and you mentioned about Country planning but that is an area which needs attention and you brought it up telling me that you know what you are about.
We want to see you actualise those ideals and I want to assure you that this House will support you as long as you are on the right trajectory.

We have always said it on the side on aisle that not time in the World good people but we always criticize bad laws, policy that are not good for Sierra Leone, we criticize not to say we oppose the individual but your processor is another case.
However we want to give you the support and believe 20 that you will work with Committees in Parliament to ensure that you achieve the objectives that you will set for yourself to achieve over the period that you will be there.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, having said that the other nominees, I just wish you well and hope you will go and serve Sierra Leone and serve your consciences.

we expect the Reverend been a Man of God we do what is require of you for the good of Sierra Leone and good of everyone.
Of course, Pa Komrabai from Lungi, you have been there for long you know what is require of you by the people of Kaffu Bullom.

Your Honourable is here, so we expect you to work with the sitting politician and ensure you achieve result for the people of Kaffu Bullom and Sierra Leone as home.

I thank you very much.

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

Honourable Members, please all of you take your seats for the time being.
Honourable Members, Mr Speaker, is about to speak, Honourable Members order!

Order!

Mr Speaker, is about to address the House and I am sure you all know the implication of that.

Thank you.

I want to take the opportunity to recognise the following personalities in our mist.
Alhaji Dumbuya, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Maritime Administration, Honourable Suahilo Koroma formal Member of Parliament, Mr Moses Probyn Chairman, Bothe District Council, Mohamed Bundu, Deputy Director General NASSIT, Paramount Chief Foday Musa, Jahun Chiefdom Kailahun District.

Madam Songa for obvious reasons I am not going to recognise you, I will recognise my Deputy.

It is obvious madam Songa what are you going to tell the House?
Nothing new and we can guess very well what you are going to say.

HON.

SEGEPOH S. THOMAS: Honourable Members, in the future when the Deputy Speaker is up you sit down please for decorum.

Let me start by thanking you profusely on behalf of the republic of Sierra Leone for leading the delegation to Guinea.

Even if as a nation we are to forget that act, I pray we do not forget your name for trying to salvage a situation that is potentially troublesome.
21 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this House is represented in the microcosm by the Committees on Appointment.

The Committees on Appointment has done a good work and I urge this House to adopt the recommendations presented to this House that Committees and the Public Service.

All the nominees before us are properly qualified to be approved by this House and I urge this House to approve them speedily.
I know all of them as matter of fact and I know their individual capacities, they have all held various positions and they perform extreme well.

Mr Speaker, I particularly wish to draw the attention of the House to two individuals; Honourable Turad Senesie the proposed Ministry of Land, and Reverend Doctors Titus Williams, I am drawing the attention of this House to those two individuals because I stand here as a testament.
I stand here Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as a testament to their competence, I seldom stand in the Well of Parliament to recommend nominees because recommendation of nominees have become a sing song everyday nominees come to Parliament we recommend them and they go to work but the same problem in institutions to which they are sent persist, that is all the more reason why we are where we are today.
A nation of nearly 60 years of Independent hasn’t got much to show, is a shame Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, is a real shame but we have to say it as citizens, shameful though it is nearly 60 years we have govern ourselves, we have stood in this Parliament after the other recommending nominees to various positions but today we cannot account for anything at all.
Sierra Leone is known for all the wrong reasons, if you travel out of Sierra Leone to other nations, it is interesting to note Mr Speaker, that people in other nation around even African nations do not know where Sierra Leone even is located.

Somebody sharply asked me weather Sierra Leone is a French speaking country and I thought that if we as a nation had made impact then other nations of Africa would have known where Sierra Leone is.
The only time people will tell you about Sierra Leone that are not Sierra Leoneans is when they try to pinpoint negative things, negative issues about Sierra Leone.

The moment they talk about Sierra Leone is about the war, they will talk about the mud slide, and they will talk about Ebola.
So, we have come a long way and that is the more reason why I am 22 reluctant as a Member of Parliament to stand in the Well recommending nominees but I have stood up today to recommend these two individuals and I want every word I say here today to be cited in the future that these two individuals are going to create a difference because I know who they are.
I know Dr. Turad Senesie who until probably few minutes from now is still the Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education may be after few minutes from now we will change its status, I know him as an individual personally, I know his attributes, and I know he is a perfectionist.

Of course, there is no gain saying that the Ministry of Lands has been a Ministry of controversies; I am pretty sure Dr.Turad Senesie is going to heal the wounds of that Ministry.
But that doesn’t mean that the Ministry of Lands are matters relating to lands in this nation is going to be a situation of free for all ,there must be some form of discipline in the land tenure system in this nation because land is everything.
It is interesting to note Mr Speaker, Honourable Members that some time even when investors come to this Country they struggle to have access to land because we have a few individuals who have made 500 acres of document of land, and 200 acres of land belonging to individuals.

I am a lawyer; I have seeing such document, to me Mr Speaker, I submitted that is crazy, that is extremely crazy.
So, if those who are land grabber think that the presence of Dr. Turad Senesie in that Ministry is going to be a free for all situation then they have to have a rethink because I know he is a discipline man he will go all out to heal the wounds of that Ministry.

But at the same time I am pretty sure he is going to do the proper thing for the republic of Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I refer you to Reverend Doctor Titus Williams, he has been sent to the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning, let me state with all authority that Reverend Doctor Titus Williams spent all his adult life pursuing planning and development.
So, he could not have been recommended for any other Ministry other than the Ministry of Development and Economy Planning and trust me if only his Boss the Minister will pay attention to him they are going to work as one for this nation.

I have said these words today and I will insist that I be quoted in future for what I am saying now that these two individuals are just correct and qualified for those 23 areas they have been sent to.

In any case, let me state clearly that they are my brothers.
Let somebody say in the future he was saying all of these because they are his brothers.

THE SPEAKER: Not biological means?

HON.

SENGEPOH S. THOMAS: Of course, they are my brothers from the same District and as far as we are concerned Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we the Sherbros we don’t have cousins, we have brothers, we don’t have Aunts, we have mothers, we don’t have uncles, we have fathers, that is how the Sherbros are united.
So, if I declare here that they are my brothers, I am saying that from the cultural points of view.

So, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I know that other Honourable Members, may want to contribute, but let me state that I will be recorded that they are just the best peoples for this positions and urge this House to approve them speedily.

I thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Deputy Speaker for his contribution to the debate.
Now I have the unenviable task of selecting two more speakers.

Who is the Chairman of NaCSA?

Naturally the Chairman of NaCSA should be given precedence and that exhaust… Almost every Member standing to catch my eyes has good reason to be call upon but as I said my task now unenviable one, so please bear with me.

I will give the Floor to the Chairman of NaCSA he will be followed by the Paramount Chief and them the Chairman for Lands.

HON.

DR FODAY R. KARGBO: Thank you Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to thank Mr Speaker, in the first place for recognising the importance of the Committee on NaCSA in Parliament specially on this occasion, and I want to thank the His Excellency, the President for the nominees presented to us this morning.
We have had a lot of nominees over the years as the Honourable Deputy Speaker mentioned and especially in this Session, we have praised them, they are very brilliant and document of performance, we approved them.

We lift 24 up a lot of praises on them and we are sure they are capable people, but as we all know this Country has not improved very much.
At times it becomes difficult for some of us who think radically to stand here and make a statement in support of nominees because what the people outside there are seeing is different from what they seeing here.

