Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698080366021.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 FOURTH SESSION –FIRST MEETING THURSDAY, 20TH JANUARY, 2022 SESSION – 2021/2022 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: 40 First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House held Thursday, 20th January, 2022.

2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY 13TH JANUARY, 2022 III.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER IV.
MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HON BASHIRU SILIKIE SECONDER: HON HASSAN A. SESAY BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE FIFTH REPORT OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE BE ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE AND THAT THE RECOMMENDATION CONTAINED THEREIN BE APPROVED 3 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ FOURTH SESSION – FIRST MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Thursday, 20th January, 2022.
I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mrs Bintu Weston, read the Prayers] [The House met at 10:00a.m.

in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Speaker, Hon.

Dr Chernor Abass Bundu in the Chair] The House was called to Order 4 HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to move an amendment to the Order Paper.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want item 5 to be expunged, so item 6 now reads item 5.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, you mean item 5 to be expunged?

HON.
HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Yes, item 5 to be expunged, item 6 now reads item 5.

THE SPEAKER: Are we likely to see that item reappears in the future?

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I am not sure Mr Speaker.

The Minister of Finance is withdrawing this document from Parliament.

THE SPEAKER: Very well, any Seconder to the Motion?

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: I so second Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] [Motion moved by the Deputy Leader of Government Business to amend the Order Paper has been carried] II.
CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY 13TH JANUARY, 2022 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, we shall now take up our record of Votes and Proceedings of the 39th sitting held on Thursday the 13th January, 2022 and in doing so we shall skip pages one to four and start from page 5.

Page 5?

Page 6?

I am sorry can I take you back to page 5.

The last paragraph attributed to me as Speaker, let the word ‘devoid’ be expunged and be replaced with the word refrain.
Page 7?

Page 8?

Page 9?

Can someone please move for the adoption of the record of Votes and Proceedings for the parliamentary sitting held on Thursday 13th January, 2022?

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: I so move Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any Seconder?

HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: I so second Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] 5 [Record of votes and proceedings for the parliamentary sitting held on Thursday 13th January, 2022 has been carried as amended] THE SPEAKER: At this point, is the Sergeant-at-Arms in the Well, the noise I am hearing outside, please go and take care of it.
III ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER THE SPEAKER: Today is a very special day in the sporting history of our country and I am sure all Honourable Members would keep that in mind when you make your contributions in keeping with the old adage brevity is the ‘soul of wit’.
So I know a lot of you might want to take the Floor but please bear that in mind that we have to adjourn in good time to give all of us an opportunity to watch the standard bearers of our country take us to victory in this first round so not everybody would be called upon to make a comment.

Having said that, let me again remind Honourable Members, we started today's sitting on 10:23 A.M. instead of 10 O'clock A.M.
I was here on time and a few of you were also here on time but the vast majority of you were not.

Again, I repeat the admonition I made last time let us shed and do away with those bad habits of old, the bad habits of yesterdays.

We are in 2022 let there be a change please.

Let us shed away the bad habits.

Let us start by being punctual and respectful of our time, 10 O'clock is 10 O'clock.

Noted, Mama of the House has spoken.

Thank You.


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

BASHIRU SILIKIE SECONDER: HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Sorry Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I want to adjust the Order Paper so that the Seconder would read Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay instead of Honourable Hassan A. Sesay.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to move that the Seconder of the Motion be read: Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay.
6 THE SPEAKER: Okay!

Can we have quiet please?

Understand the spirit behind the seeming withdrawal of the Honourable Hassan A. Sesay from being the Seconder of the Motion.
I can understand where it is coming from because in the absence of both the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition he is now standing in their place and I deliberately did not ask for a Seconder to the Motion, hoping that my good old friend, the Honourable I.B Kargbo will appear and then the excuse that the Honourable Hassan Sesay would have had would quietly dissipate and we proceed as we have on the Order Paper.

So shall we wait, is the Honourable I.B Kargbo here?

He will join us later.


In the light of that assurance can we keep the Order Paper as it is?

So have you withdrawn your Motion?

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Yes Mr Speaker I have withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Fifth Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service on parliamentary vetting of Presidential nominations: 1.
Introduction Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, in tandem with its constitutional obligations met on Tuesday, 18th and Wednesday, 19th January, 2022 and interviewed ten Presidential nominees for the following positions: two Resident Ministers, two Deputy Ministers, three Chairpersons for Board of Directors, one national Security Coordinator one Ambassador and Board Member for the National Youth Commission (NYC).

2.
2.

Procedure The Committee maintained as usual, strict consistency with its usual established procedure and interviewed the nominees on issues pertaining to their educational background to ensure that they have the relevant education and necessary backup experience to hold such important offices of State.
Several probing questions especially put to the nominees covered wide ranging issues relating to their track records in pertinent work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a 7 nationally productive tenure.

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

3.
3.

Fifth Sitting of the Committee on Tuesday 18th January,2022 The Committee interviewed the following nominees: i. Hon Rtd Brigadier General Komba E.S Boyah-Proposed Resident Minister, Eastern Province Hon.

Komba E.S Boyah is an acclaimed Politician, a farmer and one of the finest soldiers this nation had produced.
He holds a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and hosts of other credentials all relating to capacity building in the Military that made him to rise through several positions from platoon Commander to Battalion and Brigade Commander.

He is an unassuming personality that cuts across ethnic and political divides which many Politicians and Military officers hardly achieved.
The nominee spent two terms as a Member of Parliament (2007-2017) representing the People of Constituency 24 in Kono District and served as Chairman of the Human Rights Committee during his tenure.

In his response to the Committee on issues bordering on cohesion, border security and conflicts resolutions within the Kailahun, Kono and Kenema Districts, the nominee said,” sincere consultations, dialogue and human interactions promote the constructions of concrete peace bridges.
My long acquired strategic knowledge in the Army and skilful approach to problems as a seasoned Politician would be of tremendous assistance to work with people in the Eastern Region.

They are one people but only separated by administrative boundaries for ease of governance.’’ He concluded that security on our borders especially with neighbouring countries was paramount as we approach elections and promised to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders in that direction.

ii.

Hon.
ii.

Hon.

Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay- Proposed Chairman, Legal Aid Board.

Hon.
Justice Ivan Sesay is an Appeal Court Judge of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone and has served the country in several capacities as: 8 ▪ High Court Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature of Sierra Leone-2017-2019 ▪ National Legal Aid Manager and Chief Defence Counsel, Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board-2015-2017 ▪ Criminal Legal Consultant ,Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Freetown- 2007-2009 ▪ Head of Prosecutions National Social Security and Insurance Trust(NASSIT) As a human rights Lawyer, the nominee also served as consultant and legal Practitioner to hosts of Human Rights based organizations taking justice to majority of Sierra Leoneans.
In his submission to the Committee on questions on the status and challenges of the Legal Aid Board in justice delivery, the nominee said the Legal Aid Board overwhelmed with problems ranging from increasing number of Sierra Leoneans that require legal representations, low remunerations to Lawyers that have resulted to massive resignations of legal practitioners etc.
He promised to work collaboratively to ensure that tenets of the Legal Aid Board Act of 2012 (especially making large number of the poor and marginalized people access justice was done).

He concluded on the sound note thus “We will work as a team to now categorize litigants that will benefit from the Legal Aid Board, train paralegals for local courts and improve remunerations of our legal services commensurate to State Counsels for effective service delivery of the Board” iii.
Mr Sadiq Sillah – Proposed Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt Mr Sillah is a master farmer and development analyst with a rich background in cooperate and political governance.

In 2008-2018, he served as the Chairman of the Pujehun District Council where he espoused great developmental prowess in building the local governance structure of the District.
Until recently he served as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation where he played active role in the coordination and monitoring of major income generating agencies of Government.
On his reactions to questions on the instant twist from mainstream active Politician to career diplomat and the issue of abandoned Sierra Leoneans in Egypt, the nominee said 9 he was accustomed to challenges as a seasoned administrator and would consult with relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs in Freetown for possible solutions on the Sierra Leoneans dilemma.
On his sudden entrant to the world of diplomacy he said “I know is a different world and a bigger representation that requires protocols .This I will learn fast from the Embassy staff and I promise to make Sierra Leone proud”, he concluded.

iv.

Mrs Mamusu Massaquoi, Proposed Deputy Minister 2,Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Mrs Mamusu Massaquoi holds a Double Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.
She is an Educationist and a specialist in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics with 28 years postgraduate experience in related fields.

Additionally she has vast knowledge in Education Transformation, Project Evaluation, Strategic Policies, Health and Nutrition programmes.

Her credible and result oriented drive enabled her work in varying positions: 2006 – 2009 she served as Public Health Nutritionist, United Kingdom; (2009- 2014) served as Head of Nutrition and Curriculum Designer in the United Kingdom.
2016 2017 - School Meal manager, School Feeding Programme, Surry County, United Kingdom and from 2018 to date, Director of Nutrition, School Feeding programme, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Freetown, etc.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members this nominee by estimation has spent over 14 years post qualification experience focusing on improving quality teaching and learning in schools, reducing gender disparity and ensuring effective monitoring and supervision.
Responding to questions on how she would contribute to the Minister’s proposed new education curriculum into a workable document viz-a-viz Scheme of work, Syllabi and lesson notes for effective teaching, the nominee said “I was part of the committee that developed the new curriculum, it has a national outlook because teachers were drawn from all over the country to make inputs into it.

As a Ministry we will take an inclusive approach in rolling out its programmes as entrenched in the document.
Effective use of school supervisors shall be a hallmark with special reference to the scheme of work, lesson notes and syllabi to ensure teachers effectiveness.” The Committee encouraged the nominee to continue her hard work in the new role to make the women folks proud.
10 v. Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara, Proposed Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara is an Educationist, Gender Activist, Nutritionist and development Consultant and trader with enviable expertise in dealing with the grassroots Community Based Organizations.
She has served the country in various positions: taught at the Annie Walsh Memorial School for Girls(2000-2017), CORD-AID Holland dealing with the rural women in Agriculture, Makeni (2008-2009),Resident Minister –North Western Region (2018-2022) ,to name but a few.

The Committee entreated the nominee to shed light on the sky rocketing prices of goods in the country and her presence in the Ministry would reverse such trend; and to what extent she would promote gender issues in trade and beyond.
In her response, the proposed Deputy Minister said she was aware that the nation operates a free market economy controlled by the forces of demand and supply that makes it odd to implement any robust price control mechanism.

She continued “as Deputy Minister I will work with my superior for I know many efforts have been done on the commodity pricing sector involving key players in the economy.
I will work to broaden the inclusivity now to grassroots market women and in a long term collaborate to replicate fuel pricing system to hosts of other commodities in the country by establishing large ware houses for goods at District levels, etc all in a bid to lower the trajectory of huge price differentials.

Haja Isata concluded on the note that such worse off price hike was due to the global pandemic that had impacted seriously on the world Transport and Trade.

vi.
vi.

Mr Andrew Ansu Fatorma, Proposed Chairman, Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) Mr Andrew Ansu Fatorma is an experienced Administrator, Educationist and Politician that has manifested excellent leadership prowess in varying areas of assignments: 2012-2018 Planning Officer, Eastern Polytechnic now Eastern University of Technology, 2018-2022 Minister of State, Eastern Region etc.
11 On what he would be taking to the RMFA and especially resolving the conflict of interest between the SLRA and the RMFA relating to roads fund, the nominee said as a Chairman, he would study the situation and with consultations, right actions would be taken in consonance with the statutory provisions guiding their operations.

The nominee was cautioned to note that the RMFA was formed and hence all requests for constructions were in the purview of the SLRA.
vii.Dr Anthony Sandy, Proposed Chairman, Health Service Commission Dr Anthony Sandy is an accomplished Medical Doctor and Public Health Specialist with 22 years spanning experience in Health Planning, Policy and Management.
He is a graduate of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and have served the Government of Sierra Leone in several capacities as: Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital, Kenema, from 1999 to 2001; Director, Human Resources, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown ( 2011 to 2013), etc.

