Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698080371228.pdf (Sierra Leone)
OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL, FREETOWN P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ [HANSARD] ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT THIRD SESSION -FIRST MEETING THURSDAY, 25TH JUNE, 2020 SESSION – 2019/2020 OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL, FREETOWN P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ [HANSARD] ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT THIRD SESSION -FIRST MEETING THURSDAY, 25TH JUNE, 2020 SESSION – 2019/2020 2 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: 3 First Meeting of the Third Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held Thursday, 25th June, 2020.

3 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON TUESDAY 2ND JUNE, 2020 III.

STATEMENT FROM THE RT.

HON SPEAKER IV.

LAYING OF PAPERS THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS (i) PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2016 (ii) PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2017.
V. MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SRVICE PROPOSER: HON MATHEW S. NYUMA SECONDER: HON BASHIRU SILIKIE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE SECOND 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.

VI.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEE ON SELECTION.


4 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ THIRD SESSION – FRIST MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Thursday, 25th June, 2020.

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

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

5[2] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA [Leader of Government Business]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise to amend the Order Paper.

After item “II: RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR TUESDAY 2ND JUNE 2020”, I want us to have Item “III: STATEMENT FROM THE RETIRED HONOURABLE SPEAKER” in line with various issues we have at hand.
After that, Item “IV” now would be: “LAYING OF PAPERS [i] and [ii]” and item “V: MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE”.

THE SPEAKER: In as much as we are all with you, can you please start again and take us slowly through the amendments?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Alright!


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise to amend the Order Paper to read as follows: After item “II: RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR TUESDAY 2ND JUNE 2020, we now have item “III: STATEMENT FROM THE RETIRED HONOURABLE SPEAKER” in line with various issues at hand.

Item “IV: LAYING OF PAPERS [i] and [ii]” remain the same; Item “V: MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE; item “VI: ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEE ON SELECTION”.
That is all we have for the amendment, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: So, you are suggesting that we have new item “III: STATEMENT FROM THE RETIRED HONOURABLE SPEAKER”.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes Mr Speaker, we should have new item “III” which reads: “STATEMENT FROM THE RETIRED HONOURABLE SPEAKER”.

THE SPEAKER: Item “III” becomes item “IV”.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes Mr Speaker, item “III” becomes item “IV”, item “IV” becomes item “V” et al.
6 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, you have all heard the amendment to the Order Paper, any Seconder?

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I so second Mr Speaker.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [The Order Paper has been amended] CORRECTION OF II.
PROCEEDINGS PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON TUESDAY 2ND JUNE, 2020 VOTES AND FOR THE THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I want to first of all extend a very warm welcome to those Members who because of the regulation relating to Parliament need to observe Social Distancing were not able to be with us in the main Chamber during our last meetings, you are welcome back.

I hope you have found your sitting arrangements in order, I do not see anyone raising any difficulty with that.
So, we shall proceed with today’s Business.

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, with regards to this same sitting arrangement, perhaps we need to make further clarification on it because there was confusion this morning.

THE SPEAKER: Physical Social Distancing is still in place, that one has not yet been lifted.

Votes and Proceedings for the second meeting held on Tuesday 2nd June, 2020.
As it is our usual practice, we shall skip pages 1 through to 5 of the Votes and Proceedings and start our consideration from page 6.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH [Leader of Opposition APC]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, before that, may I just ask for the Administrative Staff to explain the rationale of making the attendance look in this form, putting parties separately; may I know what the rationale is Mr Speaker?
This is Parliament, we are here as one family and we will be operating like this forever; so what is the rationale of the segregation now?

Mr Speaker, I heard the Leader of Government Business say that this is One Country, One People and if that is the case, it makes it even the worse for the attendance to look the way it is.

7 HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Leader of the Opposition [APC], I did not say so; did you hear me?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M BAH: Well, I did not because I was speaking to Mr Speaker.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: You responded to undertones.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: In this formula of Oneness, we are One People.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you sir.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: We are one people in Parliament; so Mr Speaker I just want to say, if that is the objection from the Leader on the other side, let us go back to the previous way of doing Votes and Proceedings; do not confuse us, we are one family under the Green, White and Blue [Applause].

HON.
HON.

MOMOH BOCKARIE: We have skipped pages 1 to 5, why taking us back to another page?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Please Mr Speaker, that was not an undertone, it was not an undertone; that was not an undertone.

THE SPEAKER: We will take it as one HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: We have strangers within the Well.

THE SPEAKER: Take it as one.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: We are not in camera.

THE SPEAKER: I will ensure that subsequent Votes and Proceedings are done the way it should be.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: We will in fact have it as how it has been inclined.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you.

8 THE SPEAKER: Page 6?

Page 7?

Page 8?

Page 9?

Page 10 and lastly, Page 11?

Can someone please move for the adoption of the Record of Votes and Proceedings for the Parliamentary Sitting held on Tuesday 2nd June, 2020.

HON.

BRIMA MANSARAY: I so move Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Do I hear a Seconder?

HON.

ISHMAIL S. SANDY: I so second Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [Record of Votes and Proceedings for Parliamentary Sitting held on Tuesday 2nd June, 2020 has been adopted] III.

STATEMENT FROM THE RETIRED HONOURABLE SPEAKER THE SPEAKER: I have two statements to make Honourable Members, and they are both sorrowful statements.
It is with deep regret that I have to announce the untimely death of the Honourable Alimamy Osman Kamara, former Member of Parliament representing Constituency 073, Lugbu and Gbagbo chiefdoms, Bo District; which sad event took place on Thursday 18th June, 2020 here in Freetown.

The late Honourable Member was first elected to Parliament from Bo District in 2018 and remained Member of Parliament for his Constituency until his demise.
As a Member of Parliament, he contributed immensely to the Proceedings of this House.

He served amongst other things as Chairman Tertiary Education Committee and also as a Member of several other Parliamentary Oversight Committees.

As it is our usual practice, his remains will be laid in the State Hall at an appointed date following which, he will be interned in his home town; the House will be duly informed about the relevant dates for those occasions.
May I ask all of us to please rise and observe a minute silence [A minute silence observed]?

May God Almighty forgive his earthly mistakes and grant his gentle soul eternal rest in his heavenly kingdom, Amin.

Honourable Members, representatives of Gender Right groups, fellow Sierra Leoneans; today again, the state of Sierra Leone is faced with another difficult and challenging 9 moment in the struggle to promote, protect and defend the rights of women and children.
We are witnessing a spate of violence and social assault against women who constitute 51% of the population of our Country.

We may all recall that few months ago, this Parliament passed into law the Sexual Offences Amendment Act, 2019.

By the commencement of that Act, penalties against rape and sexual penetration have been made stronger.

It is however ironic to know that amidst numerous legislations, rape and sexual penetration of women and girls still continue unabated.
Honourable Members, the case of Khadija Saccoh, a young 5 year old, is a very different one.

It is not only a case of alleged sexual penetration but also one of alleged murder.

Therefore, Parliament as the Supreme Law-making Authority of this Nation is deeply disturbed by this act of cruelty perpetrated against an innocent child whose future has been brought to an abrupt and tragic end.
On behalf of the Leadership, all Members of Parliament and Staff, I unreservedly and absolutely condemn such a heinous and abhorrent act against a poor soul.

We will ensure that we work with Government and the Judiciary to bring justice to this matter; we are equally committed to put an end to rape and sexual penetration against women and girls.
In the meantime, we call on His Excellency the President to speedily establish the Task Force on rape and gender-based violence as a fulfilment of his own commitment to the eradication of rape and other forms of gender violence in Sierra Leone.

We further urge the Chief Justice and other judicial officers to expedite the setting up of the Fast–track Court, to speedily try and conclude cases of rape and gender violence.
To our donor partners, we appeal for support to establish a Forensic Laboratory to assist the prosecution of rape and other related sexual offences.

Honourable Members, in conclusion, I would like to extend on behalf of the entire House and on behalf of my own self, our condolences to the bereaved family of Khadija on the tragic and untimely departure of a very fine daughter, may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
To all campaigners and advocates, we thank you most profoundly for your continued fight to defend humanity; we have heard you and we shall act.

Let there be justice for 10 Khadija [Applause], let there be freedom for all and let rape end now [Applause].

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace and I would invite all of us to rise and observe a minute silence [A minute silence observed], may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amin.

IV.

PAPERS LAID THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table of this House the following documents: [i] PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2016 [ii] PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2017 [Applause].

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

MATHEW S. NYUMA SECONDER: HON.


BASHIRU SILIKIE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE SECOND 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.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Third Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, Second Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service on Parliamentary vetting of Presidential Nominees.

1.
1.

INTRODUCTION 11 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service met on Thursday 18th and Monday 22nd June, 2020 respectively and interviewed eight Presidential nominees for appointments as follows: i.

Deputy Governor II, Bank of Sierra Leone ii.

Two Members, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency iii.

Member, Board of Directors Sierra Leone Local Content Agency iv.

Chief of Defence Staff v. Three Justices, Court of Appeal.

2.
2.

PROCEDURE The Committee conducted the hearing within its set framework of procedures and interviewed nominees on issues pertaining to their educational background to ensure that they have the relevant education and necessary backup experience to man such offices of state.

Further probing questions put to the nominees covered wide ranging issues relating to their track records in other pertinent work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a nationally productive tenure.
SECOND SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY, 18TH JUNE, 2020.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the following nominees were interviewed on oath i. Mr. Sheikh Alhaji Yayah Sesay - Proposed Deputy Bank Governor II, Bank of Sierra Leone.

Mr Sesay is a renowned career economist and holds a Master Degree in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana (2001).
He is a result-oriented and multi- skilled professional with rich and diverse background acquired while working with the following national and international organizations: 12 World Bank, Sierra Leone Country Office (June 2012 to date): as Country Operations Officer that ensured quality assurances of various banks portfolios, provided support in donor relations and harmonization with Non-Governmental Organizations etc.

etc.
etc.

Liberia and Sierra Leone Country Offices (2007-2012) as Senior Micro-economic Analyst, that provided support for the Country’s Economic strategy reviews, monitored Bank Group lending and non-lending activities and participated in a host of related macro- economic, structural and institutional reforms in the two countries.
Bank of Sierra Leone, 1996-2008; as Senior Manager that reported on Sierra Leone External Debt, was also instrumental in the establishment of the Sierra Leone Stock Exchange and monitored the trend of exchange rate and took part in the review of most legislations especially the Bankruptcy and Stock Exchange laws.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with these proliferate accomplishments observed, the Committee asked the nominee on wide ranging questions on the national economy relating to escalating inflation and exchange rates especially in the COVID-19 period and possible address to such economic malaise as proposed Deputy Bank Governor.

Responding to the Committee’s questions, Mr Sesay said: “the economy for the last two years or so started a recovery programme where all indicators were showing positive signs.
The growth rate for 2019 was projected at 5.6% but unfortunately, with the emergence of COVID-19, there has been a contraction of about 3.5%.

This certainly affected their indicators; the inflation improved since 2016 to 2018 and we experienced some improvements on the inflation figures from 18.2% in 2016 to 17.7% in 2017 and in 2018, it was over 14%.

With COVID-19 definitely, the inflation is going to be affected”.
Mr Sesay added that, the currency had faced with serious pressure in the past and that COVID-19 only worsened the situation.

He however stated that, the solution to the problem was not only with the Central Bank but have to go beyond to embrace improvements on our production in Agriculture, Fisheries, Mining etc., etc.

; that were 13 real sectors of earnings in terms of foreign exchange and savings in terms of food items.
He added that with the experience he acquired from the World Bank, he was going to the Central Bank, and with a team spirit to strive for the overall objectives of the institution as embodied in the monetary stability, as a money in the amended Bank of Sierra Leone Act for two Deputy Bank Governors; one handling monetary stability, and the other, financial stability.

The nominee anticipated to settle for the latter where he had passion and indebt knowledge.
The erudite economist concluded that though the COVID -19 potted a gloomy impact on the national economy, he was hopeful that the Quick Action Economic Recovery Programme of Government embracing different pillars of resource mobilization promised a bright light at the end of the tunnel if well executed.

ii.
ii.

Mrs. Hawah Humu Wurie_- Proposed Member National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Mrs Hawah Humu Wurie is a seasoned retired career nurse in mental healthcare, whose path she pursued vigorously after graduation, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Botany at Fourah Bay College in 1981.

She had served in various branches of mental health dealing with adults and adolescents especially relating to impact of drugs and alcohol abuses.
She possesses an in-depth knowledge and supervisory skills in the implementation and evaluation of issues relating to mental health that even earned her astute reputation as “Psychologist” at both our main referral Hospital – Connaught and the United Kingdom Mental Homes.
Answering to probing questions on what values she would bring to the Agency in the midst of increasing trend of drug abuse amongst our youthful population, the Mental Health Specialist said, I quote: “drug abuse is a menace or cancer that even the advanced nations are struggling with.
The 2008 Drug Control Act passed by this Parliament is a good working tool so I am going with clear mind for collaborative work not only to prevent the abuse of narcotic drugs, but to 14 help institute strategies for caring for those victims at our residual homes”, she concluded.

iii.
iii.

Ms. Constance Bockarie - Proposed Member, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Ms Constance Bockarie is a seasoned Financial Expert Administrator for nineteen years of fruitful services in various private and Commercial Enterprises in Sierra Leone.

She studied at the Institute of Public Administration and Management [IPAM] and at the British Institute of Professional Studies, Cambridge in the UK [1997].
In her response to the Committee on the enforcement of drug laws, she remarked: “I am passionate about the increasing level of drug effects amongst the youths.

With team work, we will look at these laws, encourage authorities to mobilize adequate resources to areas where resource gaps exists so that we can reduce potential losses from this menace”.

She concluded on the resounding note that, with the collective input as Members of the Agency, they would overcome the perennial challenges.
THE SPEAKER: As indeed he has invited me to do, I will take note.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Cambridge produces nothing but the best [Laughter].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: It is not the online Cambridge University we are talking about, but those who went to the College itself, they are different.

iv.

Mrs. Maude Regina Peacock - Proposed Member, Board of Directors, Sierra Leone Local Content Agency.
Mrs Maude Regina Peacock holds a Master of Degrees, of Arts Degree in Education and Society from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

She is a Gender Activist, Educationist and Psycho-social consultant.
Her long tenure in the teaching profession both at the lower and tertiary educational levels coupled with experiences on the various Board operations at the former National Power Authority (NPA) as a Chairperson, and as a Member of the African Peer Review Mechanism [APRM], give her 15 a leverage to fully understand and deliver on what the nation expects from the Local Content Agency.
Reacting to Committee’s questions on what she would bring different to the Agency, Mrs Peacock said: “The Board as created by Local Content Act, must have Members as nominated by the President from varying knowledge backgrounds which with team work spirit, will rebrand the interest of Sierra Leoneans in all spheres of job creation, accessibility and sustenance with acceptable national labour laws”.
THIRD SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, 22NDJUNE, 2020 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the following nominees were interviewed on oath: i.

Major General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay- Proposed Chief of Defence Staff.

Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay is a Professional Military Officer, with strong academic background.
After his Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Economics in 2009, he pursued doubled Masters in both International Affairs and Strategic Studies: (2011) from a National Defence University, Kaduna Nigeria and the Order Military in Science: (2015) from a National Defence University in Beijing, China.

He has earned lots of certificates from professional trainings as listed below: ▪ African Strategic Course No.

23.

– from Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt.
(2013) ▪ Staff Harmonization Course: April 2014 to May 2014 - Horton Academy ▪ Junior Division: May 2001 to July 2001 - Ghana Armed Force Command and Staff College, Teshie, Accra, Ghana.
▪ Cadet Training: March 1991 to October 1991 - Benguema Training Center With this admirable academic background, the Committee observed that, the nominee’s ascendency to the current rank of Chief of Defence Staff had been a hard- earned endeavour as shown in the chronological positions held as listed below: 16 ▪ Platoon Commander, October 1991 to March 1993; ▪ Company Commander, 35th Battalion - March 1993 to August 1995; ▪ Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion - January 1997 to September 1997; ▪ Adjutant, 16th Battalion - March 1996 to January 1997; ▪ Commanding Officer, RDF Battalion - February 2000 to June 2001; ▪ Deputy Chief of Staff, 5th Infantry Brigade - June 2001 to March 2004; ▪ Staff Officer Grade 2 Personnel, MOD - March 2004 to September 2005; ▪ Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion - September 2009 to June 2010; ▪ Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Force Commander - August 2011 to October 2011; [Applause] ▪ Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion - October 2011 to December 2011; ▪ Brigade Commander, 4th Infantry Brigade - November 2013 to July 2014 and August 2015 to August 2017.
Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay assumed the position of Joint Force Commander from 7th February 2018 until his recent appointment as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Responding to questions on how he plans to lead the Joint Force and change the lives of Military personnel in terms of accommodation, Major General Sesay said: “changes require political will and I am sure that His Excellency is more than willing to support the Army.
I am aware of the dilapidating conditions of our barracks ranging from lack of perimeter fences that have led to massive encroachments on our lands, upsurge in the number of illegal occupants by retired/deceased personnel’s families and children under 18 years etc.

etc.

This problem was taken seriously by the previous Administration of former Government of President Earnest Bai Koroma which this Government also supports.
Operation PEABU coined for the construction of the barracks is on- going at Wilberforce, Gondama and Kambia; I will follow up on these and 17 ensure that our serving personnel are housed in decent structures befitting a modern day Force”.
On revamping, the defunct Military Engineering Unit for construction purposes, the proposed CDS promised the Committee to revive the Project though he asserted that the Project was capital-intensive but all documentations, including procurement processes were now on course, and would be vigorously pursued.

He pledged to consult with Parliamentary Leadership for advice on the Military, Agriculture, personnel housing, and land reclamation projects thereafter.

ii.

Hon.
ii.

Hon.

Justice Fatimata Bintu Alhadi J,- Proposed Justice of the Court of Appeal.

Hon.

Justice Fatimata Bintu Alhadi is a legal practitioner of no mean standing with an enviable academic background at home and abroad.

She is a Lecturer of Commercial Law and Practice, and Professional Ethics and Advocacy at the Sierra Leone Law School.

She has acquired wealth of experience during sojourn in both the legal field and the corporate world.

The revered Hon.
The revered Hon.

Justice Fatimata Bintu Alhadi has held the following positions in the Judiciary/legal fields: ▪ Judge of the High Court of Sierra Leone; ▪ Head of Legal Affairs of Financial Intelligence Unit of Sierra Leone; and ▪ Prosecutor, at the Law Officers’ Department at the Ministry of Justice, to name but a few.
▪ She has served in other strategic positions in corporate institutions like the Guarantee Trust Bank [G.T.B] and other affiliate legal organizations Responding to Committee enquiries on her opinion of sexual harassment against women, as a case load on offences in court increases, the Honourable Justice Fatimata Bintu said “One thing I would suggest to the Attorney-General is that, even though we have just created a Sexual Offence Division, it does not mean that Judges that sits in that Division, sit exclusively on sexual offenses matters.
Perhaps, for us to have a quick impact, I suggest that we should have a 18 number of Judges that sits on just sexual offenses matters to fast-track those matters; perhaps for a year or so for us to see the impact it would have.

I have keen interest in this matter, not only as a Judge but as a woman”.

In another engagement on her neutrality as Justice of the Appeal Court, Justice Fatimata said “I know for sure that justice is the bedrock of democracy, rule of law, and separation of powers.
When I go to the position for which I am appointed, I will make sure that I do not allow myself to be compromised by political decisions; that is against rule background [Applause].

