Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698080932385.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 FIRST SESSION - SECOND MEETING TUESDAY, 18th OCTOBER, 2018 SESSION – 2018/2019 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: II NUMBER: 26 Second Meeting of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held on Thursday, 18th October, 2018.

2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY, 11TH OCTOBER, 2018 III.
PAPERS LAID [A] THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE [I] PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT ON THE MANNAGEMENT OF HEALTH CARE WASTES AT REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITALS BY THE MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND SANITATION [MOHS]-OCTOBER 2018 [II] PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT ON THE MANANGEMENT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY [MEST]-OCTOBER 2018.
[III] PERFORMANCE ADIT REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FERTILIZER SCHEME BY THE MINSTRY OF AGRICULTURE FORESTERY AND FOOD SECURITY [MAFFS]-OCTOBER 2018 [B] THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS THE OMBUDSMAN ANNAUL REPORT, 2017 [C] THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES THE FISHERIES [FEES] REGULATIONS, 2018 THE FISHERIES AND AGRICULTURE ACT, 2017 [ACTS NO.

10 OF 2017] STATUTORY INSTRUMENT NO.

68 OF 2018 [IV] MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HON.
SIDIE M. TUNIS SECONDER: HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE FOURTEENTH REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE BE ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE AND THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED THEREIN BE APPROVED.

3 [V] ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP TO THE ALLIANCE ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION SIERRA LEONE PARLIAMENT.
4 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ FIFTH SESSION – SECOND MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ THURSDAY, 18TH OCTOBER, 2018.

I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mrs Bintu Weston, Read the Prayers] [The House met at 10:40 a.m. in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Speaker, Hon.
Dr Abass Chernor Bundu, in the Chair] The House was called to Order 5 Suspension of S. O.

5[2] II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY, 11TH OCTOBER, 2018.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to to amend the Order Paper to add an item VI which would involve „Announcement of the Membership of the Committee on Governance.

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH: Mr Speaker, I second the Motion.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] THE SPEAKER: As usual, we will skip Pages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Any observations, comments or amendments?

Page 5?

Is it substantive or it relates to your name?

HON.

SORIEBA A. TURAY: I see my name under those „absent without excuse.‟ I was present on the 11th October, 2018 but I saw my name under the absent list.

HON.

EMMANUEL S. CONTEH: Mr Speaker, the same applies to me.

I was present, but I saw my name on Page 4, under „absent without excuse.‟ I was present sir.
HON.

FODAY S. TURAY: Mr Speaker, I was present and I even spoke.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please make the appropriate amendment on that Page.

Any other amendment?

HON.

JOSEPH W. LAMIN: Mr Speaker, on the 2nd and 11th October, I did submit an excuse letter on very salient national issue I went to attend and then it was endorsed by the Clerk of Parliament.

However, my name is on the list of those who were absent.

The purpose I left was very successful for this Nation.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, whether the purpose for which you went was a success or not, that remains to be determined.

Honourable Member, what we want to take note of is whether your name appeared in the right place or not.

HON.

JOSEPH W. LAMIN: No Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Where should it be then?

HON.

JOSEPH W. LAMIN: Mr Speaker, it should be under „absent with excuse.‟ 6 THE SPEAKER: The amendment will be taken care of.

HON.

JOSEPH W. LAMIN: Thank you very much Sir.

THE SPEAKER: Any other?

HON.


IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, I am not going to intervene in the presence of my Leader right on your side, but equally true that we were in Brussels participating in European Union Conference.

Therefore, we will not be able to be here on that day and we should have been listed down as „absent with excuse‟ from the office of the Clerk.

Thank you very much.

THE SPEAKER: The excuse was given by whose office?

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, the Clerk through the Speaker.
You gave instruction to the Clerk.

THE SPEAKER: Do you have that authority?

I am beginning to observe a very close symbiotic relationship between two Honourable Members here; i.e., Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo on one side and Honourable Mathew S. Nyuma on the other.

In any event, what you call for, if it was I who gave the excuse and gave you the permission to travel then the amendments will be duly taken note of.

HON.

BOSTON MUNDA: Mr Speaker, my name is under Members who were absent.
I was present, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: I hope the Clerk is taking note of these protestations and you will be checking your own records to make sure that what were been told are clearly reflected in your records.

Page 5?

Page 6?

HON.

LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, number three [3], a „Member stood on S. O.

26[2] and not S. O.

36 THE SPEAKER: Very well, the correction will be made.

Any other correction on that Page?

In that case, we move Page 7?

Page 8?

Page 9?

Page 10?

Page 11?


If there are no further amendments or corrections, would somebody move for the adoption of the record of Votes and Proceedings for the parliamentary sitting held on Thursday, 11th October, 2018 as amended?

HON.

ALUSINE KANNEH: I so move, Mr Speaker.

7 THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

ALICE J. KUMABEH: I so second, Mr Speaker.


[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Record of Votes and Proceedings for the parliamentary sitting held on Tuesday, 11th October, 2018 has been adopted as amended] THE SPEAKER: Before we dispense with this particular item, I will be looking forward to the Leaders of the Opposition and C4C to inform this House on a matter that has been reserved.
Subject to consultations relating to the Free Quality Education, maybe you will need to continue to consult, but before we rise from this sitting, I will like to hear from you.