Until his nomination to this position, he served as Deputy Minister 1 in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone.
He promised taking his plethora of experience to build on the Public Health and other health projects of the Commission to boost the health sector.

viii.Mr Abdulai Caulker: Proposed National Security Coordinator, Office of National Security Mr Abdulai Caulker is a seasoned Public Servant with a lofty Security Sector Management experience.

He is one of the few founding members of the Office of National Security (ONS) who has played a pivotal role in nurturing and developing the Office of National Security.
He is currently serving as the Acting National Security Coordinator whose major responsibility includes acting as Principal Adviser to the President and the Government on issues pertaining to State Security.

As acting National Coordinator he successfully managed with exemplary successes; the construction of the headquarters of the Office of National Security at Tower Hill, Twin flood and Mudslide 12 Disasters in 2017, National Elections and Early warning Response Project and Security Sector Reform project.
Mr Abdulai Caulker promised if approved to build on the gains made to make the ONS enviable in reacting promptly to emerging crisis.

4.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members Fifth Sitting of the Committee on Wednesday 19th January, 2022 ix.

Hon.

Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Sahid Kanu, Proposed Resident Minister, (with Cabinet rank), North Western Province x. Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Sahid Kanu, is a proposed Resident Minister, (with Cabinet rank), North Western Province.
Honourable Alpha Kanu holds an honorary Doctorate (Euclid University Edinburg, Scotland, UK and a Master Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.

He has a plethora of experience in various disciplines including Politics, Academia, Information and Communication technology etc.
that had leveraged him to serve extensively in various positions of governance: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Member of Parliament, Port Loko District from 2002- 2007, Minister of Presidential and Public affairs from 2007- 2009, Minister of Mineral Resources and Political Affairs from 2009 – 2010, Minister of Political and Public Affairs from 2010 – 2013, Minister of Information and Communication from 2013 – 2016 and from March 2017 to date, Special Envoy and Ambassador –at-Large.
Responding to questions regarding the white paper and subsequent refunds of cash to the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the tune of Le 84 Million covering an alleged cost of unpaid travel ticket whilst he was serving as Minister of Information and Communication, the erudite nominee said “my refunds of the said amount was not an acceptance of guilt and no Court ordered such but did so to redress and clear my long standing reputations built over the years.
I have never been found guilty of any crime in this country including Financial crime, nor has there been any recommendations whatsoever, barring me from holding public office in this country”, he concluded.

Answering further questions on his membership and loyalty to the All Peoples Congress Party while serving in this new capacity, he said thus “I seek national interest in all I do since elections ended in 2018.

I do not believe in winner takes all politics as a way forward for Sierra Leone.
My firm belief is in a politics of win-win 13 situation where everyone is represented and the interest of all sought after hence this appointment provides me an opportunity to fly the national colours of Sierra Leone Green, White and Blue”.

He concluded on the firm convictions of his continued loyalty to his party- (APC) that would not deter him for any reason or belief to serve Sierra Leone.
X Ms Isatu Moses, Member ,National Youth Commission (NYC) Ms Isata Moses is young and promising woman with entrepreneurial skills in developing grass root women.

She is a founder and Executive of the Community based Organization (Timap for Women’s Empowerment) operating in the north of the country.

She had served as Kambia District Youth Chairperson (2020-2021) and Regional Youth Ambassador for the North Western Region etc.
Ms Isatu Moses responding to the Committee on youth contributions to national development, said “the platform created by the New Direction has encouraged the youths of this country to grab the opportunity to capacitate ourselves in sustainable projects that will make us independent for life.

I will work with colleague members to inspire colleagues round the country to support the Commission to deliver on the Government agenda’’.
4 Recommendations Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees to be adequately qualified for their proposed appointments and are unanimously recommended to the House for approval: I. Hon.

Rtd Brigadier General Komba E.S Boyah-Proposed Resident Minister, Eastern Province II.

Hon.

Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay- proposed Chairman, Legal Aid Board.

III.

Mr Sadiq Sillah – Proposed Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt IV.
Mrs Mamusu Massaquoi ,Proposed Deputy Minister 2,Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education V. Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara,Proposed Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry 14 VI.

Mr Andrew Ansu Fatorma, Proposed Chairman, Board of Directors Road Maintenance Fund Authority(RMFA) VII.

Mr Abdulai Caulker, Proposed National Security Coordinator, Office of National Security VIII.

Dr. Anthony Sandy, Proposed Chairman, Health Service Commission IX.

Hon.
Hon.

Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Sahid Kanu, Proposed Resident Minister, North Western Province X. Ms Isatu Moses, Member, National Youth Commission (NYC) Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, based on the aforesaid, I therefore move that the Fifth Report of the Fourth Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.

Signed…………………………….

Hon.


Bashiru Silikie Deputy Chairman and Leader of Government Business THE SPEAKER: I thank the Acting Leader of Government Business, any Seconder?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: I so second, Mr Speaker.

[Question Proposed] HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Thank you Mr Speaker.

We are in the process of approving people nominated by His Excellency the President Dr Julius Maada Bio to serve in various capacities.
I would have started with the ladies first but charity begins at home that is why I am going to start with the retired Brigadier Komba E.S.

Boyah [Applauses].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the retired General served in this House as a Member of the Opposition then but he was a friend to everybody across the aisle.

Before coming to the House he served in the Sierra Leone Military for quite a long time and I will be proud to say he was one of the finest soldiers we had in the military.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Honourable Komba E.S.

Boyah was one who maintained good relationship with his age group but also maintained cordiality across 15 the board, both male and female.

For that reason today again one of the Members of the Leadership of that particular group is here Dr Bernadette Lahai [Applauses].

She was the Leader of the Opposition then where the Honourable Komba E.S.
Boyah served and that tells you that in this House then we had a very amicable relationship because we had some common sense of understanding.

Honourable Komba E.S.

Boyah is one man who epitomized that a political opponent will never be your enemy, you can be friends and still remain difference in politics, I commend him for that.
He served his Party and stayed steadfast to his Party that is why he has been rewarded today and that is why we are giving him all the accolades because he maintained integrity.

He maintained integrity and for that we will continue to respect him.

In fact when he was in the opposition Party in Parliament and I was in the ruling Party, on his way to kono he would always stop in my Constituency if I am not there he would call S.O.

2 ‘you dae magburuk ar say no ar be wan pass to u’.
That is the kind of person.

So today if we have him here it is payback time that is why we are paying him in his own coin.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for the other nominees like Mrs Massaquoi, I have been fighting for women empowerment.

Mrs Massaquoi is a proven educationist and during the interview when we were vetting them she came across as a consummate professional.
She was able to articulate her position in education and at a point the Acting Chairman of the Committee had to stop and say we have heard enough of you [Applauses].

When you take an educationist to serve in an educational institution or community definitely you are not taking apples to be where oranges are to be.

She deserves to be where she is and let her go to work for Sierra Leone.
For the other nominees we wish you all well but Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Sadiq Sillah has been here before as a Deputy Minister and we approved him.

He is a very humble gentleman and he will serve in the capacity where he has been nominated to serve.

Of course, Justice Ivan Sesay I am proud to say here that he was my student.

I thought him in school and when you are a good teacher you produce good people and he is just one of them.
Again in front of us Mr Baba Fortune was my student and he is serving as Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President.

To the young lady who is 16 hailing from Kambia to serve in the National Youth Commission, we want young people to serve in those areas because the young shall grow.
Let us give young people the chance to grow and don’t occupy the space that they have to occupy because you cannot be there all the time and that is why we will be proud to approve a young person to go and serve in the National Youth Commission as a Member of the Commission.

We will encourage you and to stay committed in whatever you are doing.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Medical Doctor who was here before for approval is now going as the head of the Health Commission I have no reason to doubt him.

He is a professional and he knows everything about the health sector having served in the Ministry so we have no reason to doubt that.

He will deliver as expected and please the President chose you not because you are the only one, it is because he has confidence in you and that confidence we believe must not be betrayed.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Caulker he is not a stranger to the ONS and Honourable Keikura can attest because we served together in the Committee of Defence.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will borrow from a poem that we all here used to listen to the writer and it says go and meet the noise and remember what peace can make me in silence as far as possible without surrender and be on good terms with all persons.

I am starting with that because of the person I am coming to now [Applauses].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when we were vetting the Honourable Alpha Kanu he said, I quote “I am still a Member of the APC” that was what he said but also listened to this there is a movie going around on social media where the First Lady said I quote, “Alpha Kanu don lef dem en don cam to we” S.O [2] so who is saying the truth.

It is on record somebody is not saying the truth amongst the two of them.

Mr Speaker am I protected?

THE SPEAKER: I take it that question is nothing but rhetorical.
17 HON HASSAN A. SESAY: Thank you Mr Speaker for protecting me.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the man Dr Kanu that we are going to approve today served as a Minister in various Ministries; Mineral Resources, Information, Political Affairs, and Adviser to the former President.
However, having said that we also asked a question that you were accused by the Commission of Enquiry that you have to pay some money “he said I wanted to clear my name.” If you want to clear your name the best way of doing it is going through the Court but he never went to the Court but he cleared his name by paying S.O.

[2] kuku jumoko business.

However, the Honourable Member has decided to go and serve in his own words because he is a nationalist.
He is going to serve because he wants to serve his country, and he has been given opportunity to serve severally and he served.

Today when power is gone my elder brother is gone with it but remember in the Attorney General’s Office we have four Attorney General in four years and one particular man has been sacked two times now.
I also want to send a message to Brigadier Retired General Julius Maada Bio to beware that this man left his long-time friend to go and serve you today and beware tomorrow it can be you that he can dump like how he dumped his friend.

HON.

THOMAS SEGEPOH SOLOMON: Mr Speaker Point of Order.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Just a word of caution Sir.

HON.


SEGEPOH SOLOMON THOMAS: Mr Speaker, this is becoming a normal practice in this Well when people come for approval as a House we should not embarrass them, it is becoming a practice.

The Judges were here the other day and we embarrassed them so much that even up to today sometimes when I go around town they normally bring it to my notice.
THE SPEAKER: Mr Deputy Speaker, this House should take solace in the fact that the Committee should examine their nominees with regard to their suitability to serve the nation and we should solace in the fact that the Report before this House was adopted unanimously by the Appointment Committee so consistent with that whatever the 18 Honourable Member may have to say should be said in the context of unanimity of the Committee’s recommendation of which he was part of.

I thank you.

HON.
I thank you.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I did not know the Standing Order on which my colleague stood on.

I am only sending a word of caution that if it has happened before it can happen again.

We wish you all well and do your best for your country and don’t betray the confidence of the President who nominated you all to serve in your respective capacity.

I thank you.
I thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Before I call on the next Speaker I want to underline the last point made by the Honourable Member that the appointment made by His Excellency the President of the nominees who are before this House for approval was an appointment to serve the Nation not to serve any individual.

HON.

SAHR JUANA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am overwhelmed by my colleagues calling me all glorious names.
This shows that I am a true Honourable Member of Parliament representing the people of Kailahun and Yenga in particular.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Defence I want to take a retrospect on a particular person but today I want to use a different scenario.

The Honourable I.

B Kargbo will bear me witness that in this case today I am going to comment on the fibre optic on a particular individual whose appointment by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone is by no mistake at all.
This gentle man who will be approved very soon has contributed immeasurably to the stability and security of this country and therefore for this country to name credible men and women leaving him out to me is an injustice and therefore it is in the wisdom of the President to have him appointed.

The gentle man I will be talking about today has served as one of the longest in this institution that manned the social cohesion, and the security of this nation.
He is like a baby to that institution he has contributed immensely.

He was there in the resurrection of the Office of the National Security.

He was there to calm and stabilize disasters in this country.

This person here today that the President has the confidence to man the security ahead of crucial elections in 2023 is no less a person but the name of Mr 19 Abdulai Avayamah Caulker.

We want to welcome you in the fold and to congratulate you again on your appointment as the Coordinator.
Until his appointment he was the Acting Coordinator when I assumed the Office of Chairman of Defence Committee, and he has been very corporative.

He has the ability, the strength and he is security conscious and for this reason I feel this country can only celebrate when we are assured of total peace and security.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will do myself injustice because my coming to the House of Parliament was celebrated by my ancestors but the living had their own disagreement until when a political surgeon, a political philanthropist was eye marked by the President of the Republic then flag bearer of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party to go an anoint me.