I will never allow myself to be influenced, and as a Judge, that is one of our Cardinal Principles”.

iii.

Hon.

Justice Komba Kamanda J.

– Proposed Justice of the Court of Appeal.

Hon.

Justice Komba Kamanda is a household name relating to justice in Sierra Leone.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, take this House to Order.

THE SPEAKER: Order!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: This is not accepted Mr Speaker, this is my submission; it is unaccepted.

THE SPEAKER: Order!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: That is my submission.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, Order!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you Mr Speaker.

The First Lady, it was under your administration, I will come to that.

Hon.

Justice Komba Kamanda is a household name relating to justice in Sierra Leone [Applause].
He has an enviable legal academic background and wealth of experience as far as judicial practice is concerned and has won so many accolades to his credit.

Mr Speaker, I want to be heard loud and clear in giving this particular report.

19 He has an enviable legal academic background and wealth of experience as far as judicial practice is concerned and has won so many accolades to his credit.

Hon.
Hon.

Justice Komba Kamanda has been through the ranks in the legal arena thus: ▪ Magistrate in 2005 ▪ Senior Magistrate in 2008 ▪ Acting Principal Magistrate in 2011 ▪ Coroner in 2012 ▪ Member of the Inter Sectorial Committee on Justice Delivery in 2013 ▪ Member of the Bail and Sentencing Committee in 2015 ▪ And High Court Judge in 2016 [Applause].
Responding to his suitability for his current appointment as a Justice of the Appeal Court in accordance to Section 135[3] of the 1991 Constitution, the learned Justice said: “I am over-qualified to be Justice of the Court of Appeal [Applause].

If you count from 2004 to now, it is about 16 years.

I was appointed as a Judge in January 2016 under the previous administration by the former President of Sierra Leone H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma”.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Alright!

Order!

Order!


THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, Order!

Order!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, “I was appointed as Judge in January 2016 under the previous administration by the former President of Sierra Leone H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.

Immediately you are called to the Bar, automatically you are a Barrister”.

I am reading the report sir, this was not given to me [Undertone].

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Okay Mr Leader.


HON MATHEW S. NYUMA: Alright, I will proceed.

20 HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Do not deny the Speaker; you are using the name of the former President.

HON MATHEW S. NYUMA: “I have been a Judge since 2016 and I have served as a Magistrate since 2005 and in all these, I am very independent [Applause].

If approved by this Honourable House, I will make sure that I do not delay justice but always serve for the good of this nation’’.
On further questions on his take on ex parte, application, consideration in court, he said [Interrupted].

THE SPEAKER: Hold on!

Honourable Members, let us maintain the decorum that this House deserves and expects.

Let us be quite honest with ourselves; to my left, history tells us that the Honourable Justice was elevated to the High Court by the previous administration and now, he has been elevated to the Court of Appeal by the administration to my right [Applause].

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for that short statement.

When I would be reacting, I would be responding to that statement.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member of the Opposition, please let us maintain decorum.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Governance is continuity on the good path, because the previous administration saw Justice Komba Kamanda as a good man.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, on further questions on his take on ex parte application, consideration in court, he said: “it is made just by one person, one side just come and ask for orders, and the Court is compelled to grant those orders and the other side is served.

My take on ex parte application is that, they are part of our laws and so if we need to forget about them, then we need to come back to Parliament with draft laws.

Well, sometimes there is challenge and no law is perfect.
[Please do this correction] there is no part in 21 the world where you can have perfect legislations.

All I would say is that, sometimes we need to be cautious in dealing with ex parte applications”.

Hon Justice Komba Kamanda said that, the peace of the nation to a greater extent rests upon the competence and independence of the Judiciary, the tenet he promised to uphold and work assiduously to achieve.

vii Hon Justice Alhaji Momojah Stevens - Proposed Justice, Court of Appeal.

Hon.
Hon.

Justice Alhaji Momojah Stevens is a renowned Judge with lofty experience in the legal sector.

He has been through the ranks for several years since he was called to the Bar in 2004.

Hon.

Justice Stevens is currently a High Court Judge and had served in the following positions: ▪ Magistrate for ten and half years in Bonthe, Kono, Bo, and Pujehun, ▪ Served as Principal Magistrate in Kenema and Kailahun, Bombali and Koinadugu Districts.

▪ Appointed as High Court Judge in 2016.


Responding to the Committee’s questions on his suitability, Justice Stevens stated: “I was called to the Bar on the 8th October, 2004 and I practiced for a period of twelve months before going to the Bench as a Magistrate.

I went through all protocols before I was made a Magistrate; I believe I’m well qualified for the position for which I am appointed”.
Commenting on ex parte applications, Justice Momojah Stevens said: “ex parte application is when one side comes before the Court and request for an injunction as the case may be.

And in the circumstance, if the Judge so pleases because of expeditious nature of the application, can grant the application; but there must be an undertaking supposed it turns out not to be useful for the injunction to be granted.
Taking it from my background as a Magistrate for over eleven years in almost all the districts in Sierra Leone 22 with the exception of Port Loko and Kambia, I have been somebody who believes in impartiality, fairness, and the importance for the Rule of Law .
[Applause] In fact to the extent that, when I was a Magistrate in other parts of the country like in the north for instance, those who know me very well as a Magistrate, they certainly supported all my impartial work to the extent that in 2015 I was made Judge without even my knowledge [Applause].

Justice is not meant for one side, justice is meant to be dispensed for the good of all [Applause].
If I am approved, I assure you that my impartiality, fairness, and all embracing justice shall definitely continue.

The Court of Appeal has to do with law, law and law.

So you have to be really thorough in the law for you to be able to appreciate the true meaning of every given case.

It is not a trial Court but it is specific”.


Justice Momojah Stevens concluded on the Court of Appeal’s impartiality that in law, I quote him: “if you have presided over a matter in a lower court, you are not competent any longer to preside over the same matter if assigned to you in a higher court”.
RECOMMENDATIONS Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees to be adequately qualified for their proposed appointments and are therefore accordingly recommended to the House for approval: i. Mr. Sheikh Alhaji Yayah Sesay- Proposed Deputy Bank Governor II Bank of Sierra Leone.

ii.

Mrs. Hawah Humu Wurie - Proposed Member National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency iii.

Mrs. Constance Bockarie - Proposed Member, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency iv.
Mrs. Maude Regina Peacock- Proposed Member, Board of Directors, Sierra Leone Local Content Agency.

23 v. Hon.

Justice Komba Kamanda - Proposed Justice, Court of Appeal vi.

Hon.

Justice Alhaji Momojah Stevens - Proposed Justice, Court of Appeal.

vii.

Hon.

Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi J.

- Proposed Justice of the Court of Appeal viii.

Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay - Proposed Chief of Defence Staff.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Second Report is the unanimous decision of the Committee.
I therefore move that the Second 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.

Mr Speaker for this report, I encourage Members to read the minute as special reference to S.O 74[4&5] for the purpose of the minute, please read the minute so you can understand the report.

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

Hon.

Mathew S. Nyuma Chairman.

HON.

CHERNOH R.M.


BAH: Mr Speaker, the Motion is not proper so I cannot allow it to be seconded.

Allow me to say what I want to say for the benefit of all of us Mr Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Good.

HON.

CHERNOH R.M.


BAH: Mr Speaker, I agree with the Leader of Government Business and he has referred this House to the minute of what transpired, and based on that Mr Speaker, what is read in this House for the consumption of Honourable Members is the Report itself.

So, on that note Mr Speaker, I request that the Question be rephrased because the decision was not unanimous.
It has to be captured on the 24 Report [Applause] it is unanimous for four parties, it is not unanimous for the two.

So, it has to be captured otherwise there will be no Question for this House to debate [Applause].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I do not want to use the Oxford or whatever form of word for “Unanimous”.

I am not a legal man but I know when majority vote in favour of a particular Motion that one is unanimous.
Mr Speaker, I want to remind the Honourable Leader on the other side of Standing Order [S.O] 74, I will take my time to read the S.O.

“DIVISION IN SELECT COMMITTEES: [1] Every question in a Select Committee shall be decided by a majority of the Members present; the Chairman shall have an original Vote and in the event of an equality of votes shall have and exercise a casting vote.
[2] Every division in a Select Committee shall be taken by the Clerk to the Committee asking each Member of the Committee separately how he desires to vote and recording the votes accordingly.

[3] In taking the division, the names of all Members of the Committee present shall be called in alphabetically order.

[4] When a division is claimed in the Select Committee every Member of the Committee present shall, unless he expressly states that he declines his vote, record his vote either for Ayes or Nays.
The Clerk to the Committee shall enter in the minutes of the proceedings the record of each Member’s vote and shall add a Statement of the names of Members who declined to vote”.

Following that one, let us go to the minute.

Mr Speaker, they have agreed.

Let me continue reading: [5] “As soon as the Clerk has collected the votes he shall state the number of Members voting for the Ayes and Nays respectively and the Chairman shall then declare the result of the division”.
And if you read the minute, I am not going to waste my time to read that, you know the minute is here; for your edification, you should read the minute.

That was why before I conclude, I said read the minute.

So, Mr Speaker, I think with the Standing Orders that guide us here, I think we should second the report and carry on with the Business of the day.

25 HON.

CHERNOH R.M.

BAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, again, my I re-echo my word earlier?


I totally agree with what S.O 74 is saying in the Standing Orders I totally agree, but he himself as just confirmed that there is a distinction between “Unanimous” and “Majority” he confirmed it.

All I am saying is for the report that has been read to reflect the true view of the Minute because they have to be consistent, that is all I am saying.
I am not asking for anything more, if you do not want to learn keeping talking, but if you want to learn, keep listening [Applause].

Mr Speaker, we have been told that you went to Cambridge and you know the distinction between the words “Unanimous” and “Majority”.

I am sure you have observed what happens in court, when you have three Judges, if two goe against one; they would have “Majority” and they would have “Dissenting”; and if they are together they will have “Unanimous”.
The words are separate and clear, we should not waste time on this Mr Speaker [Applause].

Let us be true to ourselves, we are not saying anything wrong, we are just saying let us correct the Report.

We should not fight over this Mr Speaker; we should not because there is no need.

Mr Leader of Government Business, tell me where do you want to learn.

[Interruption] HON.
[Interruption] HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as Leader of Government business, I want to bring to the attention of all Members in the House that we have three arms of Government and we are called Honourable great men and women because we do Honourable things and the nominees are called Honourable Justices because they are presented in the House for us to approve of them.
Today, we are here because of individual differences, because of the principles of Separation of Powers which is the three Arms of Government: the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

They are here because they are going to serve for such difference, we should respect them.

For us as Honourable Members trying to disrespect other Honourable Members is unacceptable.

THE SPEAKER: Is he following through?

HON.

CHERNOH R.M.

BAH: Yes, Mr Speaker.


26 THE SPEAKER: I would like all Honourable Members to please take your seats!

All of you take your seats!

Maybe, I should now divert our Session to something else.
Before I put the Question or ask for the Motion to be seconded, I would like to recognise the few personalities: we have in our mist the Learned Attorney-General and Minister of Justice [Applause], Deputy Bank Governor I [Applause], and for a matter of great moment in our Country, I would like to recognise an Advocacy Group by the name of Kids Advocacy Network Sierra Leone [Applause].

I think you are occupying.


Let me also bring to the attention of the House, it may soon be regarding the bereavement of one of our Members.

Order!

Order!

This House sympathises with the Honourable Paramount Chief Alie badarah sheriff of Bonth District who has lost his dear mother.

May we all rise and observe a minute silence [A Minute 0f Silence observed].
Honourable Members, I am sure the Leader of the Opposition has reminded the House about the need for the correctness of our record and this is why he has brought attention to the use of the word “Unanimous” in the report as a word that does not quite reflect what have transpired in the Select Committee on Appointments.

I take note of his representation; similarly, I take note of the wording of S.0 74[5].

Order!
Order!

The wording of S.O 74[5] clearly tells us that our S.Os do anticipate moments when there is no unanimity in the decision making at the level of the Select Committee.

If a report was arrived at unanimously, so it shall be stated.

Similarly, if there was no unanimity but it was arrived at by majority decision, so again it should be clearly stated [Applause].
And my attention has been drawn to the fact that at the level of the Select Committee there was a division, a division of 8 Members voting Aye and 5 voting Nay.

That being the case, I do not think that the word “Unanimity” is appropriate [Applause].

We have to be true to the record and true to ourselves [applause].

I am not quite finished!

Without further ado, I hope I have satisfied both sides of the aisle.

The record will show that the decision of the Committee was arrived at by Majority.
Suspension of S.0 5[2] THE SPEAKER: I recognise the Leader of Government Business.

27 HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: My colleague on the other side said the minute is not part of the Question.

He said the minute is not before the House, but by procedure of our S.Os, the minute is part of the Report, I want that one to be corrected.

If that is your ruling Mr Speaker [Interrupted].

THE SPEAKER: The controversy is over the use of the words.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I am coming Mr Speaker, I just want to correct that one too because it is stated in the Standing Orders about minute.

I am coming now to the unanimity of the Report you are talking about.

Because you have ruled that we should go with what we did in the Committee, I would amend the word “Unanimous” to “Majority” [Applause].

I thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

Let me now call for a Seconder of the Motion.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I so second Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [The Record of Votes and Proceedings for the Parliamentary Sitting held on Tuesday 2nd June has been adopted] HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Today again we have nominees presented to this House by His Excellency the President for approval.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to begin by thanking the Appointments Committee for doing due diligence and presenting the nominees in this House for approval.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now admonish the nominees.

You are now going into offices for which you have been appointed.

His Excellency the President the Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio has bestowed a lot of confidence in you in order for you to go and help him in delivering the New Direction and deliver for the Republic of Sierra Leone so that we can move from where we are to a better position in the world ranking.
You the nominees, few days ago, you were running after us for interview and for your approval, you will be occupying these offices and Members of Parliament will be visiting 28 your offices some of you will accommodate us and some of you will not.

And one thing I would want to bring to your knowledge, we Members of Parliament if we refuse you, it means you will not occupy these offices and when we go to your offices, we go there to ask for development or for projects for our constituencies.
No Member of Parliament goes to your offices to beg but we go to ask or seek favour for our constituents and constituencies [Applause].

We are as a Government; there is a Social Contract between us and the people of Sierra Leone.

Few years from now, we will be reading our Scorecard to the people of Sierra Leone and that is the Scorecard they are going to use to re-elect us [Applause].
You in those offices, the jobs you are going to take will contribute to that Scorecard; you are going to contribute immensely.

Please I am asking you, when you go to those offices, make sure the works you are going to do are part of that Scorecard so that at the end of the day, our brothers on the other side will continue to be where they are and we will continue to be on this side [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me zoom on few of the female nominees.
Of course, you enjoyed a lot of support at the Committee Stage from all of the women in the Committee.

The ladies vowed for you, they were there for you, they advocated for you because they have the trust that you will do better.

Please when you go to those offices, do not disappoint them.

We know how much they spoke to us for us to accommodate you and for us to interview you at a pace at which you would be comfortable.
Please make sure you do not disappoint the Honourable Ladies of this Parliament, please make sure when you go to those offices consult them.

If you have difficulties, you meet the President of the Parliamentary Female Caucus and she has the ability to influence this Parliament.

Please talk to them and talk to us Members of Parliament, we are very comfortable and we are very sure that women are development oriented.

Please when you go to those offices, do what is right and do not disappoint us.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now comments on the judges.

I could remember in 2015/2016 in this Parliament, I was on that side when the Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda and the Honourable Momohjah Stevens were presented to this Parliament by 29 His Excellency the former President Ernest Bai Koroma for approval.
They were presented to this Parliament based on their Curriculum Vitae [CV], they were presented in 2015/2016 based on their hard work; based on their contributions to the Judiciary, based on their contribution to the Justice System.

We knew at that point in time in 2016 that Honourable Justice Komba Kamada incarcerated Honourable Foday Radio Yokie but we believed in him when his CV was read.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, just a moment.


I recognised that there are certain sections of the Upper Gallery and I here see in the Lower Gallery as well who are not observing the Physical Distancing, I must insist that you must respect the law relating to Physical Social Distancing.

HON.
HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: The Honourable Foday Radio Yokie was in Parliament in 2016 when Justice Komba Kamada was presented to this Parliament by the Former President but when his CV was read, when we noticed how much he has contributed to the Justice System of this country, when we noticed how much he has contributed to the reforms of Justice in this Country, collectively we all supported him to be a High Court Judge [Applause].
We had the opportunity at that point in time to object to the approval of Honourable Justice Komba Kamada but we said Sierra Leone comes first [Applause], we had the opportunity at that period because the Honourable Foday Radio Yokie too was in this Parliament to have rejected Honourable Komba Kamada; we said no Sierra Leone comes first; at that period we had the opportunity to work out of this Parliament but we said no, we are going to support what the Former President had done and we are going to put Sierra Leone first.
I am saying the truth [Undertone].

Mr Speaker Honourable Members, could you believe that at that period, we had two of our candidates who won elections and were removed but we did not say we are not going to approve Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Point of Order Mr Speaker!

He is my Deputy speaking, I expect full respect to be given to him by other Members from the other side [Applause]; let us keep that in mind.
And Honourable Deputy Whip on the Opposition 30 side, you cannot be talking and using the microphone to obstruct him; if you want to object, do it through the method of voting.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we had two of our members who won elections overwhelmingly but they were refused by the Court.

THE SPEAKER: The problem we had were too many.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Exactly so.

THE SPEAKER: I think the problem there was something like 80%?

HON.
HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: No, it was 85%.

THE SPEAKER: 85%.

No he is still going through the learning course, he has not learned enough yet.

HON.
HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, at that point we had two of our Members who overwhelmingly won the elections but they were refused by the Court but when Justice kamanda came here, we overwhelmingly accepted him because we knew at that point how much he had contributed to the Justice System, we knew at that point how much he had served Sierra Leone in almost all of the districts in this Country and we knew at that point how much contributions he had made to the Justice system.
Even when the public listen to Radio Democracy 98.1 F.M when the late Jounalist Mathew Qautre used to mention the name Justice Komba kamada, you realised it is a household name.

We do not even need to go to the Court, in our houses on a daily bases, we hear about the justice he is delivering to the people of Sierra Leone.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, if we continue to be insincere our people will continue to reject us.
When you were on this side of the House, you continued deceiving the people; now look at where you are and you are still not learning.

He is a Justice that will be going to the Appeals Court.

Look at all of us that will be going to him, cases will be going to him and he is here and you are embarrassing him, look at the embarrassment you are putting on.

31 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, whatever you do in your capacity as Members of Parliament and in this Well, there will be no embarrassment to him.
Whatever he has done in the capacity as a Judge, he has done it with his conscience [Applause] and he has done it not because he hates anybody but because he is under oath.

Whatever he did, he has done it with his conscience just like whatever we are doing we are doing it with our consciences.
Please Honourable Members, let us be very much sincere with our consciences and let us be truthful because tomorrow when some of us will be on that same seat we will want people to give us the respect we dully deserve.

You cannot disrespect somebody because you are against what he is doing, and that is a official responsibility.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I wish Honourable Justice Komba Kamada well.
Please continue the good work you have started, please do not be intimidated and do not be blackmailed.

Please go to the Judiciary and serve the people in the way you have been serving them.

Good service is the way that you will be truth to your conscience and to God.

Please you are wished well, prove your critics wrong, prove His Excellency right, prove the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice right and prove them all right.

