Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698082874758.pdf (Sierra Leone)
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ (HANSARD) ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT FIRST SESSION-FIRST MEETING FRIDAY, 18th JANUARY, 2013 SESSION – 2012/2013 1 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE 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: 7 First Meeting of the First Session of the Fourth Parliament Of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held on Friday, 18th January, 2013.

_____________________________________________ C O N T E N T S I. PRAYERS II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR TUESDAY, 15TH JANUARY, 2013.

2 III.

LAYING OF PAPERS THE DEPUTY SPEAKER/CHAIRMAN PUBLIC ACCOUNT COMMITTEE (HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
CHERNOR R.M.

BAH) (A) THE AUDITOR-GENERAL‟S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS OF SIERRA LEONE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 2011 (B) REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON THE REPORT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ON THE ACCOUNTS OF SIERRA LEONE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2010 IV.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HONOURABLE S. B.
B. DUMBUYA SECONDER: HONOURABLE DR MATHEW TEAMBO BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE THIRD REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE BE ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE AND THAT THE RECOMMNEDATIONS CONTAINED THEREIN BE ADOPTED.
3 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House ___________________________________________________________ FIRST SESSION-FIRST MEETING OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Friday, 18th January, 2013.

The House met at 10:00 a.m. in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown.

I. PRAYERS [The Clerk of Parliament, Hon.

Ibrahim Sulaiman Sesay, Read the Prayers].

[The Speaker, Hon.
[The Speaker, Hon.

Justice Abel Nathaniel Bankole Stronge, in the Chair].

The House was called to Order.

II CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR TUESDAY, 15TH JANUARY, 2013 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR 4 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, we go through the record of Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday, 15th January, 2013.

As usual, we go through the Votes and Proceedings page by page.

Page 1?

Page 2?

Page 3?

Page 4?

Page 5?

Page 6?

And page 7?


Can somebody move that the record of Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday, 15th January, 2013 be adopted as presented?

HON.

HABIB MUNDA: I so move Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

ALIMAMY G. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, I so second.

THE SPEAKER: Any counter motion?

(Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to) Record of Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday, 15th January, 2013, was unanimously adopted as presented.

III PAPERS LAID HON.

CHERNOR R.M.


BAH (Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table the following papers: (i) The Auditor-General‟s Report on the Accounts of Sierra Leone for the year ending 2011; (ii) Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor General on the Accounts of Sierra Leone for the financial year, 2010 (Applause).

5 IV.

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

S. B.
S. B.

B DUMBUYA (Chairman and Leader of the House): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am Privileged to present to you the Third Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service of Parliamentary vetting of Presidential nominations.

1.
1.

INTRODUCTION: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service met on the 14th and 15th January, 2013, and interviewed a total of thirteen Presidential nominees for appointments as: (i) Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.

2.

PROCEDURE: The Committee maintained strict consistency to its established procedure.
Inquiring questions put to the nominees pertained to their educational backgrounds, track records in pertinent work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a successful tenure.

Allegations of malpractices in public offices and or unsuitability in terms of character to hold such high office of State were closely looked into.

3.
3.

FIFTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, 14TH JANUARY, 2013 The following nominees were interviewed: (i) Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray, Proposed Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources; 6 Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray has an eminent background in the insurance industry and politics.

In politics, he has served as Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations and Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources in the last five years.
In his response to inquiring questions, Alhaji Mansaray said that he believed that the economy of the Country is anchored on the mining sector as the engine for economic growth.

The mining sector, he went on, has contributed tremendously in improving the living standards of Sierra Leoneans, particularly in the area of employment and job opportunities.
“In keeping with the Mines and Minerals Acts, 2009, we have ensured that the companies conform to the spirit and provisions of the Act, especially in the areas of corporate social responsibilities, safety and health conditions for the employees.
We have also ensured that preference is given to Sierra Leoneans in the area of employment as long as they possess the requisite qualifications and skills.” (ii) Dr Minkailu Bah, Proposed Minister of Education, Science and Technology; Dr Minkailu Bah has contributed in no small way to the development of education.