If I do not, we will not continue to have that particular item pending at all.

You wish to take the Floor now?

I have had consultations with the Leader of the Opposition and I am satisfied with his explanation.

We will deal with this matter first thing on the next adjourned date first thing before we move on to any other item.
III.

PAPERS LAID [A] THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE HON.
LAHAI MARAH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table of this Honourable House the following documents: [i] Performance Audit Report on the Management of Health Care Wastes at Regional Referral Hospitals by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation [MOHS] - October, 2018; [ii] Performance Audit Report on the Management of School Facilities by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology [MEST] – October, 2018; and [iii] Performance Audit Report on the Management of Fertilizer Scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security [MAFFS] – October, 2018.
[B] THE LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to lay on the Table the report entitled „The Ombudsman Annual Report, 2017.

[C] THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES.

HON.

EMMA J. KOWA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am here to lay on the Table of this Noble House the following documents: [i] The Fisheries [Fees] Regulation, 2018; and 8 [ii] The Fisheries and Aqua-culture Act, 2017 [Act No.

10 of 2017].

Statutory Instrument No.


68 OF 2018 IV.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE HON.
SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I present to you the Fourteenth Report of the First Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service: Introduction Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, alive to its constitutional duty, met on Wednesday, 17th October, 2018 and interviewed five presidential nominees for the following appointments: [i] Director-General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority [SLRA]; [ii] Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Children; [iii]Chairman, Board of Trustees, Conservation Trust Fund; [iv] Deputy Commissioner, Sierra Leone Insurance Commission; and [v] Member, Board of Directors, Bank of Sierra Leone.
2.

Procedure The Committee maintained strict consistency to its established procedure.

Pertinent questions put to the nominees were related to their educational backgrounds, track records in public office, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a successful and nationally productive tenure.

Issues of unsuitability or otherwise were closely looked into.

3.

SEVENTEENTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS ON WEDNESDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2018.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the following nominees were interviewed on oath: [i] Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, Proposed Director General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority [SLRA] Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh is a Professional Engineer with sound working knowledge in Procurement, Management, Public Administration and Financial Management.

He is a member of the Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers and the National Association of 9 Procurement Professionals.
He is currently serving as the Director of Procurement, Sierra Leone Roads Authority [SLRA].

Reacting to the Committee‟s inquiries, Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh deposed that he deemed himself to be qualified for his proposed appointment.

The nominee holds a Master degree in Engineering, Road Management and has served as a pupil Engineer in the Ministry of Works.

He joined the SLRA in 1993 and served as District Engineer in Kenema, Kono, Port Loko and as Chief Regional Engineer in Bo, Southern Region.
Questioned on the relationship between the Sierra Leone Roads Authority [SLRA] and the Road Maintenance Fund Administration [RMFA], he said that the relationship between the two institutions had never been rosy since the inception of RMFA.

“While we attribute most of the problems to individual behavior, the RMFA Act itself is part of the problem and we have raised that severally in this Parliament.
There is every need for this Honorable House to revisit the RMFA Act, so that sanity could return to the road industry,” he said.

Answering to further questions, Mr Kanneh promised to further His Excellency the President‟s fight against indiscipline and corruption.

He said: “I will instill discipline and endeavour to make the SLRA corruption free.” [ii] Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, Proposed Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Children Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu is a Development Specialist and Gender Activist.
She is currently serving as the National Programmes Coordinator, Business Coalition Against AIDS in Sierra Leone [BCAASL].

Responding to probing questions, Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu said that she viewed the Commission as a cross-cutting institution that has dealings with several Ministries, Departments and Agencies [MDAs].

She promised to endeavor to align the mission of the Commission with the mission of the „New Direction‟ for children.

She said that the „New Direction‟ has a strong passion for children.
She said: “I will endeavour to strengthen partnership with the various MDAs that are dealing with children‟s activities and welfare, particularly in the area of education, resources mobilisation and child protection issues.” 10 [iii] Mr Martin A. Foday, Proposed Chairman, Board of Trustees, Conservation Trust Fund Mr Martin Foday is an Educationalist with over thirty-six years‟ of professional experience in International Non-Governmental Organisations, Local and National NGOs and learning institutions at both tertiary and secondary levels.
He is currently the Facilitator, British Council Connecting Classrooms Global Citizenship and Core Skills Training Workshops for Principals, Head Teachers and Teachers across the country.

Answering to probing questions, Mr Martin Foday said that the Conservation Trust Fund was established by an Act of Parliament in 2012, along with the National Protected Area Authority and designed to promote biodiversity conservation and wild life management and other related matters.
The Fund generates income that is used to support the National Protected Area Authority.

The fund is supervised by a five-man Board of Trustees who manages the fund and makes policy discussions.
Mr Foday promised to draw on his wealth of knowledge and experience in fund raising activities for the success of his Excellency, the President‟s „New Direction.‟ [iv] Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray, Proposed Deputy Commissioner, Sierra Leone Insurance Commission Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray is a Public Sector Management Specialist with strong background in Strategic Research and Methodology, Project quality Rating Systems, Business Development Training and Planning.

He is currently a freelance Consultant.


Responding to pertinent questions, he said that although he was moving into a new and challenging industry, he was quite confident that his academic qualification, experience and exposure in private sector operations in the last twenty years would enable him to be of immense advantage to the Commission.

Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray said: “The core functions of the Commission are to regulate, to monitor and to supervise and that I can competently do.
I am going as an operator, a regulator, and a supervisor of the Insurance industry.

So my Quran is going to be the Act that established the Commission.

The Act is going to be my guide.” 11 [v] Ms Cecilia Mahota Demby, Proposed Member, Board of Directors, Bank of Sierra Leone Ms Cecilia Mahota Demby is a legal Practitioner with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Corporate Governance, Human Resources Appraisal and Management.
She is currently a consultant for the United Nations Development Programs [UNDP].

In her interview, Ms Mahota Demby informed the Committee that she had previously served at the Bank of Sierra Leone, first as a Legal Officer, Secretary to the Board and as Director of Human Resources.
“I served the Bank of Sierra Leone for 15 and half years.” Reacting to questions on what she would do to stop the continuing depreciation of the Leone against the Dollar, Ms Mahota Demby said: “I am going there as a Board Member.

The Governor is the Chairman of the Board and the financial experts who deal with monetary policies are there.

As a Legal expert, I advise the Bank on what they can do and what they cannot do.

I cannot advise on monetary policy.” 4.
Recommendation[s] Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following presidential nominees to be adequately qualified for their proposed appointments and they are recommended to the House for approval: [i] Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, Director-General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority [SLRA] [ii] Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Children; [iii] Mr Martin A. Foday, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Conservation Trust Fund; [iv] Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray, Deputy Commissioner, Sierra Leone Insurance Commission; and [v] Ms Cecilia Mahota Demby, Member, Board of Directors, Bank of Sierra Leone; Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Fourteenth Report reflects the unanimous view of the Committee.
I therefore move that the Fourteenth Report of the First Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

12 HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, I second the Motion.

[Question Proposed] HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Leader of Government Business has just read the Report of the Appointments Committee.
The Report contained presidential nominees we are about to approve to help govern this country.

The „New Direction‟ is ready to discharge its promises to the people of Sierra Leone.

We want to ensure that the ordinary man is made comfortable.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have approved nominees in this House, but there are some nominees you cannot leave out them outside this particular dispensation looking at their qualifications and how they have served this country.
They have served this country not because they are doing it in their own interest, but for the interest of Sierra Leone.

Today, when we approve people to serve in the Central Government, we do not look at their Passport or their Identification Cards [IDC], but we look at their qualifications.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have been saying in this House that the „New Direction‟ is the „right direction.‟ This is because we are not going to trivialise issues and we want to put Sierra Leone on the map, the map that can take us to the pedestal where everybody can praise Sierra Leone.

That is one thing we are going to do in this government.

The Appointment Committee has done its work and we are here as a Parliament to endorse the decision of the Committee.

We are here to approve them.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as I said earlier, it is clear that qualification is what the President is always looking for and not one‟s identity.

I want to single out a particular nominee, a man who attended a school from S.O.

[2] in „Gbokakajama Gbolambayama,‟ a place where I come from [Laughter].

Mr Speaker, that is the Paopa city and whether you like it or not, that is the city which takes us to governance.

THE SPEAKER: Is that a new city, Honourable Member?

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Yes, Mr Speaker.

It is a new city in this dispensation.

THE SPEAKER: I have never heard of it.

Why do we not call it by its proper name?

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: I call it the native way, which is Gbokakajama Gbolambayama [Kenema City] [Applause].

Let me do justice to His Excellency the 13 President of this Republic, the man they said will never be President and today he is the President of this Nation.
He has given this country one of the best Sierra Leoneans who can serve and work for this Nation and not for their interest [Applause].

Some people have worked through the lengths and breaths of Sierra Leone and have contributed immensely to the development of this country.

One such person is Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh.

He is one of the best Engineers we have in Sierra Leone.

If you go through his resume, people say he is not qualified for the job and he will not perform.
I want to inform this House that this man has travelled throughout the districts of Sierra Leone; from Kenema to Kono, Kailahun to our stronghold, Portloko District [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have strong reason why I said this man has even worked in our stronghold.

The Speaker of this Parliament comes from Portloko [Laughter] and we are proud of that [Applause].

With the leave of Mr Speaker, let me read a paragraph in this Report.
It says: “He joined the SLRA and served as District Engineer in Kenema, Kono, Portloko and as Chief Regional Engineer in Bo, the Southern Region.

He has wealth of experience in Engineering and as well worked in the previous Government.” The previous government is the APC because he believed he was not working for an individual, but he was serving Sierra Leone.

Today, everybody is here to see Mr Kanneh as the Director General of SLRA [Applause].
I believe he is not here because of his name, but because he has served diligently, honestly and sincerely in the Right Direction [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the nominee mentioned one thing I would like to emphasise here.

In as much as we know he is has the qualifications, he has served this country before and we are proud of him.

Our President is a man with few words, but big actions.

If you go the wrong way, we will bring you to the „New Direction‟ because it is the right direction.
He said, “I will instil discipline and endeavour to make the SLRA corrupt free.” I believe you need to work in that direction because there are so many unfinished contracts due to ill-motivated Sierra Leoneans who have bided for those contracts, but they have not done the job.

In other words, they have not done the job properly.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as Sierra Leoneans, let us serve this Nation diligently.