When you go to that Office, make sure whatever you do [Interrupted].
THE SPEAKER: Hold on!

Where is that sound coming from?

Mr Leader of the Opposition, that sound is coming from the Gallery.

I hope I would hear that comment for the last time, woe be tide you, if I catch you make that comment again.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, please prove us right on this side, prove your critics wrong, dispense justice consciously to all and continue doing what is good for this nation, please do not disappoint.

What we are doing now is like blackmail.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now comments on Honourable Justice Momohjah Stevens.

The Honourable Justice Momohjah Stevens is also a household name, you have done so well in the Justice Sector to an extent that you were nominated by the former Government led by the former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

Therefore, what we have done as a Government is to continue the good works the former Government 32 started.
We have said the things you have started that are good, we will continue them and that is what we are continuing [Applause] and we will continue to promote you.

We are sure that what you have been doing since 1990 to date, almost all past Governments are pleased of it.
The former Government of former President Kabbah was pleased of it that was why you were called to be Magistrate; the former President Ernest Bai Koroma was very pleased of it and now His Excellency the President again is very, very pleased of your work, please continue, [Applause] that is what we want, please dispense justice.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now comments on the lady who has been nominated to be Justice.

Please Madam, do the needful, please do us proud.


He is just telling us that they are pleased with you; he is telling us that what the former President started that is good is what we are continuing.

Thanks very much Madam, you have done well, continue the good work, continue to prove the President right and prove the critics wrong.

Serve justice with your conscience and with God.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me come to the Nominee of the Chief of Defence Staff [CDS] position.
When we were in the Military Barracks, there is an adage which says: “soja Pikin, na soja woke e dae do” but we said no we are going to prove them wrong, we said we are not going to be Military officers, we decided to venture into politics, look at where we are today.

Mr CDS, I have a lot of first-hand experience in what is happening in the Military.

I brought up some of the very serious issues listed in the Appointments Committee.

I implore you to please seek the welfare of the Military.
Past nominated CDSs, Ministers come here and make promises to us but at the end of the day they leave offices without achieving anything.

Mr CDS, when you have position, when you are given responsibility, the legacies you will leave behind; the legacies people would look at to remember you are the things you should consider.

It is not just about the offices, it is not just for us to build houses, achieve personal wealth but what can you be remembered for.
When your name is called in a particular institution, what can we remember you for?

People do come here and we approve of them, when they leave those offices the moment you call their 33 names in those offices, their names become very irritating to people.

Please leave legacies, leave legacies before you leave the Army, people would be proud of you; they would have something to remember you for; they would say this is what this CDS did for us.

Please change the lives of our military officers.


If you go to the streets, you would see Military officers riding “Okadas”, you would see these very senior officers, it is demeaning not just to the Military but to the State of Sierra Leone.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I trust the CDS he has wealth of experience as his CV has been read.

Of course, he has overwhelming support of the Military.

Please change their lives, prove them right for their utmost support they have given you which you need.
Look at them, very senior officers are here, please get politics out of the Military, make sure you serve the Military with your conscience and God.

Prove His Excellency the President right, He has so much confidence in you, you are appointed to be part of our Scorecard that will be read in the year 2023 that will keep our brothers on their toes.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with that contribution, I want some of us to use our good consciences because all of us came here on oaths.
Let us do it with God; let us think for the sake of God, for the sake of the oaths we took here with the Bible and Quran; please let us keep our past differences aside; let us consider the Oath.

That is why most times people serve and at the end of the day, they leave offices disgracefully, they have nothing to show for, they are embarrassed because when you take offices they do not respect those oaths.
When you lay your hands on the Bible and the Quran, you should know you are doing it with the fear of God, you should know you are doing it for your conscience and you should know the people who voted you to serve them well.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today, we have people been brought to this Parliament and today again, we are bringing them for you to approve.

If you were all on oath, whatever you do God is going to judge you.
If you do not believe in what you did in 2015 and 2016, vote them out; if you believe in yourself and you believe in what 34 you did please vote them in.

If you do not vote them in, the Bible and Quran which we all took oaths on, will judge you [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Deputy Leader of Government Business, he has spoken well and he has also spoken like a true “Born Barrick Borbor” [S.O 2 Quoted].

HON.
HON.

SHAKA M. SAMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am glad that before us here, we have got some of our sisters.

Women make up the majority of Sierra Leoneans.

Sheku Toure once said and I quote: “the condition of women in the country reflects the condition of that country, if you treat the women in a backward condition, the country will be backward”.

There is no way we can progress as a Nation if we continue to abuse our women, what we have to do is to empower them.
I am glad that before us here this morning or this afternoon we have got the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice who is a woman, His Excellency the President has made that critical appointment.

Women are beginning to hold very important positions in this country, I am happy.

When I was in Parliament, was it in the year 2011 under PMDC?
I brought my daughter here, my eldest daughter, I wanted her to meet people like Elizabeth Laverly, I introduced her to Bernadette Lahai and some of the other female Members of Parliament [MPs].

She was surprised and she said: “so Papa we have women here who hold Parliamentary seats”?

I said yes.

So I even told one of the women that I wanted my daughter to spend a vacation with her.

For this is very important, women should not be treated as subject mainly to the kitchen.
There is nobody here who has not got a mother, no.

If we are backward today, it is because the men have continued to dominate.

Go to prisons, we dominate the prisons.

It is clear that women are our mothers, we have to promote them.

So I am feeling very happy that we have our sisters here before us.

I have a Pan-Africanist background, for me tribe does not matter, region does not matter, we are Africans first, Sierra Leoneans first.

I have never altered anything negative about tribe [Undertone].
If you go to the streets, the Sierra Leoneans that suffer are from different ethnic groups.

So, we as politicians or as people who want their support we appeal to their sentiments 35 and that is very wicked of us.

So it is about women, it is not about which region you are coming from, we have to promote them for they are our sisters.
And to our sisters who have been nominated by His Excellency, you are not holding those positions for lapses; you have to perform very well so that you can prove that women can do it even better.

So, I want to urge you to perform very well, you are representing the women of this Country.
There are some of us even women that are competent we try to abuse them, we think they should be promoted unless we have a sexual relationship with them, that is very bad, we have to respect them for what they are, we have to promote them, we have to work with them.

You need to help a woman without proposing love affair to her, for me that is shameful, okay.

They are our sisters, we have to promote them.

A lot of women are suffering quietly in their offices.

Yes, so we have to promote them.


So, I want to thank His Excellency for doing this for us.

When you promote the women, you are promoting the Nation and all of us are going to be beneficiaries.

So, I want to thank His Excellency for promoting our sisters.

I want to appeal to you nominees that you have to perform very well.
If you do the same things that we men are doing or some bad men are doing, then you will not be doing justice to other women who may come after you and we hope one day we will see a female Head of State, a female Head of the Military and women holding some other very important positions.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now comments on the proposed Judges.

The Deputy Leader of Government Business spoke about the Quran and the Bible; I am also going to follow on that path.
You see, most times we make decisions just thinking about the earthly benefits that we get from those decisions.

For some of us who are in decision making positions, we have two options, there are many but there are two key options.

We might make a decision to gain this world but secure a place in Hell, that is one option.

The other option is, which for me is the best option is to make a decision that will please God and will earn you a place in Paradise.
You see, some of us do not take the fact about Paradise and Hell seriously, in the hereafter, there will be no special seat for Mr Speaker or the Leader, there will be no special seat.

For some of us who hold these positions, some of us are flying day and night, we are given twenty-one gun 36 salute, we are given a lot of privileges just because of the positions we hold.
We do not hold those positions because we are very important, we were holding these positions through the grace of God and we are going to account for these positions.

The Proposed Judges, I have been to Pa Demba Road Correctional Centre and I have been to some Prisons.

I told my nephew who is a lawyer, if I have my way, as far as it is a legal training I will see that everybody who have a legal qualification spend a day or two at Pa Demba Road Correctional Centre.
You should go there and spend about two days to really get the feel of the conditions of those prisons because when some of you make decisions and you should know that those decisions have a lot of implications on families [Applause].

I know people who are at Pa Demba Road Correctional Centre very young boys that are not supposed to be there, I know people who have been there for years and their cases have not come up in the High Court.

For a case to be heard, you have to have influence.
I am talking generally, it is about the system, I am talking about a system; it is not a partisan thing; it is a systemic thing okay.

Now I saw a lot of hypocrisy this morning, the same things we supported yesterday, we now condemn today [Laughter].

What I have learned is that, what we did yesterday is more before us today and what we do today will hunt to us tomorrow, that is the fact.

So, we make decision without the fear of our God, we make decisions to please our desires.
We should be rest assured that; tomorrow before the Almighty we have to account for those decisions and there is Hell and there is Paradise.

So, proposed judges, I think your consciences are very complex and you are in very difficult positions.

But why the President appointed you; I am sure he did not appoint you to serve him; he wants you to serve the Nation.

So, when there was civil war, some of those people that were hunted were the judges and the policemen.
If the rebels came and saw the photograph of the Police or the Military person in a house, they will kill everybody in that house.

People were denying being judges and lawyers because they were hunted by the rebels for injustices in the past.

In the Truth and Reconciliation Commission [TRC] Report, one of the causes sighted was injustice as one of the main causes of the rebel war that caused mayhem in this country.
I do not expect an automatic change for something 37 that has been damaged for over 30 years, okay.

Some people are taken that soft with them because they have never suffered.

I do not report to anyone and I do not have a Party Office.

I do not have anybody to query me neither to answer questions to anybody.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, let me remind you, the very opening statement you made who did you address?

I am sure you addressed Mr Speaker, so continue to address me.

HON.
HON.

SHAKA M. SAMA: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

We must not pretend that some of these things that are happening today that we supported yesterday are just happening now.

Now, I said that we have changed the Government, the biggest challenge that we face as Sierra Leoneans is to change the system.

Some people are denying that the system exists and they cannot be changed automatically it should be a gradual thing and we all have a role to play.
Now ask yourself, are you guilty of some of these things we are talking about [Laughter]?

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, you either perish in Hell Fire forever or you enjoy in Paradise forever, the choice is yours.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I then move on to proposed CDS.

Unfortunately, I am not seeing his face, Mr Speaker, the Mask and the Cap is not helping; we are approving people we are not recognising but that is not his fault; it is because of the Covid-19 prevention measures.
So, Mr Speaker, when I was a boy, growing up in my village in Pujehun, I have seen a lot of improvement in the Military.

When I came from the Gambia in 2010 after ten years, I visited a relative in the Wilberforce Barracks; I was shocked at the condition of the Barracks.

There were no toilet facilities, it was really very shameful.

I was trying to take a stroll to the Barracks to see the Barracks after over ten years.
It was shameful that after so many Military regimes in this country soldiers still continue to live in very reckless conditions.

Now look at the uniform of the Military, they are only well dressed when they attend Official functions.

Somebody told me that the Military is not supplied with uniforms; some of them are just supplied with a set of uniform per year.

How do you expect our soldiers to be smartly dressed?

First impression counts Mr Speaker.


When you see a haggard Military Officer in appearance, 38 poorly fed, you will know that there is no proper security, so we have to take very good care of our soldiers and they have to be smartly dressed.

If we pay them beggar salaries, they are going to become beggars.

If you see a military man saluting you, the next thing he will say is “bra u borbor dae” [S.O 2 quoted] because that soldier expects that you will give him something.
There is no way that we are going to maintain proper security when we turn our soldiers to beggars, we should stop our soldiers of being beggars [undertone].

Mr Speaker, we have to improve the conditions of service of our Military.

The days are gone when the armies are considered as drop outs, today we have very qualified people standing as Military Officers.

What we need to do is to improve the conditions of our soldiers so that we can boost up their morals.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with this; I want to thank you for given me this opportunity after over four months and I want to assure you that we from Constituency 104, support the Government to achieve success because when the Government fails God forbid we are all going to fail, okay!

We all fail as Sierra Leoneans.

There is no way one part of this Country can progress without the other, and we have the option to move together, we either perish or prosper together.
Thank you very much Mr Speaker, I want to end by urging this House to approve the nominations of those fine ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you very much [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I want to recognise the presence of the Supreme Court judges in the persons of Honourable Justice Eku Roberts and Honourable ……….

[Applause].

Let me take the bigger ones first.


I recognise your leadership position Madam, I will come to you later, followed by the Honourable Daniel Koroma, after him the Honourable Tawa, and after him I would take the Honourable Abdul Kargbo in that order.

HON.

BERNADETTE W. SONGA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will be very brief in my contribution.

We are here today again to approve nominees sent to us by his Excellency.
As always, we do our bit and we encourage nominees to play their parts when they go to their individual offices.

39 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today, I want to start my contribution by focusing on the High Court judges.

First of all, I want to say thank you to his Excellency for making the equation balanced today, we have four female and four male in front of us [Applause].

The Affirmative Action Bill about Gender balance is working.
I think we already probably have 30% quota that we have been crying for.

We are still wishing for more and we will continue to wish for more till we get our 50/50 percentage.

The High Court judges, today, as my colleagues have said, you are going to your offices to deliver justice to this Nation.

I want to particularly draw your attention to the fact that all of us Sierra Leoneans are behaving to commit crimes with impunity these days.
We have had so many Sierra Leoneans behaving outrageously in their communities as if they are not humans.

This can only be rectified by having the Justice System correctly placed and you are in the position to do so.

There are people who go to the High Court and the offences they commit are not equated to the punishments they get.

Sometimes it makes you wonder what is happening to us, it is about who knows who and we do not want our Justice System to be a who knows who Justice System.
We want discipline in Sierra Leone; we want law to take effect in Sierra Leone.

We are tired with the terrorist behaviour of certain Sierra Leoneans, we want changes and that changes can be implemented by you.

So, we are begging, as you go to your different offices, speak to your colleagues that we need change and His Excellency trusts you to deliver that change.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when I saw a lady sitting in front of me with no biasness, I feel very proud because I know female are very discipline in whatever they do.

When I was growing up I had a magistrate in my District, when I was a little girl I can still remember her name I do not know whether she is alive or where she is and her name is Naomi Tunis; she worked in Kailahun District.
She was one person that I used to admire as I used to run from school to watch her every time she goes to her Court Room to deliver justice and the way she conducted herself in her Court was very impressive and I still have a very good memories on those.

If we have more female in higher places, in the Justice System, I trust the system will do better.
I am not saying 40 the people we have now cannot do better, I am saying we need more females in these higher places because in them you see the discipline in our communities.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to quickly move on to issues that have been disturbing us as parents.

In the past few days, us as females and parents particularly me as mother of two girls have seeing rape cases.

We went round this country talking about “Hands off Our Girls” but people tried to politicise those issues.
We needed all hands on deck because it was a cry for the Nation, it was the cry of women; it was a cry of mothers and even fathers.

Few days ago, I think we have started seeing the reality.

Even though, we know it did not hit home till when we got a case of Khadija, I cried as a mother.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was here, I am sending my message to her that we need these cases rapidly dealt with [Applause], we cannot have these monsters in our communities.
When we were passing the Sexual Offenses Act, we were debating fifteen years as punitive measure was too much, fifteen years was too much; I am saying that when we got monsters like these, they should have death by firing squad as a punishment; they should be fired to death [Applause].

Do not you feel pain when you touch our girls?

Do not you feel sad watching a little girl go through such a pain?

Are you a human being at all?


The Justice System, we need something to be done or else, you are going to have us female Parliamentarians from this Parliament backed up by our males matching unto your offices demanding something else to be done [Applause].

We have so many Khadija’s in Sierra Leone, only yesterday somebody text me about another issue of a four year old girl that have been raped.

The person text me and the text is in my phone but I do not know the details.
I have asked her to send me the details into my phone; I have just seen her text me about a four year old girl.

Mr Speaker, please just give me a minute to go through my message quickly because I am seeing the message popping up; I am not going to read it; I am just going to give few details.

The victim is a four year old girl, upper George Brook Street.

I have the details here, I am not going to read it out Mr Speaker but it has just been sent to me as I sit here asking that we do something about this.
The little girl was allegedly raped by a Police married man with children, I have just got that here 41 and she is currently in the Emergency Hospital at Goderich.

Even after Khadija’s issue, we have another four year old.

We cannot continue like this as a Nation, we need to continue echoing our voice till something is done and we cannot do it alone without the Justice System.
We need to start setting examples, if the perpetrators are to be fired to death the Sierra Leoneans that I know would think twice before committing such inhumane crime again.

We can spend the whole day here because I know be it parents, males, women; we are all very angry.

We can stay the whole day here talking about it but what we need is action and something needs to be done in the Justice System [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to zoom in on the proposed CDS.
I am from Constituency 008, Kailahun District which is Shegbuema.

It covers the Daru/Moa Barracks.

Since I came to my seat representing my people two years ago, I have been crying for help for Daru Barracks.
Over the years, Members of Parliament that had represented that Constituency they did not know that they covered that Barracks, they thought that it was Constituency 007 that was covering that Barracks, so they never had Members of Parliament visiting them or really looking at their conditions of living or even listen to their problems.

I was fortunate to look at the geographical location and the boundaries of where my Constituency falls and I happened to know that I cover Daru Barracks.
Daru/Moa Barracks is one of the most historic Barracks we have had in this Country if history is deep rooted but if you go to that Barracks right now Mr Speaker, it is nothing to write home about and it is extremely not fit for purpose, not even fit for humans to live in.

I visited there I took some pictures and in one of my encounters with His Excellency, I showed him the pictures and he could not help but to say: “wow!

Daru Barracks!
Daru Barracks!

This is the Barracks that holds so much history about this Country and that have served this country so well”.

Mr proposed CDS, as you go to your office, please sir; I know you said in your response that you are going to look at other works that have been done to other barracks; please consider Daru Barracks.

We need to do something to retain the history this Barracks is known for in this country, we need to retain the upkeeps of the battalion to ensure that 42 it is okay.
I personally would not live in that Barracks and so I would not expect the Military personnel serving us in this Country to live in that Barracks.

The past Commanding Officer [CO] and the current one that we have, have done their best out of the little they get and they have been writing letters to stakeholders for help; they will be repairing some areas but we need drastic action to be taken in that Barracks.
If I have to add anything further apart from wishing you well in your new job, is for you to please and kindly visit Daru Barracks to look at the problems they are going through and see how you can help.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I also want to quickly zoom in on the ladies who will be going to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Aunty Hawa Humu Wurie and Aunty Constance Bockarie.

These are people that I personally know and I have no doubt that they will deliver.
But what really makes me very happy is the fact that Sierra Leone we are now paying attention to Mental Health, this is demonstrated by the reopening of the renovated Kissy Mental Hospital by His Excellency the President.

That tells me that we have started looking at the psychological effect of people living in this country.

We have had rebel war, Ebola, mudslide and now the Covid-19 pandemic.

All of these issues touch on Mental Health.


I am a Mental Health Practitioner for sixteen years in United Kingdom [UK], and I have worked with adolescents and drug addicts, I know the effects of such issues on young people of a Country.

Today, we look at our young stars and say that they take “pampas water”, but have we looked at the psychological effects that led them to engage in such situation?

We have drug addicts for whom we have no Detoxication Centre.
If we are to be serious as a Nation, we need to start looking at how we can find a centre that can be a Detoxication Centre for people on addiction.

What can we do to provide Therapeutic counselling to help their psychological wellbeing in the Country?

We need these young stars as our future leaders; we cannot have them as good people in the Country if we do not start to catch them young.
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency is a very important Institution that looks at issues surrounding addiction and issues surrounding the mental effect of drugs on people.