He has served as a school teacher (1988 to 1994), university lecturer (1996 to 2007), and a Minister of Education, Science & Technology (2007- 2012).
Addressing the perception of some Members that the Educational system was in crisis, Dr Bah begged to differ: “I don‟t think teachers in this Country are in a crisis.

They are happy for what this government and my administration have done for them.

The Gbamanja Report on Education had emphasized that we improve the conditions of service for teachers.

That has been done.

The teachers that are grumbling are those who do not want to go through the system.
Some of them are not even qualified and pose to be teachers.

Since we came to power in 2007, we have recruited 5,535 teachers.” 7 Talking about the tertiary institutions, he said: “yes they have the right to agitate for improved conditions of service.

But I have always asked them to negotiate with government.” Dr Bah assured the committee that the current government has done a lot for the tertiary institutions than any other government in the past.
He emphasized that the problems of the tertiary institutions could be solved by negotiation and not confrontation.

(iii) Mr Joseph Bandabla Dauda, Proposed Minister of Internal Affairs; Mr Joseph Bandabla Dauda is a household name in contemporary Sierra Leone politics.

He has a legal background; and in the last 24 years, he has been a very successful private legal practitioner and politician.
He has held several political positions including that of Second Vice President, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Member of Parliament, Minister of Trade, Minister of Finance, Minister of Local Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Addressing the issue of expected challenges in his new assignment, Mr Dauda said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a very active and complex Ministry that deals with internal security.
He said: “As Sierra Leone involves itself with peace keeping operations, the issue of security becomes important.

A major challenge would be to ensure that proper security measures are in place to identify prospective terrorists so that we would all be safe at home.” On the issue of the police, he said that the problem with the police is public knowledge.

He opined that the police have been doing a good job.

“My first responsibility would be to build on the achievements of that institution.
I will endeavour to prepare programmes and policies to enhance better performance of their duties, particularly in the area of crime detection and prosecution, while ensuring that the fundamental human rights of individuals are protected in the course of detecting crime.

On the issue of the Fire Force, Mr Dauda deposed that the major challenge was the lack of adequate equipment to effectively and efficiently mitigate fire disasters.
This, 8 he said, would mean bringing in more fire engines and other equipment.

“I will make sure that conditions in all departments under my purview are improved upon.” (iv) Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara, Proposed Minister of Trade and Industry; Alhaji Osman Boie Kamara is a retired civil servant who had spent his entire life in the mining sector where he amassed a lot of expertise.
Responding to questions on the “Operation WID,” Mr Boie Kamara praised the President for coming up with such a brilliant initiative and gave it his whole-hearted support.

He agreed with the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service that indigenous traders in the retail trade need to be protected.

They should not be forced into unfair competition with wealthy foreign traders who want to do wholesale and retail trade at the same time.

“Our traders need to grow and benefit from the economy,” he said.
(v) Dr Joseph Sam Sesay, Proposed Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Forestry; Dr Joseph Sam Sesay is an outstanding Agricultural Economist who has contributed greatly to the development of that sector.

The nominee has served in the following capacities: 2007 – 2012, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Forestry; 2004 – 2008, Civil Affairs Officer; and 2000 – 2007, Deputy Director and Director, NaCSA.
Questioned on the issue of women‟s participation in agriculture, Dr Sam Sesay said that one of the reforms he had instituted in the Ministry was the creation of a unit responsible for cross-cutting issues.

“Cross cutting issues,” he said, “is not only addressing gender issues but youth, farmers health, environmental sustainability and social protection as well.

Secondly, the bulk of the farm-based organisations are made up of women who constitute about 60% with a similar percentage for youths.
Gender issues are appropriately addressed by the Ministry and we shall endeavour to improve on that.” (vi) Mr Alimamy P. Koroma, Proposed Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure; 9 Mr Koroma has a strong background in Development studies.