If you are given a contract to execute, please do the right thing.
You have to work 14 towards the proper sanitisation of the system.

Mr Amara and I hold a common view; i.e., proper sanitisation of the system.

Please sir, if you go to the SLRA as you have said during your interview, you have to go there and instil discipline and we believe you can do it without fear or favour.

You have worked in almost all the districts in this country.

We believe you can serve us in the right direction.

We are not going to allow people to give us excuses.
This is not the time for blame games.

We believe you are qualified because your qualifications and work experience speak volumes.

If approved by this House, go and serve the people of Sierra Leone.

This Government wants people who can deliver for the benefit of the people of this country.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we believe that Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh can serve in that office without discrimination or any other consideration.
He has proven his mettle throughout the years he has served in various capacities.

He has a special qualification I will like to mention; i.e., a Master degree in Procurement.

I think this is one of the skills you should have as a manager.

I am saying this because most of these contracts are being bloated in terms of figures.

So, you have to look at the procurement process and get an understanding of the financial structure of the SLRA.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the nominee mentioned that he would make the SLRA corrupt free.

You can be in charge of finances, but if you are not the head, you cannot do anything.

Again, if the head is not good, everything goes bizarre and I want you to take note of this.

This Honourable man has served in that capacity as Sierra Leonean and he deserves praises because he hails and serves as any other Sierra Leonean in this House of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to talk about another Sierra Leonean who has worked in various capacities in this country.

He has served at the Sierratel and Airtel companies.

Today, he is here, seeking the approval of this House to serve as Chairman, Board of Trustees.

Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray is a fine Sierra Leonean whom I believe will serve us well.

He has helped to develop and revive Sierratel and I think Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo can attest to that fact.
He is one of the brains in that industry and I believe he is a fine Sierra Leonean.

The nominee mentioned one interesting thing, but I do not know if the Ministry of Finance will like to hear that statement.

He said he would try to see how best he could give advice in terms of Insurance policy on beverage.

When he said 15 that statement, all of us burst into laughter.

He quoted the Quran to convince us as the first Sierra Leonean.
You cannot judge him whether he is serving as a Muslim properly or not, but you can judge him by what he has done for this country because he has served in different capacities and he has helped to develop every sector he has worked.

I believe that Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray aka „Manzeroh‟ will do his best.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would also like to talk about Mr Martin Foday and he is one of the elder in our church.

He is one of the people we rely on for advice.


The Priest also relies on his advice.

As he mentioned in the Report, he has served in different capacities and this is a sector where we need people with confidence, trust and sincerity.

We need people like him to advise the President and we have a listening President.

With his religious background, he has advised every young man in our church, which is Saint Anthony Church.
He is a man who has tremendous experience in various sectors and we can count on him.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the conservation sector seems to be an abandoned sector because of people‟s perception.

However, we believe you will transform that sector and bring new innovations.

Develop with your own experience like you have done in other sectors.

I believe Mr Martin Foday can deliver.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, without much ado, we are here today because we were tamed and properly brought up.
If you are going to look at the next generation, we need to talk about our children.

We need to bring them up in proper manner.

We need to give them the space to operate, but with discipline.

We have realised, as Government, that children are involved in a lot of activities that are not acceptable in a decent society.

They are taking drugs and are involved in serious migration.
They are scattered all over the country; and for us to mitigate this menace, we need to have a sector that can provide the platform, so that they can realise their potentials.

As I said earlier, the „New Direction‟ is not only meant for ourselves, but for the people of Sierra Leone.

The „New Direction‟ is the right direction and we want this Nation to be a better place for all of us.

You have to look at our children because they should be cuddled and encouraged.

They need more for their existence.


They need to grow up in a disciplined society, but you have to give them the platform, so that they can grow up in a responsible manner.

You have to put structures in place to achieve that.

16 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we also have Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, proposed Deputy Commissioner in the Children‟s Commission.

I believe we are creating the space for children and we are going to ensure that our children are happy.
We are going to give them the space to explore their potentials for the betterment of this country.

I want to believe these are fine nominees because they have good qualifications and they have served in different capacities.

Therefore, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to ask this House to endorse these nominees.

We have to give them responsibilities to serve as good Sierra Leonean and deliver to the people of this country.
As a Parliament, we have our oversight functions and we must ensure that these nominees are put to task.

They cannot do it alone because they need us to oversee their operations.

Governance is about everybody; whether you are in the opposition or the governing side, we have to play our own part.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I now ask this Honourable House to approve these nominees for the various positions they have been nominated to serve.

I thank you, Mr Speaker [Applause].


THE SPEAKER: Thank you, Honourable Member.

HON.

WUYATTA B. SONGA: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have a set of nominees in front of us this morning.

We can spend a whole day lavishing praises on them because of their qualifications and experiences.

What I want to say to them is that we are looking for performance.
There is no doubt in our minds that the President has the eyes to bring out individuals who have what it takes to push this country forward.

A lot of the nominees we have approved in this Well are suitably qualified.

I cannot help, but to ask myself where these people have been and how comes they have never been recognised in this country.

They have wealth of experiences but they were not considered.

Well, the only answer to that is that they were not „Tolongbo‟ [Laughter].
If we are honest to ourselves or genuine as Sierra Leoneans, you cannot leave an experience and educated people and employ people who have not got what it takes to move this country forward.