I can only plead with you that when you go to your offices be 43 the change we want to see.

You are both mothers and I have no doubt that you have the Nation at heart.

You only just need to look at the issues very closely to see the effects of addiction on this Country such as stabbing that is prevalent.
You see people in places like Tombo burning down Police Stations; these are all effects of drug.

What we have resulted to as a Nation is using our young stars by giving them drugs and alcohol to do things that we do not want our own children to do, it has to stop.

If we are moving on as a Nation, we need to bring up our young stars to be the future leaders of this Country.

Today, I wish you all the best as you go to your different offices.
My colleague said earlier on, you will see Members of Parliament coming to your offices for different reasons, but very importantly is to probably seek support for their constituents, to seek for different things.

Please give them the respect they deserve, please listen to them and I can only ask for your forgiveness for the disrespect you have got today from few colleagues.
Be rest assured, we all have a lot of respect for all of you here, we are doing things together and I am very sure this Well will approve you speedily.

I thank you Mr Speaker [Applause].

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

I recognise the presence of Justice Miatta Samba, Justice Patrick Michael Manley and the Deputy Minister of Defence [Applause].

I thank you.

HON.
I thank you.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: As I also want to use this opportunity to join you welcome my one time lecturer Justice Miatta Samba and also Justice Eku Robert years back and today we are here to speak law in their presence in respect of what is transpiring in this Well now.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in responding or making my contribution, I just want to respond to few issues that came up earlier which to me need special attention.

The first is the word “Unanimous”.


From today, “Unanimous” should never be an issue in this Well.

In fact, in my opinion [Interrupted] THE SPEAKER: Is there any value in reopening that matter?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Indeed!

Because it applies to what is happening now.

44 THE SPEAKER: I am sure we have crossed that bridge.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: No Sir!

We have not crossed that bridge, it applies to what is happening now and we do not want us on this side to be misconstrued.
THE SPEAKER: I have made a ruling on it.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: I am not agreeing with that ruling.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will go to the result of your ruling which forms part of this Report.

As far as this Report is concern, it is a majority decision report.

And based on that, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to inform this House that the word “Majority” does not necessarily mean everybody, but it is the real Democracy at play it should make us proud.
Nobody should be uncomfortable with the word “Majority” which implies not everybody speaks from the same platform, nobody should be uncomfortable with that, it is Democracy at play.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Daniel Koroma, I think we have crossed that point.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, they are listening and they have their own independent judgement separate from yours.

THE SPEAKER: I am not oblivious of that fact.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Okay, I take the queue.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, what you have heard from a very senior Member of Parliament on that side, can you say it is acceptable?

If I am to respond to her now, what do you expect?

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Honourable Independent Member made a very salient point.
he said if I am to paraphrase, whatever you do yesterday will hunt you today, and whatever you do today will hunt you tomorrow; that is very important and we advise this House and by extension the people of this Country whom we represent to take note of this point whatever you do yesterday will hunt you today, whatever you do today will hunt you tomorrow but if it is on the negative then that will not take this Country forward, I believe it should be on the positive side.
If it is on the negative side, it will not take this country forward.

45 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me comments on one of the nominees who is the proposed Deputy Bank Governor II Mr Sheikh Alhaji Yahyah Sesay.

Mr proposed Deputy Bank Governor II, when I read your presentation I petty you to some extent, so I asked myself a question, can you fix it up?
I hope so and I believe your role is to advice your bosses and also take independent judgement in your own capacity as Deputy Bank Governor II to fix the Economy up.

But if I am to quote your boss from listening to him in one of the radio stations, the Minister of Finance in his presentation made it very clear that in respect of the Economy, Sierra Leoneans have being poor for a very long time and base on his assessment they will be poor for quite some time after today.
So if a boss is saying based on what he has observed, poverty is expected to remain for quite some time, can you fix it up?

I wish you well sir, and I hope you will be able to fix it up because based on that presentation it is not too encouraging.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I comments on the proposed members to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency.

We believe the laws have been there enacted by this House and your role is to enforce and that is the major problem with Sierra Leoneans.
Enforcement of our very good laws has been very challenging and I wish you well.

I believe and I know that your principal responsibility is to change that directive.

Make sure those laws enacted by this Parliament are enforced to the letter with no favour.

Sierra Leonean now use drugs to be rich overnight, it is not correct.

You are expected to perform your role excellently to the benefit of this Country.

These are the subject matter of this Report.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now come to some of the thorny areas and that is the nomination of our current High Court Judges for the position of Justice to Appeal Court.

By way of response in the first place, to be appointed in the occupancy as High Court Judge, to be appointed by a way of promotion to the Court of Appeal is nothing like building on what has already transpired.
In other words the conditions under which you are appointed as High Court Judge has nothing to do with the conditions under which you are appointed as Judge to the Court of Appeal.

That is why it is not a hard and fast rule that for you to be appointed as a Court of Appeal Judge you must have 46 served as High Court Judge in the first place.
Members from the public that is those who are qualified Legal Practitioners can be appointed from a private practice to Court of Appeal direct, from a private practice to Supreme Court direct.

You do not necessarily have to go through the ladder from High Court to Court of Appeal and then to Supreme Court; not necessarily.
Therefore, the conditions under which Justice Kamanda and Justice Momojah Stevens were appointed as High Court Judges are different from the conditions under which they are appointed now.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, if I am to reference the Report on page 7, it says: “the right Justice was called to the Bar in October 2004”, and for your information, this one no hard feelings, Justice Momojah Stevens is my personal friend even to date and for here we are speaking to the issue and not attacking any individual and I believe from here, for conscience sake, he will continue to be my friend.
So, as far as we are concern here, we want to draw your attention now to the date of his call which is October 2004, we want to tell you that since then for him to be enrolled takes a year.

From the year of your call and for you to be enrolled takes you a year and Section 135[3] of the 1991 Constitution makes it very clear for your edification.
With your leave Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Section 135[3] reads: “a person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature unless he is entitled to practice as counsel in a court having an unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Sierra Leone or any other country having a system of law analogous to that of Sierra Leone and approved by the Judicial Legal Service Commission, and he has being entitled as such counsel in a case of appointment to for Supreme Court twenty years, for Court of Appeal fifteen years, for High Court not less than ten years.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, Order!

Order!

Order!

Allow the Honourable Member; you will have your own turn!

I do not want members of the public to begin to look at you as bunch of kindergartens.

Carry on, Honourable Member.

47 HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, [4] of the said Section: “for the purpose of [3], a person shall be regarded as entitled to practise as counsel if he has been called”.

THE SPEAKER: Allow the Honourable Member!

HON.


DANIEL B. KOROMA: I wonder if am talking to Junior Secondary School [JSS] students.

Thank you Mr Leader.

THE SPEAKER: Hold your cool, hold your cool.

The same you expected decorum so cool, the same way he is entitled to that.

HON.
HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Thank you Mr Speaker, I will go over it again: “For the purpose of [3] a person shall be regarded as entitled to practise as counsel if he has been called, entitled or otherwise enrolled as such and he has not subsequently been debarred, or removed from the role of counsel or legal practitioners”.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I believe what my colleagues on the other side have misconstrued here is that word in this particular sub section, the word: “called”.
The words stated there: “if he has been called, enrolled or otherwise admitted”.

Every institution has a governing law.

In the Legal Practitioners Act 2000, Section 10 clearly states the qualifications for you to be considered as qualified to practice Law in this Country.

Mr Speaker, with your leave, I read: “A person qualifies for admission as Legal Practitioner if [a] he is the holder [Interrupted].

HON.

HINDOLO M. GEVAO: Mr Speaker, Point of Order!


THE SPEAKER: Carry on, Honourable Daniel B. Koroma.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Thank you Mr Speaker.

“A person qualifies for admission as Legal Practitioner if [a] he is the holder of a degree in law awarded by the University Of Sierra Leone, and such level as a counsel of Legal Education may prescribe.
[2] The holder of any Degree in law of a recognised University or any other institution of higher learning of a 48 Commonwealth Country approved by the Council of Legal Education.

[3a] A holder of a Degree in law of a recognised University or other institution of higher learning of a Country of a Legal System analogous to that of Sierra Leone approved by Council of Legal Education.
[b] He has passed the appropriate professional examination conducted by the Council of Legal Education and served a period of pupillage of not less than twelve months with a Legal Practitioner or at least ten years standing in Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will read this again for better understanding on the other side and it says: “he has passed the appropriate professional examination conducted by the Council of Legal Education and served a period of pupillage of not less than twelve months with a legal practitioner of at least ten years standing in Sierra Leone”.

THE SPEAKER: What are you reading from?

HON.


DANIEL B. KOROMA: I am reading from the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 which is the governing body of all legal practitioners in this Country, it is a governing law.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Daniel Koroma, can you land now please?

HON.

HINDOLO M. GEVAO: Mr Speaker, Point of Order!

THE SPEAKER: No!

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Thank you!


Mr Speaker, I further refer you to Section 14[1] of the Legal Practitioners Act and I read: “The Council may where an applicant has fulfilled the requirement prescribed in Section 10”.

I will read this again, listen, please listen.

“The Council may where [a] an applicant has fulfilled the requirement prescribed in Section 10 and [b] there is no objection pending before the Council against his application the result admit the applicant as a Legal Practitioner”.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, just to put it simple , after your call, I wanted to give this a question just because of time, let me tell you now the point when the word “call” comes in.

No sooner you complete your Bar final examination and you are declared successful, you are called to the Bar.

49 And at that stage it is only after a call to the Bar your application to be enrolled as Legal Practitioner applies.
You cannot apply to be enrolled, you cannot apply to be admitted as a Legal Practitioner before your call, it happens after your call.

HON.

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

THE SPEAKER: No!

Allow the Honourable Member.

Honourable Member, carry on.

HON.


DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, my colleagues who are both senior and contemporaries are here and know that the word “application” under Section 14[1] of the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 applies after your call, After you have been called.

I am coming, I am coming Mr Speaker [Interrupted].


THE SPEAKER: Honourable Daniel Koroma, I have given you much time and quite frankly I am also learning but I have few simple questions to ask you, the Legal Practitioners Act and the National Constitution which is the Superior Law?

Honourable Daniel B. Koroma?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Yes, Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Order!

Order!

We should not try to deceive the public; let us try to be partwork in our presentations.
Let me start by asking you again, between that of the Legal Practitioners Act and the National Constitution which is the Superior Law?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, it is very clear that the National Constitution is the Superior Law, it is very clear that the National Constitution is the Grundnorm.

THE SPEAKER: Is a Grundnorm, I agree.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Of course.

THE SPEAKER: I agree.

The next question I have for you, look at the wording of [4].
Honourable Members please take your seats, we have spent quite a lot of time on this particular one; do you still want to pursue it?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Yes Sir, I want to pursue it.

THE SPEAKER: Then pursue it towards your logical conclusion.

50 HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, the one logical conclusion is that the relevant [4] of Section 135 which you are referring me to is not in any way inconsistent with the provisions contained in Section 10 of the Legal Practitioners Act 2000.
THE SPEAKER: Fine!

If in your opinion you say there is no inconsistency, you do not deny the superiority of the National Constitution over that Act, do you?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: No, Mr Speaker.

I cannot answer that question because, when you talk about superiority, superiority applies in terms of competition for instance, a boss and his subordinate competing to assert who is the boss to the other.

THE SPEAKER: No!

No!


I am using the word “superiority” bearing in mind the provision of [15] of Section 171 which talks about the supremacy of the Constitution.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, I have answered that question earlier on.

I said, it is as a result of that supremacy of the Constitution that the drafters of the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 skilfully followed those provisions.
As the Constitution was made in 1991, while these relevant provisions were made in 2000 so they skilfully followed the grundnorm to ensure what the Constitution says.

Therefore, it is not different from what they are saying in this Legal Practitioners Act.

THE SPEAKER: That is your opinion.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: No!

That is the exact situation here.

THE SPEAKER: Maybe I want to try and bring this matter to conclusion so that we can proceed with the rest of the Debate.
Now, I have asked you one question and you have answered me.

My second question is, let us look at the wording of [4].

You have laboured your point over and over and again but it is not worth.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, you cannot say that it is not worth.

It is very clear if I am to take the queue from you, we can still re-examining [4].

THE SPEAKER: Okay, I want you to address the issue where it is about “call, enrol or otherwise”.

51 HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Thank you!


THESPEAKER: In a disjunctive manner.

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Thank you!

In a disjunctive manner, to throw further light on that, I refer you to Section 12[1] of the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 to make it clearer.

From Section 12[1] of the Legal Practitioners Act, you will tell now when the word “call” comes into play and when does it apply.

Mr Speaker, if they do not trust my digital system, I have no problem with this, I have no problem.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I think you made reference to Justice Stevens, am I right?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: I made reference to the Report.

THE SPEAKER: No!

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: It was page 7, in fact I quoted the page.

THE SPEAKER: Yes, page 7.

That is the page that deals with Justice Momohjah Stevens, and there we are told that he was called to the Bar and the specific date is given there the 8th of October 2004.

What will you say is his qualification as at the 8th of October 2019?
How many years old?

HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Is 14 years not 15 years.

Based on the Legal Practitioners Act 135[4] it is not fifteen 15 years if I am to answer your question.

THE SPEAKER: He says here he was called to the Bar, so he said and that was quite consistent with the qualifications specified in subsection 4.

HON.
HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, based on the provision [4] which is consistent with Section 12[1] of the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 indicate that “call” those not amount to application been accepted.

The call is not an application, for you to be enrolled as a Legal Practitioner; you have to file an application based on Section 12[1].

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, with the greatest respect, I am not at all impressed, I am not at all impressed but I give you two more minutes to wind up.

52 HON.
52 HON.

DANIEL B. KOROMA: Mr Speaker, in using my two more minutes, I would read with your leave Section 12[1] of the Legal Practitioners Act and it says: “Subject to this Act, any person who wishes to be admitted to practice Law in Sierra Leone shall make a written application to the Council in that behalf”.
Filing an application does not take place before your call, there is a need for your call and then you have to serve pupillage and within that process in serving pupillage, you have to file an application which can be accepted or rejected.

It is only when your application is accepted that you are enrolled into the register of Legal Practitioners and not the day you are called.
You are qualified to file an application after your call and that application can be rejected or accepted by your Pupil Master or the relevant institution as the case may be.

We do not want it to be misconstrued; the date of your call is different from the date of your enrolment.

Mr Speaker, since you have limited my time unduly, that is my word Sir otherwise I have no point in.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I always have this problem with you for bringing in issues that have already been traversed.
You see, what you trying to do is to refuse to give meaning to the word “call” [4].

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: No, he did!

THE SPEAKER: No!

No!

He is not giving any meaning to that word.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: He did!

he did!

THE SPEAKERL: Honourable Leader of Opposition, wait for your turn.

Honourable Daniel Koroma, your two minute is up and I am not at all impressed at this time [Applause].

HON.
HON.

IBRAHIM T. CONTEH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today again we are faced with a difficult Session, today again were faced with a situation wherein what I was thought is good about Government that there are three arms of Government and one of the three has superior power i.e.

the Judiciary to declare Acts or oaths of the Legislature and the Executive unconstitutional.

But today in the face of the public, it is the Judiciary that is coming under serious scrutiny.
The birth of a child starts from the 53 day he/she is delivered to this world Mr Speaker.

So if it is wrong now and the counting is incorrect and inconsistent for the right Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda and the right Honourable Momohjah Stevens, then it was wrong in 2015 when they were made Judges and approved by the President [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, It was good you have had serious legal exposé.
We have learnt at the recall of the Leader of Government Business reading the report to this House.

We have been entertained with multifarious cacophony from the other side, we have enjoyed in multiple of utilibation shouting out at the Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda.

But the case for which he is shouted at is not the first political case he has involved in.

In 2012, he was given a case that has to do with a dying man who later died as a result of the injuries he sustained from a beaten in 2012 i.e.
the late Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party [SLPP] for Constituency 104 Mr Aziz Abdul Carew.

It was Justice Komba Kamanda that denied him bail even though he was on a sick bed.

He was handcuffed to his bed, he was denied bail by Justice Komba Kamanda and some of them there were in this House and in 2015 Justice Komba Kamanda was approved and that was not the only case.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, It was the same Justice Komba Kamanda that denied 19 SLPP supporters bail in October and they were joyfully shouting “justice has been served” [Applause].

Now today, the same Justice that served justice in the year 2012 is here appointed by President Bio to continue to serve justice in the line of continuity in Governance [Applause]’, but why are you fighting?

What are you fighting for?

We have good people; we have good people Mr Speaker.
If we come to the wordings of the right Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi, she said and I quote: “I know for sure that justice is the bedrock of Democracy, Rule of Law and Separation of Powers; when I go to the position for which I am appointed, I will make sure that I do not allow myself to be compromised by political decision”.

That is exactly true because it is an exemplary trait that she is fulfilling.
Her father the late Justice Alhadi was braved enough to sentence his own brother Abayomi Alhadi for doing something wrong, that shows that President Bio has wisdom to appoint 54 somebody like Justice Fatamata Bintu Alhadi to be approved by this House.

We have good people, why are we wasting time on Justice Komba Kamanda and Justice Momohjah Stevens that were brought into the Justice System as Honourable judges by the very All People’s Congress [APC]?
And counting from the very day from which they were enrolled or called to the Bar, the date has not changed.

He was called to the Bar in 2004 and it was the same ten years or not less than 10 years that was used to approve him as a Judge.

So, today, we are going to use the same ten years or not less than ten years to approve you as an Appeal Court Judge [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we must rise above politics; we must rise above faking the Gallery.
We are here to represent people, we are here to represent a Nation and we cannot represent a nation by disservice, we have to be honest.

If we want to play Politics, let us play politics now and let us do not play Politics for what we have sowed.

The Bible says: “What you sow is what you reap”.

They are reaping the fruits of their labour.

Justice Komba Kamanda popularly publicized in this Country by the late Journalist Rev Mathew Quatre for given justice according to the APC against SLPP Members.
But he has just fulfilled his Constitutional mandate in Section 78 which says: “It is the High Court that has the jurisdiction to determine the final result of an Election”.

So, what happened to the Honourable Hafiju Kanja has happened to some other people but, it should not continue the Judiciary must change; Mr Speaker, the Judiciary must change; it is the only organ that is given the power to declare both Acts of the Legislature and the Executive ultra vires.
If they do not change, commotion like this would continue in this Chamber and in other places wherein people would question the Judiciary.

For past legally binding decisions made by the Judiciary, today we would have had a lot of commotion but thank God the President His Excellency Julius Maada Bio used the same counting that the formal President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma used in appointing Justice Komba Kamanda and Justice Momohjah Stevens in 2015 to Appeal Court.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me zoom in on the new Deputy Bank Governor II.

The humble man who has had experiences across Western Area, he was brought up 55 in the East at Mountain Cut by a certain James Lebbie and he used to patronize a certain Mr Tieyo who today I know has not forgotten, but from a humble beginning, it gives us inspiration that from nowhere you can rise to somewhere.

As we approve you, go there and change the dynamics.
We know at the shortage of Foreign Currency, is not as a result of bad governance by the SLPP, it is because the suppliers of foreign currency like the London Mining, Africa Minerals, Save the Children and the United Nations agencies are all gone.

Some are doing offshore trading in dollars.

So, because of that, dollars do not come to Sierra Leone again.

They are trading offshore.


Mr Speaker, London Mining was not closed because of Ebola, it was rather closed because of bad administration and because they were seriously involved in bribery which was under the APC.