This man is no less a person but the philanthropist and philosopher Honourable Andrew Fatorma.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Honourable Andrew Fatorma is an academic and political strategist.

He helped the people of Kenema, Kailahun and Kono.

He inherited a disunited Eastern Region under his predecessor.

There is this understanding that the Kono people will tell you that Mr Fatorma hails from Kono, Kailahun people will tell you that Mr Fatorma hails from Kailahun and Kenema people will also tell you that Mr Fatorma hails from Kenema.

Who is this Mr Fatorma?


That is the Mr Fatorma that the President has found favour in him.

He has brought him to Freetown close to the city of power, I wish you well in your new office.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to appeal to you all and sundry to look at this fine Nominees by His Excellency the President and having gone through a rigorous screening exercise by the Appointment Committee.

I am sure they are fit for purpose and they should be approved Mr Speaker.
I thank you very much.

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

This is a very convenient moment for us to acknowledge the presence in our midst of so many former Members of Parliament [Applause].

We have the football to watch, and I know all of you have very good reason for wanting to catch my eye, so let us do some equity here and five minutes per speaker starting with the Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara.

20 HON.
20 HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am a proud product of Kambia and Kambia is the home of the Leone Stars Goalkeeper.

There is a young person before us today who is also from Kambia, I hardly talk for Nominees when they come to this Well of Parliament, but I am obliged to do it.
The young lady who is here today because even when she us identified by the nation in our own little way, she was able to mobilize young graduates and school leavers and from a unique institution that is called the Tinap for women in Kambia.

Her display among her colleagues added value to young people in Kambia more so women.

And appointing her today is not because she is SLPP but because she has put herself on the map already of developing young people and continues to make Kambia proud.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will not stop without acknowledging the presence of a mentor, somebody who called me just after elections and then said Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara tell me how did you win the election in your Constituency?
Because by my research they told me you were not popular and I remembered I told him in 2005 I was in the Party office when you were pronounced as the Publicity Secretary of the Party, and I saw you went through all the ranks until today you are at your home sitting quietly.

But I am here today to thank the Honourable Alpha Kanu for accepting this appointment and for us as young people what you have done, you have displayed the real characteristics of an apprentice.
You know when an accident will happen and an apprentice dies they will say S.O [2] ‘No bodi nor die pass d apprentice’.

So when I grow old I would want to know why it was so.

So I went through to know what are the characteristics of an apprentice.

The apprentice is the first person that will leave the vehicle when he could not have what he used to get as benefit.

The apprentice as far as the local people know is somebody that does that have much integrity [Laughter].
The apprentice is a person who will sleep in the street.

HON.

HINDOLO MIOWO GEVAO: Mr Speaker… THE SPEAKER: Yes!

21 HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: Sorry to say I am addressing an apprentice and not a person [Undertones].

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: No!

No!

Mr Speaker, we all know in Sierra Leone who we referred to as an apprentice.

THE SPEAKER: I frankly do not think we should degenerate to the point of disparaging the character of anyone [Undertones].

Order!

Order!

Order!


It will do this House no credit if any one of us is seen or perceived to be disparaging a Nominee who has come before us for approval, a Nominee who has gone through the Appointment Committee and has been recommended to the plenary for approval so please let us be mindful with our language.

HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: Thank you Mr Speaker, all I was doing was describing an apprentice and not the Honourable Alpha Kanu [Undertones].

THE SPEAKER: No!
THE SPEAKER: No!

That is not my understanding; you first of all attributed the term apprentice to the Honourable Alpha Kanu and went on to describe the attribute of an apprentice.

HON.

ABDUL KARIM KAMARA: I never did, but let me move forward.

Mr Speaker, when the Honourable Alpha Kanu was taken to Port Loko by the Vice President, he told the people of North West that it is time to serve them.
He will not deny that and I am sure he was given that opportunity when he was elected as a Member of Parliament and he was made Minister for eleven [11] years.

I want to make this clear to young people, you can still serve this nation without being a Minister, I am sure the Honourable Alpha Kanu has a better role in mentoring more young people than accepting telling us it is time now to go and serve us, you have served us already.
Mr Speaker, when he was asked the question that if he is still APC and he said I am still APC.

I have no power to question that but serving the Government that is sacking ordinary civil servants that they think are APCs and maintaining you brings much question in mind.

But we are proud in celebrating you if my brother has the opportunity to talk he will say the same thing that I am going to say today.

We thank you because 22 you have come out clear.


We know there are many of your types in the APC who and up to now you are still Ambassador at Large.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member.

Mercifully with all what he has said the Honourable Alpha Kanu remains to be his Mentor.

I recognise the Independent Member from Pujehun.

HON.
HON.

SHIAKA MUSA SAMA: Mr Speaker thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to add an independent voice to this debate, I felt very bad when I listened to Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara [Undertones].

Mr Speaker, I have never visited the office of Honourable Alpha Kanu, I have never gone to his house, I have never received a penny from him, but I have a lot of respect for him.

Mr Speaker, he is one man who will meet you on the street and will always have time to talk to you.
He does not look at class I respect him for that Mr Speaker [Applause].

Mr Speaker, in 2007 to 2012, I saw a Member of Parliament from SLPP, he was appointed as a Deputy Minister under the APC.

Mr Speaker it is unfair for anybody to think when you are a member of political Party and you are given an appointment by another political Party that means you lack integrity that is unfair Mr Speaker.

I do not think Honourable Alpha Kanu deserves that Mr Speaker, I will stop there.
Mr Speaker, one thing I have always hated is the hypocrisy in politics especially Sierra Leone Politicians.

I see a lot of people who support today what they condemned yesterday.

Mr Speaker that is hypocrisy and that is one reason why our country has remained backward.

Mr Speaker, I have never been a member of the ruling Party.

I was PMDC and it was a very small Party and now an independent Member of Parliament.
Some of you are APC and you would refuse positions from SLPP but you are accepting their money [Laughter].

I will continue Mr Speaker.

I have never been a member of the ruling Party but I have had the opportunity to interact with the ruling Party especially during run-off Mr Speaker.
When people are in power they try to be very unfriendly to people they don’t even have respect for but 23 during run-off elections when they are about to lose their grip on power they respect people who they had disrespected before and I have seen that all.

I have seen people losing power and I have had meetings with former President early in the morning.

This has to stop Mr Speaker we have to respect each other.
Some people are condemning others and what is really the difference between you and the people you are condemning Mr Speaker?

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, I want to remind Members of Parliament of S.035 [5], you have your Standing Orders please read and be guided.

HON.

SHIAKA MUSA SAMA: Honourable Alpha Kanu, I wish you well my elder brother.

What I am waiting to see is the difference you are going to create.
Mr Speaker, Mr Kanu what I am waiting to see is the difference you are going to create and don’t be discouraged by people and try to leave legacy.

With time you are going to gain more friends that is my advice to you.

Continue to make more friends and don’t be unfriendly to those who do not like you, try to bring them on board.

Some may dislike you because they do not know you Mr Kanu so try to do very well and I wish you well.
We have had a lot of Ministers in the past with high positions but what Sierra Leone needs more is honest people with integrity that will deliver.

People who will show the difference that is what we lack and that what I hope you will be Mr Kanu.

Also, I want to thank the President for what he has done for Pujehun District.

Mr Speaker, the President grew up in Pujehun District and he has given us our fair share of appointments.
I am not going to name the Pujehun District appointments but we are very grateful to His Excellency and we pray that our brothers and sisters from Pujehun District who have been appointed will make the difference and we will try to support the Government of His Excellency by bringing development to our country.

Mr Speaker, now we have to see real development on the ground and should not only be in speeches.
This is what has been happening in this country people will tell you how they have developed some areas in the country and people should be able to feel the development in the country.

24 Mr Speaker, I want to urge all the Nominees to work very hard and sometimes you need to get out of your office to go into the field to see the reality on the ground.

Sierra Leoneans can write very good report but when you go on the ground what is on the paper is different from what you see on the ground.
I want to come to my colleague the retired Brigadier Komba Boyah.

He was my colleague because we were in Parliament; he is also my colleague by training [Undertones].

Mr Speaker, the former Honourable of course is a very good man.

He is an example of a typical Sierra Leonean and he is a unifier.

We were in Parliament from 2007 to 2012, I know him very well.

I know him to be somebody who is very kind and very generous Sierra Leonean.
He does not put ethnicity or regionalism before him and we want Sierra Leoneans like that who will love Sierra Leone first.

And I want to also mention my elder brother Mr Caulker.

He is a very good man.

I remember I was in Holy Family Secondary School whilst he was in Saint Pauls Secondary School; these were people we admire greatly.

When I came to Parliament in 2007 I have never had a discussion with Mr Caulker.
I went to State House then I met him in his office he told me Honourable Sama please I want you to be visiting me in my Office, I went there and he was very helpful.

Maybe I would have to advise him, my brother that is a very big position, your position is very critical and one thing we need in this country is national integration.

We have to see ourselves as Sierra Leoneans Mr Speaker.
I can also remember I almost had a problem when I left Parliament there was a report that I was leading over 1000 armed men to Samalen to arrest some foreigners.

He got the report and he called me he found out that it was a lie and he told the President then President Ernest Bai Koroma that Honourable Sama is with me.

He is not in Samalen so I was saved.


So what I want to tell my brother is that, that office is very critical don’t assess people based on rumours be very scientific when you have allegations, you have to investigate them because a lot of lies will be made.

Mr Speaker, because of time limitation I want to also mention briefly Mamusu Massaquoi who is my wife, my wife in the sense that she is the wife of my late elder brother Dr Massaquoi.

Mamusu was also my college mate so I wish her well.
Mr 25 Speaker, to all the Nominees I want to move that we approve their nominations.

I also want to urge them to work very hard to make the difference.

What we need are people who will make the difference to push this country forward and don’t forget that you are going to account for your stewardship.

There will be one day when you will be called to account.

I thank you very much Mr Speaker.


THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution; I now recognize the Parliamentary Leader of the C4C.

HON.

SAA EMERSON LAMINA: Thank you very Much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in concurrence with section 61 of Sierra Leone 1991 Constitution, I want to thank H.E the President for these sets of Nominees before the House this morning.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I must say it that these sets of Nominees gave a tip for a move for an ivied Democracy like in Ghana and Rwanda.

His Excellency the President has scored another fine goal by bringing people not necessarily from his Party but to come and serve Sierra Leone and these sets of appointments are in line with the C4C’s mantra.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, two days ago was the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr and in one American organisations status I read thus with your leave, let no man pull you enough to hate him and for the set of Nominees let no man pull you enough to hate him that was what is on the status of one Americans organizations forum.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, somebody said the other day that you cannot be a General of course I can attest that all of the Nominees as I was present in their vetting and we were very impressed with their performances the way they answered questions on that day.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, having said that a few of the Nominees I will zoom all of them starting from Honourable Komba E.S Boyah.
It is conventionally believed that you cannot be a General without understanding the secret of an Auradical and if you want to understand the secret of an Auradical like at FBC then you must also understand the status quo of the day.

26 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, three of these ideas put together in a synopsis from Hon.

Komba E.S Boyah and all of the three are grass root Politicians I must tell you.
Honourable Boyah is a grass root Politician and two term Member of Parliament whose tangible development touches Constituency 24 in the Kono District, I must also confess to you Honourable that for the past many years without prejudice to your predecessor Kono did not feel much of the power of the Eastern Region.

I only believe this time around Kono, Kenema, and Kailahun will feel your presence being a Resident Minister in that particular region [Applause].
Already Kono District has two terminally ill paramount Chiefs and it will be your responsibility [Interruption].

HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: Mr Speaker, sorry Leader for life.

HON.

SAA EMERSON LAMINA: Thank you Sir.

Suspension of S.O.

5 [2] [Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] HON.