I think we need to think twice, we know that people are nominated on the basis of their track records that are good.
But the nominations on that bases implies that you are expected to make an output that are going to impact the Nation and many times this impact has not been felt and I think we need to challenge nominees now and in the future to know that we have high expectations.

Things must change and we cannot continue in this way, when you perform in your present job and you are picked up by His Excellency, the President for elevation it means you are expected to do more and the impact should be visible.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I believe that the nominees today are all very capable, they are competent people, they will take this to mind but also occasionally they should come to Parliament to ask for advice which has not verily easily forthcoming.

Nominees come here humbly asking for approval they get it and they become our bosses.
I believe that the bases of failure or at least the stagnation which we have faced in this Country over the years, we have agreed on the bases of the result presented to us by the Appointment Committee that the nominees are all qualified and normally when appointments are made and they are approved by the Appointment Committee we only celebrate here because I have not known any time when we have stood our ground and said this nominee is unqualified and should be removed.
So, what we do here is only celebration and I want to celebrate the nominee for the National Commission for Social Action.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, a year ago we were in this Parliament and agreed to the extension of the mandate of NaCSA to be a perpetual existing entity whose mandates needed not to be extended after a number of years of perpetual existence.
Over the years we have seeing how the work of NaCSA has extended all over the Country and I think with the change in mandate is appropriate and there is a change 25 even in the leadership.

So, it has pleased His Excellency, the President to elevate doctor Max Kyne to the leadership of this noble institution, we want to congratulate you.
In my position as Chairman of NaCSA have met doctor Max Kyne a number of times and each time we meet he always impress me a lot, he impress me in as much as he is focus and professional.

I need not showing any other thing because he is focus and professional, for me it is enough words to sum up what we expect in a leader.
In the last two weeks we have just gone out to show some of the projects implemented by NaCSA in the North and we were impressed by the quality of work and we did our own recommendations.

I think what we thought was missing is periodic monitoring of the work of contractors of NaCSA because if a contractor is left without monitoring from an independent body and only inspected at the finishing of the job them there is very little space for corrective measures.
If monitoring is done periodically them we can follow quality of production because there are two things as she made clear to us that should work for improve quality of production, which should include bringing the participation of other people and there will be innovation.
We want these three things to be included in the work of NaCSA and we want to be more active, because there are lapses that could have been prevented, had somebody gone earlier to inspect, but I know this is a new order and we believe the ability of Dr Max-Kyne and we have no doubt that she will do well.
I think the good thing that there has been a reversed at the leadership level, where as in the past, a male was helped by a female, now is a male helping a female, the female is the senior head, I think this is going to be good, I wish you the best.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Dr Turad Senesie.

I met him several years ago… THE SPEAKER: You have partitioned your time rather disproportionately.

HON.

DR FODAY R. KARGBO: Just one minute.


THE SPEAKER: I am afraid, one minute I agree just one minute.

HON.

DR FODAY R. KARGBO: Yes Mr Speaker, start counting.

26 THE SPEAKER: Not the Africa minute but the BBC minute.

HON.
HON.

DR FODAY R. KARGBO: I met Dr Turad Senesie three years ago, when the University had crisis with the Academic Staff Association [ASA] we went in to intervene at that point, we had several meetings and he was leading, I knew he was focused and precise, he followed instructions to the dot.

I think he is a good person, when I saw him the last time to be approved as Deputy Minister of Education I knew in my mind this is just a step upward, he will go higher.
So, I want to congratulate him for his elevation and I wish you all the best in the Ministry of Lands.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I urge this nominees are speedily approve.

I thank you all.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member, for his contribution to this important debate.

Let me say I have two Honourable Paramount Chiefs seeking to catch my eyes.
I want to crave the indulgence of the Paramount Chief from Bonthe that the Honourable Deputy Speaker spoke so eloquently, not only for himself but for the nominees.

I am sure for all of Bonthe District and beyond, and with that, I want to crave your indulgence to please not insist.

HON.

P.C SHERIFF A. BADARA: Thank you Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

You see it’s so easy to deal with Honourable Paramount Chiefs, and that leaves the obvious choice.
But I think I will accede to that request, that there should be a time limit here.

Let us keep the history out of this and deal with things that are contemporary.

So, Paramount Chief Bai Kurr spares the House the history, let's deal with the present.

You have the Floor.

HON.

P.C BAI KURR KANAGBARO SANKA III: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I want to congratulate first of all and say thanks to His Excellency, the President for sending you to lead the delegation to our sister Country Guinea.
I know as Foreign Minister, although you don't want me to say that from history, ECOWAS Secretary you are well placed to do that.

So, I thank the President for His appointment.

27 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am really moved by the speech of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, he said it all for us, in the sense that we have approved so many nominees, thousands of them but where are we today?

We are still here and we think when we talk of corruption in Sierra Leone is only swindling of money.
For me corruption is not only taking money and putting into your pocket, but your very activities do convey corruption.

When we think of tribalism, sectionalism, regionalism cabals, is all corruption, when you fail to put the right people in the right places is corruption, when we sit on developmental issues waiting for more needs to be brought to us by contractors is corruption.
So, I am appealing, begging, kneeling down based upon the speech given by the Deputy Speaker to say please, when you go to these offices do your best to avoid corruption, do your best to avoid tribalism, do your best to avoid sectionalism and regionalism, is only without that Sierra Leone will be a better Nation.

But if we are sitting on tribalism, sectionalism, regionalism partisanship, then we are not going to move as a Nation.
Mr Speaker, we speak well but we do nothing, we speak very good things when we leave the Well of Parliament or when we leave the offices we think differently.

When I look at the nominees, they are all capable of being anything they want to be in this world.

But do they have plans for the development of Sierra Leone, do they have something for them to leave us a legacy when they leave their offices.

Will you be regarded as somebody who brought in positive change?
We have professors there, lecturers there, seasoned people being appointed to be part of the governance and believe me, you are part of the governance.

If this Government fails, if Sierra Leone fails you are the people who brought failure in the Nation, we cannot promote tribalism, tribalism is killing Sierra Leone Sir, making us terrible.

All is part of corruption, big corruption.


Mr Speaker, I am begging, appealing to these great people that when they leave here, they think of Sierra Leone, every Sierra Leonean has a right in your office, every Sierra Leonean whether he or she voted for you or not, he deserves to be given a service.
For me, it is nothing but something like football, when we are in school, we play football 28 against our brothers and sisters, but after the football game, we go to the same house, we eat the same food we take the same bath.

Mr Speaker, if you go out now and see the crowd, you will notice that you are very popular, we have popular nominees, the crowd outside there reflects the popularity of the people been appointed by His Excellency, the president.
They are dancing for you without even you knowing the result, they are now dancing without hearing the song.

So, what are you going to do for those people?

And there are millions who have not come to dance today for you but they are all in spirit with you.

So, for my NaCSA lady, whom I have worked with before, I say congratulations.

We know we have so many projects that we have to do together, we should do them.
For my noble Paramount Chief sitting, looking handsome and good, when you go there think of Sierra Leone, think of all the 190 Paramount Chiefs that are to be elected.

We have now 190 Chiefdoms, putting your best to reflect the good of the Paramount Chiefs in Sierra Leone and the people of Sierra Leone.