Over the years, he has enjoyed the Presidential privilege of being appointed as Minister of Trade in 2007- 2009.

He has also served as Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure from 2009 – 2012.
Questioned on the issue of returning the land within the boundaries of Parliament that has been encroached upon, and the fencing to protect Parliament Building, he said: “it is unfortunate that past Ministers of Works have made promises that they did not fulfill.

I made a similar promise, but I did not stop at that.

I started the project of fencing Parliament Building.

A contractor was engaged for the work and the contract is still alive.
Work started and it was Parliament that stopped the work because Parliament wanted to determine the boundaries of its land.

I am still waiting for Parliament to give me the clearance to continue.

I want to complete this work.” The Minster promised that if approved, he will continue to fence the whole of Parliament‟s land in accordance with the Ordinance of 1961, which is still in full force.
(vii) Mr Mamoud Tarawally, Proposed Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology; and Mr Tarawally was a youth activist and researcher for several development projects.

He had previously served as Deputy Minister of Labour.

He later served as Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation.

Reacting to questions on the challenges envisaged in the Ministry of Education, Mr Tarawally said that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation had immense challenges which they had worked hard to ameliorate.
The Ministry of Education, he said, has its own challenges which, he said: “explains why the President has thought it fit to send me there.” He promised to draw on his experience and to work with the Minister to ensure that difficulties that crop up are appropriately addressed.

(viii) Mr Ibrahim Mansaray, Proposed Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation.

10 Mr Mansaray is a popular „Good Governance‟ advocate and youth activist.
He has a vast work experience in revenue collection and has contributed to national service in the following capacities: 2008 – 2009, Corporate Officer, Corporate Secretariat; 2009 – Date, Collector, in the Baggage and later Preventive Service, NRA.

Responding to questions, Mr Mansaray said that for far too long the youths of this country have been marginalised.

They have been described as drug addicts and trouble markers.
I want to say here that the recent utterance of His Excellency that “I will die for the youths” marks a turning point for some of us.

I am determined to perform and to call on all youths appointed by the President to perform or the people of this country would never take youths seriously.

4.
4.

SIXTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, 15TH JANUARY, 2013 The following nominees were interviewed: (i) Alhaji Alpha B. S. Kanu, Proposed Minister of Information and Communication; Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Sahid Kanu is an eminent businessman and politician.
He has contributed in no small way to national development in the following capacities: 2011 – 2013, Minister of Political and Public Affairs; 2009 – 2011, Minister of Mineral Resources; 2007 – 2009, Minister of Presidential and Public Affairs; and 2002 – 2007, Honourable Member of Parliament.
Reacting to questions about what he hope to bring in the Ministry; Alhaji Kanu said he had always admired the activities and work of the Ministry of Information and Communications, particularly in the development of new technology.

He said that the pace at which Sierra Leone is moving in terms of telecommunication and computer/internet technology is very encouraging.

He also said that the Ministry of Information and Communications is one of the most developed Ministries in the country.
One of the successes of the Ministry is the landing of the Fiber Optics.

But because of the absence of the local backbone, the benefits of that broadband activity are not yet reaching us as consumers.” The nominee however lamented that as much as mobile phone use has become widespread; some parts of the country 11 were not yet accessible.

Alhaji Kanu promised to ensure that the entire rural areas of Sierra Leone are accessible to mobile phones.
(ii) Madam Miata B. Kargbo, Proposed Minister of Health and Sanitation; Miss Miata B. Kargbo has an in-depth experience in development and corporate management strategies and information systems and is a Six Sigma Black Belt Manager.

Until her appointment as Presidential Adviser from 2010-2012, she had managed several private sector institutions in Africa, Europe and North America.
Explaining what a Six Sigma Black Belt Manager meant, Miata said: “a certified Six Sigma Black Belt signified a specific methodology that cooperate companies and multinationals use to improve processes and systems within corporate America.