SAA EMERSON LAMINA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I just bring that to the attention of the Resident Minister East that Kono District already has two terminally ill Paramount Chiefs and I believe you will ensure transparency, fairness in the electionary process of those two terminally ill paramount Chiefs.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, also looking at Mr Fatorma the nominated Road Maintenance Fund Chairperson, Mr Fatorma also has the responsibility for the distribution of Road Maintenance Fund in line with the 2010 Road Maintenance Fund Act considering the population of each locality and the strength of socio-economic delivery to the nation.
The Nominee seated behind Mr Sadiq Sillah will also tell you that he has once been one of the radicals for the birth of the Road Maintenance Fund for Local Councils to be considered.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Sadiq Sillah is going to Egypt.

Who is an Ambassador by the way?

An Ambassador is an honest somebody, save the image of your country, bring all the goodies home for our nation to benefit.

Egypt has a lot of Masjids and churches to be built here.
Sierra Leone has the Gold, the Diamond, the 27 Bauxite and the Iron Ore. What will you do as Ambassador designate to actually make active direct foreign investment wherein Egypt will benefit and our country Sierra Leone also to benefit?

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Abdulai Caulker, who has gone through the ranks of ONS thereby understanding what SESEC does, DISEC and PROSEC do.
Coincidentally he will be working with Honourable Alpha Kanu and Honourable Komba Boyah, reporting from the pro-sec level as far as security details are concerned to his Office.

What a coincidence for three of them to be here today.

Mr Caulker has gone through the ranks and I have no doubt that he will deliver as far as early warning signs are concerned regarding security in this nation.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara, being a Northerner but also a native from Kono District, no doubt she is proactive and she understands the language of the traders, definitely she will be working very closely with her Boss and the face of the trade in this nation will change.

Hearing about unceremonious price control and hoarding will be something of the past in as much she will be working very closely with her Boss in the Ministry of Trade.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I encourage Madam Mamusu Massaquoi, who also kept this Committee amazed by the way she answered questions regarding education tells us that she is a seasoned teacher.

I did encourage her to promote the peace and national cohesion through education that we so dearly need in this nation.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the lady that would be serving the Youth Commission, you will do your Commissioner good with very good recommendation for us to have such a love for young people to display their potentials in serving in all capacities in this nation.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will summarise with the Honourable Alpha Kanu.

I did quote Martin Luther King Jr specifically for him “let no man pull you low enough to hate him”.
Honourable Alpha Kanu nobody will deny this fact as far as competence, delivery performance is concerned is up there, and I would be proud to call you mentor 28 because I remember in 2012, Honourable Kanu and Honourable Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo were the two [2] people that conducted our primaries when I was in my former Party against all odds.
In my former Party both of them conducted a primary against all odds out of 200 delegates it will surprise you that I bagged 175 delegates in my favour against all odds with many pressures they said no we are going to conduct these elections, these primaries in a transparent and fair way and that was how I made a name by becoming the youngest Mayor in west Africa for bagging that symbol.

They manifested dexterity, transparency and accountability.
Honourable Alpha Kanu, I believe that you will definitely perform in that capacity you have proven to us that it is your nation that comes first to your heart and soul and God will mightily bless you for that.

In the North-Western Region you would be assisting the H.E the President to bring Government policies to the locals ensuring peace and quietness of that region and dearly promotes national cohesion.

It is very important for our nation let no man pull you down.
I will summarise with this quotation from Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela did say in 1994 to be specific that no man is born hating another, people must hate and if they hate, people must hate because of political belief, religion or colour and as they hate they can be taught how to love, for love comes more naturally than the opposite.

This is what the institution needs.

We need national cohesion devoid of hates, avoid the pull-in and pull-down syndrome it will not help out this nation.
I appeal to my fellow Honourable Members of Parliament to support these Government nominees so that they will go to their offices and deliver for us.

I applaud and allow all of us with speed to ratify the Nominees before us.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Leader of the C4C, is about time we listen to the voice of a lady, the mama of the House you have the Floor.

HON.

VERONICA KADIE SESAY: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me first of all thank His Excellency for giving us these fine gentlemen and women who are qualified for the different positions.

It goes without saying, all of you the right people in the right places you are all qualified because I was part of the system and we all agreed unanimously nobody made comment so therefore 29 you are all qualified.
We are very much happy if we are talking about 30% we have started to see the light at the tunnel so we want to say thank you to His Excellency the President.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have known Mamusu for the past years since she was a scholar.

I admired you, you know the way you brought yourself up and the way you carried yourself when you were at Queen of the Rosary School [QRS] and you always passed by my door and I knew you could make it.

We want more women but you have to set the pace.


We want you to be the pacesetter so that we can have more women.

They are asking where are the women?

Look at the women we have qualified women and competent women with substance not women of circumstance [Applause].

I am the Chairperson for Trade Committee in Parliament and I was very much happy for your nomination by the President.

You have to work with your Bosses or your other workers there.
You should be lukewarm and show respect and I know you have that respect.

We want to see more women nominated for positions.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, to my lady from Kambia I heard from your brother keep it up, go ahead and do your best.

We are just eighteen [18] in number here but be rest assured we will protect you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, to my brother a cool and calculated MP, we were together in the last Parliament very peaceful.
So when I heard about his appointment I was very much happy I called him and I said congratulations in advance and I have no doubt [S.O.

2 Patient dog eat the fattest bone].

You waited, you were patient and now you are going to eat the fattest bone, go and bridge the gap in the three Districts.

We want to see more peaceful and more cohesion in the three Districts [Kenema, Kailahun, and Kono].
And to my Doctors, the Ambassadors and all the likes you are all qualified because I was part of it and my brother Ivan I have no doubt just go and do your job.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, now coming to a man whom I have known for the past years, who people are given all types of names but first of all before I go to you quickly I want to apologise on his behalf because they do not know what they are doing and I know he was just carried away and that is his own perception but please take it 30 easy with him.

But let me come to this man proper, I was with him in the last Parliament in 2005.

I was with him; he is a very liberal man.


He is devoted, he is very peaceful, and he is dedicated to his work.

If he was not devoted His Excellency would not have given him all those assignments so therefore he is devoted.

He is very honest, he is a positive man, he is a loyalist and to crown it all he is a patriotic citizen [Applause].

And I want to thank you for accepting this particular appointment because you were asked and you accepted it.
The first day you accepted to go to Nacovac not to go to Bo or to go to Kenema they said go to Port-Loko that shows that you are loyal to your people and we have seen it in this House when Honourable Borbor Sawyer was removed whilst we were in opposition all of us cried.

He was removed and made Minister and at the end of the day he did not complete the Ministerial position because they had wanted to destabilise us but by the grace of God we are here today.

He was removed we did not say anything.


The Opposition Leader then is here and looking at others like Robbin Fallay and Musa Tarawally.

We are all friends and this is Sierra Leone this is what we want to see.

Thank you very much and I want to say thank you again for accepting this appointment.

HON.

DANIEL KOROMA: Mr Speaker Point of Order.


Mr Speaker, this House is a House of order and the Honourable Member from Bo or Moyamba is quite aware that what she just did is unparliamentarily you cannot use the mick for your undertones.

THE SPEAKER: Member from where?

HON.

DANIEL KOROMA: The Youth Leader from Kenema, what he just did he knows is unparliamentarily.

HON.

VERONICA KADIE SESAY: Thank you very much.

People were grumbling if you are not Koroma, Kamara you will not get job.
The President has thought it fit by bringing one of the patriotic citizens from Port Loko.

You are over qualified and I say thank you, don’t mind them.

Let me end up by saying those people who are saying they are in doubt they are not APC but there is no act to find a mind construction in the face.

I thank you.

31 THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for her contribution, before I call on my next speaker I want to invite the Honourable Member from Kenema to show some attrition.

HON.
HON.

AFIJU MAADA KANJA: Mr Speaker my apology.

THE SPEAKER: And let it be the last time I know your voice no matter how much you disguise it.

HON.

AFIJU MAADA KANJA: And I hope you would not have it again.

HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: Mr Speaker, for clarity sake it should cut-across.

It should not just be on this side it is important Mr Speaker, I am the whip on this side it is my prerogative to make sure that I talk for my colleagues.

THE SPEAKER: Did I give you the Floor?


HON AFIJU MAADA KANJA: I have the Floor, and he is trying to say the truth Mr Speaker the other side have been doing it.

THE SPEAKER: No, you are the one.

So many people may have done it but you are the one whom have been caught.

I will give the Floor and then after these sets of speakers we shall windup the debate.
We need a voice of a Paramount-Chief to start with followed by the Honourable Kaisamba I will give the one who is senior, Mohamed Bangura would be next and then I would conclude with you the Independent Member in that order.

HON.

PC BAI KURR KANGBARO SANKA III: Thank you Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, before going any further I wish the Leone Stars the best to win this game today [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, and what the Leone Stars have done nobody has done it.

They have unified the nation.

I cried when I saw youths, young people, poor people, rich people, and old people from their houses going to dance for the Leone Stars when we had the 2:2 draw with Ivory- coast.

That game should be a lesson for this nation.

We saw unity amongst the youth and elder people of this nation.
I wish in our politics, in our deliberations, in our 32 decision we could have that type of unanimity.

What we should be talking here today is for unity and progress and development to prevail.

We have approved so many people in this nation to have so many positions and where is Sierra-Leone today in terms of development, in terms of medical facilities and in terms of education.
So for those who have been sent here for approval when I saw the list I had to go to the Leader or the Acting Leader of Government Business to see those who participated in the interview.

They made a mistake today it was not here in attendance but from what he showed me all those who were there unanimously agreed to bring in these people for approval and every Party signed.
For me as a Paramount Chief, and as a Sierra Leonean there are issues that have divided this nation for so many years since Independent.

Corruption, tribalism, nepotism and favouritism, these are the issues we should be fighting for, and asking our Nominees to fight these vices.

THE SPEAKER: No, forgive me these are the issues we should be fighting against not one another.

HON P.C BAI KURR KANGBARO SANKA III: Great Intellectual and great Lawyer thanks for the correction.

I come from a remote village.


These are the issues, is it operation pay for your-self in Sierra Leone?

Is that what we are in politics?

Or we are there to promote the welfare for making Sierra Leone a better place for mankind.

These are the things we should consider so for me I know so many of the nominees here I am begging and appealing that when you go there perform, do what is right.

Mr Speaker, I would highlight one particular person the former retired Brigadier Komba Boyah.
We fought together the war in Kono, he was in my house for over two [2] Months, we slept together, ate together, planned together and went to clear the bridge.

I was with a Military uniform [Applause] and I told him and the Brigade Commander [Colonel Johnny] that today we will remove those Rebels from that bridge.

I said they would not sleep there today in Kono in Walayhu Wango Town.
I said I will be the first to stand in front of all the soldiers but today that bridge will be taken from the Rebels and at that time was through Bokinabase.

33 Mr Speaker, when we caught them we took them to Masigbe, I cannot describe the type of human beings those people were.

Sorry my lady, their skin looked like Fofanah skin when we caught them [Applaud].
So he has done it, he put up a massive military force, so I will say to him, he is my brother, we do communicate regularly and I communicate with him regularly.

If I have problem I will tell him because I have high respect for what he did for the people of Sierra Leone by taking over Kono District at that time [Applause].
Mr Speaker, I will cut off because everybody here wants to go and sit down to watch the game and let us learn from the young people of this nation by accepting that Leone Stars is the team of Sierra Leone and therefore this Parliament is the Parliament of Sierra Leone.

Our Government should be the Government of Sierra Leone, tribalism, sectionalism, regionalism everything should come to an end.
Let us promote Sierra Leone; tribalism has no place to develop Sierra Leone, we should learn what happened in Rwanda.

Mr Speaker, I will say to all of you go and promote Sierra Leone, when it is right it is right, when it is wrong it is wrong.

Martin Luther King said it is always right to do the right thing at all time.
So I bow down and say thank you, I respect you and go there and make Sierra Leone a better nation for mankind, promote the welfare of this nation let us go with the national agenda for developing Sierra Leone.

I thank you all.

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Paramount Chief for his contribution I would make a slight amendment to the list I indicated earlier before the Honourable Kaisamba from Kenema I would give as protocol and seniority demands.
Now I give the Floor to the Honourable Solomon Segepoh Thomas.

HON.