Mr Speaker, I am appealing to the Minister of Lands to look at the scandals that I have gone through, some of us we are victims, but we didn't complain.
We sat down quietly not because I have anything but as a Paramount Chief, I have to follow the rules of the game, follow the President and if I have to complain I will complain to him directly not to the press, not to any person, but some of us we are victims from our old friends.

So, you are going there leaving the Ministry of Education, where I have worked with you.

You visited Masingbi, regularly, although you never visited my house but I hope this time I will take you to my land.
Mr Speaker, before I sit down, very key thing that the Minister of Lands got to do and the Minister of the Environment… THE SPEAKER: But Chief I will now restrict you to a minute.

Suspension of S.O [5]2 HON.

P.C BAI KURR KANAGBARO SANKA III: Two minutes Sir.

This is very critical.

THE SPEAKER: Chief let us agree, not more than two minutes.

29 HON.

P.C BAI KURR KANAGBARO SANKA III: Okay.


Mr Speaker, I am appealing to the Minister of Lands for him to drive from here to Bo and Kenema, he will see wildfire destroying Sierra Leone, nobody does anything about it and it is only in June 6th, we go and do practical application of planting trees.

Look at from here to Masingbi and Kono, look from here to the boundary of Conakry, Guinea wildfire are destroying this country, and nobody does anything about it.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Lands are Cabinet Ministers, you are made a Minister not only for your Ministry, but you are in the most important Cabinet meeting in Sierra Leone, which is the Cabinet committee.

So, you have a right to discuss issues of any nature that affects Sierra Leone.

I am appealing to my Minister of Lands to put in strict measures, including the Paramount Chiefs so that our Chiefdoms will not be burnt down.
It is terrible, this morning I was on my way coming to Freetown whiles the British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] reading news about the climate change and that Africa is not doing anything to fight climate change, and it is affecting us in our production, in our foods, in our swamps and everything.

Mr Lands Minister, as an intellectual be somebody that we can look up to and bring in a change in the Ministry of Lands.
But still continue to support the Ministry of Education so that the flagship programme of this party, this Government, and this President will continue.

I thank you Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Paramount Chief for his contribution.

I now call on the last speaker before we wind up the debate and that is the Chairperson of the Lands Committee.

HON.

QUINTIN SALIA-KONNEH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, according to the ground rules set by you, I was not really supposed to make a statement but because of the intervention of my Colleagues, you found it necessary to give me the space to make my contribution.

So thank you for that and thank you my Colleagues.


Before I proceed with my statement, I want to plead with the Supreme Leadership of this House that for next approvals or for subsequent approvals, I want to suggest that we have the nominees stay with us for 30 some time so that they be part of our process, they see how we work because most of the time what happens the moment we approve them they leave the Well and they are not interested in what we do in Parliament.
So, I believe subsequently we keep them a little so that they follow up on our activities it will be good for us.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to believe all candidates nominated by His Excellency, the President are adequately and carefully educated to work in their respective Departments or Ministries for which they have been nominated by the President, I have no doubt that they will perform.
But before then, I stand here as the Chairman of Lands and it is evidently clear that for the past two to three years it has been a rocky movement between Parliament and the Ministry of Lands.
I have known Dr Turad Senesie for the past 20 years and for me the name Turad is synonymous to discipline, integrity, strictness, flexible, friendly, and somebody who works with team, and in fact the Webster people are even planning to have Turad incorporated into the dictionary so that the word Turad becomes a name that would be synonymous to discipline, integrity, strictness, friendly and ready to work with people.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, you may be wondering why I am very much passionate, talking on behalf of Doctor Senesie because if you follow the history of Mr Turad Senesie, today we are celebrating him because all of us know him to be somebody who is very strict, flexible, and a humanitarian, yet somebody who works with team, all of these attributes he got when he was a police officer.
We know a true Police Officer is somebody who is discipline, who goes by the rules of the game and the more reason why I believe today we are celebrating his attributes it is because he has been a Police Officer.

Doctor Turad Senesie, I believe you have a very huge task at hand and I believe land issues in this country has become a war front situation because every day you hear that people have been killed or people have been damaged because of land issues.
I will tell you eminently clear that there are lots of concerns that we need to sit together as a Committee, you need to sit with the Committee as a Ministry, so that we can adequately update you about the concerns that the people of Sierra Leone have.

I believe if you listen and decide to work with this Parliament, success will 31 be part of your jurisdiction; success will be part of your operations.
The last Administration faced some challenges because Parliament was ignored to a very large extent; the Committee could not be visible with the Ministry.

As a Committee, we have the responsibility to monitor the operations of the Ministry, but that was lacking, and we cannot effectively and efficiently dispense our duties as a Committee.

So, I admonish you, I know you are a good listener, I know you are somebody who works with a team, I know you are somebody very strict, yet flexible.
You are very much firm with your decisions, yet you listen to other suggestions.

I will suggest when once approved try to have an immediate meeting and I will ask the Clerk to summon the Ministry to a meeting so that we can understand and share notes so that you will know what to do, and you know the immediate things you need to take forward.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have no doubt and I am not saying the last Minister did not perform.
But I believe what we call procedural blunder was the order of the day.

He made his own impact, he knew the issues, but because we could not work together as a Parliament that was where the last Administration went wrong.

Land issues are human fundamental rights and Sierra Leoneans have the right to be part of the process, we all have the rights to support you.

I will admonish that once you take up office; you need to know that you have to work with this Committee.
The Committee on Lands has a mandate to monitor your operations, to plan together with your Ministry and work alongside implementing these things.

If we all do it together, you have very little or no issues and definitely there are certain issues that we need to sit and look at in other to avoid conflict.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will go to my next nominee, who happens to be my in-law and the husband of my Chairman, the Chairlady of the Caucus, Kailahun District, who happens to be Jimmy Batilo Songa.
When I drove this morning, I was very much amazed with the number of people I saw out there, it took me well over five minutes to drive through and when I looked at the placards in his supporters’ hand, all I saw written on the placard is Jimmy Batilo Songa, Jimmy Batilo Songa, that is a very good thing, I want to commend him for that, I have known Jimmy Batilo Songa since 32 his days in Bo school.
So, whatever qualities he is portraying now is not new to me and he continued that when he went to the UK, where he took various positions to govern his colleagues of the same age or even people older than him successfully, he became President, and without pointing fingers, he was able to administer at that level.

So, if he is here today with such crowd it is because of his leadership skills that we have so many people decided to follow him.
I am not surprised because if you look at the true meaning of his middle name, for those of you who are not Mendes by tribe, Batilo simply means S.O [2] “the son of other people, ‘Pipul ein pikin” and this is the more reason why everywhere he goes, you see large numbers of people wanting to follow him because he is the son of the people.

Mr Songa, your Department is a very critical one and by extension.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would also want to admonish Mrs Sao-Kpato Max- Kyne, I have known her for very long years since the days of late President Kabba at the same NaCSA.

She has institutional memory about NaCSA, she knows everything about NaCSA, and she worked in almost all departments.

If today she is been given the opportunity to head that Department I have no doubt, herself and my ‘Demia’ S.O [2] will do nothing but very good job.
I know Mr Batilo to be somebody very respectful, and I know Mrs Sao-Kpato to be an unassuming leader, since the days at MCs and other places.

So, I know her and I know with Batilo being a very loyal somebody they will do well for NaCSA.
Please don't forget my Constituency, I have a Market since 1937, it is overcrowded, I have bridges and we need all of those, and for the others I will admonish that the President made no mistake to appoint you, we have been here several times appointing people and immediately after that we see people being removed or shifted to other Departments.