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, with all due respect to the Honourable Member on the other side who is attempting to be very eloquent this morning, I want to 17 state here that close to 70% of the nominees we have approved recently worked under the „Tolongbo Government‟ [Applause].
So, it is totally untrue and wrong to draw the conclusion that they were left out in the governance of the State [Laughter].

HON.

WUYATTA B. SONGA: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I also thank the Honourable Member, but as human beings, we have consciences and that was why I asked myself a question and I have to answer my conscience.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the nominees are all qualified, but I would like to talk about two nominees this morning.

I will start with Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu.


This woman is a woman of substance and I have worked with her in the Julius Maada Bio Women‟s Wing - Sierra Leone.

She has what it takes to move that particular Ministry forward because she is a personate individual.

She is a mother whom I believe has the interest of children at heart and she will ensure that the children are happy.

I have no doubt in my mind that she will deliver what she has been nominated for.
I am saying this because she is personate about that particular Ministry.

The Ministry is in its transformative stage and things are going on well.

They are doing very well and with the presence of Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, I know she is going to pick up from where they are and they are going to excel very well.

She has worked with the „New Direction.‟ She has struggled with us and success for this new dispensation is her utmost priority.

So, I have no doubt that she will go out there and perform.
I wish her all the best and I know she will make the women proud.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I go to another nominee, Mr Amara Kanneh.

I do not know him personally, but reading his resume, I am so proud to call myself an Easterner.

When we were growing up, we used to hear the saying that „wise men are from the East and this nominee has proven that to us.

We have a true son of Kailondo, a son from the soil who has, in every aspect or direction, made us proud in this country.
He is a multi- cultural person because of the areas he has worked.

I doff my hat to you, Mr Amara Kanneh.

You have the experience and the knowledge to transform that institution for the better.

The SLRA will learn a lot from you.

Mr Speaker, when I looked at his educational background, I asked myself whether he is from the East.

I said yes, he is an Easterner.


We are proud of you and go out there as you have promised to ensure that corruption leaves that particular department; go out there and deliver what you have promised to the 18 Committee; go out there and continue to make us proud because you have what it takes to make a positive change.

It is only the President who can identify people like these and he has what it takes to lure good people in the governance of the state.
This is because he is the saviour of this country and for him to identify people with the requisite skills and experience goes beyond nepotism.

We need these people to push this country forward.

I am not surprise for the sets of nominees he has nominated for the approval of this House [Applause].

I can stand up the whole day, but honestly I feel proud of all the nominees.

He made no mistake by nominating these people.


On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I ask that we speedily approve these nominees.

I thank you [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member for her brilliant contribution.

HON.

SHAIKA M. SAMA: God bless you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I will start from the end and go to the beginning.

I want to urge this House to approve the nominees of His Excellency the President.
This House should continue to give support to the President, so that he can translate his vision into action.

With that, I would like to make a general statement and perhaps advise the nominees.

When President Bio promised to move this country in the „New Direction,‟ some of us were very happy because we have been fortunate to visit other countries in the Sub-region in Africa.

Some Africa countries are doing very well.

For Sierra Leone, we need to move forward.

Sierra Leone is in the very bad state.


So, when the President spoke about moving this country in the right direction, we are very happy because we expect him to bring a lot of improvement; we expect drugs in the hospitals; we expect good roads; we expect public toilet facilities; and we expect things that can make our lives better.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to urge all the nominees to work towards bringing positive change, if approved by this House.
We do not just want new Directors General, but Directors General who can make a difference.

We do not want to see business as usual.

When you condemn a system, you should not promote that system at all.

We expect you to bring sanity into the system.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I go to Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, proposed Director General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority.

You have got very good qualifications.

19 Sierra Leone has never lacked people with the requisite qualifications.
We have a lot of people who are PhDs and Master Degrees.

We have a lot of them in this Parliament.

The Speaker of this House is a PhD holder.

These sets of qualifications cannot change the country.

We need men and women who are patriot; men and women of integrity; men and women who love their parties, but love Sierra Leone more; men and women who are determined to move this country forward [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I wish Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh and all my brothers and sisters well.

For me, we have to support the Government.

We have to support the President and we will have the moral authority to criticise.

If you do not support and you pray for failure, then you have no moral high ground on which you stand to criticise.

So, we will support you and give you all the support you need.

Thank God that Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh is in front of us.
I am worried about the potholes in our roads.

You are the right man to talk to and I know things will happen.

I was told that a kilometre of road cost $1mln.

I am not an Engineer; I am a Biologist, a Human Rights Defender and an Independent Member of Parliament.

Well, $1mln for a kilometre of road that is less than one mile is a huge sum of money for a poor country like Sierra Leone.

I have seen small potholes grown into very large potholes.
I was thinking why the road authorities failed to maintenance those roads.

Why do you have to allow the portholes to enlarge?

Why do you have to allow them to grow wider only to spend thousands of dollars to repair them?

It is easier to repair or maintain a pothole than allowing it to destroy a portion of the road.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to inform Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh that if you drive along the highways, you will see a lot of death traps along those areas.
I was wondering what the roads authorities are doing.

Do you have a department that is responsible for those potholes?

I was lucky to visit Cape–Verde.