SOLOMON SENGEHPOH THOMAS: Mr Speaker I wish to withdraw.

THE SPEAKER: Okay, I thought you indicated you wanted to.

HON.

SOLOMON SENGEHPOH THOMAS: Yes wish to withdraw.

THE SPEAKER: Very well Honourable Kaisamba go ahead.

HON.

FRANCIS A. KAISAMBA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am not a Member of the Appointment Committee and therefore 34 I rely on the Report from the Appointment Committee as presented and read by the Acting Leader of Government Business on all the Nominees and by the presentation of the Report I am convinced that all the Nominees presented are qualified by the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone and therefore and there were no opposite voices during the Committee hearings and they are before us for approval.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, they are qualified and they must bear in mind that they would be going to various offices but there are tasks, there are jobs and there are functions that are to be performed in those offices and therefore we expect, the President expects, this Parliament expects and the people of this Country expect these Nominees when approved and when eventually they go to these offices to work with the people they will meet in those offices so that those tasks, jobs, functions can be performed satisfactorily.
I think the Presidency, this Parliament and the people of this Country wish them well.

Of course, they will be performing for the development of the people of this Country.

Having said that a couple of Nominees about ten or so that have been presented to Parliament for approval, and probably I may want to talk on a few like I mentioned earlier all of them are qualified by the 1991 Constitution for appointment to all of those offices.
Like we know the Honourable Brigadier Komba Boyah was a colleague, was a senior to me when I came for my first term it was his second term along with other Members of Parliament and we were mentored by the likes of Honourable Komba Boyah and other very senior Members of Parliament who were present then.
It has been already stated that, the Honourable Komba Boyah before coming to Parliament was a retired General and by that we should know that he acquired a lot of skills, a lot of knowledge in the military, in administration, in managing people because as a General to attain such military rank with that level of seniority you must have managed a lot of people.
Couple with him being a Member of Parliament for ten years, he has a lot of knowledge in the legislative process in this Country and of course the Executive and a fair knowledge in the Judiciary, so his appointment as Resident Minister in the same region where I come from.

He is coming from Kono and I am coming from Kenema.

So all we demand of him or ask of him is to be able to 35 perform and I know he has the requisite skills.
What it takes for him the three Ks [Kenema, Kono, Kailahun] to be cohesive for the three Ks to be quiet, for the three Ks to be properly ministered and I know what it takes to do all of those and eventually for the administration of all of the three Districts to be peaceful.

And of course Kailahun and Kono I think bordered with Guinea, we have a lot of problems.
There is a Yenga problem that has to be resolved I think as Resident Minister and as former military man he will equally come to see how all of those will be resolved and to manage all our porous borders along the two Districts.

So the Honourable retired Brigadier Komba Boyah we are very happy he has been appointed and we are very pleased to approve him today so that he will serve in that capacity.
These are our expectations but I am pretty sure he will live on to our expectations, the expectation of H.E the President and this Parliament and the people of this Country.

Thank you very much I want to quickly talk on the former Resident Minister who was in Kenema equally he is an elder brother who has been appointed as Chairman Board of Road Maintenance Fund.
The Road Maintenance Fund is an institution created by Parliament it has been there to manage, maintenance roads in this country and they have been working with the Local Councils across the country, the SLRA and some other institutions for example for every locality you go now you must see linkages.

There will be culverts or bridges that have been financed by the Road Maintenance Fund.
So I know Mr Fatorma has a lot of skills he is going there as a Board Chairman and there are other Board Members in the Administration, the Chief Executive Officer and staff members.
So I will endorse him on assuming that office so that he would proffer the required policies direction and vision to the Road Maintenance Fund so that they will continue to function properly as we expect them as per the law that created them, so that they would be able to serve all the Local Councils and provide the requisite funds for those linkages to continue, those bridges, those culverts and of course to work alongside with SLRA.
I have no doubt I do know him as somebody who is very discipline and somebody who is upright and I am sure he will fit in within the Road Maintenance Fund and Board leadership so that, that institution will continue as viable as possible.

36 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Sadiq Sillah has been nominated as the Ambassador to Egypt.
We all know the position of an Ambassador, for example; it is to go to Egypt so that, Sierra Leone and Egypt will have bilateral ties, bilateral relationship and they will be able to sell the values of Sierra Leone to Egypt and vice versa and of course to bring goodies from Egypt to Sierra Leone.

Before now, we had a lot of our brothers, Islamic scholars who are studying in Egypt.

We want all of those decisions to continue and we wish him well.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Legal Aid Board is an institution created by Parliament that has been providing free legal service to those who cannot afford legal services.

I have worked with them for quite a while, when they normally come for example for budget hearings to Parliament, the leadership of that particular institution.

I do know that they have a lot of challenges, they have financial challenges, they have personnel challenges, they have other challenges; and infrastructural challenges.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Board Member; Honourable Justice Ivan Sesay is a perfect legal practitioner.

I think with him as Board Chairman, he will work along with the administration so that, they can see how they can mitigate all of those challenges around the Legal Aid Board.

Of course, they are providing very serious services for the people of this country, they will have to equip so that they will continue to grant those services.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Abdulai Caulker has been appointed as the ONS Boss.

But like it has been said, he has been nice in that institution I think since his creation.

So he has what it takes, he has all what it takes to provide that leadership now at the highest level.

So we wish him well.


We hope the ONS will be a cohesive, the other institution under ONS will continue to be cohesive and they will continue to provide the required leadership, the required guidance to the Government with regards security generally, so that this country will remain peaceful and particularly so we are approaching 2023 elections next year.
37 And with that Mr Speaker Honourable Members, I wish all the other Nominees well, they are all qualified and I hope they will live up to our expectations of those offices.

Thank you very much.

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

I want to remind all the speakers after him about the time limit.

We had accepted five minutes not more.

The Honourable, you have the Floor.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, permit me to lend my voice to this process as a Honourable Member.

But before doing that Mr Speaker, I have this to say for colleague Members of Parliament.

That today we are sitting here as MPs and as Politicians but tomorrow, we will be going out as civilians.

The liberty that you have now to say what you want to say about people, tomorrow, you will not have the liberty anymore tomorrow.
Let us be mindful that in life, there is what you call Human Relation regardless where you find yourself.

I could remember Mr Speaker when I came to this Well for approval, there was one particular MP, a current sitting MP who said bad things about me [Interruption] no I am not going to name names.

But after the sitting, two days after that he came back to me and said “my brother I was sorry for what I said about you”, that is life.
Today we are here as MPs, tomorrow we are ordinary people and Mr Speaker, having said that I was going to talk on all the Nominees especially Justice Ivan Sesay, Mrs Isata Abdulai.

But because of time, I do not have the luxury to go in-depth.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you….

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: So I’m going to narrow my presentation this morning with one person, Honourable Alpha Kanu [Applause].

Honourable Alpha Kanu is a true A.P.C [Interruption].
He has been called by the President to perform a national service.

You give a national service, after your tenure, you come back to your Party and work for the interest of your Party.

Up to this point, Honourable Alpha Kanu has not resigned his membership in the A.P.C and now, you have been called to serve your own people twice: first as NACOVERC Coordinator, today as Resident Minister with a Ministerial 38 rank.
I know Alpha Kanu, he is a performer that is why, he held several positions in this country and I sincerely hope that as a Resident Minister with a Cabinet rank, you are going to hold the people together in North-West.

Three months to election after His Excellency has dissolved Parliament, you dissolved yourself as a Minister.

Come back to the All People Congress [APC] I will say this; I was a strong critic of President Bio the Speaker can attest to that.
Himself and I used to share the podium together at SLBC.

We used to share podium together and today, he is the President of this country and I am saying this, I am not ashamed to say that and I am proudly going to say that, to say the President is my friend [Applause].

Does that make me SLPP Member?

[Undertone] So you being the Minister for North-West will not make you a SLPP.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, you are going there to serve your people and come back to your Party.
A lot of people have misgivings about your appointment but do not mind them, go in there and serve.

Especially so when you have served in Senior Cabinet positions in this country because as Ministers, you have what you called grade A Ministries in which you have served, the Speaker knows what I am talking about.

So that Ministry of North-West is a junior Ministry.

But you have the love, the heart for your people and you have the love as a nationalist.
Honourable Alpha Kanu is a man who does not know barriers, he talks to everybody, so why his appointment has to create problem in the minds of some people?

Why?

I will end with this advice; that this is not the first time you have been in a similar position and it will not be the last, go there and serve your country.

Have one thing in mind that you have your A.P.C Party membership card and three months to election His Excellency the President will come to this Well to dissolve Parliament.

I thank you.
I thank you.

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

A great deal of what he said is like music to my ears and I want the music to continue.

Therefore, I will recognise and give the Floor to the Honourable Member from Port Loko central [Applause].

HON.

ABDUL L. SESAY: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Of course, I am the Honourable Abdul Latiff Sesay.

The host Honourable for Dr. Alhaji Alpha Kanu, and the 39 Honourable Dr Alpha Kanu is my cousin.
I will tell you that, Honourable Alpha Kanu is somebody who I know as a top performer.

Since 2018, when the SLPP Government came into power, they have been unable to deliver for the people of Sierra Leone [Laughter].

But the President with his wisdom, decided to loan a player from the All Peoples Congress [Applause] and today, my own brother is going to serve as the Resident Minister of North-West.

Kortor Alpha!

You said you are going to play number eleven (11) flank, I have no doubt.
Please just make sure they don’t injure you, you have to come and play for us again [Laughter] please.

Port Loko, we do have a lot of products, like the Speaker himself is from Port Loko, now he is now in Karene; check his birth certificate, he is from Port Loko [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: He is right.

I am Port Loko by birth and Karene by legislation [Laughter].

HON.

ABDUL L. SESAY: Kortor Alpha, the region that you are going to serve as a Minister of the North-West is a new region.
We hope that, you will be able to solve those issues and please ensure you work with the Members of Parliament that are from your region.

So it is good you are there to help solve issues amicably.

Let me generalise my submission to all the other Nominees.

The people in the gallery are here to accompany you, please do not let them down, go there and perform in your respective offices.

You are not going there to represent SLPP; you are there to serve Sierra Leone.
You are not the first person that is going to occupy that office, there were people that were there before you, and some of them were sacked because of incompetency.

I am admonishing you, that the President does have the power to hire and fire, if you cannot perform, the President will fire you and will appoint someone else [Undertone].

So please, make sure your doors are always opened.

For us Members of Parliament, we are the servants of the people.
There are times; we go to you people to lobby for our Constituents, because this is Sierra Leone, we are all Sierra Leoneans.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me thank you very much for giving me this opportunity [Applause].

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

I now recognise the Honourable Member from Kambia.

HON.

MARIO F. KAMARA: Thank you Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: You will be followed by the Independent Member.

HON.
HON.

MARIO F. KAMARA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am happy for this opportunity given to me to thank the President His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, for these Nominees he has given us.

Mr Speaker before proceeding, I want to ask everybody here to join hands with the Deputy Leader to speedily approve the appointments of all the nominees before us that is the first point; and that will make some people to listen.
Mr Speaker, I want to draw your attention to the fact that, this is the second time in four years; I have had the opportunity to speak in session like this.

It is not because I was not given the opportunity, it is because most of the time, I did not know the Nominees who were before us, because I have always promised not to lie in this Parliament.
I don’t want to talk against somebody that I don’t know or talk in favour of somebody I don’t know because if that person did not perform, it would look like I was part of that problem.

I have three people that I know today, that are among those who are in front of us: Miss Isatu Moses, Mrs Isatu Abdulai, and the Honourable Alpha Kanu.

I know these people personally.

I have had discussions with them on several occasions and let me assure you all that these are people I frankly believe they will deliver.
Miss Isatu Moses is very young but she has being very pushful.

She has done a lot, I have been to her office in Kambia, I have seen what she has been doing and I believe with this particular appointment, she will continue to do perhaps more than what she was doing before for the youth of Kambia District.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for Mrs Isatu Abdulai, I also know her.

I have had several discussions with her and I do admire her.
I wonder why some people do cry her down for leaving her Party to come to the SLPP.