Six Sigma Black belt managers are certified managers who go into companies and institutions to do strategic process improvements within companies to improve them.
In the private sector, this is highly acclaimed because companies use Six Sigma Black Belt Managers to go in to do processing improvements, clean up, cut cost, cut the wastages within an organisation, do strategic planning, do strategic improvements and create great reforms within the corporations.” Questioned on how the Six Sigma Black Belt knowledge was going to help in her new assignment, she said: “it would help greatly because one of my priorities is to strengthen the structures and systems within that Ministry so that we could have coordinated programmes to foster effective coordination and to cut leakages to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
My knowledge as a Six Sigma Black Belt expert is going to help a whole lot in that area.” (iii) Mrs Ebun Aforo Jusu, Proposed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Mrs Jusu is a legal practitioner with extensive work experience both nationally and internationally; and she has served Sierra Leone in the following capacities: 2010 – 2012, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; 1991 – 12 2010, held several Legal positions both in Sierra Leone and in the United States; and 1978 – 1998, Banking Officer, Bank of Sierra Leone.
Dr Ebun Jusu viewed her re-nomination as a repeated call by the President to national service.

The nominee promised to serve with devotion to actualise the President‟s Agenda for Prosperity.

(vi) Mr Abdul Ignosi Koroma, Proposed Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources; and Mr Abdul Ignosi Koroma has a proven track record in organisational management with a wealth of experience in the Hospitality Industry.
In 2007, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Mineral resources, a position he has held to date.

Reacting to questions on youth employment, Mr Koroma said: “I have always shown a lot of interest in youth empowerment and youth employment.

As a Ministry,” he said: “we believe that every effort must be made to provide training for the youths to enable them handle some professional jobs that are now needed.
I know we are lacking in that area; and the Ministry is doing all in its power to encourage the mining companies to provide some training for our youths.

In the Ministry itself, we have trained eight youth Geologists and seven mining engineers.” Mr Koroma promised to do more along that line.

(v) Mr Randolph Foday Bayoh, Proposed Deputy Minister of Water Resources.

Responding to questions about what he was taking to the Ministry, Mr Bayoh said: “water is life.

Without water there would be no life.


One of the ingredients of the „Agenda for Prosperity‟ is the provision of sustainable drinking water for everyone in Sierra Leone.

As Deputy Minister, it will be my ardent responsibility to assist the Minister to restructure the entire water management system in the country.” There are plans, he said, to divide Freetown into ten zones.
“Water Monitors would be recruited, trained and equipped to make on-the-spot-checks for illegal 13 connections and water wastages.” He assured the committee of reform packages that would enhance a sustainable and regular water supply for all.

5.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees to be suitably qualified for their proposed appointments and are recommended to the House for approval: (i) Minkailu Mansaray, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources; (ii) Dr Minkailu Bah, Minister of Education, Science & Technology; (iii) Mr Joseph B. Dauda, Minister of Internal Affairs; (iv) Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara, Minister of Trade & Industry; (v) Dr Joseph Sam Sesay, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Forestry; (vi) Mr Alimamy P. Koroma, Minister of Works, Housing & Infrastructure; (vii) Mr Mamoud Tarawally, Deputy Minister of Education, Science & Technology; (viii) Mr Ibrahim Mansaray, Deputy Minister of Transport & Aviation; (ix) Alhaji Alpha B S. Kanu, Minister of Information & Communication; (x) Miss Miata B. Kargbo, Minister of Health and Sanitation; (xi) Dr Ebun Jusu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Intl Cooperation; (xii) Mr Abdul Ignosi Koroma, Deputy Minister of Mines & Mineral Resources; and (xiii) Mr Randolph Foday Bayoh, Proposed Deputy Minister of Water Resources.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Third Report is the unanimous view of the Committee.

I therefore move that the Third Report of the First Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and the recommendations contained therein be approved.