They reduced the flow of foreign currencies into the country by subjecting a lot of Mining Companies the likes of Africa Minerals to continuous engagements in bribery [Applause].
And if we are going to change that, we have to do a holistic review of all those bad attributes and changes can move this Country forward.

As we are about to approve you nominees, do not bother, we are going to use the same calculation to approve you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I went to Services Secondary School and that is a Military School.

I am calling on you Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay the proposed CDS as you take office, do not forget Services Secondary School, we are still there.
The boys from Bo School will tell you their School is the best but I will tell them Services Secondary is the best and I am manifesting it that, it is the best School.

Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay when you go there, please do not forget to secure our land.

The Services Secondary School land has been encroached on significantly; we want our land back.
We want our school to go back to the Military that is why we are going to approve you Major-General Sully Ibrahim Sesay as CDS so that you will not forget us.

Do not forget, somehow you are connected to that School and that School needs you now more than ever before.

Please Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay as you take care of your Military guys, do not forget us because you are referred to as people coming from the Military or from the Military heritage.
So, if you abandon us in the 56 middle, then the school would remain what it is.

It is a good school, so I am here today representing Services Secondary School; I am here representing Constituency 132 and standing under the flag of the SLPP; believing in the wisdom of His Excellency Bridger Julius Maada Bio for the appointments of you people including Justice Momohjah Stevens and Justice Komba Kamanda and the right Justice Bintu Alhadi; you are going to be approved.

Thank you Mr Speaker [Applause].

HON.


ABDUL KARGBO: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is said that: “a cheek that is growing to be a cock is spotted the first day it is hatched”.

It is also said that: “if you want to know how beautiful your wife would be when she is old, you must look at the face of your mother-in-law”.

And the reverse would be if you want to know how your mother-in-law looked when she was young, look at the face of your wife.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, please permit me to extend my congratulatory messages to the proposed CDS.

I am saying this because I have known him for quite a while, he has been a man of means, he has been an elite and he has been a man of reposity and lowersalitary.

He has been a man with antriezarly establishment, and he has been a determined Military personnel [Applause].

I am saying these because I am what I am today because of the Military.
Mr Speaker, my father was identified in the Military as SLA 18161248 WO2 Bai Kargbo, I benefited a lot from the Military.

But let me shock you, my shadows would have never appeared in the walls of the University if I had not benefitted from a scholarship from my church.

Their salaries cannot send their kids to school, it cannot send their kids to the University; you have an enormous job to do.
It will shock you to see the Military personnel in trenches at night, they would be deployed under rain but at the end of the day there is no good return for them Mr Speaker.

So, He has an enormous work to do.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as a kid who was grown up in the Military, I was taught to be disciplined regimentally and today you can see the exception because in the Military they give them the best training they deserve but let that reflects in their earnings.
57 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, haven looked at the Military; please permit me to push a little bit to the Judiciary.

There are two fundamental principles the Judiciary should uphold.

The first is the Judicial Independence, and the second is Judicial Impartiality.
If I should talk about the Judicial Independence, permit me Mr Speaker under the umbrella of this House to quote Section 20 [3] of the Constitution of our Country and it says: “in the exercise of judicial function, the Judiciary shall be subject to only this Constitution or any other Law and shall not be subject to any control or direction of any other person or authority”.
So meaning, there is no Sierra Leonean, excluding nobody that should dictate the mode of operation of the Judiciary or that should influenced the decision of the Judiciary because the Constitution is sacrosanct that you should subdue yourself only to the Constitution and when you fail to do that, you bring disrepute to your family name and you bring disrepute to yourself.

Mr Speaker, you and I are not in the same Political Party but I would hardly boo at you, you know why?
As the Speaker, regardless of the fact that you are an SLPP Party card carrier, you have always comported yourself with great dignity and respect.

HON.

MATHEW S. NUMYA: Point of Order Mr Speaker!

I stand on S.O 34.

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am commending the Speaker; I am saying he has comported himself with grace, dignity and respect.

THE SPEAKER: And that is what is important!

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: Thank you Sir.


Again, let me repeat it; the Speaker has conducted himself with grace, dignity and respect.

Respect not out of the sense of sycophancy or blindness, respect not out of the sense of Party loyalty, respect not out of the sense of the tribal subjection, but he has done it out of the sense of been nationalistic.

So, regardless of the fact he is SLPP, we will not boo at him.
We do not boo at everybody in the SLPP; we clap for some people in the SLPP as we have done for several other people who have come here for approvals.

Honourable Members, to justify what I am saying, let us put our hands together for the Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi because she has comported herself.

Yes!
Yes!

we would clap for her but Mr Speaker, we would be calling course upon ourselves as Members of Parliament if Section 78[2] 58 of our Constitution clearly states that a Political matter or petition should always last for four months and a Judge try to extend it to over four months to clap for that one.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I call on your attention, for the credibility of this House; let us know if you are a Party card carrier you being a Presiding Officer of this House.
Mr Speaker, that matter has already been taken to the Appeal Court and I want to read Section 32[6]: “reference shall not be made to any matter on which judicial decision is pending”, and I also make reference to 32[11] he is making reference to a matter which is in the Appeal Court and he should not continue doing that, he should not.

And again, we on this other side need clarification on the allegation of you being a Party card carrying member, yes we need that one.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, with all due respect to the learned Geological Engineer the Leader of Government Business, I would encourage you not to proceed in determining the question as to whether he is a card carrying member or not.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Why?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Firstly, It is within your purview.

I said I will encourage you not to and secondly, I do not want us to go round the same circle as if we have not been in this House since morning.
The Honourable Member from Constituency 132 just finished before the Honourable Member from Kafubulom started his submission and he was clear when he was referring to the matter that is presently been referred to as been in Court nobody objected and it was deliberate, what is good for the goose should also be good for the ganda [Applause].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I can repeat the exact words of the Honourable Member.
I want clarification on the allegation of you being a card carrier of the SLPP.

THE SPEAKER: What is relevant to the debate as of this moment is your reference to 32[6] and 32[11], and I will implore the Honourable Member to take cognisance of the provisions of those.

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: Thank you Mr Speaker, I will.

59 THE SPEAKER: Good!

As to the last question, I think it is my privilege to remain quiet [Applause].

HON.
HON.

IBRAHIM T. CONTEH: I said some of the Political matters assigned to him were seen as justice for the APC and it was after that matter that Justice Komba Kamanda was brought into this House and approved as a Judge.

So, in their opinion what he did was Justice.

So, my problem here after was that the Judiciary must ensure that.

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: I am vindicated because Honourable Tawa did not talk to me in camera or in Committee Room One, he did so to the hearing of everybody here.
So you have the onus to prove me right or wrong, I will not deliberate on him again.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in fact his statement is indicting or is endangering the life of the Justice that “you denied bail to our Party Chairman until he lost his life”.

What are you trying to say?

That is why Justice Kamanda should be very careful, that is why he should be very careful [Applause].
He has a family, he has himself, if another Party could again indict him for doing what he is paid to do then I am quite afraid.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have always said when you do the right thing people would commend you.

THE SPEAKER: Let me remind you again of S.O 32.

Honourable Member, do you have the S.Os with you?

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: Of course, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Look at them.

HON.


ABDUL KARGBO: S.O 32[11]: “the conduct of the President and Judges or the performance of the Judicial function by other person and the personal conduct of Members of Parliament shall not be referred to except upon substantive Motion moved for this purpose”.

That was why I was castigating my brother because he never had any right to have referred to a case that was before the Court.

60 THE SPEAKER: If he was wrong do you think you are right?

HON.
HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: Of course, because I am telling him he should not have said what he said [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, I know S.O 38 is awaiting me but before I reach that stage let me just round up.

We are all aware of Section 146[4] of the Public Elections Act which clearly states that: “When an Election is declared void another Election should be conducted”, are we not aware of that?
Are you not aware of the fact that Section 146[1] of the Public Elections Act which says that: “when a matter is before the court 14 days appeal period should be accorded before judgement is made”, are we not aware of that?

Then, these are some of the reasons.

Respect is not sought for, respect is earned.

HON.

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

THE SPEAKER: What is your Point of Order?

HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: He has just read S.O 32[11], so let us respect our S.Os, and let us respect the rules.

Taking into consideration Section 97 of the Constitution, please Honourable Member let us respect ourselves.

THE SPEAKER: Very well, very well.

I will not allow anyone to misbehave in this House; I will not allow any Member of Parliament to misbehave neither will I allow Member of Parliament to transgress the injunctions of the Standing Orders.
On that note, Honourable Member of the Opposition, please take your seat; I would allow him only 30 seconds more.

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Mr Speaker, before that, there is something to be clarified.

THE SPEAKER: I would allow you to clarify but I want to let the Honourable Kargbo know you have exceeded your time.

Those of you who doubt read S.O 48[1].

HON.


CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Mr Speaker, as I said I will toe the view of the Leader of Government Business that our S.Os must be respected and that is something I even started with this morning, but by way of clarity because we are on record.

Haven 61 listened from the Leader of Government Business, at no point in time did the Honourable Member from Kafubulluom threatened or attempted to threaten any of the Judges in the Well.
Mr Speaker, I am here, the records are there and they are very clear.

He referred to the Honourable Member from 132 and said that his assertion in connection to what happened with their Chairman might be endangering the life of the Judge that is what he said.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, take your seats!

Honourable Leader of Government Business, I think I listened very carefully to the statements made by the Honourable Abdul Kargbo.
He came dangerously close to transgressing the injunctions of the S.Os, he came dangerously close to that and with that I am sure he had said enough.

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: I am just rounding up Sir.

THE SPEAKER: In one sentence.

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: No problem Sir.


Mr Speaker, I have admire you enormously because you have always cautioned us to be careful with what we say here regardless of the fact the Constitution gives us impunity for whatever debate we make here and no actions will be brought against anybody for whatever he says here [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: You should not transgress the Standing Orders.

HON.

ABDUL KARGBO: Yes Sir, I did not do it.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to cease this opportunity to hand over the mike to the very next speaker and just as you have said, you have listened so much of a threatening remarks and we have seen how Honourable Members have been dealt with previously, I will not be surprised if I am called again to go to the Criminal Investigations Department [CID].

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

HON.


VERONICA K. SESAY: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am contributing in two folds.

I will talk on the nominees, and then talk briefly on the Speaker’s message.

Again, I want to join the others in thanking His Excellency for giving us these fine gentlemen and ladies.
I am very much happy when I heard from my lady out there 62 saying we are close to the Affirmative Action now we are seeing more of women been nominated by His Excellency, so we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

So, my Ladies, as you have heard from my colleague out there, you are going to represent the women of this country, you are going to do justice so that we can have more women nominated, more women will be given the opportunity to be where you are.
So, I have no doubt because I believe with your résumé we read in the Appointments Committee, you are over qualified and I believe you are going to do what you are there for, you are not going to represent yourself but you are going to do the work that His Excellency is expecting you to do.

You saw what happened the last time at the Appointments Committee when we stake our neck for you, we bowed for you because you are ladies; I have no doubt in you.
Go and do your work, go and lead so that other ladies will follow, and I want to congratulate you again in advance when approved, and I hope and believe that all my ladies here and our supportive men in this Parliament the “He for She” will join me to support you.

Go and do your work we are there and we will be visiting you once in a while, the Parliamentary Female Caucus will go to see what you will be doing so that we will give you our motherly and sisterly advise.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would now move to the proposed CDS.

Mr proposed CDS; you are going there again to do the work for the Nation.

They have said so much about restructuring, refurnishing some these buildings therefore, I will not comment on that again for the sake of time.

What I am saying here is, there are so many programmatic areas again to handle especially for the women and we want to see more women.
You heard the last time when His Excellency during the recruitment stated that they have recruited so many ladies.

We just do not want them to be there as young ladies to be sitting and wait, we want to see much of them doing the work because what the men can do we women can do it better, and I always say women are the best securities, I have no doubt about that and I have no regret to say that because in the whole World I have never heard of war ladies but everywhere we are hearing of War lords.
So, please make sure you promote our ladies, if there are promotions please think our ladies not only the men.

We will again be following up on that, we will be 63 going there to see how you will be dealing with our women.

You have to be look-warm, we are your best advisers, if your wife is your adviser at home then take the ladies out there as your advisers.

We can make and unmake things, we can make you succeed at the same time destroy you.

Work with us so that you can see the change of the game.
Let me congratulate you again in advance, go there and do your work.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me now comment on the Judges.

You know it is a pity, 80% of us here are new and I have been here for more than 12 years and that is not 12 days.

I came here in the ruling, I have stayed in the Opposition and now I am in the ruling.

I always say I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly.
So, let us face this fact, you were here the last time when these two gentlemen came here and you were shouting “ozana” now you are saying crucify him, why?

Let us be honest with ourselves and willing to be very sincere, that is why we should start to give accolade to people when they are alive because when you are dead lying down that is the time people start to say this man was good, this man was doing well but that would be a fruitless endeavour because he/she is not hearing you.
So, let us start to give accolade to people when they are alive.

And again, I will say thanks to the past President for given us these fine gentlemen [Applause].

They gave them to us, we did not boo at them, we did not shout, we agreed in principles because they had been nominated by the President and we had no qualms.

In the previous administration, I was in the Appointments Committee and each time we argued they would say: “na di pa don say”.
So, I want to say thanks to the former President for giving us these fine gentlemen.

We need them because Governance is continuity, we are talking about continuity, we are talking about brotherhood, so they are our brothers let us work with them.

We need you, if they do not need you; we need you more than them; go and do your work.

Even sometimes us the tax payers, when they say pay tax, we would say: “no, we nor dae pay” because they do not know the work of the payment of those taxes.
If you are strict they will not like you, if you are doing the right thing people would not like you.

Do not you believe the Bible again and the Quran?

They took the oath that they are going to do justice, so let us leave them.

I know and I have no doubt 64 that they will do Justice because they have been doing it, maybe you might need that man if not for you but your Constituents so be warned and beware.

Do not mind them, go and do your work.


I know what is helping some of us here is the immunity, you have the right to talk in Parliament but what you say here please let it stay here because if you dare go out there and start saying “dan dae leh e careful” it will not be fine.

So, please you my sons and daughters; let us work together; let us work together and help these people whom you have given to us.
We want to join everybody here or we are asking everybody here to help make these people go and prepare themselves so that they can go on with their jobs.

Even if we talk here and there, we preach or we bring the Bible and the Quran or we say whatever we want to say they are going to be approved by the grace of God, they are going to take the oath this morning.

So, I want to congratulate you gentlemen and ladies, go and do your work.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am standing with a heavy heart.
I am standing here as a mother, I am standing here to say what I want to say as the President of the Parliamentary Female Caucus for the voiceless.

We are representing the voiceless and we are representing the women out there.

Today, is Bintu’s daughter or mama Kema’s daughter, tomorrow might be any one of you or your constituents.
This is too much; we are sending a very strong massage, please I am seeing these persistent rape cases as a challenge to His Excellency the President who sent the message to us in a form of declaring a State of Emergency on these rape cases.

It is also a challenge to us the Parliamentarians.

Is it that we are idle to debate for hours on rape cases?

No!

We were doing justice, we were trying to send the message, we were trying to protect our women and we were trying to protect our children out there.
We sat and we spent hours but yet people were saying that ten years imprisonment is too much, fifteen years is too much and life imprisonment is too much.

Even if you say one year they would still do it, even if we had said fifty years they would continue doing it.

So, what I am saying here is, we are sending a very strong massage.

This is a very big challenge for us the women of this Country.

Where are the women?


We heard from the Speaker’s massage 51%, well we started with peaceful demonstration; the other day people were 65 been molested, arrested pushing here and there because of Kadija’s case.

We do not know Kadija, I do not know kadija personally and I do not know her family but because she is a child, because that girl slept in the womb of her mother for nine months and I know the constrains the mother went through, how can she be dealt with like that?
For that reason, people came out to demonstrate.

We are going to change the narrative by being very peaceful.

We are going to engage the essential structures by sitting quietly without doing any work like cooking or doing domestics for you the men [Applause] to see if you would be able to rule this Nation single handed.

You need us but why are you punishing us?

Why cannot we work together?

Why the rape?

There are women out there whom you can get for Le 10.000, Le 20.000.
With all due respect to those women, but if you have that you can stop yourself from been involved in rape.

What enjoyment can you get from a one year old child?

It is a shame and disgrace, it will come to a time when we will start to name and shame some of these rapists [Applause].

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY Mr Speaker, I want to make an observation on this matter.

Please I am sorry, it is not to obstruct the Honourable Member but we are already concern about Khadija.
We are all very personate about this issue but one thing that has been completely written boldly in this discussion is; the name of the perpetrator has never been mentioned.

We have always been shouting Khadija!

Khadija!

Khadija!

But nobody has thought about the name of the perpetrator, we have to think about his name and shame him for a start.

THE SPEAKER: No!

No!

That is the wrong way to go please.

HON.

VERONICA K. SESAY: Thank you very much.


And all the placards that I read the last time, nobody mentioned any name, we do not know the person.

They said it has been alleged, that is why we are sending a strong message that we want justice because justice delayed is justices denied.

We want justice for Khadija’s case and not only for Khadija’s case.
You the judges before us here today, go and tell the other judges who are dealing with all of the rape cases that enough is enough, this is the time that you have to come on board and deal with the rape cases rapidly.

And let me 66 leave this sign to all the women, every woman in Sierra Leone this should be our sign, we are in it together [Applause] and also the supportive men.

Anywhere we meet, this means we are in it together, we are going to see the last point on this.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with these few words, I want to thank you for the fatherly and grandfatherly behaviour for listening to our young stars and listening to the women, that shows the passion that you have for women.

God will bless you, God will continue to protect you and God will continue to give you the wisdom.

Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Lady for her kind request of investigation on the matter and to allow justice.
I would like to recognize the Honourable Musa Fofanah on my list.

HON.

MUSA FOFANAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am very happy to make my contribution to the Debate on the issue we have in front of us.

I will start with Mrs Maude Regina Peacock a proposed member to the Board of Directors of the Local Content Agency in this Country.

I have a question, how locally is the Local Content Policy?
I just want to remind Mrs Maude Regina Peacock that what we knew because we are from the diamond rich District of Kono, from the 1930s to the 1960s, we have benefited from the SLST and NDMC in having technicians that can operate all kinds of heavy duty machines starting from what we call in those days dread line and today referred to as excavators, fronted loaders, you name them but yet still we are seeing expatriates as they coin their names operating these machines in mining companies which we believe we are have the capacity as Sierra Leoneans to operate but expatriate are taken these jobs from our brothers and sisters.
We want to remind you that we have many Sierra Leoneans who are geologists.

Vividly, we remember since the last ten years to now that we have got many geologists in this Country but we still see geologists expatriates from Ghana, China and another countries taking the jobs of our Sierra Leonean brothers and sisters.

So, that is why I said, I would remind one of the Board members who is to take up this responsibility that we would want to see the Local Content Policy as a Policy for this country.
67 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would also want to zoom in on Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay who is going to be the CDS.

I am confident that in the next few minutes from now, we are going to approve these fine nominees.