The President has entrusted his powers into you because he believes in you and that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are the best.
Today you are there as NaCSA boss, today you are there as Minister that doesn’t mean is going to end there if you don’t perform definitely the President will find the opportunity to appoint somebody else.
33 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is a process so please ladies and gentlemen, Honourable Members from both sides of the aisle, and the propose Minister of Lands what I want to admonish is that please don’t close your doors before Honourable Members when once they go visiting you in your office because most of the time you talk to us nicely but sooner you are approved by this House and we go to your office, you see us in your cameras, you tell your secretary to tell us you are in a meeting and that is very derogatory to Honourable Members.
Most of the time we go there to discuss business but the moment you tell your secretary that you are in a meeting and the secretary knows that you are not in a meeting that secretary sees the Honourable Member as a pester in other words.
So, please open doors to Honourable Members irrespective of party colours listen to everybody who comes visiting, try to work with everybody irrespective of politics, irrespective of whatever because the President has placed you there to perform for the people of Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, with that I want to say thank you and I want to say thanks to His Excellency, the President for actually appointing these nominees to serve in their respective capacities and more paramount Dr Turad Senesie who happens to be the newly incorporated into the Webster dictionary.

Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution.
We would now wind up the debate but before we do, I want to recognise the presence of Mr Eddie Williams, Chairman, Sierra Leone Airport Authority.

We would wind up the debate now, Leader of the Opposition you have the Floor.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: Mr Speaker, a lot has been said even though the speakers have not been many but a lot has been said.

So, I wonder what is new I am going to talk about, except to agree with others before me in urging this House to approve the Presidential nominees.
As a Member of the Appointment Committee, I participated in the interviews and I was one of those that gave the notch for them to be presented to this House.

Their Curriculum Vitae are available, they speak a lot but we will not be looking at the CVs when they go to these offices but by their output.

For some of them we know them personally and they have worked in other places before now and in 34 those institutions they have proved themselves to be competent enough.
I said during the course of the interview to the proposed Commissioner for NaCSA that she had been before us as Deputy and on Friday she appeared before us for the substantive position as Commissioner, my statement was very short; if you had not performed the President would not have promoted you to be Commissioner, very short.
She delivered as Deputy and now she is going as Commissioner, we hope that she will get the support as promised by the proposed Deputy whom we admonished not to take his politics in to that office.

I still remembered the Deputy Leader of Government Business or the Chief Whip, I don’t remember which one of them, Honourable Deputy Leader of Government Business, I don’t want to misquote you so please listen, maybe you are not the one who made the statement.
I was just saying that during the course of the interview it was the Deputy Leader of Government Business or the Government Whip, they tried to admonish the proposed Deputy Commissioner to NaCSA it was you.
He was advised because we are political animals and we cannot run away from politics but considering the nature of his job and the fact that as Sierra Leoneans we are expecting much, we know him to be someone who delivers but if he focuses more on politics in the office he will not have sufficient time for his job.
So, the Deputy Leader was cautioning him to find time to go to the party office to distinguish those periods from what he will be doing in the office because he will need sufficient time to do his job.

But we are fortunate that he acknowledged that his boss is very strict and that she will not allow him to fail.

So, we hope that he will serve as a very good support pillar to the proposed Commissioner after getting the endorsement of this House.
Mr Speaker, as I said all of them are competent on paper and some of them we have tested them before.
A lot has been said about Dr Turad Senesie, I did not know him when he was at the Bo School like the Honourable Quinton, but probably I know him better than Honourable Quinton, I know he is someone that will perform and I have said it over and over during the last sittings that this House was in two minds as to whether we should get the former Minister of Lands to this House or deal with the Institution and by extension if we need him we will get him.
35 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Dr Turad Senesie is a man of principles and I am sure he will not cover any ills he will meet in that Ministry, I am sure he will not.

So, as a House I will continue to call on all of us to provide him the necessary support, he will need rather than putting more pressure on him to take him to a destination where all of us will not like, we should support him in making sure that he succeeds.

The former Minister might be a friend to few but he is not a friend to many.
Mr Speaker, I want to assure you also… THE SPEAKER: I am a friend of everyone especially when they exhibit sanity.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: But Mr Speaker, you are a friend of people but not a friend of indiscipline, am I right to say that?

THE SPEAKER: Exactly, I am also not a friend of those who are insane.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: I will make progress Mr Speaker.

Mr Leader, I did not hear that last statement.


As I was saying as a House we should support the proposed Minister of Lands to succeed, I don’t know whether he is the author but I read something on social media thanking those who have given him the support and words of encouragement, I don’t know whether he did because social media these days they do things and if he did, there are few lines he sent to his family.

Mr Speaker, if I have your permission, I want to read, to show the type of person he is.
I will just read the last paragraph, he said; “to my family, be rest assured I have a responsibility to protect the family’s name that is intangible asset it is sacred and must be protected.” Thank you all and God bless Sierra Leone.

It shows the kind of person he is, he has something to protect, and some people don’t have something to protect.

So, let us help him to protect that image.


Those of us who are used in putting pressure to people in that Ministry let us minimize that pressure, let us go there for things that are relevant, let us protect the ordinary men and women in this Country.

On that note, Mr Speaker, I would not want to say much because the place is not too hot but it is slightly hot, I know you are enjoying the temperature in this room.

THE SPEAKER: Did I say so?

36 HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: Well I am presuming Mr Speaker.


THE SPEAKER: Your presumption is wrong.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: Noted Mr Speaker.

On that note, as I said for those that I know including the Commissioner going to NaCSA, Dr Turad Senesie, and Batilo, some of them I have known them for over 25 or 30 years.

I want to encourage all of us in this House to give them their node and endorse the report as been presented by the Leader of Government Business.

I thank you very much.


THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Leader of the Opposition.

It is now the turn of the Leader of Government Business.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker for giving me the Floor.

Thank you very much my Colleagues on the other side, the Leader of the Opposition for giving us that remarkable piece today for telling our people and the quotation he read from his phone.
So, you have to protect something from the red phone, well I don’t like to call red, I don’t want to give them power.

I have listen all Members, especially for the Paramount Chief, the Deputy Speaker, I think the statement made by all the speakers in the House shows that we did a very good job at the Committee stage and that we are ready at all times to deliver as a unit in the spirit of Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as I always said it is good for us to work as team than working in isolation or in pockets that is the only way we can take Sierra Leone forward.
Today, we have shown that one by giving us our own side of the story, it is an excerpt taken from the Deputy Speaker speech, by the Paramount Chief, said we have approved people but they are not showing much to the nation that was said by the Paramount Chief and I want to also re-echo that we have not done much in our society, we have not done much to change the face of our society, we are face with challenges, we are face with corruption, we are face with maladministration all of these are around us, what do we do?
We have elections because we need to change the face of our politics, we have election because we need to change the face of our democracy, if you 37 don’t perform you can be remove from power by the people.
So, today it is an very interesting moment, we have seeing where Deputies have come in to take substantive roles, we have seeing where people are coming from a traditional aspect to be a trade unionist, you have serve in that capacity, you are now acting in the capacity to work between a Government Institution and that of the people that they serve.

So, traditional rulers have decided serve in the Governance system.

Thank you very much coming.

It is good to have you here.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have also the Reverend transforming theology into development aspect.