Signed by Honourable S. B.

B. Dumbuya, Chairman of the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service.

HON.

DR MATHEW TEAMBO: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise to second the motion.

14 (Question Proposed) HON.


PC BAI KURR KANAGBARO SANKA III: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, we are here today to continue to build Sierra Leone and bring prosperity and development to this nation.

We are here today to promote democracy.

Part of the team that is working to realise prosperity and development in the country is here to be approved by this House.

This team is going to work towards the welfare of the people of Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I cannot talk on these nominees individually because all of them are capable to perform.

I want the new nominees, if approved to use the available resources, their education and intelligence so that Sierra Leone will be a peaceful place for the „Agenda for Prosperity‟ to succeed.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the key component of development in any society is education.

No nation can be an industrial nation without having its population being educated.
Therefore, we are appealing to the proposed Minister of Education, Science and Technology (if approved) to continue the good work he has started so that Sierra Leone becomes a society with great development.

Dr Minkailu Bah is disciplined, decent, honest, and is capable of doing the good work that will promote education in this country.

Everybody knows that Dr Minkailu Bah is a corrupt free minister.
When he was serving as a minister of Education, Science and Technology, he had always been working for the welfare of the people of Sierra Leone.

He followed strictly the policies that would enable the government of Sierra Leone to function well.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as for the proposed Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, the people of Sierra Leone are looking up to you.

The people want to reap the benefit of their natural resources.
When we talk of the “Agenda for Prosperity,” you should be seen as the champion of that course.

You are the champion that should enable us deliver the development projects to this nation.

As a quiet and effective operator, we know you will not fail the people of this nation.

15 Therefore, we are urging you to continue to be a man of the people and work for the welfare of the nation.

I know the young lady being nominated for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

You have a lot of issues to address.


Sanitation is a very serious problem in this country.

If you look at the streets of Freetown (and see where the cookeries are been cooked and sold to the public), you will notice that we need a lot of work in the Health and sanitation Ministry.

We want you to use your Sigma Belt experience to bring development in the country.

I want you to understand that the President was clear when he promised to work for the youths.
I am seeing a lot of youthful faces and enthusiasm amongst the nominees that are to be part and parcel of the development of this country.

We welcome you all.

We want you to ensure that our water is clean.

There are so many water-dealers in the country.

We don‟t even know if these water-dealers are qualified to sell water to the people of this country.

We want you to ensure the restoration of health inspectors in the country.

We use to have Health inspectors in Sierra Leone.


Please, make sure that Sierra Leone becomes a good place for mankind to survive.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, because of time, and other Members of Parliament might want to contribute, will say without hesitation that I like the team I am seeing this morning.

I like all the nominees before us.

I am proud of them.

I know almost all of them.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I know what the infrastructure minister is capable of doing.
I know how determined he is going to work.

I know how he has been moving from here to Kailahun to look at the construction of the roads.

We welcome him back.

I want to welcome the Minister of Trade and Industry and the minister of agriculture.

He has to do a lot for us to produce enough rice.

Sierra Leone wants to be an exporter of food.

We want to move from importation to exportation.


16 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to implore this House to go along with the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service to unanimously approve this great team that has been put up by the President.

I thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, for reasons which I am not at liberty to disclose to you now, I stand constraint today.

These nominees, if approved, would have to be in another place shortly.
I want Honourable Members to be brief in their submissions.

HON.

FODAY RADO YOKIE: Thank you Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would rather not praise neither bury any of the nominee.

This is because I trust the Appointment Committee.

What I would rather do here is just to caution all the nominees.

Today, these nominees are appearing before us in a humble manner.

They are appearing with their hands folded.


But when Members of Parliament go to their offices, they would be telling us to wait.

We should be partners in development.

What we saw in the last Parliament was that, the executive members were supper re-imposing themselves on Members of Parliament.

Both Members of Parliament and the executive were always fighting each other.