For the Judges and for the Deputy Bank Governor II, I would not say anything because I know that already a lot of colleagues have said a lot but for the Major-General, I have known this young gentle man for over 26 years.
I want this House to believe that this Major-General has been a performer, this fine gentle man in front of this House today has demonstrated classical professionalism in all operations he had handled in this Country from the year 1991 to now and that is why you are here today.
Major-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay, we want to agree with you that this is your time and this Parliament will stand behind you for you to succeed but one major thing we also want to register to you is the bad condition of the army barracks all over this Country from Zimi to Kono, Kailahun to Kambia and Freetown.
We hope that you will bring a new change in the Army and we also want to tell you that we will also be proud to see our army officers operating in the United Nations [UN] and African Union [AU] Peacekeeping missions.

We will be proud to see our own boots on other grounds performing to at least take our name to the international platform.
I would not say much because I believe for the Major-General a lot of things have been said but my final word would be an appeal to this House to speedily approve the Nominees even though I know our brother the Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda has been an issue but he is still our brother.
I insist, we want to appeal that for Nation First and for us to succeed as Sierra Leoneans as we are representing our different constituencies here, it is good for us to pass these nominees for them to go to their different offices to carry on with their jobs for which they have been assigned.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, finally; to the mother of the House and to our brothers and sisters up the Gallery; be rest assured that this Parliament will stand behind you for this issue of rape cases.
I thank you very much Mr Speaker [Applause].

HON.

KANJA M. HAFIJU: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I do not want to take my mind back to what happened to me in the year 68 2012 and November 25th, 2013 but people have been forcing me to recall.
As Justice Showers was giving a ruling on the petition case on the 25th of November 2013 wherein she said, the plaintiff has no case against me the first defendant but however, the third defendant to pronounce the second wining and that was what happened.

I will not go into detail because I do not want people to force me to think about what happened to me.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would debate this afternoon on the newly appointed CDS.

All I know, what goes around comes around [Undertone].
The newly appoint CDS, upon approving you this afternoon in the 10 minutes that we have, I will like you to please pay attention to your Troops.

Of course you have been Joint Force Commander commanding all the troops including the Navy, the Air Wing, the Maritime Wing and infant Wing and you are au fiat with the situation arounding them.

When I went through the report from your interview, I read something where you said you will pay attention to the barracks.
Of course, a young man servicing as Commanding Officer of the Joint Medical Unit Dr Sylvallie has so many challenges with the hospital.

You will have to pay attention to the Joint Medical Unit that is the 34 Military Hospitals.

It is dilapidated, if you go to the kitchen, it is out of order; if you go to the Xray Unit, that one is off; if you go to the theatre, so shameful; if you go to the maternity, you look at the Electricity facility at the maternity unit, it is sorrowful.
The entire Joint Medical Unit which is not only meant for the Military but also meant for state officials including Members of Parliament and Ministers, we need to pay attention to that particular Unit.

And if you go to the Wilberforce Barracks, there is a Contractor that has been constructing the Wilberforce Barracks for the past five years in the person of Alhaji and that construction has almost collapsed because of lack of payment to contractors.
If you go to Kambia Barracks, the fence construction has been in progress but that one also there is question mark to it.

Then the forward patrol gate starting from Nukeiyah to gbalamuyah, of course Gbalamuyah is perfect because it is from the high way but if you go to Kukuna and sannia, Baylor right round the Country we need to improve the forward patrol gates.
I went on border patrol about six weeks ago under EOC, when I 69 reached the Kono boundary, the river sharing the boundary with Guinea and Kono districts, we have ten chiefdoms on that river and there is an Agreement with the Battalion Commander and the Koidu Holdings to construct five border posts, one for two chiefdoms, the newly appointed CDS it is an embarrassment for us in this Country.
On the Guinean side they have permanent bases, that is the Guinean Arm Forces have permanent structures on our border, as for us on the Sierra Leonean side we only patrol our borders but we do not stay that is why the Guineans are everyday claiming that they own the river because we have no permanent structures.

So, you have to pay attention to these issues, you have to help the Defence Minister and the Director General.
Today, you are coming there as CDS, you have to help them to see these come to reality.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is an open secret that the Ministry of Defence has so many debts.

If you think of the drugs, rice, fuel and uniforms, for the past years people have been supplying drugs and nobody have been paying them.

We owe the drugs suppliers for more than five years and the rice supplier for more than eight months.

So, we have to pay attention to those things.


And the people who were asking those people to supply them they never paid till they went and we are carrying that load today.

We are trying with one in, one out basis i.e.

if we pay the new supplier this month, then we pay the old supplier the other month because it is difficult.

We inherited those debts innocently, for more than five years we have not been paying the drug suppliers.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Let me talk on peace support operations and oversee courses.

The newly appointed CDS, we have had a good number of our personnel on oversee courses who are suffering currently like those in China and so many other countries, I used to communicate with them, they are suffering and those on peace support operations normally go for a year and some of them have done more than two years over there without recalling them; please pay attention to that one.
Mr proposed CDS, for the Army Wives Association, it should not be politicised.

I am telling you to take this message to your wife as she is automatically going to be the 70 head of the Army Wives Association that she should not politicise the Army Wives Association.

I am saying this because, I know what they did last year when the First Lady was trying to assist them and they ignored the assistance and the Association have collapsed because of politics.
Please pay attention to the Army wives and the Arm Forces widows they have so many problems.

MrCDS, I want you to pay attention to the over eighteen children in the barracks, they are creating more problem.

They are over 18 years, I want you to re-introduce the operation Araba to remove all 18 years and above from the barracks so that our soldiers can be confortable [Applause].

There are illegal occupants in the barracks like Wilberforce Barracks, Juba Barracks and Murray Town Barracks.
There are also many private buildings in the barracks and those buildings belongs to private people and there are some constructions going on in the barracks like the Wilberforce Barracks and Juba Barracks.

THE SPEAKER: And with that?

HON.

MAADA K. HAFIJU: With that, I want you to re- introduce operation Araba so that the barracks will be safe for our soldiers.

We have our soldiers with rural foundation, our children over 18 and above are occupying those barracks.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I think your message is loud and clear [Applause].

HON.

KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Mr Speaker, I have been here about four hours like anybody else, I went quickly in my office and I came back; I have been here since 9:00 a.m.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Kandeh Yumkella, I think I observed that the seats you are occupying was vacant for a very considerable time.

HON.

KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: I stepped out for 20 minutes with Honourable Abdul Titus Kamara.
I was in this Parliament since 9:00 a.m. this morning and I have been on this seat until I took a natural break when the light went off, I cannot stay in.

71 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Constitution guarantees each Member of Parliament the right to express our views in here or outside, we want to take the Floor; this is an important matter for us as the National Grand Coalition [NGC].
Last night, my niece who is amongst the young people there was very excited to come to Parliament to stand up for something related to young girls in this country.

I hope what she has observed today and the others will still inspire them to want to be Members of Parliament, I just hope.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as we listened to the Debate, that is why some of us sit for hours to listen to the Debate not just to make speeches.
If you listened to our cousins “Alhassan” and “Alhusine” enumerates the injustices of the past both sides have been doing this morning that is why we choose to listen.

There is an institutional failure in this one, justice is not fear, is not impartial.

It is good some of us were not here, why?

Because we would not have been part of that kind of injustices; so that is why we chose to listen.
To what has happened in the past and now today, we are looking at another set of judges we have to approve, the issues are clear, there are problems within the Judiciary that requires systematic and consistent reform.

THE SPEAKER: Order!

Order Honourable Members!

HON.

KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: It is about the Judicial System not just personalities, a system that is not able yet to defend Justice neutrally and impartially, I want it for quotation.
What captures what is going on in our Judiciary, with your leave sir; I quote the Chief justice Willimutu of Kenya in 2011 similar situation but they found a way to fix it.

In 2011 he said and I quote; “we found an institution so frame in its structures, so thin on its resources, so low on its confidence, so deficient in integrity, so weak in its public support that to expect it to deliver justice was to be widely optimistic, we found a Judiciary that was designed to fail”.
Our Judiciary also lacks resources, we do not have enough judges and there is a backlog of many cases.

We have all been in the Appointments Committee for different judges and we have always had the same problem, we need to fix the Judiciary.

The Judiciary 72 would protect our rights as guaranteed in chapter 3 of this Constitution.

Yes, they need the resources, personnel, to be able to do their jobs so the system can work.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in addition, we need serious Judicial reforms.
In our Manifesto in 2018, page 55, we talked about it [Laughter].

So, for us as NGC, it is not just about appointing; it is an opportunity to talk about Judicial reforms.

Some have spoken the likes of Honourable Abdul Kargbo who talked about impartiality and independence, Honourable Tawa gave us instances of what they passive that maybe there could have been better impartiality and independence.

How did the Kenyans solve their problem?

They reformed their Judicial System.


Even though the Head of State appoint the Chief Justice, they have a panel of judges that review the Judicial Service Commission.

People apply, they took exams and they ensure that on that Committee the Head of State only appoints two people and some of those interviews are open to the public.
If you want an independent depoliticised Judiciary, let us set it up, let us change the system of appointment for posterity otherwise, what I heard today I told the Honourable Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, I said this country is lucky that they have “Gbessay” because if it is left to the tit-for-tat, do me I do you, this Country would have gone down the drain.

What we have heard here today is 20 years tit-for- tat, we are copying all the wrong precedents and the negative ones.
So, my admonition to this House, at some point we have to Debate about Judicial reform, how would we want to help the Judiciary to set a system that yet our children will not suffer from tit- for-tat.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in closing, when people talk about the poor girl Kadijah and this morning the Honourable from Kailahun in Segbwema said there is another case now just less than one week later, it is a challenge to morality in society.
The laws are there; in this Parliament we strengthen them all but people ignored them so something is wrong with values.

What are we teaching in the homes?

What are we doing when our kids are around, are we taking the responsibilities?

They said for every delinquent child you see, there is a delinquent home, the social workers know that.

So, let us not treat these ceases as isolated ones, there could be five or more Kadijah’s.
73 Another Honourable from Bonthe last year, gave us statistics of rape in her Constituency; I remember the cat falls so yet we have the responsibility.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, finally, we as NGC we will make our proposals for Judicial reform.

Yes, we as “Gbessay”; this nation should be happy that we did not leave it to “Alhassan” and “Alhusine” because they would do tit-for-tat, do me I do you and they would destroy every institution [Applause].

HON.
HON.

SAHR CHARLES: I do not think we should be begging to be heard here, we should not be begging to be heard here for God sake Mr Speaker.

There are four political parties in the House, and when it comes to rounding up on a Debate, I believe there are Leaders for all political parties; they should be given the opportunity to have their say.

THE SPEAKER: To the Leader of the Opposition.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I heard and undertone from one area on that side referring to or giving credence to the “Alhassan” or “Alhusine” but I do not know who is “Alhassan” or “Alhusine”.

I do not know whether there is a “Gbessay” in this Room.

Mr Speaker, I know that if we are “Alhusine” on this side and “Alhassan” is on that side, the last speaker is either a younger brother or a child of that very “Alhassan”; that is what I know [Applause].
It is evidently clear, when you check the makeup or the configuration of the NGC, you see the players, you see the actors; I do not need to call them by names but we know them.

So, are they different from those they are associating with “Alhusine” and “Alhassan”?

They are either the Ministers or Ambassadors at one point in time or the other.

So, if we are looking for a “Gbessay” we are looking for a different “Gbessay” [Applause].

Mr Speaker, I have not said anything.


I am looking forward to another day that I will say something that I have always been planning to say, I am looking forward to that day when it will be right for me to say it.

So, I hope if we have a “Gbessay” the “Gbessay” will also be advising that “Gbessay”.

I do not know whether the “Gbessay” is a he/she but that 74 “Gbessay” will be advising because the platform that I am seeing gradually graduating should better find it place.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, on a more serious note, like all other previous speakers before me, I want to thank you very much for your statement this morning that touched on the issue of rape and sexual penetration.

We have been following similar cases for quite a while now as the Honourable Member from Segbuema said, she stood in this very Chamber month ago and cried for help, she was challenged by people who were supposed to be assisting victims be it the police or the legal system.
I do not want to go over all that has been said this morning up to this late afternoon but Mr Speaker, Khadija’s case like the Arab spring should serve as the catalyst of ending rape once and for all [Applause].

How about other cases before be it in Bonthe, Western area, in Kailahun or elsewhere but this should be a stop.
I saw the Honourable Member from Moyamba making this sign and she also called on us that are champions of “He for She” to make sure that we do not just say things when it is time to say them but we also act when it is time to act and I would not say the time is now but I would join all others to say it must stop now [Applause].

We have an opportunity President has made a Statement; the First Lady has done so, Civil Society and several other stakeholders in society.
Mr Speaker, culminating with your statement this morning, as Members of Parliament, you have called on us to support all those that will ensure that rape is stopped once and for all.

And for those that you have also encouraged to assist us with the Laboratory, I also want to join you in encouraging them to support us in ensuring that we have a Laboratory that will stand the test of time.
Setting up of Special Court in addressing these issues for speed and probably even accuracy is also a welcome news and we encourage the Judiciary to work towards that direction.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, again I would encourage I do not know whether there is “Gbessay”, we will encourage “Gbessay” and his team together with the Coalition for Change [C4C], the Independent members and the Paramount chiefs to join 75 me in what I will be concluding my submission with.
I am encouraging them before the Leader of Government Business does, it is better for me to encourage them now.

HON.

MATTHEW S. NYUMA: Are you campaigning?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Yes I am, In Parliament we canvas.

Mr Speaker, as I insinuated this morning, let me be precise, we have eight Nominees; for the six we are unanimous.

So, I am sure that when the Question will be eventually put, because we would be voting for the six without dissention but the other two, we will not Mr Speaker.
Yes you will be voting for all but we will not vote for all [Undertone].

So, if you put the Question in the bracket it means we are voting against all.

Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the language from the Whip on the other side.

THE SPEAKER: I want to particularly take notice of those words: “na u bisness” [S.O 2 quoted] HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, I do not know whether I have your permission also because I am not too sure whether they are still around, myself and Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi trained in the same Law Firm i.e.

“Wrights and Co. Solicitors” and I heard the names Justice Eku Robert, Justice Michael Patrick Hindolo Mamie and Justice Miatta Samba all of us passed through the hands of Roland Deswright.

The names I have just mentioned were here.


Justice Eku Robert is a very fine Judge; Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi has been excellent in executing her responsibility [Applause].

Again, I think it was the Honourable Member from Constituency 132 associated part of that excellence to the background that her Father was also a Justice that served up to the Court of Appeal, I want to believe that he even sat not as a Judge of the Supreme Court but he sat on cases in the Supreme Court.
But I am to be guided by Honourable Ajibola Manly E. Spain.

I have no doubt that Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi is competent, she is capable, she is impartial but most importantly Mr Speaker base on what I have been saying later again that she is qualified to sit in the Court of Appeal.

Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi signed her Permanent Register on the 12th January 2005 so that is why I added that.
76 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mrs Moud Regina Peacock, Miss Constant Bockarie and my Aunt Mrs Hawa Humu Wurrie are all good women, and we will continue to support good women [Applause] and since they are good Mr Speaker I would encourage all of us to endorse the recommendation of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, there is a Sheikh Alhaji Yayah Sesay, his is going to be the first to occupy the position of Deputy Bank Governor II; he is going to be the first since the inception of the Bank of Sierra Leone.

But fortunately he is going to work with a Deputy Bank Governor I who is an excellent young individual.

He was also here this morning I do not know whether he is still around.
I have had a lot of engagement with him since he came back to Sierra Leone and started serving as Deputy Bank Governor and he has been doing an excellent job.

So I want to encourage my brother Sheikh Alhaji Yayah Sesay to follow the good examples and the industrious major of the Deputy Bank Governor I.
His CV is rich but we have seen many people before with good CVs, if you read them they are so excellent but when you put them to test, they would not perform to expectation but for him he has had a good experience for both the private and the public sectors and he has work at the World Bank.

So, I am sure discipline would be part of his life; I want to wish him well.
I need not to say much on Madam Moud Peacock because there is a lot to say on her but definitely because of time I would just confirm what we did in the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service that indeed she is good and I would join others to push for her approval in this House.

As I said, I would not say much on that.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, on the last two Justices Alhaji Momohjah Stevens and Komba Kamanda, I went through the records on the roll of Court Register I do not know whether I would be guided but I am yet to see the name Alhaji Momohjah Stevens on the roll of Court Register I am yet to see.
And for Justice Komba Kamanda, again, like I did for Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi; I would confirm that the Register is also saying that he signed his Permanent Register on the 2nd February, 2006 that is what the Register is saying and Mr Speaker for clarity we also have the option to go 77 through it.

Justice Kamanda is NO.172 and Justice Bintu Alhadi is NO.158 on the roll of Court Register.

Mr Speaker, these were the dates when they signed the Permanent Register.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, if you give me the permission to read I would again go to the Legal Practitioner Act 2000 and I would tie it to Section 135[4] of the Constitution.
Mr Speaker Section 12[1], but not to waste the time of this House I will go to 12[2] and it says: “An application under [1] shall be accompanied by [a] two testimonials of good character sufficient to satisfy the Council [b] copies of certificates testifying that the applicant holds the qualifications specified in Section 10 [c] a copy that he has served the period of pupillage applicable to him” this is very specific.
If you go to the Constitution Mr Speaker, a lot has been said on 135[4] so I would take this House straight to 135[4] and it says: “for the purposes of [3] a person shall be regarded as entitled to practice as Counsel if he has been called, enrolled, or otherwise admitted as such and has not subsequently been debarred or removed from the roll call of Council or Legal Practitioners” the emphasis on roll call of Council.
So, your name is not entered in that roll when you are called to the Bar that is why the certificate we get, the inscriptions are very clear you are called to the Alter Bar, you are only entered in the roll after your pupillage and that is when counting starts.

Like for doctors we talk about Housemanship, in the Legal Profession we talk about pupillage.
And again, there is distinction because there are some who were saying Justice Kamanda is not qualified because he did not do his pupillage but I am opposite because when you go to the Legal Practitioners Act it gives room for people who provide services within the Legal Council to also qualify under pupillage so, you do not just need to be a Practitioner.
But as during the course of interview I ask a specific question to Honourable Justice Stevens and he confirmed that he practiced for twelve months but as I said going through the roll, his name is not in the roll and it is on record in black and white.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Member, again it has been said that they were made Judges by the previous administration, granted.

As a Lawyer, I would tell you that the Opposition then were responsible to defend their case, they had the responsibility.
In 78 Law, you have what they call “Yustacy”.

They did not defend their case; these issues were not raised; they are coming out now these are new facts [Applause].

Mr Speaker, are you listening to me?

These are new facts.

Mr Speaker, it was this very House I am sure we still remember that a lady, I am sure you will remember that this very Parliament; this same Parliament [Interrupted].

THE SPEAKER: I am amazed.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: I am coming, that is where I want to take you to.
This same Parliament not another Parliament, not the Previous Parliament but this same Parliament we were unable to approve Madam Louis Kawa because we counted for her and the counting was agreed to commence from the date of enrolment otherwise she would have been Ombudsman as we speak [Applause].

It is on record, this is a House of records.

Mr Speaker, I hope that these recordings will not be doctored.
So, based on that, I go back to page 6, based on my submission that both Nominees are not as we speak today qualified to sit in the Court of Appeal [Applause].