What I admire in a Reverend is your ability to be sincere in what you are doing, that is the message when you a Reverend, you should have integrity and stand for the truth and that can make you prosper, that is the reason you have all of these positions up to this moment, you have held position from 2000 and thank you very much for serving the people.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me move to Dr Hannah Sao-Kpato Max-Kyne she is real educated woman, she is so proud of her traditional name given to her.

So, I pity my Colleague from Makeni and she was very personate saying that Mr Speaker, you have not given the Floor to a lady speak could but don’t worry I will speak for you and that is the reason I am speak on Dr Sao-Kpato… THE SPEAKER: I don’t want you to come between me and the Honourable Member, she a very special place in my heart.
I have never disguise the fact that the Honourable Member from Bombali, Makeni city has a special place in my heart.

So, don’t try to come between us.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I will not.

I am just a supporter from the back or from the side.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is not only to have lady, the last time I told you even at the Committee stage, I said it is not only good to have a lady but put them in position of trust, a position of higher rank in society.
I am proud with this Government because we are putting a woman in charge of NaCSA not only because you are a lady 38 but it is because you are a carefully educated and an academic, somebody with an institutional memories and have served in that institution from the day of it inception when it was National Social Action Project [NSAP] and today we are talking about NaCSA.
Also involving education, she has lectures a lot of people, she has also lectures some Members of Parliament, they are with us, and she is going to contribute to the social aspect of our society.

You are employed because of what you have done; you are now in the driving seat, a driving seat that we are not expecting you to have an accident.
Somebody said on the other side I don’t know if it was the Chairman, he said; you are not going to that position to serve your personal interest alone, you are taking the mantle of leadership to serve the people of this Country.

The interest of this Country should be carried by you be SLPP, APC NGC, C4C, and the Paramount Chiefs or non-political parties; you are there to serve the interest of Sierra Leone.
You have moved the Commissioner but the operatives are still there, those who can bring you down in a minute, those who have been there working in their own interest, those who are involved in corruption, those who are there on their own interest is different from national agenda, they are also there and you have to be very careful with them.

It is only political changed that has happen; you have to discern the transformation.
You said in your statement that if you are now taking the driving seat you can now change the leadership, and the leadership mean change the situation in the Commission.

So, we are looking up to you, the résumé you presented to us is different from what you are going to do, how you are going to work with your colleagues in the Commission, how you are going to bring the International Community, you have been working with them but not in the driving seat, you are now driving for the President.
So, make sure you serve the people of Sierra Leone base on the policies not base on the interest of individuals you have.

You can be well meaningful, you can have the means to serve the people, you have the willingness to do well, you have the inspiration to come out with good proposals but if you are not supported by your subordinate it will be very difficult for you to succeed.
We have just change the political head, the operatives are still there, we believe in your policies, we believe in your transformation, you said it in your interviewed that you are going there to change and not to carry the normal 39 Administration that you don’t want to consult your subordinate, no if you don’t consult them they have something to contribute towards the betterment of the Institution.
So, we encourage with your wealth of experience in the field of NaCSA, with your academic background, with your speciality in Sociology and Development, we know you can perform on paper and we are now going to see you on your driving seat.

I wish you good luck.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in the interviewed we ask Mr Jimmy Batilo Songa who happened to be the propose Deputy Commissioner, we said how are you going to manage because you are in between, at home you are going to be with your wife because ladies are also in control in their homes and in the office another 8 hours you are going to be supervised by a woman, how are you going to manage them?

And he said; I like the words, that I am a great respecter of women in authority.
So, I have respect for my wife, she is in charge, I will also have respect for her because she is in charge.
You know another interesting aspect from Jimmy Batilo Songa, he said; I will separate a clear distinction, I see you more of a mobilizer than you taking the position to be a somebody who can involve in social development and try to help develop this country and I am a mental health specialist, I have to sound what is really good mentally even within my staff members, and I am interested in mobilizing people, because that will be the social aspect of the people.
If you have the power to mobilize people you must have the gravitas in encouraging them to survive, encouraging them to have a better life in society.

So, I sum up with your respect for women and with the person you are going to work with is very blend because you have studied politics and also a social mobilizer, I hope you have drawn the distinction between a political office and that of your office given to you by his Excellency, the President.
I wish you well and I hope you can serve in a very good capacity.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is good we are talking about lands, a man who went to us and forgot that we are interviewing him and he started giving us lectures, talking about two set of land tenure systems, he explained that one, and he said; I prefer to go with the one that is really enforced by law, it is admiration and let me say 40 the system is about continuity, he made reference to land reform policy of 2015, as I said the last time when I was given another presentation on Presidential nominees it is always good for you to continue good policies from your predecessor, the land reform policy for 2015 is a very good document.
I am very happy when you mentioned about that one, he ask a question, a question now all of us should answer including the Committee, including the Chairman, you have talk so much and you don’t respect us, we have you to change.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as I said for the NaCSA they have just change the political head, in fact he has more dangerous operatives in the Ministry, you can have all the beautiful ideas but believe you me if you don’t change the bad operatives in the Ministry it is going to be the same catastrophe as ever.
You said; you are talking about the renowned reform policy in 2015 which we should follow an addendum to that, he said; I am not a lawyer but I remembered from the interaction we had there is a land policy in this country or a land law, I cannot remember much, you need to follow on that, for me I am just giving direction because you are not in the Committee and for the good of all of us, that if you want to involve in state land arrangement which I was very forceful about, you should involve Parliament, there is a law which he quoted the provision for us.
I am now asking that question, is it that a law of binding you as Parliament in terms of law policy and you said that he gave us lecture on that, I cannot be ashamed of that, which was a very good interaction between we and that of the incoming Minister.

The President of the female Caucus, Honourable Veronica K. Sesay said; I am shock of this, he asked the question again and the proposed Minister said; yes!
I am training you with all emphasis and the law is there and I read it this morning before coming here.

So, the question I now ask it was just a question to clear the air and to make his commitment that he is ready to work with us and the Committee in question, as I said we do not only Chair the Committee, but sometimes we let go the Minister because we don’t perform our Oversight functions very well.
He has the spirit and the speedy intention to go and serve very well as he promised in our previous meeting, but is left with us to perform our Oversight functions without compromise.

41 THE SPEAKER: And he has already acknowledged that Parliament has a crucial role to play.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is the responsibility of the President, it is the Executive power of the President to hire and fire, today we are talking good about our Presidential nominees here, but it should be the responsibility of the President again to hire and fire, no question about that one.

Our responsibility is to approve where necessary, if you don’t fit to be in the office we cannot approved you, you are lucky, we are saying good things about you.
Mr Speaker, I don’t question the Executive powers of the President, I don’t question him to fire, I have not seen the score card for a Minister or the MDA’s but what I listen to is announcement from the office of the Presidency.

I am pleased to say whatever pleases the President so be it, for me I am just admonishing the nominees.

There is also the political head that we have changed, we have not even change the bad operative we have in the MDAs.
So, you have the power to do so, you have the internal mechanism that you are going to use to see how best you can transform.