However, parliamentarians did not allow the executive to use them.
What most ministers did was to sponsor candidates that would challenge the then sitting Members of Parliament.

Ministers supported new Members of Parliament which later led to the demise of many of our former Members of Parliament.

That should not be the case at all.

We should be seen as partners in development.

THE SPEAKER: Excuse me Honourable Member.

Did you say the demise of some former Members of Parliament?
HON.FODAY RADO YOKIE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am talking about political demise Sir.

Having said that Mr Speaker, I want to see ministers and districts councilors working with Members of Parliament, regardless of colour.

I want to see my brother for instance, Randolph Bayoh from Bo town making regular visitation to constituency 68.

We should put party colours aside.

For the past 20 17 years, Bo has not benefitted from pipe-borne water.

I want to see you taking pipe- borne water to Bo town.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me again say that Mr Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara has a herculean task to perform.

Politics is about bread and butter on the table.

Those who voted for us are expecting so much from us.

Therefore, your first intervention is price stabilisation.

The prices are very high.

I want to see your experience being prudently utilized in your new position.

Try very hard to stabilize the prices so that a bag of rice would be sold to all Sierra Leoneans at affordable prices.
That is what is very important for the people of Sierra Leone.

That is the ministry you are going to head.

The people of Sierra Leone are looking up to you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have started seeing signs of progress for the younger generation (Applause).

We have seen the appointment of Honourable Chernor R. M. Bah.

This is the first time in the history of this country for a young man like him to occupy such position.

We now have two young deputy ministers.


We want to see more young people given more positions.

I want to appeal to His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma to give more positions to youths.

I don‟t know Madam Aminata from U.S.

But she is a young lady.

I want to see people below the ages of 35 years heading important positions in the country.

The young people should be well prepared for future leadership positions.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, young people want to take leadership.
Therefore, we want to see more young people having full cabinet positions.

We have got two deputy ministers.

That is not enough for the young people.

We want more.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I believe and trust the integrity of the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service, headed by Honourable S. B.

B. Dumbuya; and my own minority leader, Honourable Dr Bernadette Lahai.

I trust the entire members of the Committee.


On that note, I am asking the entire Members of Parliament to approve these nominees before us.

HON.

ROSALINE SMITH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is indeed a great pleasure for me to stand here and speak in support of the nomination of one of 18 these nominees.

He is one of the most dedicated public servants in this country.

I am talking about Honourable Alimamy P. Koroma.


This gentleman has distinguished himself as a dedicated pioneer in the development of infrastructure in this country.

Mr Speaker Honourable Members, Alimamy P. Koroma played a great role towards the successful achievement and the realisation of the „Agenda for Change,‟ in terms of infrastructural development.

His performance in the rehabilitation of roads was marvelous.

Who could have believed Wilkinson Road would have been 4 lanes today.
The Goderich Peninsular Road has also been rehabilitated.

It‟s used to take vehicles hours to come to town.

Now, people take few minutes to Freetown.

Those are great achievements in the area of infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, it is indeed a great pleasure to see His Excellency the President, re- appointing this great man to serve in this ministry.

I believe this nation will stand to benefit more from the experience and expertise of this man.

In the near future, we will be seeing 6 lanes in this country.
I believe we would see more infrastructural developments.

We are also looking forward to seeing sky-scrapers in this country.

This man can do it.

I also hope to see fly-overs‟ in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone would look like New York City.

The President made no mistake in retaining this great man in that ministry.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to draw your attention to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray.
He has played a key role in supporting His Excellency the President in his Agenda for Change drive and has surgically transformed his ministry from a single product to a multi-dimensional focus that is now attracting the world leading investors in the country.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I must also let this House know that the minister of Mines and Mineral Resources is the god-father of my constituency.

He is the god- father of my constituency.


He has been a pillar in the political arena of this country.

He is a great man.

For us in the APC party, we appreciate him.