Justice Komba Kamanda will be qualified on the 2nd February, 2021 based on the Act and Mr Speaker why we should not disregard this Act; I would also take you to Section 120 of the Constitution.
Section 120 of the Constitution more specifically Section 123, Mr Speaker; with your permission I read Section 123 again and it reads: “in the exercise of the Judicial functions, Judiciary shall be subject to only this Constitution or any other Law” one of them which Judiciary and the Legal Service Commission is doing now in recommending qualified people to serve as judges to His Excellency the President.
So, we are not just tie to this beautiful small book, laws like this are also applicable [Applause], we must respect the laws we make and if we should respect the laws we make, I am calling on this House not to approve these two Judges today before this House [Applause].
Mr Speaker, God willing, if they resurface again in February of next year, I am sure this House will reconsider its position and the decision might be favourable but today we cannot be a party to those who would go against the laws we make in this House, we will not Mr Speaker.
And that is why I was encouraging my colleagues the Paramount chiefs, those from the NGC, Independent Members, the C4C 79 and my brothers on that side to join us here in making sure that we approve all the other nominees, but for the two we leave them out for today.

I hope we are together Mr Leader?

Mr Leader, you know you are my brother I would not take you to go the wrong road, we have to respect the Laws we make.
When I was hearing the word “New Direction”, I have always ask for the definition of the “New” and of the “Direction” but considering what I am seeing now, I am still waiting for the definition.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, before I conclude on them I will go to the Major General and I pray that he is promoted to Lieutenant General in the shortest possible time so he join those who have been Lieutenant Generals in Sierra Leone, the reason is also deliberate.
Mr Speaker, when our Soldiers retired and they compete for international jobs within the UN system, some of them are challenged because when you are a Major General and you compete with a Lieutenant General, even when you might have more experience or qualification, when they check your rank they will go for the Lieutenant General and leave you out.

So, for the interest of Sierra Leone, I am calling on His Excellency the President to consider in promoting the new CDS to Lieutenant General [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this morning, the Independent Member of Parliament from Pujehun, I heard him preaching and preaching then I was satisfied that indeed I have impacted so much religious knowledge in him.

I was excited but I am his Imam, I just hope that what he said this morning is what he will practice.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as I was saying, myself not 26 years as Honourable Musa Fofanah from Kono said; I would have known him for quite a while at least for over 10years and I know him as a fine soldier.

I believe that the decision of His Excellency the President is a good one.
I am sure you will also agree with me, him the new CDS that his predecessor that has just left General Bureh Sesay was also a very fine soldier and they had a very good working relationship and as a result of that I am sure that those behind him also will have a good working relationship with him.
So, I also encourage this House also not to just endorse his approval but also to support him along his journey because he will need this House as the Honourable Member from 80 Bamakonta said the Military is challenged, we know competing for resources is also difficult but as a Parliament we want to assure you that when you occupy that seat by the grace of God you will get our support as a House, collectively this Parliament will support you so be rest assured.
And the Honourable Member from Karene Honourable Bash had wanted to say something but I told him I will speak on his behalf so just consider that he contributed to this Debate.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, finally; again; I will remind this House on the decision we took when it came to Madam Louis Kawa, it was this House that took that decision this same House.

HON.

MATTHEW S. NYUMA: Point of Order Mr Speaker.


For the Records, it was at the Committee stage that we stopped Madam Louis Kawa not to come for approval, she did not come here please for the Records; we did not interview her.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you!

I agree with him Mr Speaker.

I was speaking because I believed that based on our Standing Orders, what transpires in Committees, transpires in Parliament.

THE SPEAKER: You will have your opportunity.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, whatever I say here I am saying it on oath.

And again, Mr Speaker, as I said all I am saying on the case of Madam Louis Kawa, I am saying it on oath because I took oath when I entered this Parliament and it was not the last Parliament.

I did not hear him, Mr Speaker [Undertone].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Let him withdraw his statement.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: No!

No!

I did not hear him.

Mr Speaker!


We should not be hearing everything people are saying, we should not hear everything.

Yes, it is around that one, I agree with you.

I did not hear you Honourable Member!

I did not!

And we know when it is past twelve, we should not be hearing everything Members of Parliament are saying [Laughter].

We should not, thank you very much.


81 And again Mr Speaker, as I said, all I am saying on the case of Madam Louis Kawa, I am saying it on oath because I took oath when I entered this Parliament.

And it was not the last Parliament, before we would say that the decision of the last Parliament do not bind this one; it was taken within the term of this Parliament, that is my position Mr Speaker.

And again, I do not know the direction “Gbassay” was going.
That is why I want to be sure, I just saw somebody few minutes ago raised his head; I am not sure whether he is “Gbassay”, I do not know whether “Gbassay” is a ‘He’ or ‘She’ [Laughter].

But again Mr Speaker, this is not for us, but for those that are here present.

It is very important; because he [Honourable Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella] made a statement and I do not want that statement to be taken out of context.
What has transpired in this Parliament since morning is Parliamentary, and that is the way Parliaments operate all over the world.

We contacted the Chief Justice, or former; I do not know if he is still there in Kenya and we noticed that even in Kenya there are times when they are rowdier than we are.

So, I want the public to know that, that should not be a deterrent of them aspiring to be Members of Parliament.
This is a House of Debate; when you debate many things happen but at the end of the Debate sanity will prevail.

So for those that are new in this Parliament, expect more of this to happen.

Expect more of this to happen!

The Honourable Leader of Government Business would tell you we are used to these things and they will continue to happen.

What is important is for us to make sure that we are Parliamentary; that is what is important.

And we must respect our rules and laws; that is what is important!
But Undertones and exchange of words will always happen.

So for you that are present, anyone of you that aspires or intends to aspire in becoming Members of Parliament, please do not deter your ambition [Applause].

Mr Speaker, now they are here as advocates; they will advocate better when they occupy our seats than when they sit looking at us from the Gallery.

So we would encourage them to come maybe they will change the trend.
I would assure you and assure them, the Speaker was here in the 80s, Parliament was rowdier than it is today.

Yes!

I used to come here as a small boy, he would confirm.

Well, I will not tell you because you were not born [Undertone].

Mr Speaker, on a more serious note, we should encourage all responsible citizens who aspire to contribute to 82 the political life of this Country with sanity and patriotism to aspire and join the political wagon.
You have a lot of good politicians, emulate the good politicians; those that they assume as bad or associate negatives with are always in the minority; look at the good examples and emulate them.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, before I seat, I want to remind all of us again that I am encouraging this entire House, irrespective of the political divide to approve and endorse all the Presidential nominees with the exception of Justice Komba Kamanda and Justice Momoh Jah Stevens [Applause].

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker for giving me the Floor to wrap up this Debate.

I want to say thanks to my colleagues for their numerous contributions.

I want to say bravo to you for criticizing the process or to say what you feel in your opinion.

Thank you very much, but we will go after the truth and the procedures in Parliament must be followed.
And Mr Speaker at this point, I am a Catholic Christian, I do not just go into prayer because I want to pray; I pray with my whole heart and sincerity to God; I keep trust in that prayer.

Mr Speaker, let me read the last sentence of our daily prayers in this House and which we did this morning.

‘Lay aside all private interest, prejudices and personal affections; the result of all our counsels may be to the glory of thy blessed name’.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we took oath to say the truth; nothing else but the truth.

Mr Speaker, again, I want to apologise.

I am Leader of Government; I am well aware of what you are doing here and if there is mistake in the House I should stand tall to talk about that mistake.

If there is blunder in this House I should stand tall and talk about it too.

Mr Speaker, you know we always have brouhaha all over the world in Parliaments but there are processes and procedures.
The rules in Kenya cannot affect the rules in Sierra Leone Parliament.

So, I may read this with your leave Mr Speaker Section 97 of the Constitution.

That is the reason I am apologizing to the judges for what happened; the act of booing.

As a democratic man, I am a respecter of Institution so I cannot afford to water down that one [Undertone].
Mr Speaker, Section 97, I read: “the responsibilities of the Members of Parliament shall include the 83 following”: [I will only read the ‘A’ part of it] “All Members of Parliament shall maintain the dignity and image of Parliament both during the sittings in Parliament as well as in their acts and activities outside Parliament”.
Mr Speaker, to boo at somebody in this very House who has to be an Honourable Justice in the High Court, to pass through this House and nominated by figures in Administration, and if that individual is going through the process, and today they came with that singular respect Mr Speaker, say because we pass them; we gave them the title, they will die with their titles.
Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda and Honourable Momohjah Stevens, I apologised that, that behaviour did not show the dignity of Parliament no matter how you look at it [Applause].

Honourable Tawa, thank you very much for bringing us to speed; there are three arms of Government.

There is one that is very strong i.e.

the Judiciary, thank you very much for learning us.

Mr Speaker, I cited exactly what they do in the dissolution of ‘K’ and ‘B’ for the three arms, thank you very much.
We learn from one another; some of us are not Lawyers but we are very truthful to what we do here.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have tremendous respect for the former President of the republic.

I will tender proofs here or table them.

In fact I will be reading the appointment Letters given to Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda and Honourable Momohjah Stevens.

I will read them verbatim; and I will read the same Letter given to them by this current President.
Let me read: Justice Komba Kamanda UFS- The Honourable Chief Justice Chambers, Law Court Building, Freetown Dear Justice Kamanda, I have pleasure in informing you that by virtue of the previous provisions of Section 135[2] of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, Act NO.6 of 1991 and acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, I hereby appoint you as High Court Judge of the Superior Court 84 of Judicature of the Republic of Sierra Leone with effect from the date of assumption in that capacity.
I congratulate you on your appointment to this important office.

Signed by: Dr Ernest Bai Koroma President of the Republic of Sierra Leone cc.

Attorney General, Solicitor General, Financial Secretary etc.

I brought this deliberately for the point of counting Honourable Members on the other side are importing.

In tandem with that, I will read the Letter given to the same person by this present President we have.

This one was given to us on the 6th June, 2020.


Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda J C/O Chairman, Judicial and Legal Service Commission Law Court Building, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.
Dear Honourable Kamanda J, Appointment as Justice of the Court of Appeal I have the honour to inform you that in accordance with section 135[2] of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, Act NO.6 of 1991, it has pleased His Excellency the President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio to appoint you as Justice of the Court of Appeal, subject to the approval of Parliament.

You are kindly adviced to contact the Clerk who will arrange detail etc.

etc.
etc.

Following your appointment, details including terms of conditions and you appointment will be communicated, thank you.

85 Julius F Sandy, Phd.

Secretary to the President Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the reason why I read this Letter in tandem with this is that, my colleague from the other side was talking about time and enrolment.

So even if you do not give an enrolment, it is not proper.
He said: “I did not see this register signed by Honourable Momoh-Jah Stevens and Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda”.

So, how were they appointed in those positions?

And to thyself be truth, you brought them to this House and passed them.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker!

Mr Speaker!

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I draw your attention to Section 135[4].

He only mentioned about enrolment; I am going to talk about “call”; they used various adjectives.
Let me read that provision Section 135[4].

So, you do not abandon one; I am reading it and you draw your conclusion towards that.

I am a political positive radical lawyer.

Mr Speaker, with your leave, let me read Section 135[4]: for the purposes [3], a person shall be regarded as entitled to practice as a counsel if he has been called, enrolled or otherwise”.

I will just stop there; I will not bother the House because of time.
For me, I am not a lawyer to interpret the opinion of Honourable Leader of the other side, but I have tremendous respect for him.

If you think you can take my own position as what it may be; my position, if you look at their Résumés, they said, they were called to the Bar on 8th of August 2004.

At various point, they were taken to appoint them again to be as Appeal Court Judges for 2020.

Government is continuity in a more respective ways; which we have done.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, they were talking about the Legal Practitioners Act 2000.

Mr Speaker, I will not bother you to read; I will quote Section 171[15] and Section 170[5] is very clear about the supremacy of the Constitution.

I am not a Lawyer but simple sense makes law!

So why do you want to challenge the Constitution?

[Applause] Mr Speaker, I have no disrespect for my colleague on the other side, I have 86 worked with Honourable Chernor R.M.
Bah in two Parliaments; when I was at the highes peak of radicalism in college We were in the Student Representative Council [SRC].

I have known Honourable Chernor R.M.

Bah for over thirty years and we have never quarrelled, but I will continue to discuss; we are going to discuss.

I have respect for you and for other people.

But for me, Honourable Member, you still need to apologise on our behalf because of responsibility; I have done that.
But let me quote the words of Shabba Ranks who said: “it is not easy to bring a good man down”.

Justice Komba Kamabda and Justice Honourable Momohjah Stevens, take it as that; it is not ease to bring a good man down, continue to do your work.

Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, he incarcerated his best friend from college days.

That is the law; you cannot disrespect them for what they are doing.

Respect them for their work!


We have immunity to say all what we want to say because we are here in the Chamber.

Nobody can disrespect you for that!

Honourable Abdul Kargbo that is why you are protected by the S.Os, others from outside cannot challenge you because that is your immunity; you cannot be charged to Court for that, let us respect that.

Honourable Foday Rado Yoki, the present Minister of Mines is my Bosom, a friend and an elder brother.

I cried in Court; he was incarcerated.


I turned to Komba Kamanda, I grew up with Komba Kamanda in the same area in Kissy Town in Kenema.

He incarcerated my brother, my friend!

I turned and looked at him and said: “Komba na you do dis?” He told me: “Honourable Nyuma, excuse me, na mi wok ar dae du” [S.O 2 quoted].

I respect him for that [Applause].

Today, I said, I have respect for you sir; I have no need to disrespect you, to be very honest in this House.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in the case of Loise Kawa, when you have an appointment, you have to come for interview at the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service and we interview you.

One thing I have respect for him for together with the Honourable Speaker of ECOWAS Sidie Tunis, he is always open to consultations that is the man.

And we said no, we have just interviewed her and we will not bring the report to the House.
It was acted upon the numbers; numerical strength as to how long- is it twenty years you can serve?

She was not up to the number 87 because we checked the register and she was five or six years.

The problem with her was, she was not up to the number.

So what we did, we said we cannot bring that report to this Honourable House.

So at the Committee stage we killed her, instant!

[Undertone] But let me say this, let me talk about that but this one is very clear.
I have read Section 135[4], you took “enrolment” and I took “call”.

Okay, I am not a Lawyer, if you think you want to interpret then go to the Supreme Court and get an interpretation.

That is my own point.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I submit this one for the attention of the Speaker.

That is the employment letter for Honourable Komba Kamanda and Honourable Momohjah Stevens.

I do not want to bore you as I am going to wrap up very soon.
But with all due respect Sir, we have not asked this Honourable House to divide the nominees.

The same lens His Excellency the President took to appoint Honourable Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi is the same lens he took to appoint Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda and Honourable Momohjah Stevens.

So why are we so partial or unfair to Honourable Kamanda and Honourable Momohjah Stevens?

Why are we very unfair?

These are good people [Applause]!


You know the last time, Honourable Members, I was quoted and people were calling me all over the place to take interview because I did the right thing through procedure.

Thank God Mr Speaker we have you, you are from Cambridge, a legally minded person and you like procedures.

I used S.O 59[2] to withdraw the Bills because of procedures.

Honourable Member on the other side my dear, we cannot separate them at this point in time.
I was expecting you to prepare a Parliamentary Report so we can vote on it.

You do not have a Parliamentary Report, why do you at this time want to separate the nominees?

Why, how can we do that?

So, you cannot separate the Report!

You should have presented to us two reports; one Parliamentary Report and a Committee Report so we can vote on them.

Now, you are asking this House to take some sections of the nominees and approve them and take the other ones separately and approve them.
Mr Speaker, you know what to do; we do not need to tell you what to do, you are a knowledgeable man.

88 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am talking to you.

Forget about your personal interest; let us forget about what they tell us outside; our problems are our Political Parties.

That is a micro aspect of what to do; the macro aspect is Sierra Leone.

Let us look at Sierra Leone, let us look at a broader picture [Applause].
I beg you all, I salute you in the name of God; support these nominees for the fear of God because you took oaths!

Support them, support them!

We do not want you to have a problem with the Judiciary.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am pleased to state here that this Honourable House is indeed an Honourable House.

This is a very distinct House; it is very rare to see it in other Parliaments; is the only House you have Honourable Members of Parliament from the ruling houses i.e.

Paramount chiefs.
Paramount chiefs.

I salute you all, you do not have political parties; you have the interest of all and the interest of your Country.

Serve your consciences, your God and your country.

You are leading our people, thank you very much, I salute you.

Support them, they have been doing their job; classify them for what they are doing and do not classify them for your personal interest.

These are good people!

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about these other nominees.
You are fine people, you are very good.

For the CDS, I have done all my bits in the Committee but I urge the Chairman.

Mr Speaker as you said the last time, what is disturbing us is Oversights.

We have to do enough Oversights and to ensure we do not compromise our Parliamentary responsibilities because of funny things [Applause].

Do your work, we took oath!

You are my brother and we are going to do the right thing.

Make Parliament feel big.


This issue about Oversight, we have not exhausted the things that we can do for Oversight to change the narrative.

The new direction is in the new!

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I think they are fine nominees; I toe the line of the Honourable Leader on the other side to approve them.

Of course I read verbatim line by line; the CDS, you went through structures in the military; you were not just handpicked by His Excellency the president.
He did it as a former Military man and he 89 has done it.

Congratulations in advance and thanks to His Excellency for being there.

Thank you very much.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for the Nominee going to the Local Content Agency and other nominees, let us urge ourselves; let us serve this country for the fear of God, let us serve because we want to change the system.

The All People’s Congress [APC] did not get it right and if we follow them we can also not get it right.
They are there because they did not do the right thing.

So, we are here but if we do not do the right thing we can be there some other day.

So let us stand to do the right thing.

How are we going to succeed?

The Executive powers have been transferred to you as Presidential nominees.

Change the narrative; the narrative to make Sierra Leone a better place for all of us.

But why is there a change of hands?

Is because we have what we called Manifesto.


Honourable Yumkella is not here; he talked about Manifesto, Manifesto; nobody can talk bad about Manifesto.

One thing that is good about Manifestos is that they will talk about the good things.

So that means our similarities are far better than our differences.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, before I take my seat, let me at this point lament on this menace in our society known as rape.
I was very instrumental in the passage of the Sexual Offences Act; I was very instrumental!

I said that day that this is madness.

Real men do not rape, real people do not rape.

This is complete madness!

They are not human beings, they are not!

I do not know the word I can use to classify them; they are mad people.

So let us treat them as one.

We are devastated today because a girl child suffered from rape; what I refer to as family conspiracy.

That was family conspiracy of an alleged rape.


Because if you follow what is happening now, they are talking about Kadijah may her soul rest in peace and they are talking about her sister; it is family conspiracy.

They should all face the full penalty of the law [Applause]!

I did say on that day Mr Speaker, and I think you supported me.

I said it is not just the law; we have beautiful laws in Sierra Leone but our problem is on enforcement.
Today we see all the people here; we see the Gallery full because they need justice, we need enforcement.

We have the law but how can we do to enforce?

How can we implement?

90 Enforcement and implementation!

Let us die for it and let us support them.

As I stand here as Leader of Government Business, I join the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Chernor R.M.

Bah, I join the Honourable Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, the Independent Members, The Paramount Chief; Honourable P.C.
Alie Balansama Marah III and all of us.

Let us do not play rhetoric to this business of rape.

Let us do not take it to be a political tool, let us fight it as a course; this is a Jihad!

Let us fight to eliminate rape, let us fight those who are destroying our children, let us fight this course [Applause]!

It is not about the Sierra Leone People’s Party [SLPP], it is not about APC, is not about NGC and it is not about C4C.
It is about our generation, it is about fighting menace in society, it is about dealing with people who are raping our children; follow them to the last point of the law, prosecute them, bring them to book and let us ensure that the law is fully implemented.

I am devastated.

You can remember that was why I was pressing for series of charges; the charges for such crime should be death penalty [Applause].