If you go to Cape-Verde, you will be taken to certain places where you will be shown beautiful things and you will be tempted to import those nice things into your country.

If you do not have that enthusiasm, then you have no reason to travel to any place.

Go to your village and stay there [Applause].


I want to inform Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh that I saw men and women in Cape Verde, busy decorating the streets.

They have a lot of strong road works 20 in Cape Verde.

These men and women will decorate the streets and fill the potholes.

There I saw serious policemen moving around, monitoring the process.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, when I was a young boy growing up in Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District, we used to have men who worked for PWD.
In the morning, they will go to the roads and stay there till the evening with Wheelbarrow and other instruments, repairing the roads.

Those people have just disappeared.

I would want you to consider that and work towards reintroducing that system.

It will create jobs for young people who are jobless.

If we can have teams all over the chiefdoms this time, let us include the women.

We should have permanent teams in repairing the roads in all the chiefdoms.
This is better than spending millions and millions of tax payers‟ money to repair those roads after every raining season.

The impact of rains on those potholes is so heavy.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to remind Mr Kanneh that he does not have to wait for those potholes to grow larger before we begin to spend millions of dollars to repair them.

I want you to look at that because that is very important.

We do not want fine reports on paper.


Sierra Leoneans can write very good reports, but when you go into the communities, the reality is appalling.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would also like to bring your attention to a sad situation.

There is a bridge between Upper Joma and Lower Joma.

Well, that bridge is a national disgrace and it is a death trap.

Fortunately, one of your Engineers comes from that area.

That bridge is a disaster and I want you to send a team to look at that bridge.
Unfortunately, I cannot do anything like repairing it because it is very expensive.

We voted massively for the „New Direction.‟ There is no way we would know that there is a „New Direction‟ if our bridge remains in that terrible condition.

I want that to be one of your first assignments, Mr Kanneh [Applause].

Again, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to remind Mr Kanneh that a lot of bad works have been done.

I left this country in 1993 and went to Banjul, The Gambia, where I stayed for ten years.
When I came back, I met some of the roads that were newly constructed before I left in terrible conditions.

I am not an Engineer, but I am sure the materials used on those roads were substandard.

We have Engineers in our institutions.

I want us to have very good works.

We should monitor the roads and make sure we have quality roads because the money we spend on roads construction is too much.

We cannot 21 afford to be replacing those roads at higher cost after every five years.
If roads are properly constructed, they can last for decades.

Mr Kanneh, do not just sit in your office to sign papers.

You have to find time to go and inspect those roads and see whether your Engineers are sending the right report.

This is because some of those people who are supposed to be monitoring those roads receive favours from contractors and in the process, they usually skew their reports.

This is one thing that has to change in this country, if we are to move forward.
People should love the country more than the love of money.

There is no way we can change this country if we want to be very rich.

We should not be having all the houses and beautiful cars.

So, we need to have quality roads and value for money.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me go to Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, proposed Deputy Commissioner, and National Commission for Children.

You are supposed to be one of the leaders in the National Commission for Children.
We have the Child Rights Act that is meant to protect children.

However, if you go to the streets now, there are children who are supposed to be in the classrooms learning, but they are on the streets, searching for money.

They are working to take care of the adults.

So, how do we know that the Commission is effective?

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the effectiveness of the Commission should not only be seen in reports.

The children should be able to feel the impact of the Commission.
Children are misused, abused and dumped.

A lot of children are made to behave like adults, even at very early age.

Their future is destroyed.

The question is, are you just going to hold workshops or print T-Shirts?

Is it going to be business as usual?

Some parents are very poor.

How do you support those children?

How do you get them out of the streets permanently?

How do we ensure that the laws protecting the children are enforced?

That is the difficulty of the matter.


If you move in the „New Direction,‟ we do not want the President to come before us and tell us how he has developed the country.

We should be able to see the development ourselves.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we want to see reality this time.

I can tell you that over 80% of the things that happened during the APC regime are still happening today.

The police are still receiving moneys from the drivers and the drivers are still violating traffic regulations.
Again, millions of Leones are been spent on drugs, but those drugs are not 22 reaching the patients in the hospitals.

There are pharmacists in the hospitals, but they did not give out drugs.

Those drugs are sold to private pharmacies.

These things are happening as we speak.

For me, is not about the change of Government, it is about the change of the system.

We must change the system.

The same system that exploited us under APC can still exploit us under the SLPP.
The challenge of the „New Direction‟ is to make sure that there is a real change.

This is what we voted for and this is what we want to see.

It is not about praise singing.

If you want to show that you love President Bio or you love the SLPP, you should not demonstrate that by praising.

You should make sure that when you are given an assignment to do, you have to perform very well.

To promote the name of the Government, to promote his name, singing praises are good, but can lead to failure.
We have to make sure that we work our talk.

We must talk and work at the same time.

We need action and not words.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will move to Mr Martin A. Foday, Chairman, proposed Board of Trustees, Conservation Trust Fund.

When you say conservation, you must be able to conserve both the fauna and the flora.

One thing that is very important in conservation is about protecting the habitant.
If you do not protect the habitat, there will be massive habitat destruction and there will be great loss of our bio-diversity.

So, most of these Commissions‟ works are not felt in the rural areas, where over 75% of Sierra Leoneans live.

I do not see any impact of this Commission in Malen Sowa Chiefdom, for example.