She is serving the nation and she has 41 been doing it efficiently.

I want to believe that in the next post, she will do better than where she was.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the third person who is the Honourable Alpha kanu, he knows my village.

He has been there and that was something to me.

When he went there, it was something that has to do with my family.
He went into my house, we ate together, from that point we have been friends, I have been studying him and I think he will deliver where he has been sent today.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I just want to sympathise with the President His Excellency Julius Madaa Bio.

Within four years, for example, he has four Ministers of Justice.

There have been a lot of other sackings.

Do you know why?

I am not blaming the President for that.


I have always said here that, the people who are giving information to the President are not being sincere to themselves and the country [Applause].

The other day I said here Mr Speaker, even certificates coming to Parliament please look at them properly because people are not telling you the truth.
When you look at the appointments of Isatu Moses, Isatu Abdulai and the Honourable Alpha Kanu, you will clearly see that at least the President means something good for this country.

But unfortunately for him, most of the people he appoints have failed themselves and the country.

Because when you are sacked mid-way in your mission, that is problem with you and your family and of course the country suffers but you are the first person to suffer the pinch [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to comment on the nomination of Mr Abdulai Caulker.

Mr Coordinator, this country has a problem especially my own Constituency.

You remember two years back, I informed this Parliament that there was a fire disaster in Khonimakha Ward 192.

Few days ago, there was another disaster in which two women from the same house were burnt to dust.

They went to search for their living and there was this fire disaster.
These two women were married to the same man, they had all gone today.

The last time I informed this Parliament about the fire disaster in Wamara nothing happened, I didn’t see any action coming from the Government.

Today again, I am telling you that we have to look at some of these things and we have to see people doing exactly what 42 they have appointed to do.

Otherwise, they will be sacked as these other recent sackings that we have seen within the Government.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to plea with my colleagues in this Chamber to speedily approve the appointments of these people [Applause].

Mr Speaker, these Nominees will perform and I will not condemn them because I know they can perform.

Thank you Mr Speaker [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member.

I will now recognise the last two and they are the Honourable from Kailahun and the Honourable Independent Member from Kailahun.

HON.

HINDOLO MOIWO GEVAO: Thank you Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start this debate by thanking His Excellency the President, for giving us these fine nominees for us to vet them and to approve them.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will start this debate by starting with the nominee Honourable Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay.

I had known Honourable Justice Ivan Sesay when I was called to the Bar in 2003.
When he was at the Bar, he was one of those Lawyers who we easily referred to us as experts in the criminal law.

He knew his stuff to his finger tip so much that, when we were at the Bar, if we had any reference issues we will easily refer to him, for him to tell us the section or paragraph that we need help from.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the appointment of Honourable Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay as proposed Chairman of Legal Aid Board, I will consider as one of the best appointments that this Government or His Excellency the President has made.

Honourable Justice Ivan Sesay was one of those legal practitioners who did the piloting of the legal Aid Board skill.

That was two years ago before the Legal Aid Board came into existence.
When the time came for the Director of Legal Aid Board to be appointed, even though he knew he had all the experience to head that institution, he decided to let a female to head that institution because, by that time there was need also for a gender balance in most of those institutions.

43 Honourable Justice Ivan Sesay like I said earlier is a Judge of the High Court who took his time to be carefully educated.

He has a fine academic record behind him.


As a Judge of the High Court, he dispensed justice passionately.

He holds the scale of justice untainted.

Today, he is a Judge of the High Court and he is qualified to be Justice of the Supreme Court.

It melts my heart to see him being appointed as Chairman of the Legal Aid Board.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will zoom in speedily on the Honourable Alpha Kanu.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, permit me to say that I was surprised when I saw negative innuendos being used on one of the finest Sierra Leoneans.

Honourable Alpha Kanu I will say proudly is a member of the All Peoples Congress whiles I am a member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

That does not take away the fact that, he is one of the finest Sierra Leoneans that we have [Applause] it doesn’t.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, and His Excellency the President was elected as President under the symbol of the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

The moment he took oath of office, he became the President of Sierra Leone and as the President of Sierra Leone, it behoves him the power, to make sure every Sierra Leonean is given the opportunity to serve in the position that he or she can better perform.

He is not the President of Kailahun or President of Port Loko.
Just last week when we were watching the Leone Stars game, I enjoyed the patriotism that we exhibited in the office of the Speaker.

We sat there as Sierra Leoneans, praying to God, clamouring that the young boys defeat their opponent.

That is the spirit.
That is the spirit.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, if the President in 2038 for example, is going to be Honourable Abdul Karim Koroma and because he comes from the North, he will not appoint Honourable Gevao if he is fit to be the Attorney General, I mean we will be missing the point [Applause].

What we have to do is to look at is the person a Sierra Leonean?

Is he qualified?

Can he perform?

That is what the President has done in this occasion.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will refer the House to Section 13 of Act No 6 of the 1991 Constitution.

I will read Sub-Section 13, paragraph B.

It says “every citizen 44 shall cultivate a sense of nationalism and patriotism so that loyalty to the State shall override sectional, ethnic, tribal or other loyalties”.

What Honourable Alpha Kanu has done is patriotism.


Those of us that follow international politics, we know that the late Colin Powel was a Republican but he decided to support Democratic on one occasion on principle bases, that is politics.

If you know the ideologies or principles of this particular institution and you know they are getting it right, what stops you from actually lending your hearts?

Make no mistake; Honourable Alpha Kanu is one of the best orators I admire in Sierra Leone [Applause].
Like our Speaker, he has the fine grip on the queen’s language, no wonder he stands out as one of the finest in Sierra Leone.

When he debates, everybody wants to listen.

He is peaceful and we are trying to practice the principle of cohesion.

I think it will benefit this nation, now that we are having him as Resident Minister of North-West and North-West is the melting pot of Sierra Leone.

When we say the melting pot that is where we have the Kissi, the Mandingos, the Fullahs and all other tribes.
So you need somebody, who has the entire task to be able to bring us together.

Let’s put politics aside.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will crave your indulgence, when our nominees come here, we should avoid using innuendos, for us to avoid using words that will damping their spirits like my brother Honourable from Kambia said, the immunities we have here, will not last with us forever.
If we stand here and use words that we ought not to use when we leave here honestly we will not have the temerity to look at those people in their faces.

It is just a plea.

Honourable Alpha Kanu has earned his reputation; he has worked for his integrity.

He is merely coming to do national service.

Does the acceptance to perform national service incriminate somebody?

Does he make him a criminal?


I beseech you colleagues, let us approve him and give him our supports so much so that when he goes there and perform, it will be good for all of us Sierra Leoneans because we are the macrocosm of the nation.

What we agree upon is what the nation agrees upon.

We are here because of the Representative Democracy so let us do not use ourselves as scape goats or use words that are not befitting on us.
45 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will end up with the Honourable Minister and former Minister of the Eastern Province, Mr Andrew Fatorma.

Mr Andrew Fatorma is another brother and a true Politician.

Whiles he was Regional Minister of the Eastern Province, he did his best for his presence to be felt in the three Ks; Kailahun, Kenema and Kono.

And he was able to bring us together and to ensure that as an institution, though not here in that institution, we see very good result.
Today, you have been appointed and you have been given another mantle.

We believe that you are going to discharge on it, and you are going to prove us right.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, to Mrs Mamusu Massaquoi, it is said God blesses those who wait.

You are a strong woman; I adore your faith in God and your resilience, and your belief that it can happen.

If Leone Stars can score during injury time, God can do anything.
You patiently waited; you are a woman that I admired a lot, a woman full of integrity, and a virtuous woman.

You have been appointed as the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Education; I have no doubt that you are going to add value to that Ministry.

You are going to aid the Minister to perform and over perform, for he is already performing.

We have no doubt in you.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, to our brother, Sadiq Sillah, you are going as an Ambassador, when you were here, you were already an Ambassador.

You are going to represent us in Egypt and there, you will be called His Excellency [Applause].

When you are an Ambassador, you are like the President of your country in that country.

We have no doubt that you are going to uphold the values of Sierra Leone when you get to Egypt.

We are proud of you.


I just told one of the Ministers that one good thing about all of his appointees is that they are very handsome and beautiful people.

Yes, I just told one of the Ministers out there.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am proud of the President for appointing a very young woman, Miss Moses to serve as Commissioner on the Youth Commission.

You can only appoint a youth to serve on the Youth Commission.

I mean, appointing the right pegs in right holes, not square pegs in round holes.
Madam, we have no doubt like the Honourable from Kambia said, you have been there helping people from Kambia.

We have no doubt the quality that is in you, you are going to exhibit it in that 46 Commission and you will take that Commission to another height.

On that note, I want to thank you all very much, like my colleagues said, you are the first to be appointed to those positions.
When you go, make this nation proud, perform your duties without fear or favour for it is for that, that the President has chosen you amongst Seven Million people to serve and represent your people, the people of Sierra Leone.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker, thank you for catching my eye [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution.
I think it bears repeating again and again that Section 99 of the Constitution does confer immunity on everything that is said in this House by Members of Parliament.

You are immune from Legal Proceedings be it civil or criminal but it does not protect you when abuse the privilege that is conferred by that section.

You are immune but you are not immune from abuse of the privileges.

I think that is what the Honourable Member is referring to and other Members have also made reference to it.
So, when we speak, let us bear that in mind and stop speaking language that is disparaging of the personality or integrity of any person, be a Member of the House, or a non-member of the House.

My last speaker is the Independent Member from Kailahun District.

HON.

QUINTIN SALIA- KONNEH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker, at this point, I want to thank you for choosing me as one of the people for wrapping up this debate [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: You are not wrapping up the debate.


Don’t arrogate to yourself that which is not yours.

HON.

QUINTIN SALIA KONNEH: Okay, okay, thank you very much Sir.

On this note, I am a bit troubled Mr Speaker.
You know when I saw some Members of this House, I mean like frowning at the appointment of Honourable Dr Alpha Kanu, because I believe as Sierra Leoneans, we all have the right to serve irrespective of our political beliefs and one thing I believe the Government through the Leadership of His Excellency has done, is to ensure national cohesion and for this reason, this has given me clear insight that the President is somebody who always act on whatever he says because he said he wants to ensure that there is always national cohesion.
He has not appointed Dr 47 Kanu because he is the most handsome or most eloquent, there are people he would have appointed to serve in the same capacity but he believes Dr Alpha Kanu is also very much capable and hails from Port Loko and he is a Sierra Leonean.

So, I see nothing wrong with the appointment of Dr Kanu.
So, Dr Kanu, thank you very much and I believe for now Dr Kanu should have been the most celebrated Sierra Leonean because they’re very few Sierra Leoneans who carry the head or the mind set of Dr Kanu [Applause].

He has not told anybody that he has left the APC, because he is serving under the Leadership of the SLPP.

He is serving because he is a true Sierra Leonean and he needs to serve the people of Sierra Leone.

So, why are people agitated?

Dr Kanu, you are my ‘Ronaldo’ for now [Applause].


Please, when you go there, bring everybody on board.

I will not continue to utter the statement of other Honourable Members, but I believe I so treasure you.

You are one of the very few Sierra Leoneans who are nationalistic in your views.

You don’t look at Party, you look beyond the Party lines and serve the people and to the people of Port Loko, you have an icon, worship him after worshiping Almighty God.
Dr Kanu is somebody you should be worshipping after worshipping Almighty God.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will also zoom in on somebody I will say, he is somebody who is always dedicated, hardworking, he has never failed Sierra Leonean in whatever capacity he has been given.

He is hardworking and very tenacious and that person is no less than but Honourable Komba Boyah [Applause].
As we all know, Honourable Komba Boyah, I will not want to waste more time using the words of other Honourable Members because we all know what he has done in the past and what he is capable of doing.

Being a military personnel, rose to the rank of Brigadier General, by all means, he is somebody that is very strict.

But that in no means does not make him less flexible.

He is flexible but very firm with his policies.


There are certain issues in the East, Mr Fatorma actually did a great job in the East and I believe before you go, get a session with him so that you will actually learn from him what he did well and where there were challenges so he will actually let you through those challenges.
So, Honourable Komba Boyah, I believe in you and believe the people of the Eastern 48 Region are looking up to you so that whatever synergy you can bring among the three Ks please do; we are waiting to receive you.