We appreciate his good work.

He has worked relentlessly in ensuring that our party secured victory in the just concluded elections.

19 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about Madam Miata Kargbo.
I don‟t know her personally but I am very happy that His Excellency the President appointed a woman to serve in that noble ministry, especially when her predecessor was a woman.

She is going to meet lot of challenges in that ministry.

But I want to assure her that the women of Sierra Leone would give her the support she would need.

Female Members of Parliament would give you all the support that would enable you deliver well.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would have loved to talk on all the nominees, but time is not on my side.

All the nominees are qualified for the positions they have been nominated for.

I ask that this Honourable House approve all of them so that the President will realise his Agenda for Prosperity.

HON.

DR BERNADETTE LAHAI (Minority Leader): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, except for one or two nominees who are appearing before this House for the first time.
But the rest of the other nominees have been with us for the past 5 years, occupying various ministries.

Therefore, we have had the privilege to interview them again.

We did our best to scrutinize their activities.

During the interview, we asked them to tell the Committee their plans for the various ministries they would be heading.

We also asked them to tell us the challenges they have envisaged in those ministries and how they hope to address those challenges.
Therefore, as a member of that Committee, I would be brief to say that as reported by the Majority Leader, we were unanimous in approving their nominations that is why they are here before us.

A lot of admonitions and cautions have been given to them.

We want them to work in the best interest of this country.

Let me thank His Excellency for the two eminent women that are before us today: Dr Jusu and Miss Kargbo.
This is the first time Madam Miata Kargbo is appearing before us as a minister to head the ministry of Health and Sanitation.

We want to thank him for those appointments.

We are appealing to the President to do more for the women.

20 I would also take this opportunity to congratulate Honourable Alpha Kanu.

He would be heading the Ministry of Information and Communications.

He is going to meet some challenges, particularly the media.

That is an organisation that would be under his purview.
Our media is improving in terms of professionalism.

We still have people within the media who need to follow the ethics of that institution.

There is a media code of practice which should be the Bible of every practitioner in that institution.

The issue of the seditious libel is still a challenge.

Every media man wants to see it expunged from our law books.
Despite the media code of practice and the role of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) in bringing them to book, there are some strong headed ones who want to be mischievous.

I want to make reference to yesterday‟s Exclusive front page, wherein my personality was conspicuously displayed as being one of the aspirants for the SLPP Flag bearer position.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I think that is been mischievous.

I occupy a very high position in my party.


I am currently the Minority Leader of the House.

Besides that, I have also held important positions in the party.

This is not the time to talk about flag bearer-ship.

The party is working to see where we went wrong, if at all we did.

We should concern ourselves in tightening loose-ends.

There is time and place for the position of a flag bearer.

Please, I want to categorically state here that I have never spoken to anybody about it.
Currently, I am satisfied with the position I have.

I want this to be recorded in the annals of this House.

Let these newspapers stop publishing false stories.

What they are doing is not good.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with these few words, I have no doubt that we have done our job.

I wish all the nominees well.

I want to remind that in governance, we work together as a team.

As Members of Parliament, we will give them the support they need.
We also encourage them to see this Parliament not as rival, but as one of the arms of the government of Sierra Leone.

We should work together for the betterment of this country.

I wish all the nominees well in their endeavours.

I thank you Mr Speaker (Applause).

21 HON.

S. B.

B. DUMBUYA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, most of the nominees we have before us this morning are being reappointed.

This signifies that they must have done marvelously well when they were ministers.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I don‟t know what is strange when a female Member of Parliament decides to compliment a gentleman.

As far as I am concerned what we like as gentlemen is for women to praise us.

Perhaps, that was precisely what Honourable Rosaline Smith did in the case of Alimamy P. Koroma.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, all of us would attest to the fact that Alimamy P. Koroma deserves a re-appointment.
Recently, he received a national award for his dedication and devotion to infrastructural work in this country.