The officials do not go there.

They stay in their offices, writing reports and attending workshops.

We have to ensure that we bring development into the communities.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, majority of the tax payers live in the provinces and they normally produce the highest votes for everybody to become President.

However, they are marginalised and neglected.

We only go there to ask for their votes.

That is not fair at all.

Why do we think we should only have electricity in the cities?

Why do we think people should only view television in the cities?
Why do we go to every corner in the country to solicit votes and after the elections, we neglect these people?

Majority of Sierra Leoneans lived in the provinces.

If you do not take electricity to the provinces, there is no use having electricity in this country.

So, we are demanding that whatever happens in the cities should be replicated in the rural areas.

Most of you are from the rural areas.

I think 23 Mr Kanneh is a chief, but the question is, are you going to work for the cities alone?
Are you going to take development to the corners of Sierra Leone?

Is it going to be business as usual?

We know that you are highly qualified and you are a good Engineer, but are you going to be a good Director General?

I wish you well and I pray that you perform exceptionally well.

I pray that we move in the right direction.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: As usual, those on my right I can reasonably assume what they want to say.
He is the only „Rabbi‟ in the House [Laughter].

HON.

SIRAJIN MUNIRR ROLLINGS-KAMARA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

I think I want to start on that note, being a Rabbi.

I have massive respect for other religions and more so the Islamic faith.

When they call the name of the Prophet, there is something that follows.

In other words, when they call the name Prophet Muhammad, they usually say „Swala Laahu Alaihi Wasalam‟ S.O.

[2].
[2].

The fact here is that the Muslims do not play with the name of their Prophet.

For us Christians, we believe that there are certain attributes that God has and does not give to man.

That draws me to the previous speaker from Constituency 008, when he referred to President Bio as „saviour.‟ I think you are treading on the wrong path.

Saviour and redeemer are attributes we give to God or Christ and I am sure there is a long way to reach that path.
I can also understand why my sister spoke the way she did.

She is been out of touch because if she has been in the country, she might have known that in the previous government, we have a lot of PhD holders and they delivered well.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I think our responsibility in this House is to limit ourselves in expressing panegyrics or eulogies of praise singing.

I think we make these nominees to think that they have arrived and they know it all.
My expectation, especially the oversight function of Members of Parliament, is to give them additional responsibilities in tandem with their terms of reference.

We also give them additional note that this is what we expect of you when we go and check what you are doing.

The Deputy Leader of Government Business, Honourable Mathew Nyuma, is known for that and we love him for that because he is the Vuvuzela of the party in this House.

Therefore, we know he is somehow sentimental.


But for us, I think it is important because we have Members in the Appointments Committee whom we have great respect for.

When they have approved 24 somebody, we take that in good faith and when we are here, I think we just give them additional instructions.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start with Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, proposed Director General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority.
He said while we attribute most of the problems to individual behaviour, the Act is also part of the problem.

However, the major problem is on the individual.

I would only ask him to do his own part and allow the Act to do the rest.

When we find out that the Act itself has a problem, we the parliamentarians will revisit it.

For now, most of the problems have to do with individual behaviour.

If approved by this House, go to that office and handle such behaviour for effective service delivery.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, next person I want to talk about is Mr Shaka Ahmed Mansaray, Deputy Commissioner, Sierra Leone Insurance Commission.

Today, people say insurance is the best business you can do and I am sure some of us who own cars will attest to that.

The question is, when last did you receive payment from any Insurance Company.
They make business and there is clause that even when there is third party insurance and you are involved in an accident, there is a minimum payment of Le 1,000,000.

Are they paying this money?

He said: “We are here to regulate, to monitor and to supervise.” In most cases, even those who have valid Insurance suffer.

It takes years before they receive payment for their involvement in accidents.
So, I would ask the Deputy Commissioner, in as much as he is not the substantive boss, but I am sure teamwork will make you succeeds in that direction.

We would want to see people, especially the poor drivers or car owners be compensated due to road accidents.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I go to Ms Cecilia Mahota Demby, proposed Board Member, Board of Directors, Bank of Sierra Leone.
I thank you for your frankness and I think you made us proud today when you said: “I cannot do this, I can only advice.” This is what we expect from Board Members.

They should know that there are managers who are running the day to day affairs of the MDAs.

For the fact that you have mentioned that, I think I will give you my heart.

Thank you very much.

Please work for Sierra Leone Do not says this is my party and I will do anything I feel like doing.
Sierra Leone is for all us and the cake is a National cake and you have to share it to everybody.

Thank you very much [Applause].

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

HON.

KADIJATU DAVIES: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I must say thanks to His Excellency the President for given us these fine nominees.

Among the five nominees, we have two dynamic women [Applause].
I must first of all say thanks to Madam Cecilia Demby for being brave and frank during her interview session.

Its takes a man not to speak of a woman.

Madam Cecelia Demby appeared before Appointments Committee and said exactly what she thought was right in her job description.

I thank you for that.

I must commend you for that particular spirit you demonstrated.

The person who knows what to do will achieve his or her goal.

I applaud you and say thank you.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I go to Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, proposed Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Children.

I appreciate you very much.

Women and children are out there suffering, especially in my constituency around the peninsular area.

Women and children embark on hard labour.

I admonish you to please help that part of the country with vocational institutions.