We have no doubt; this House has no doubt in your ability to perform.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, next is somebody I have been following upon, a very young person, and today I have decided to say a few words about that person and that person will always rise above all of those challenges and still give in her best and that person is no less a person but Mrs Mamusu Massaquoi [Applause].

If you look at the CV, you can see that she is a Nutritionist by qualification.

And so when she was given the school feeding project, we realised that project was adequately handled.
The more reason it pleases the President to actually appoint her to go and become our own ‘Musa Tombo’ to score the goal for that particular Ministry.

Let us look at the situation; there are already two Ministers in that particular Ministry.

Somebody should be wondering why the President wants another third Minister.

Let us know that the education project is a flagship project of the President.

The appointment of Mamusu, means the President has seen some values in her.
Even in the last minute, Mamusu will always score the goal like ‘Musa Tombo’.

So Mamusu, you are going to that Ministry to score the goal because the President wants to succeed in the flagship project.

For the substantive Minister, please we have seen in the past where the Deputies fight over duties.
Please one thing I want to admonish the Minister to do at this point is to actually design clear roles and responsibilities for the two Ministries or the two Ministers, so that Mamusu has a clear mandate in terms of what she is to deliver on.

So that, coalition does not become part of the order of the day.

You are welcome madam Mamusu, and I have no doubt you always scale above expectations.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, somebody I see as my own political Godfather, somebody I also envy in the way he had ministered, is Mr Andrew Fatorma.

When he was the Resident Minister East, I believe he did everything possible.

You know they said, wise men come from the East.

And because we are wise from the East, most of the time, you know, we fight each other when he was there, he was able to merge, synchronize, and bring synergy in most of those communities that actually needed his 49 support.
He did his level best, now he has been sent to another unit and I hope whatever work that he did in the region, please replicate that at the RMF, I trust you, I know you are very detailed.

I have known you since I was a boy and I know you’re a very thorough, disciplined and continue the good work in that particular area.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, there is somebody who has been nominated to serve as the National Coordinator ONS.
For me, this has not come by chance because ever since we were boys, even during the war, he was one person who actually formed the vigilante in the area to fight against the rebels.

Even when he was in the university, he was the Defence Tax Force Minister.

So the fact that he works with the ONS, it is not surprised to me and even my community because my community is disaster prone.

When there is situation, the moment you call upon him, Mr Caulker, he will always respond adequately and in time.
So I have no doubt that he is being nominated to serve in this position on substantive bases.

Mr Caulker, fly the banner high and I will respect you very much.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, finally, Mr Sadiq Sillah, I have no doubt that he is like coming to Chamber the second time.

You have been here before and you are here again.

You are representing the Government in Egypt which means you are going to be the President for Sierra Leone in Egypt.

I have no doubt and I have known you since childhood.
I have no doubt in your ability to perform.

Please, perform and whenever we go to visit you, please welcome us.

Go in search of investors; bring investors as you can, do everything possible to attract investors to your country.

We still need help as a Country and so on that note, I will really not spend much time because we have limited time now.
But my word of caution to everybody, please we have nominated so Nominees in this House but most of the times, when once people take up offices, they forget about their mandates.

They look up to themselves, they dress themselves in borrowed robs, and they avoid doing what they should be doing.

Please when once you go into these offices, you should be nationalistic in your view, accept anybody who comes requesting for your attention.

THE SPEAKER: And with that.


50 HON SALIA KONNEH QUINTIN: Don’t look at us in your camera.

And finally, on that note, I want to recognise the Ambassador from Turkey, Ambassador Mohamed Kaisamba, who is here with us and on that note, I rest my case.

THE SPEAKER: Don’t arrogate my job [Laughter].

I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution except for wanting to arrogate my own job to himself.

We would now wrap up the debate starting with the Acting Leader of the Opposition.
HON IBRAHIM BEN KARGBO: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

I am happy that you have reminded the Independent MP that he cannot wrap up at this time.

And we have those who should wrap up.

And I am one of those who should wrap up.

Mr Speaker, there is a matter all throughout in Social Media a few days ago about the appointment of Mr Alpha Kanu, to the position of Resident Minister, North-West.

At first, I did not see it as any major issue simply because I just saw it as simple appointment.
But I want it to be said Mr Speaker that whatever position our side has taken, it is not tinted with any grudge.

It is our business to make certain statements and some of my MPs did make these statements and don’t think it was an attempt by anybody to look down on Mr Alpha Kanu.

In fact Mr Speaker, I mentored Mr Alpha Kanu and he will concede to that as he sits there and I have reason to be proud that he has been given this position.
But we also want to assure those people who over celebrated over his appointment, that we have more than twenty Mr Alpha Kanus in the APC [Applause].

And if Mr Alpha Kanu is not available now to perform any duty, there are other people who can perform the same duty.

Mr Speaker may I state that nobody on our side has suggested that Mr Alpha Kanu has abandoned the APC.
We did not say so, nobody has said so, but we will also maintain an open mind on this issue that we are a democratic society, whoever takes a position that he believes in , let him go ahead and take that position.

If he runs into difficulties, that is his own responsibilities but I am very certain that we on this side had taken an objective position on the issue of Mr Alpha Kanu.

We do not hate him but like him and like I said, I mentored him.
Mr Speaker, quite a number of people have been nominated by the President and we know the President has demonstrated to us that he wants to create a scenario that will 51 bring everybody on board and this explains why quite a number of people have been appointed in very important positions.

When I look at the case of Komba Boyah, a good friend of mine, with whom we shared a very common friend, who is late now Mr Francis Sowa, and we discussed issues of National importance.
And may I state Mr Speaker that, Mr Komba Boyah is a patriot.

He loves this country and he will always recognize the fact that he has demonstrated his love for this country.

When we were here in Parliament, he demonstrated a sense of friendship.

We were all friends even though we were APC and he was SLPP but he was a friend and that friendship continues to last.

So to us, it is important that that position is taken seriously.
But on a personal note, Mr Komba Boyah also was a great friend of my late brother, who was the great Goalkeeper of this country, Sierra Leone and because of that friendship; I also respected him for the kind of relationship he extended to me.

So, Mr Speaker, Mr Komba Boyah is one man people should always respect.

We on this side, we always respect him because he has always performed his duty as patriot for which we will continue to respect him.
Mr Speaker, a good number of people were also appointed in a very important position.

Justice Ivan Sesay, a man who made himself a self-made man, not only by other members of the Jury, Lawyers but the society.

He is as a well-placed man, a man who made himself for which we also congratulate for.

Mr Speaker, Sadiq Sillah is my younger brother.

Now he is going to a new creation, the Embassy of Egypt.
The Embassy of Egypt has fizzled away years back but it has now been recreated and he is going to be a very important Ambassador to that very important position.

So, I always tell him that I am the Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs.

If you need any help, come to us, we will tell you what to do because it is important that we direct our young people.

I told him that we have a huge saying in the Foreign Ministry that after some time, we will identify some of our people to visit the Embassies.
And when it suits me and the Minister, we can identify some of our own people to visit you in Cairo.

So like I said Sadiq, you performed well, at one time I was not very happy the way you ended up not being a Minister anymore but I was assured 52 by some people in certain quarters that Sadiq Sillah will come back and indeed you have come back.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the important thing is that the President like we keep on saying on this side, has quietly and very clearly identified some Sierra Leoneans whom he thinks are worthy of and who can perform certain roles in society .

A good number of people have already mentioned Mrs Mamusu Massaquoi, somebody who will take a major role; you are welcome to this very important position.
I will also want to take into consideration Mr Abdul Fatorma to also note that even where the roads need some help, the maintenance of these roads will need some help.

We hope that he will not forget some of our roads because I have already mentioned that some of our roads have collapsed in some parts of our country and we hope that you and SLRA will sit together, work out a strategy to make sure that we work towards the development of these roads.
Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament, the National Security Coordinator, that is a very important position and when these offices were created Mr Speaker, it was deliberate and this is why we think that we should treat these offices very seriously and we also want to take into consideration, the very important appointment of Mr Anthony Sandy, to the position of Commissioner of the Health Service, that is a very important point and we hope he will treat that office very seriously.
Now I have already spoken about Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Sahid Kanu.

Without any emotions, your appointment reminded me of the period when Siaka Stevens appointed Salia Jusu Sheriff, to the appointment of Minister of Finance.

At that time everybody saw Salia Jusu Sheriff as the leader of the SLPP.

Nobody thought that Salia Jusu Sheriff will go to the APC with a six feet pole.
But when we listened to the radio one night and it was announced that Mr Salia Jusu Sheriff was now the Minister of Finance for Sierra Leone that was opera, all over the country.

But the fact of the matter is Mr Kanu, the difference between you and Salia Jusu Sheriff is that you did not make hullabaloo about it.

I hope that you will sit down quietly and think about it and expect Mr Kanu that you will be such an important position without any hullabaloo.
Let us say one thing that is very clear that when these positions are 53 given to people, they are given to them for good reasons and I hope that when the time comes all of us will sit together and find ways by which we can work as one united country.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Acting Leader of the Opposition for his contribution to the Debate and over to you now, Acting Leader of Government Business.
HON BASHIRU SILIKIE: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to begin by thanking the Honourable Members that have contributed to this debate.

And for those that are creative, coming from the other side, we want to thank you all.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I hope you have recognized a lot of people but Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to recognise few stakeholders from among the people that are here.
I will recognise Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Honourable Dr. Bernadecte Lahai [Applause].

Mr Speaker, when we came to this Parliament, we met Dr. Bernadecte Lahai as the Minority Leader and we learnt a lot from her, we also want to recognise the Honourable Brima Conteh, and the Honourable P.C Fasuluku Sonsiama.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when we came in 2012, those were the people we were learning from.
And if we are here today, as Leaders of this Parliament, of course, they contributed some way for us to be here.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today again we have appointees presented to us by His Excellency, the President and of the Committee of Appointments, we have done our own due diligence what is just very shocking Mr Speaker, is when Members of the Appointments Committee meets and takes decisions unanimously and will come to this Parliament and try to go against the decision that have been taken unanimously.
Mr Speaker, for every Committee Report, we attached names of people that attended the meeting and if you go through the list Mr Speaker, it was very clear that the Chief Whip of the Minority Party was part of the meeting and at the end of the day we unanimously as a Committee agreed that these nominees are fit for purposes and they are qualified for various positions.

Mr Speakers, Honourable Members, to the Nominees, you have been nominated by the President to come and help him to deliver.
We barely have a year or more to begin 54 reading our report cards to the people of this Republic.

Excuses would not be tolerated.

His Excellency, the President has decided to join you in this process.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, if these Nominees deliver for us, we would keep our brothers on that side, perpetual in opposition and Mr Speaker I am of the confidence that these set of Nominees will definitely deliver and so that our colleagues who are always criticising will continue doing that.
Mr Speaker, I said we should recognise these people because when we are in this Parliament, we are proffering solutions to the problems but they never listened.

Today, look at where they are and they will continue to be where they are [Laughter].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me zoom in on few of these nominees.

Mr Speaker, let me begin with Mrs Massaquoi, who has been nominated to the position of Deputy Minister of Education.
Madam Massaquoi, you have been nominated by His Excellency, the President.

The flagship program of this Government is Free and Quality Education.

As a Government, we are spending 22% of our GDP on that Sector and the President has given a lot of confidence to you to deliver on that.

Please come, join your colleagues in the Ministry.

Make sure you deliver for His Excellency, the President.
Please don’t disappoint this Parliament, don’t disappoint this Government and make the people of Sierra Leone very proud of you.

If you look at the Gallery, Madam, you can see your friends; it means you have kept your friends together from school days.

You can see them, all of them galvanizing to support you.

I want to thank you very much for giving her the support and I want to assure you that this Parliament will be with you.
There is a committee responsible to provide oversight for the Ministry of Basic Education.

You should work with the Committee and the Committee will always be coming to your office to support you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me now zoom in on Honourable Komba Boyah.