Perhaps, we should appropriately call him the Infrastructure Minister.

That is the fact Mr Speaker.

And I think that is why he has been reappointed to serve in the same ministry.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to send a note of caution, that has already been sounded by Honourable Foday Rado Yokie.

All ministers must heed to that.


Ministers should work with Members of Parliament, irrespective of party colours.

I emphasize, irrespective of party colours.

Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament are a fraternity.

If a Member of Parliament of the S. L. P. P sees something wrong in any of the ministries, we should support that Member as long as that Member wants the right thing to be done.
They must not only open their doors to Members of Parliament of the A. P. C., but also to Members of Parliament of the S. L. P. P. and Paramount Chiefs as well.

This is very important (Applause).

Mr Speaker, I want to say something about Honourable Alhaji Alpha Kanu.

Mr Speaker, it will interest you to know that the Speaker of Parliament between 2002 and 2007 is here with us.

I have already acknowledged his presence in the person of Honourable Justice Cowan.
Between 2002 and 2007, the S. L. P. P. was the governing party; and they had about 83 seats in parliament.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I hope you took note of what I said earlier.

22 HON.

S. B.

B. DUMBUYA: Noted Mr Speaker.

During that time Mr Speaker, there were only twenty seven of us in the A. P. C. People like Honourable Bernadette Lahai, Honourable Ansu Kaikai, and many others from the S. L. P. P. were all here at that time.
All of them would readily testify to the fact that we were a bone at that time.

We were vigorously criticizing them.

And in most cases Mr Speaker, much as they would carry the day, we were always winning the debate.

One of such people that was an outstanding debater was the Honourable Alpha Kanu.

He is here with us to be approved.

We were very critical of the policies of the S. L. P. P. government.

Mr Speaker, I want to talk about somebody else.


When I was reading the report, it seemed as if that particular person has had everything.

He has served almost in all the ministries.

Mr Speaker, in our youthful days (even to this day), we used to believe certain saying.

For instance, “nobody is indispensable.” But I am beginning to question the veracity of some of these statements.
I would qualify that by saying here that as much as I would agree; there are certain people who are indispensable at certain times.

And one of such people is J.

B. Dauda.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in the course of the interview, a female member of the committee said that when she was young, her grandmother used to tell her about “Jam-body.” What is „Jam-body‟?

Well, J.

B. Dauda is a political acronym for „Jam-body‟.

He is „Jam-body‟ for development.


One of the reasons why we defeated the S. L. P. P. during the 2012 elections was because Ernest Koroma worked very hard, particularly in the area of development.

The past A. P. C. government had one big machine, in the person of J.

B. Dauda, alias „Jam-body‟ for development.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members all the other people are worthy of their appointments for which they have been nominated.

I commend them all to the House for approval.


(Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to) (THE THIRTEEN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES WERE UNANIMIOUSLY APPROVED) 23 THE SPEAKER: Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my duty, on behalf of the entire Parliament to congratulate you.

You cannot afford to fail.

Failure is not an option.

The awareness of the citizenry of this country is very high.

Their expectations are unrealistically high; but we should endeavour to do the best we can do.
Your best might not be good enough for somebody else, but that is the best you can do.

I will be remised if I do not let you into a little secret.

When nominations were announced somebody excited called me to congratulate me on the nomination of my niece as a minister.

So I said what‟s the nomination I thought she was to be an ordained priest she said no, no, no minister of government.

I congratulate you the niece knows herself; she is looking at me I am looking at her.
I wish you all well in your new appointment.

We have heard so much about “Jam- Body.” Jam-Bodi knows me very well.

He knows me not in the legal profession but in certain endeavours of life.

I congratulate you Mr Minister.

Most of you, I believe, I know officially and socially.

I wish you well in your new positions.

ADJOURNMENT (The House rose at 11.20 a.m., and was adjourned until Tuesday, 22nd January, 2013, at 10.00 a.m.).

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