Some of you have started giving us a very good note and you are going to come and not do business as usual that is the usual rhetoric.
Mr Speaker, we are going to examine you, it is your product after you assumed office, so Reverend it is good continue to pray because it is very important, you know prayer is very key I believed in that, you can used prayer to stay in office as much as can, you can used prayer to succeed in life, you can used prayer to conquer your enemy, your detractor you name them, some of us believed in that.
So, I toll your line when you go to your office pray, you pray to kill the demons that does not want this Country to develop, I know you have your academic background.
Reverend this is for you to help your superior, you said you are just there to support, to give supporting areas where you think you can come in and see how best you can bring in development in deprived communities, that is the word you use exactly “deprived communities.” It is good for us to collaborate, it is good for us to synergise, but for us Members of Parliament, we have done praises, we have not rejected the President, we have admonished the Executive 42 to do well, but we look for a nexus where we have Members of Parliament with that of the Executive collaborating irrespective of Political Parties, irrespective of how you think about the person, you can opposed today but they have their good policy tomorrow.
You can see how best we can come in so you can push for the good of this nation, all of us are in the driving seat to serve this nation but for some of us we can only be fired after five years, some of you can be fired even after two weeks because it is the right of the President to do so.
For us when we admonish you cannot fired us but at this stage we can tell you, some of you when you get to the office you look at MPs as if we are threat, we are not threat, we are just doing what we can, we are just critical in what you do because we represent our people.

Mr Speaker, I know you are critical as ever before especially when we have some of these Presidential nominees not performing but what can you do?
You don’t have the power to fire them, what you can only do is to pass through your Committee and question them, so we do likewise to these ones.

When you praise them you praise with caution, there is a responsibility of the Parliament to do oversight and the President again to hire and fire them as he likes.

I thank you very much for your contribution.


I believe with all what the Deputy Chief Whip and Colleague Members of Parliament have said I am happy they are going to served us, so they shall serve the people of Sierra Leone, so we can give them our support base on our Oversight functions.

I thank you very Much.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I cannot say more but I ask the Lord to bless us all in this our gathering and may the Lord bless you and may the Lord continue to give you wisdom and that you will talk to our neighbour, our next door neighbour to understand the contour, the geographical line, the historic boundary between Yenga and Guinea.
I hope you continue to do so, and you are a very good man not because you are Dr Abass Bundu because you have contributed a lot for the betterment of Sierra Leone.

When you came they called you the Abass Bundu from Cambridge, I will called the Abass Bundu from ECOWAS, so you went to Guinea and we are hoping that you give us a positive result at the end of the day.

May you live long to see some of these things 43 coming through.
I will look at you as somebody we cannot forget in a hurry, we will always think about you that your contribution Nationally and Internationally is taking Sierra Leone on the map, so we pray that you would be with us, don’t mind us sometimes when we move you on is to ensure that you are still strong to think the Sierra Leonean way, when you came you were serving Pa Shiaky, you are still thinking that way, he has served in all sectors.

So thank you very much and may the Lord bless us all.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, thank you.

You know it is always nice for your Colleagues on the other side supporting you that is why sometimes we deliberately mistake to see the collaboration, to see how we synergise in this Well.

Thank you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that the Ninth Report on the Third Session of the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the Recommendations contained therein be approve.
THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Leader of Government Business for his contribution.

Before I put the question, it is the little concerning that since we are approving a man of God amongst the nominees I will very much have like to have a few of our own men of God but there is current to my left.
Honourable Abdul Kargbo, I really would have like to have the men of God in our midst in the Well to say few words, I will accept Honourable Daniel Koroma being a man of God but I thought I also have Honourable Lahai Marah.

Before I put the question the Clerk has a brief announcement to make, a little departure from procedure because I don’t want once I have finished to see an exodus from the House, and then you missed the point that needs to be taken along with all of us from the Clerk’s announcement.
HON.

PARAN U. TARAWALLY [Clerk of Parliament] Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this is just a quick announcement.

I am in line with concern by Mr Speaker and this House, NaCOVERC has sent a team to Parliament and the team is stationed at the State Hall, and we are requesting Members of Parliament as well as Staff of Parliament that want to do their COVID-19 test voluntarily, we are encouraging you after the sittings to go to the State Hall, and know your status.

I thank you.
I thank you.

44 THE SPEAKER: I thank the Clerk of Parliament and I will take note of those who undergo the test because them I know their status.

I will know their status beyond all reasonable doubt.

Now that Honourable Members, I will now put the question that the Ninth report of the third Session of the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Motion of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has been approved] THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

It is now my pleasant duty to extend my own personal congratulations and felicitations to our nominees that have been approved.
The approval by this House is a great deal, it is nature of our process, our Constitutional process that when you come to the House, you come as nominees of His Excellency, the President, but when you leave the House you leave as approved nominees by His Excellency, the President of our Country, what that mean basically is that the trust and confidence that the President imposed in each one of you has now received the endorsement of the entire Parliament and for that you deserved the highest acclaimed.
Congratulations, we wish you well in your new assignments.
I want to single out as it has been done many of the Members before me, I would like to single out two people or three, the NACSA Commissioner and her Deputy, I think without question they have established themselves that they do have proving competence to manned that important Institution and I am quite certain like the rest of the House that you are going to excel in the discharge of your onerous responsibility even more than you have done so far.
With regards to the Dr. Turad Senesie, you are going to your new office with hopes, the high hopes of this House, the history we had with your predecessor has not been a pleasant one but as you yourself acknowledged that this House has a critical crucial role to play in the discharge of the functions of your Ministry, feel free to establish the necessary nexus to enable you succeed with this House.
I have known you personally long before you became Minister and along before I became Speaker, and I can vogue 45 that you are a man who is sane, intelligent, careful, censorious when it is necessary and I have no doubt that you will excel and discharge those functions to the satisfaction not only of His Excellency, the President but to the satisfaction of this entire House of Parliament.
We wish you well, God bless, go with our blessing and perform, and by the way let me say that there is unfinished business with your predecessor in case he is needed we would summon him through you to come back because you are answerable to Parliament and we need to clear the air and clear the backlog indeed we need to.
And let no man think that when he is relieved of his Ministerial position his is thereby relieved of his answerable and his answerability to this House, he remains answerable whether you have been removed or not, I think that the principle we must clearly recognised and spell out, it does not mean that when you are relieved of your Ministerial appointment therefore, S.O [2] “u don balance” so to speak.

There is no balancing you act here; you are responsible at all times in and out of office.
With that, we wish you well, good luck and God bless.

Thank you.

Any other announcement?

Yes Leader of Opposition.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have agreed in this Well to do things the right way and this is 2021, we agreed before we went on recess.

THE SPEAKER: I asked the approved nominees to kindly take leave of us?

Yes Leader of the opposition.

HON.

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


As I said we agreed that 2021 it should not be business as usual but it seems that we have started on the same business as usual.

I was shocked when I read yesterday that the first shipment of iron ore Kingho mining took place last Friday, I was shocked.
Mr Speaker, I saw it through a publication by writers, there is way we would ship iron ore without having an agreement ratified by this House, and it should not happen, under what terms and conditions did they ship the iron ore?

We don’t have any details and we don’t know the quantity of tailings on the ground, we don’t the condition under which they are going to take over, they have not mine a single ore but yet still they exported.

On what conditions Mr Speaker?


If you go Section [40] of the Constitution it is very clear, and 46 you would tie that with Section [110] because there is no way they would have ship this iron ore after having repaired the rail which is also a property of the Government of Sierra Leone, for them to use it might have been financial conditions or otherwise and Section [110] makes it very clear whether we are going to waive, we are going to impose it, Parliament must give its approval.
Mr Speaker, many things are going on which are not supposed to go on, I think I would be engaging the Leader of Government Business after this sitting.