So, Honourable Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi, come on board.
I asked you specifically during the Committee hearing about what is happening and you said: “I am passionate about all these things”.

At a point in time I saw you were like wanted to weep, but you just bowed down your head and said: “I will talk to the Attorney- General”.

If you think you are educated enough like Fatmata Bintu Alhadi, come on board, help or demonstrate it, fight for us.

It is not about rhetoric; it is about the reality to actualise this.
Our children are dying; this is madness in our society!

We have the power.

It is not only about taking placards to demonstrate; it is about action and result i.e.

Affirmative Action!

Let us push!

I would stop there.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I believe I have sisters, I really do not know if they have suffered from this even when they are married or not, I do not know.

Today is Kadija, tomorrow it can be anybody; so we have to fight.

The evil people are moving around us like a roaming Lion.
Even though we have passed the laws, they are still going out there to rape children.

Senseless people!

The lord will not forgive them.

Honourable Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi, I beg you please for us because we are all not 91 lawyers.

Fight for these people, they are not lawyers.

Fight for justice, this is about justice!

If you look at the picture on Social Media, I do not think you would want such to happen to even your enemy.

So I will label it as a family conspiracy of rape.


Mr Speaker, I believe in one thing, I trust in God, I believe if you do not get justice on earth, God will surely judge all those who aided and abated the process of rape.

It is clear and enshrined in the Sexual Offences Act that those who aided and abated any sexual offence should be brought to justice.

I rest my case, I have fear of God.


Irrespective of all the brouhaha today, I thank you very much for your contributions, thank you, and may the Lord bless us all [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: And with that?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: With that Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that the Second 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 SPEAKER: Recognising the fact that we are dealing not with the unanimous decision of the Committee but the Majority decision, I presume that the Leader of the Opposition would like to do the rightful?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: I want to thank you very much for the space and the magnanimity.
In the future we would also be encouraging the clerks that are servicing those Committees to also prepare Minority report because it is important but be that as it may, because of time I will go straight and ask that the Second Report of the Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service that all the recommendations therein with the exclusion of Honourable Momohjah Stevens and Justice Komba Kamanda be approved by this House.

HON.
HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: What is it that the Opposition Leader doing?

Are you moving a Motion?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, I have moved a Motion.

92 HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, there is already a Motion on the Floor that is moved by the Leader of Government Business, so you cannot move a Motion whiles we have a Motion on the Floor.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, I see that he is very, very personate.

In this House we learn on the daily basis.


I want him to also tell me during his eight years he has been here and he has seen a Minority Motion?

There is always a first time and this is the first time.

HON.

HINDOLO M. GEAVO: Mr Speaker, Point of Order!

THE SPEAKER: Yes.

HON.

HINDOLO M. GEAVO: According to S.O 25, we have categories of motions.

I would want to be educated as to under which rubric does the Motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition falls.
Because we have never seen such a Motion, it is unprecedented and we cannot move outside the S.Os in dealing with the Business of the House [Applause].

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Memberts, we learn on a daily basis.

I will refer him to the S.O 25 he just read and it reads Mr Speaker: “unless these orders otherwise direct, notice shall be given”.
I will not waste the time of the House, with the exception of the following; go to [a] the Motion for the amendment of any Motion, I rest my case.

HON.

HINDOLO M. GEAVO: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, my colleague has moved a Motion.

My question is under which rubric does the S.O make provision for that particular Motion?

He has not said he is asking for the amendment of the Motion that is on the Floor.

THE SPEAKER: Order!

Order!

Order!

Honourable Gevao?

HON.

HINDOLO M. GEAVO: Yes, Mr Speaker.


93 THE SPEAKER: I am sure you would agree with me that the Motion that has just been moved by the Leader of the Opposition is tantamount to an amendment of the Motion moved by the Leader of Government Business.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Speaker, I beg to differ.

If you look at the S.Os, there is a provision for amendment.

Mr Speaker, if you had said he was coming for amendment of a Motion, the word “amendment” is a prefix to the word “motion”.
Mr Speaker, the Leader of Opposition has moved a Motion that is standing on its own; he has not come for amendment.

Mr Speaker, even in law there are legal procedures when you come for an amendment or for a Motion.

Mr Speaker, he has not come for amendment, he has moved a full blown Motion to which somebody has to second.
If you look at the Standing Orders there is provision for amendment of motion, if you had come under that I was not going to ask him to refer me to the rubric under which that Motion he moved falls.

I am asking him to refer me to the S.O that makes provision for his Motion and that is not an amendment Mr Speaker.

HON.
HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I heard his request that he is moving a Motion and he told this House that it is a Motion; he did not tell us that he is amending the Motion; he told us that he is moving a Motion.

How can you move a Motion when a substantive Motion is on the Floor?

Let us complete the substantive Motion then you bring your Motion.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you very much.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am sure you heard the words used to couch my Motion, and it deliberately amended the Motion before the House to read that we will unanimously approve the others with the exception of two and that is the Motion we are going to vote on.

HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I just want to make a clarification here.
In the first place, I want to differ with the Leader of the Opposition that we have not had a Minority Report before.
We had it before, we have one before in the case of the Human Rights Commissioners and in this particular case there has been a very, very serious laps on the side of the Opposition because normally when we have a situation like this at the Committee level, the two Leaders will meet and agree on the Minority Report and that Minority Report is read in the Well by the Leader of 94 Government Business but that was not done today, that was done in the case of the Human Rights Commissioners and at that time there was only one Question put.
But what is happening, what I am seeing right now unfolding in my eyes Mr Speaker, it has never happened before.

But like the Leader of the Opposition said we live to learn.

I thank you very much.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: He want to learn, but we should learn with the process we have at hand because I am the mover of a substantive Motion.

How can you amend my own Motion when you have not moved your own Motion?

Come with your Motion for amendment, you cannot amend my Motion.
So if you say you are going to accept to amend my Motion, do I have to accept?

No.

There is a Seconder to the substantive Motion; I will not accept you to amend my own Motion.

That is it.

THE SPEAKER: I am not confused.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: That is why I did not say we are confused, I say we are confusing.

What the Honourable Member from Pujehun and my Speaker in the ECOWAS Parliament dealt with only one isolated issue which purely Commissioners for the Human Rights Commission.
Here we have people going to different offices first distinction, and secondly, Mr Speaker, the responsibility of preparing the Minority Report rest purely on the administration.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Leader of Government Business himself referred this House to the minutes which are an attachment to the Report that was what led us to the amendment of the Report itself this morning.
So, if the amendment was not going to hold as agreed upon this morning, it is incumbent on the administration to prepare both reports not us, not them and nobody will read the Minority report, I should read it.

The Leader of Government Business cannot read two reports.

For example, when you have Minority Report, it is read by those who lead the Minority.

Mr Speaker, like I said we have an option; we either vote against one of them which we do not want to do.

95 HON.
95 HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have the minutes.

Honourable Leader of the Opposition on the other side, if you are requesting for the Minority Report you should have done it at Committee Room NO.1.
In this Report, we do not have any request made by you for a Minority Report, he did not ask for a Minority Report and then let me tell you we came this morning you were very adamant trying to address the issue of “Unanimous” and “Majority” and I agreed, I conceded but you did not ask.

If indeed you had wanted a Minority Report, you would have asked for it this morning to say look!
We would not continue the Debate because I requested for the Minority Report and they did not prepare it, it is only now we are getting the idea of Minority Report.

THE SPEAKER: Hold it!

Hold it!

Can you there refer me to the provisions in the S.O leading to Minority Report?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, it has to do with reports anyway, it is not clearly enshrined in the S.Os.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: But let me come, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Hold on!


Mr Leader of Government Business let us be true to the content of the Proceedings that we have witnessed today.

I am sure you will agree with me that the Leader of Government Business stood even before I put the Question, he stood on a Point of Order that the Report that you have read was not a unanimous Report and you conceded.
This House agreed from the exchanges you had that the report that you read out Mr Leader of Government Business could only be the Majority report, and indeed if you refer to the last page of the attachment where they indicate that the results were 8 in favour and 5 against, to buttress the point.

What do you have to say to that?

HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, may I be heard again please?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, you heard from the Honourable Speaker of ECOWAS, the reason why we have Hansard.
96 THE SPEAKER: No!

No!

First, let us clear one thing.

A lot has been said about Minority Report and I asked to be referred in the S.O the provision for that.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: But there has been a precedent Sir.

Let us check the Hansard.

Mr Speaker that is the reason we have the Provision of making reference to the Hansard in S.O 10.

The laws may not be perfect because as we go on, things keep on changing.

So, let us make a reference because there has been a precedent.
THE SPEAKER: But there are two things before me now, the first is the challenge that he made right from the beginning of this Debate to the word “unanimous” which you accepted and I ruled on it.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I accepted because you ruled on it.

THE SPEAKER: The second point he has made is that at the conclusion when you moved the Debate, he attempted to make an amendment to the Motion that you moved?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes, he did.

THE SPEAKER: Yes, he did.

HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: What was the Motion Sir?

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Chernor R.M.

Bah, would care to repeat it for the good of all?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, for the interest of us mostly us the Leaders, because I see the direction the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament is going and he knows going through that roots will not be good for this House, he knows what I am talking about we kept it in camera and we will leave it in camera, if we start using those things to address issues here they might eventually not benefit either sides of the aye, he knows what I am talking about.
So, I am appealing that for the sanity and progress of this House that the things we do to make progress we allow them to work rather than we used them alternatively otherwise they will inimical in the future.

That is all I would say for now.

97 THE SPEAKER: May I invite the two Leaders please to come forward?

Honourable Members, let me try to clarify the situation; there seems to be some confusion in the minds of many but certainly not in my mind about where we are and where we are going.
The substantive Motion is as read out by the Leader of Government Business but there has been an amendment to that Motion by the Leader of Opposition.

HON.

SEGEPOH S. THOMAS: There is a Motion for amendment; we have a counter Motion against that amendment.

THE SPEAKER: I have not yet put his Motion.

He read it out, he read out the amended Motion that he moved, he read it out.
So obviously, if his Motion is seconded and it is put to a vote and is carried, the implication obviously is that all the nominees except two are thereby approved and then after that we will now come to deal specifically with the two nominees.

HON.

SEGBEHPOH S. THOMAS: Mr Speaker that is if this House accepts the amendment.

If we accept it because he is moving a Motion for amendment, we have the right to challenge that amendment.

THE SPEAKER: Is predicated on that obviously.

HON.
HON.

SEGEHPOH S. THOMAS: Yes, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: If we understand that way, I think we can proceed without any rancor.

HON.

DICKSON M. ROGERS: Mr Speaker, let me be heard.

I think we are importing new system of debate in this House.
We are talking about one Report, I am not sure if the Opposition Leader has the right to amend someone else’s report because what we are saying now is that he want to amend this report that was read by the Leader of Government Business and that has never happened in this House Mr Speaker.
Is either we agree to vote on the report that was read by the Leader of Government Business, we voted in the Committee and I think if you so desire we can vote on this Motion on this report, if we vote against or in favour of the Report then it is fine.

98 THE SPEAKER: Thank you for that but I overrule.

Let me ask for a Seconder of the Motion.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for the records, we talked about precedent but you said no, that one is not going to be carried.
But I would want to refer you to S.O 76[2] and I want to read because for bringing a second Motion to the House when there is a Motion already, I want to be clear in mind if that is right following the S.Os when we talk about special reports.

S.O 76[2] states and I read “A Select Committee shall have leave to make a special report relating to the powers, functions and proceedings of the Committee or any matters which may deem fit to bring to the notice of the House”.
Mr Speaker, we did not get that from the Committee nor in the House, it is only now the Leader of the Opposition is talking about Motion in the House and this one stands to defend me Mr Speaker, this particular provision I believe so because we do not want to institute something that tomorrow it will stand to judge us been the wrong thing and it will continue.

So, we did not get notice, he did not inform us that they need Special Report.
So, now I have verified that this one can defend what I contested for Minority Report.

THE SPEAKER: Hold on a minute!

Hold on a minute!

Let us be true to ourselves and true to the facts.

Would you agree or disagree with the facts that the Leader of Opposition even before I put the Question [Interrupted].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, put the Motion we will talk about that one later in your Chamber.

THE SPEAKER: No!

I need to have a Seconder to the amendment.

HON.


MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes, no problem, I concede.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to thank the Leader of Government Business for conceding, but as he has said in your Chamber that we will discuss.

Before going further I also want to encourage him to reread S.O 76[2] because it only talks on the powers, functions and proceedings; that is all.

So, basically 99 let him advise himself.


I just want to say considering the amendment we took this morning, if for any case there is an attempt to go against procedure the administration will be responsible to retreat, repair the report and bring it before we conclude this process otherwise they will not be properly done as the report itself is very clear that it is a Majority/Minority Report.
So as administrators, it was incumbent upon them if they wanted to prepare both reports and bring them to the House; that is all I want to say.

THE SPEAKER: What do you have to say to that last point?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, like I said let us forget about that and move the Motion.

THE SPEAKER: Because that would save time, otherwise we have to take an Adjournment.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Put the Motion Sir.


THE SPEAKER: I want a seconder please for the Motion moved by the Leader of Government Business, any seconder?

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I so second, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I am going to put the amended Motion of the Leader of the Opposition.

Order!

Order!

Order!

If Honourable Members indulge in talking whiles I am trying to put the Question, I am sure you cannot claim to have heard what the Motion is, so let there be decorum.
The amended Motion of the Leader of the Opposition reads as follows as I understand it: That the Second Report of the Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contain therein with the exception of the recommendations relating to justices Komba Kamanda and Momohjah Stevens be approved.

Did you understand the Motion?

HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker?

THE SPEAKER: No!

I am not going to allow you.

100 HON.


SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, but it is about the same thing you are saying.

We have two Motions and I am sure you are dealing now with the Motion of the Leader of the Opposition?

THE SPEAKER: Correct.

HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: But why cannot we start with the Leader of Government Business?

THE SPEAKER: No!

I will start with his own because it has implication.

Do you understand the amended Motion?

I will proceed with the amended Motion first.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [The Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service and the recommendations contain therein with the exception of the recommendations relating to Justices Komba Kamanda and Momoh Jah Stevens has been approved] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, with that, it means that all the nominees have been approved with the exception of those two Justices.

Now we will deal with that in a separate Motion.

Order!
Order!

Order!

Order!

I will now put the motion moved by the Leader of Government Business.

Order!

Order!

Order!

Can I have decorum please?

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [The Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service and the recommendations contain therein including the recommendations of Justices Komba Kamanda and Momoh Jah Stevens has been approved] THE SPEAKER: Order!

Order!

Order!

Honourable Members, take your seats.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, I rise on S.O 46[1].

THE SPEAKER: In understanding the outstanding, now I have just been referred to S.O 46[1].

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I cannot understand THE SPEAKER: S.O 46[1], they are calling for a division.

101 HON MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, we want to know your opinion.

According to the Standing Orders Sir, in your opinion it is clear that we won the vote.
THE SPEAKER: I am going to allow a time of ten minutes before I put the Question for the second time.

I am now going to put the Question for a second time, if there are any members outside of the Well, please the Whips make it your responsibilities to inform them to come in now.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [The Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service and the recommendations contain therein including the recommendations of Justices Komba Kamanda and Momohjah Stevens has been approved] THE SPEAKER: I am again going to put Question and at this point all those who support the ruling that I have made will stand in their places to be counted; all those who challenge the ruling that I have made please rise and be counted.
[The Third Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service and the recommendations contain therein including the recommendations of Justices Komba Kamanda and Momoh Jah Stevens has been approved] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, it is now my pleasant duty as Speaker of Parliament to add my own voice of felicitation.

Order!

Order!

Order!

You had your say since the beginning of this Sitting not until now.
It is now my privilege to add my own voice of congratulations and felicitations to the wonderful appointees that we have just approved in this House.

There can be no doubt about their qualifications and suitability for the offices to which they have been appointed.

All that I would ask of them without exception is to please ensure that they live up to the expectation of His Excellency the President and the expectation of this House as you have all just clearly indicated.
Like I said, there is actually no doubt that this House has clearly indicated by the votes just 102 taken that the House approved overwhelmingly the nominees presented to it by His Excellency.

So, we wish you well in your new assignments and you go with the blessings not only of the President but of this entire House [Applause].

Honourable Members, I hereby announce the death of the mother of Honourable Kanja M. Hafiju who died on the 6th of June this year.
She has already been buried, we pray that Allah forgive her sins on earth and grant her gentle soul eternal rest in His heavenly kingdom.

Can all of us please rise and observe a minute silence?

[A minute silence observed].

Honourable Members, the announcement I am about to make is in conformity with Section 93 of the Constitution and S.O 70 relating to the composition of the Committee of Selection and the supervisory Committee.

The Committee of Selection shall consist of the following: 1.
The Honourable Speaker-Chairman 2.

HON.

Mathew S. Nyuma-Deputy Chairman 3.

HON.

Segepoh S. Thomas-Member 4.

HON.

Chernor R.M.

Bah-Member 5.

HON.

Emerson S. Lamina-Member 6.

HON.

Bashiru Silikie-Member 7.

HON.

Ibrahim B. Kargbo-Member 8.

HON.

P.C.

Alie Bansama Marah III-Member 9.

Paran Umar Tarawally-Secretary The Supervisory Committee will consist of the Following: 1.

HON.

Mathew S. Nyuma-Chairman 2.

HON.

Segehpoh S. Thomas-Member 3.

HON.

Chernor R.M.

Bah-Member 4.

HON.


Veronica K. Sesay-Member 5.

HON.

P.C.

Alie Bansama Marah III-Member 6.

Paran Umar Tarawally-Secretary 103 That is the composition of the Committee of Selection and the Supervisory Committee respectively.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [The composition of the Committee of Selection and the Supervisory Committee has been approved] THE SPEAKER: In the 1977 to 1980 and also Paramount Chief Member in 80s and also 90s by the name of Honourable P.C Abu Congoba of Mafinda Chiefdom Kono District, may his soul rest in perfect peace.

May we demonstrate our respect by rising to observe a minute silence [A minute silence observed].

HON.
HINDOLO M. GEVAO: Mr Speaker, as I had indicated that I have a Motion, standing on S.O 25, I move that the 2018 Auditor-General’s Report be referred to the Public Accounts Committee [PAC] for their necessary investigation and the report of the PAC be presented to the House for Debate behind the backdrop that the Member of Parliament Honourable Ibrahim Tawa Conteh gave Notice of Motion to this Honourable House for the Debate of the 2018 Auditor-General’s Report but failed to file a Motion and up to date the said Report has not been debated.
THE SPEAKER: If you do not mind I would rather prefer that we discuss that matter outside of this place and one thing I think we have to do is to have a Debate on the Presidential Address and then later on move to that particular issue.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Internal Notice Paper reads as follows: I- LAYING OF PAPER THE CHAIRMAN PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE AUDIT SERVICE SIERRA LEONE PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PASSPORTS AND OTHER TRAVELLING DOCUMENT; SIERRA LEONE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, MAY 2020.
II- BILLS [i] THE INDEPENDENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION ACT 2020 104 INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SECOND READING, COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD REDING THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS [ii] THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 2020 INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECOND READING, COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD REDING THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY [iii] THE CYBER ACT 2020 INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SECOND READING, COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this is all we have for the Internal Notice Paper.
I thank you.

[The House rose at 5:25 p.m. and was adjourned to Thursday 2nd July 2020 at 10:00 a.m.] 105 106