Of course, the Honourable Komba Boyah for this Parliament, is a household name and for this country.
A person who has gone through the rank of the Military, a person who has gone through the rank in this Parliament, and when we came he mentored some of us and today he has been nominated to be the Resident Minister East.

Mr Speaker, 55 Honourable Members, the retired General has political experience; I believe he will deliver for His Excellency the President.
Of course there are minor challenges in the Eastern Region, please put the Eastern Region together, make sure the Eastern Region 99.9% for His Excellency the President.

Please unite them and make sure you deliver the Eastern Region not just for His Excellency but for the SLPP [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for Mr Abdulai Caulker, of course he is my elder brother.

Mr Abdulai Caulker, I am a close friend to his younger brother.
So, Mr Abdulai Caulker, you have huge experience in the Security Sector.

You were part of the creation of that institution.

Thankfully, you have gone through the rank and today you are the head of that institution.

You have a lot of institutional amendment, you know the challenges within that sector please help His Excellency, please make sure you inject new ideas.
You have seen where others have gone wrong, you have seen where others have been successful, please use your experience to make sure the ONS is respected and is fit for purpose.

There are challenges and you know those challenges because you have been part of those challenges and you have been part of those successes.

Please inject new ideas so that you will deliver and you make all of us proud.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Andrew Fatorma of course, is a household name and you have contributed a lot to the SLPP.

You were part of the Electoral Management Board of the SLPP; the President has a lot of confidence in you.

You were the Resident Minister East, today you have been nominated to be the Chairman of RMF very important department.
You will be playing with a lot of monies, you will be providing oversight on that and please everybody is looking to RMF for road construction, for road rehabilitation but you should look at the mandate that RFM has made and confine yourself to that mandate.

Please work with your team, there are other Board Members, work with them and work with Management so that you will deliver.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Sadiq Sillah, of course Sadiq Sillah has been around for the longest time, you have a lot of experience.

I believe you can deliver, you have done it within Councils, and you deliver for the SLPP in Pujehun and for the 56 Council in Pujehun.

I know you are taking a new assignment and you will deliver for us, please go and make us proud.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, to Dr Alpha Kanu, I see my guys have come.

Dr Kanu please do not be intimidated.


They were speaking their masters voice, some of them; they believe you are going to deliver the North-West, they are now very worried but please bring them together because the New Direction is the right direction.

They were here, they were criticizing, I know quietly when we go outside they have confidence in you but they are under instructions from their Bosses [Laughter].
Please do not countenance them, they are under instruction, even at the Committee meeting you talked to them in private, they have confidence, they are now shocked, they know you are going to destabilize them in the North-West but when they come here they speak their master’s voice.

We believe in you, His Excellency believes in you; you were one of the strongest critics of His Excellency.
That is how liberal the President is even when people criticize him, when people critic him; he brings the best people so that all of us will deliver, please deliver for His Excellency the President, please make us proud and forget about critics.

They always criticize you but please concentrate on the job, make His Excellency proud and this Parliament proud especially we on this side.
You see the level of support we have given to you; all of us we are all seated here waiting to approve you please make us proud and forget about them and please try and destabilize them so 2023 will be victory for us.

Mr Speaker to Madam Isata, of course Madam Isata is a very pro-active person, even when we went for the interview she has so much ideas, I have to caution her; I told her you are a Deputy, you will be working under instructions.
Madam I know you are extremely very pro-active, I know you want to deliver, I know you want to work over time but please work with your Minister.

It is very difficult to be a Deputy Minister, when you were the Minister in the North-West you were in charge, now you are not in- charge; somebody is going to control the activities in that Ministry.

Please work as a team, I know you will deliver, that is what His Excellency wants.
This is the first woman from Abacha Street; this is the first woman from Fourah Bay Road Market, and from 57 Dove-Cut Market that has been nominated to the position of Deputy Minister of Trade.

She knows the problem within the trading sector, she has been a trader and she came from a family that does trading so Madam you have been taken to your domain.
We know the challenges around please make sure you synergise the relationship between yourself and your female colleagues at Abacha Street and Dove-Cut Market.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Dr Sandy of course you have a lot of experience in the Health Sector; you have been there for a long time.
To the Honourable Justice Ivan Sesay, you are going to the Legal Aid Board, we know the challenges around; we know the Legal Aid is very challenged, you have been around for quite some time now at the Legal Aid please work with your team, make sure you bring new ideas, new proposals so that we will develop the Legal Aid Board.

Let me conclude Mr Speaker, Honourable Members with the young lady from Kambia.

Mr Speaker, when young people come here I become very, very pleased.
Mr Speaker as young people we should deliver for His Excellency the President.

Mr Speaker, we have the President that has not laid his life for the young people like the former President but we have the President that believes in the young people.

This is the first time we are having a young person like me as Deputy Leader and we have the Leader of Government Business below the age of fifty.
The entire Leadership of Parliament is below the age of fifty, which means the President believes in the young people.

We have the Cabinet of this country that is below the age of fifty, we have heads of Parastatals.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the President believes in young people so when the young people are nominated in this Parliament I become overwhelmed.

As a young woman, the President has given you a lot of confidence, go and deliver for young people.
We are scape goat for those that will succeed us; if we fail we are not failing ourselves, we are failing those after us.

Please we should deliver for His Excellency; we should not disappoint His Excellency the President.

We know we are under pressure because we are under pressure from the elders, they think we should not be where we are.

We are under pressure from our colleague young people because they believe we should not be where we are but we should challenge and make His 58 Excellency proud.
Thank you very much Honourable Members, thank you for your contributions.

I want to crave the indulgence of this Parliament that we allow these honourable people to go and work for His Excellency the President after this approval.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Acting Leader of Government Business.
[Question Proposed Put and Agreed To] [Motion of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has been approved] THE SPEAKER: It is now my pleasant duty and privilege that I should have to add my own voice of congratulations and felicitations to all the Nominees that have been approved by this Honourable House.
By your nomination, the President has signified the trust and confidence he has both in your capacity and your suitability to perform in the respective positions to which you have been appointed.
By this Approval today this House is endorsing the President’s trust and confidence in all of you, on behalf of Parliament therefore we extend our congratulations and our very best wishes for your success in your respective positions, good luck and God bless you and you may now take leave off us, thank you [Applause].

[The House stood down 2:00 p.m. and resumed at 2:05 p.m.] V. BILL THE SIERRA LEONE METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY AMENDMENT ACT 2021, INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING, THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT.
THE MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT PROF. FODAY JAWARD [Minister of the Environment]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that the Bill entitled The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2021 be read the first time.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, the question is that the Bill entitled The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2021 be read the first time.
[Question Proposed Put and Agreed To] 59 TABLE CLERK: The Bill entitled; The Sierra Leone Metrological Agency Amendment Act 2021 has been read the first time.

SECOND READING PROF. FODAY JAWARD: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that the Bill entitled; The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2021 be read the second time.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, thank you all for your patience and support as we continue to be part of this great environmental governance and re-checking process.
This Bill which is key in addressing extreme weather event and the fight against climate change is the amendment of few Sections of the Meteorological Agency Act 2017 to meet international best practices and standards since climate change issues are emerging, global issues are changing frequently and cutting across national borders.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, there are only three aspects we are asking to be amended in this Bill and one of them is to change the supervising role of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to the Ministry of the Environment and I must say Mr Speaker we have got maximum cooperation from the Honourable Minister of Transport and Aviation Honourable Kabineh Kallon to move this process forward.
The second reason is the Board, initially the 2017 Act the Board was not representative of all the Agencies or the Institutions that cut across as far as the Meteorological Systems are concerned, for example the Fisheries or other areas so this new Bill is in- cooperating all those Agencies, Departments and Ministries that are really affected by the climate change.
And then the third reason; since environment issues are changing and they are very dynamic, we have included a few departments so formally we only have like three departments now I think about four or five departments so that they will be able to handle all these things and I must say that with climate change we need early warning systems and this Meteorological Agency, they will be working with Disaster 60 Management, with the core Ministries and also with the early warning system so that we will know exactly what is happening to our environment.
And in summary, when people talk about Meteorology; they will always be talking about climate, about the weather forecasting and that actually goes beyond that in the new Bill.

When people want to go fishing, they will be informed; farmers will be informed about the weather patterns when to plant and when not to plant.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker and Honourable Members.
Mr Speaker Honourable Members I move that the Bill entitled; The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2021 be read the second time.

[Question Proposed] HON.

ABDUL S. MARRAY CONTEH: Thank you very much Mr Speaker, I think what we have in front of us is just a Bill more or less to fit the current trend.
We used to look at climate change just as an environmental issue but now is much more seen as developmental issue so I think every other institution that has to do with that has to pick the current trend so I think we are in the right direction because these are just three changes and of course, dealing with the supervising role, the Board to be much more inclusive and expansion to include some other very key departments.
I think it is a very good move and inclusive and strategic approach towards climate change and other environmental disasters is much more in place so Mr Speaker I think this is a very good move from the Ministry and I want to encourage Members and colleague Members of Parliament for us to speedily pass this Bill.

I thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Fine, shall we proceed then?

Mr Minister please go ahead.
PROFESSOR FODAY JAWARD: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I must say that within this year and half or so Meteorology has done very well even though they were not legally under our mandate but we have been working together and they have done so much and they know that this is an environmental issue so on that note I think I do not have much comment so Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that the Bill 61 entitled; The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2021 be read the second time.
[Question Proposed Put and Agreed To] TABLE CLERK: The Bill entitled; The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2021 been an Act to amend the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Act 2017 and to provide for other related matters has been read the second time.

COMMITTEE STAGE Committee Stage; the House resolves into Committee of the whole House.

CLAUSES 1, 2 AND 3 PROPOSED THE CHAIRMAN: Well before that Mr Minister you may now move the Amendment of the Bill.
PROFESSOR FODAY JAWARD: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that the Bill entitled; The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency of Sierra Leone 2021 be changed to 2022 THE CHAIRMAN: Good, when you complete then I will put everything together.

PROFESSOR FODAY JAWARD: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that Clauses 1, 2 and 3 stand part of the Bill.

THE CHAIRMAN: Honourable Members, the question is that Clauses 1, 2 and 3 stand part of the Bill.

No objection, let go on Mr Minister.


PROFESSOR FODAY JAWARD: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that Clauses 1, 2 and 3 stand part of the Bill.

[Question Proposed Put and Agreed To] Clauses 1, 2 and 3 form part of the Bill THE CHAIRMAN: I have just been reminded; let me put the question again.

Honourable Members, the question is that Clauses 1, 2 and 3 stand part of the Bill without amendments and that the short title be amended to be 2022 instead of 2021.
62 [Question Proposed Put and Agreed To] TABLE CLERK: Clauses 1, 2 and 3 and the title as pronounced by Mr Chairman form part of the Bill.

[THE HOUSE RESUMES] PROFESSOR FODAY JAWARD: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I report that the Bill entitled: The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2022 having gone through the Committee of the whole House with the slight amendments, I now move that the Bill be read the Third Time and passed into Law.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed To] The Bill entitled; The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2022 be an Act to amend the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Amendment Act 2017 and to provide for other related matters has been read the third time and passed into Law.

THE SPEAKER: Any announcement?

Mr Minister thank you very much, you may now take leave off us.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker this is to inform Members of the Appointments Committee that will meet on Monday at 11:00 A.M.
Thank you.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, tomorrow we will be laying one of our own at State Hall and eventually for burial in Koya so for the information of all Members and to inform all sitting Members of Parliament to be in attendance.

THE SPEAKER: What time?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: 10 O’clock A.M. in the morning because after here we will be conveying the Corpse to our Party Office where he will be laid before conveying the remains for burial.
THE SPEAKER: May I suggest you make it at 11 A.M. 63 HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Okay we can adjust that so that we will be able to accommodate Members to be in attendance.

THE SPEAKER: 11 A.M tomorrow?

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: No, is at 10 a.m.

THE SPEAKER: We have adjusted it to 11 a.m. HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: We will do the necessary adjustment Sir.

ADJOURNMENT [The House rose at 2:22 p.m. and was adjourned to Tuesday, 25th January, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.] 64