Last year we raised issues on specific agreement, one of them came, the other is yet to come to this House, we have to stop these things.
Mr Speaker, with your permission if you go Section [40] of the Constitution the Executive powers of the President, even when he delegates the proviso is very clear that any treaty, agreement or convention executed by which is done by the President or under the authority of the President it must come to this House and Mr Speaker, the ore that was unground belongs to the people of this Country, we want the benefit but we must follow the procedures.
So, on that note Mr Speaker, I am urging you to get the Minister of Mines to come to this House and explain to us what are the terms and conditions entered so far and that they must stop all shipment until we get an agreement ratified by this House, this is unacceptable Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: On the same matter?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: No Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, do you have any response to make before I… HON.
MATHEW S. NYUMA: I have listened to the Leader of the Opposition noted Sir.

Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Not only noted but I would like to direct through that… 47 HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I will not stop because I don’t want to go beyond that, I said noted.

Mr Speaker, take that view at the moment, I have listen to him that is a very good concern he has raised and he has cited the Constitution, we are dealing with another arm.

So, I will take that message on board to ensure that the right things take place.
Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: I am pleased to hear that response.

I am very pleased to hear your response.

I know you are a man of your words.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes I am going to do that one, don’t worry that is why… HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the Leader of Government Business, I understand his position and where he is coming from, but my position is that we get the Minister to come to this House and tell us what the status is.

Mr Speaker, that is my position.


THE SPEAKER: It is so directed and if we don’t get any response through the Leader of Government Business, I would direct the Clerk to write on behalf of the House to the Minister of Mines to come and appear before the House to provide the necessary response.

But I want to believe that the response we have received from the Leader of Government Business is adequate for the present purpose.

Let us wait and see what happens.

HON.


HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to call the attention of this House to an issue which again is still rearing its head in our society.

Mr Speaker, I remember sometimes last month we had the Governor of Bank, Sierra Leone summoned by the Committee on Finance, he came here, we asked for explanation on why the shortage of our local currency in our economy.
Mr Speaker, it would amaze you to know that the Governor was not able to proffer an explanation as to why we are experiencing this shortage of cash.

Mr Speaker, to my dismay yesterday, a very senior Member of this House, I would not call his name, wanted money from the Bank, he could not get the amount he wanted.

This morning, 48 coming from my House to Parliament, there was a long queue at the Rokel Commercial Bank, people queuing for money.
Mr Speaker, if the Governor cannot tell us the reason why we have a shortage of local currency or he cannot even proffer an explanation rather he came with bogus theories which we all know about and he failed to address the basic dynamics of our local economy.

I think he needs to come to this House again to explain to us for the benefit of the House, for the edification of this House to let us know why we are in the state we are.
I think it is a very serious issue and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

THE SPEAKER: It is so directed and I hope Mr Clerk is taking note.

HON.

ABDUL K. KAMARA: Mr Speaker, all Members of Parliament here present are very glued to their phones and we follow the social media trend by the minutes.

What we have on social media is a worrisome trend and by one Sierra Leonean, Chernor Bah who is producing documents regarding the Office of the First Lady, and these documentations are on social media.
We want, through your Office, to have the people responsible in the Ministry of Finance to come and explain to us and Sierra Leoneans on this worrisome trend because what happens is that, he is not just producing documents, he is producing Bank evidences that have to do with the Central Bank.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, if the Bank Governor and all the other people there in Finance Ministry would come to this House and explain to us, because it has the tendency of creating misinformation.
If the information is at all correct, let them come again to this House and explain to us what is happening because when you look at all the Budget lining we have produced, I don’t think there is anything that has to do with the Office of the First Lady.

But if we are seeing withdrawals, I hope those information are not true but if they are true, let them come and explain to us the withdrawals that we are seeing on social media.

Thank you very much.


THE SPEAKER: Well, since we have been summoning the Governor of the Bank, his presence here will enable Members of Parliament not only to elicit information regarding 49 the shortage of local currency, but it would also provide an opportunity to question him about the evidence to which you have referred.

HON.
HON.

PC BAI KURR KANAGBARO SANKA III: Mr Speaker, I stand here on S.O [23] for the Telephone Companies, the IPS, we are having a lot of problems Sir and also we need the Minister of Information and Communication to really explain to us certain things that are going on with the sale of SALCAB.

The Government of Sierra Leone borrowed $103Mln from World Bank and $73Mln from other sources and we want to know what is happening there.
So, if SALCAB is to be sold as we are now anticipating that it has been sold to ZOODLABS.

We want to know what is the outcome and how is Government going to pay back the $73Mln; from where?

From the Consolidated Funds and we are part of the Committee but when we called him last week the Minister was with you Sir.

So, also the Telephone Companies, we need to know what is happening with them because the drop calls are so many.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Paramount Chief, when you called the Minister of Information, he happened to be a Member of the delegation that I headed to Guinea, we are back.

Maybe you would like to pursue that matter for us.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, you see I don’t just want to react to some of these things because I don’t want to create scene of anything.

I don’t expect all of us to react to social media documents with no legitimacy.

I don’t go in for those cheap things.


Mr Speaker, the Minister was not around because he went on an assignment given to him by the President, but we ensured that the ZOODLABS Company was here, they met with the Committee and they promised that they are working on certain things.

In fact the payment system which they were working with before is far less than what Government was expecting.
So, they have gone through all of these and they have the Committee on Information and Communication urged them to pay the registration fees to NATCOM, they have promised to do so with a time frame given to them by the 50 Committee, and he is part of that Committee.

So for me, let us give the Committee chance to work and let us work as Parliamentarians.

I don’t want us to create a news headline.

THE SPEAKER: No, I am not saying we elevate that issue to the Well.
Let it still remain in the domain of the Committee.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: No, but they know they have started, even when the Minister was not around they had a discussion in Committee Room and ensured that the Executive Director or the CEO of ZOODLABS were here.

They held meeting with the Committee and they gave them specific mandate to be carried and they promised to do with time frame given to them.
And the other one as I said, I don’t want to come here to bring social media business here, talking about the First Lady, I am not going in for those cheap things.

So, let us go through the appropriate channel.

Mr Speaker, when the Bank Governor came here, he responded by letter when the Chairman of the Committee wanted him, I have the Letter.

So, if you going to call him I will encourage you we meet after here to discuss the matter.
I have the letter in my possession, but I was copied, the Chairman wrote the letter.

I don’t know if you will like him to say something in line with that?

THE SPEAKER: By all means.

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: Mr Speaker, I left the Well for a while and I am made to understand that the Opposition Whip made some comment with regards the meeting we had with the Bank Governor.
Indeed, the Committee summoned the Bank of Sierra Leone alongside the Governor and his Deputy, they came and we had a fruitful meeting.

The Governor was able to explain the reasons for the shortage of the cash somewhere around November and December, and he assured the Committee and the people of Sierra Leone that that was a thing of the past and there are enough cash in the Banks to ensure that it will not happen any longer.

And it was a fruitful meeting, though.


If the House so deems fit that the Governor should still come and explain I am 51 surprised at my Colleague because he was in the meeting and we had a thorough meeting, the Bank Governor took his time to explained to the Committee.

We are yet probably to bring the report to the House with regards the meeting we had with the Governor.

THE SPEAKER: No, but let us be clear.


If you are saying the Governor assured the House or the Committee that that particular episode was a thing of the past, then how come yesterday and this morning Members are still experiencing a shortage?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, what he has done, we gave instruction to invite the Bank Governor and they have done the first meeting.

We follow up now the situation is still the same.


So, what we are expecting him to do is to again invite the Bank Governor as a follow-up or do oversight, check to the Bank, get first-hand information, invite the Bank Governor and they can iron it out.

What is the problem?

You said there is cash available at the Bank, there is no liquidation problem anymore, but why are we still having liquidation problems?

So, you do your own fact check and you call the Bank Governor to come.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, I want to agree with the Leader of Government Business.

What the Governor told them, because we are hearing it now for the first time.

I have a copy of the letter the Leader is referring to and I was not impressed with the letter.

But because they had to meet with the Committee, as a Leadership our responsibility is to allow the Committees to work.

But when they met, they did not get back to us.

So, we don’t know what transpired in the Committee.
But now what he is saying to us here is not consistent with what is happening.

The Banks are still without liquid; that is the fact.

THE SPEAKER: In that case, let us not be labour the point.

In consistent with what the Leader of Government Business has suggested we would still leave it within your domain to invite the Governor to bring you up to speed on what has actually happened as against the real experience of Members of Parliament, when they go to the Bank and to report to the House.

52 HON.
52 HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: We will do just that.

THE SPEAKER: So, you must report on our next sitting?

We need to be time bound here.

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: No problem.

When is the next sitting Sir?

THE SPEAKER: Okay.

You report next Tuesday.

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: We would work towards that.

THE SPEAKER: Very well.

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: Thank you.


THE SPEAKER: And incidentally, the directive given about inviting the Bank Governor is also tied to that timing that the Bank Governor should be invited to appear before us against next Tuesday.

Yes let me hear the Member from Kono and after the Honourable Paramount Chief.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

My concern has to do with the Papers that were laid this morning by the Deputy Minister of Finance.
Before the laying of these Papers, we had the Leader of Government Business skipping some of the Papers that were to be laid but as far as I know all of the Papers were on the Order Paper to be laid in the House… HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Point of Order.

That was a motion when I withdrew the one or two items and it was carried by this House.

It is a law, why are you questioning that?

You were here and you did not move a counter motion.

THE SPEAKER: Hold on a bit.


That is why I am a bit curious and I am a bit amazed why you are making reference to that.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: That is an affront to this House.

It was a motion and you did not move a counter motion my brother.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: It is Okay.

Mr Speaker, my concern… 53 THE SPEAKER: Your concern is not accepted because we moved a motion to remove those two items from the Order Paper and we voted on them and it was carried.
I cannot allow you, having failed to raise a counter motion, you now want to go through the back door of using S.O [23] to bring that same issue up.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Mr Speaker, I am not using the back door, but I can understand… THE SPEAKER: I rule you out of Order.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Okay Mr Speaker.

I will go on to the other issue I want to talk about.

You said earlier that the concern… THE SPEAKER: No, wait now.

Let me hear what he has to say.

HON.


SAHR CHARLES: Mr Speaker, I believe this is a House of respect and respect should be given to every Member of Parliament in this House.

THE SPEAKER: I have given you the right to speak.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

And I deserve your protection.


In the area of the concern raised by the Honourable Member from Kambia representing Constituency 059, it is clear that when we see things that are of public interest as Members of Parliament, we should bring them up.

It is not enough for us to say it is not Official, what is Official?

We have seen it and some of the evidences that are out with regards the implication of the Office of the First Lady are of concern to us.
And if a Member has raised an issue of that nature, I believe as a Parliament that is concerned about the people we represent in this country… HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members that is controversial… HON.

SAHR CHARLES: What do you mean?

THE SPEAKER: Order!

Order!

Order!

Please.

Take your seat!

Take your seat!

Honourable Member, were you listening?

Were you following the proceedings?

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Very well, Mr Speaker.

It’s only… 54 THE SPEAKER: Wait a minute.


When the Honourable Member from Kambia raised the issue that has a bearing on us inviting the Governor, what did I say?

I said we would take both issues; the shortage of currency and the issue raised by the Honourable Member when the Bank Governor appear before us.

I thought that should satisfy it.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: That is my point.

Mr Speaker, that is my point.


That is the area I want to come in if only the Deputy Leader of Government Business would have allowed me.

It is not enough for us to call the Bank Governor to answer to those questions, but rather the Ministry of Finance.

They deal with the Budget of this Country and they should be here to answer to these questions.

THE SPEAKER: I will restrict the issue to the Governor of the Central Bank for the present.
If after his appearance we are not satisfied then we would know what to do.

HON SAHR CHARLES: As it pleases you, Mr Speaker.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Point of Order.

You know, we are guided by the Standing Orders.

I want to read on S.O [23], please for the good of this House.

THE SPEAKER: Not raising controversial issues?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes!

THE SPEAKER: Fine, I am aware of that.

I am aware of that.

HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: I have seen a lot of things on the social media about me, about you, about everybody but do we bring it in the House because they have seen it on social media.

There are so many lies about people on the social media, we have seen that over and over.

So, we bring everything here because it has to do with the First Lady?

I have seen a lot on Mohamed Bangura, Honourable Chernor Maju Bah and everybody here.

It is a ploy to disfigure us.


THE SPEAKER: Honourable Leader of Government Business, the issue is closed.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Okay, thank you.

I rest my case.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Paramount Chief you have the Floor.

55 HON.

P.C.

ALHAJI KANDEH PARIA KAWALLEH II: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is an area connected to my Chiefdom, Sir.
The name of my Chiefdom has created a lot of problem, that name “Gbanti” is the same name given to another District’s Chiefdom also Gbanti Chiefdom.

Last week we had a meeting and that brought a lot of problem and I have told the Director in connection with that particular aspect and still there are no positive moves Mr Speaker, I want you to step in so that they can change my name.
The previous name of my Chiefdom was “Sanda Gbonkoh.” So, we will accept the old name rather than getting this confrontation between me and Gbanti Chiefs.

Mr Speaker, I am also pleading too in the area of this lock down.

As I am talking to you, there was no fuel in Makeni; all the fuel tanks are blocked on the way.

Yesterday I wanted to buy fuel but there was no way, I had to change my vehicle and used the diesel vehicle and also there is no way vehicles carrying goods could enter Makeni.
As I am talking to you Mr Speaker, the price of rice has already mounted because of this lockdown.

So, I want to plead with this House for you to intervene so that vehicles carrying fuel and goods are allowed to enter Makeni so as to curtail our strain.

Thank you very much Sir.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Clerk of Parliament, and I would take note of those who undergo the test because then I know their status I will know their status among all reasonable doubt.

HON.
HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: Mr Speaker, I guess the issue raised by the Honourable Paramount Chief with regards tankers and trucks load of food stuff and essential commodities on the road is but very important.

I think the road block is meant for individuals plying the routs, not for fuel and food stuff.

I think the NaCOVERC Officials should be summoned so that they allow essential vehicles to ply the roads so that our people will not suffer in those places, it is important Mr Speaker.
56 THE SPEAKER: Thank you, thank you.

With that, the House stands adjourned to Thursday the 4th of February, 2021 at 10am.

Adjournment [The House rose at 1: 25 p.m. and was adjourned to Thursday, 4th February, 2021 at 10 a.m.] 57