I think this will divert their activities from hard labour to something good for them.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I go to Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, proposed Director-General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority.

Again, I want to inform you people that there is a six kilometre road that links the urban area to the rural area.

It is just a six kilometre road and I admonish you to look into this issue if approved by this House.

I am also asking you to please bring that road to completion [Applause].
Finally, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to admonish the other nominees that the people are waiting to see performance and we are not here to praise sing but to tell you what is expected of you.

We want performance and that is all we need.

On that note, I implore my colleague Honourable Members to hastily endorse these new nominees.

I thank you all [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I will take four more speakers before the leaders wind up the debate.

Two on either side of the aisle.

HON.


ALICE JEBBEH KUMABEH: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker for catching my eyes.

We are here again today to approve a set of presidential nominees.

I want to remind everyone that the President cannot do it all alone.

He needs an effective, efficient and a 26 nationalistic team to forge this country ahead.

That is why you are here today, seeking the approval of this House.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to personally talk to Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, proposed Director-General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority.

I want to remind him about the conditions of the roads in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, especially the road linking Bo and Mattru Jong.

That particular road is a death trap.

It has been ignored for decades now.

Fortunately, it had been commissioned by the President for construction, but we want to see action.
With your supervision, that road will commence immediately and it can be completed, otherwise come the next raining season, no one will leave from Bo to Mattru Jong in a vehicle except by „okadas‟ or motorbikes.

I hope we will not reach that stage.

That is my plea to you, as the rest of the speakers have spoken.

We have heard so much, but the people of this country are in a hurry to see positive changes.

Therefore, when the President reposes his confidence in you, all he is looking for is performance.
We want you to pay attention to our roads in the south and other parts of the country.

Sierra Rutile is an example and Government derives huge revenue from that part of the country, but all the roads are deplorable.

So, I want you to pay attention to roads because good road brings development.
In the absence of good roads, the people out there will always cry because if the traders come to Bo after they have struggled or risked their lives in the process of buying commodities, they will increase the price of every item because the roads are bad.

That has always been the excuse.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Ms Joyce Wuyah Abu, proposed Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Children.

I am so moved today because I have passion for children.
With all the laws we have in this country; i.e., the Child Rights Acts, the Children‟s Commission, children are still suffering in this country.

In the area of sexual abuse, we are hearing cases of sexual penetration and rape, but we do not know what is happening to those perpetrators.

Some of them go proudly with impunity and this is very bad for the development of any country.

[Suspension of S.O.
[Suspension of S.O.

5[2] being 12:00 noon] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, you have to pay the price by shortening your time [Laughter].

27 HON.

ALICE J. KUMABEH: I was just talking to my lady about the children in this country.

If we want to have women in Parliament after ten or fifteen years, then we should pay attention to the rate at which rape cases are reported.

Rape has become so rampant and nothing is being done about it.
We have to find ways of reducing this menace in this country because the perpetrators are committing this heinous crime with impunity.

So, you have a role to play and we are looking forward to your leadership as the mother of this country.

You have to ensure that these abuses are reduced.

Finally, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am happy for all the nominees and I wish all of you well.

Make sure the people and the President are proud of you.
I wish you good luck and I want to crave the indulgence of this House to speedily approve all of you.

I thank you all [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: That is the last speaker on my right.

HON.

RTD [CAPT.]

MAADA K. HAFIJU: It is a big blessing for me.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, mine is short and sharp.

I want to direct my contribution to Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, proposed Director-General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority.

Of course people were praise singing, but I am not here for that.
I go directly to the point.

If you look at our road network, particularly in my own constituency, I have the worst road in Sierra Leone.

The location of my constituency is at the central of this country.

I share boundary with Bo District, Tonkolili District and Kono District.

I also share boundary with Njala Komboya, Valunia, Masingbi, Makali, Matotoka and Njaiama Sawafe.

That is the central part of Sierra Leone, Ngulama Mende Chiefdom.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the President is aware of the roads network in my constituency.

The topography is mountainous, covers with potholes and inter spare with two major rivers; i.e., River Sewa and River Jong.

There is no good road network at all.

Of course, when the President went there during his campaign, he left behind five vehicles.

I managed to bring them to Freetown.

So, you have to pay attention to this issue.

It is not a feeder road; it is trunk road.


It starts from Blama junction to Masingbi, Via Boajubu and Bamakonta.

That is the road where we have Gendema Ferry [Applause].

You have to pay attention to that particular road because it is the worst road in the East.

Of course, people have been telling you what your role is and we are looking forward to seeing you deliver.

I am not talking for the Honourable Member whose area covers the peninsular, but that is 28 the area am living; i.e., No.

2 River.
2 River.

We have six kilometres to be covered and the contract was awarded in 1992 to take the road from Waterloo to Lumley Police station via Tokeh.

That road was a two lane road, but during the days of the APC, it was changed to four lanes, and the CSC Construction Company managed to construct four lanes, starting from Lumley Police Station to my junction at No.

2 River with their own money.

Nobody gave them a cent [Laughter].


Today, they are constrained because the Government of Sierra Leone has to pay them $39mln for what they have used from their own pocket.

They are now ignoring the six kilometres road the Honourable Member was talking about.

Therefore, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to appeal to you to pay attention to that road.

Again, please talk to the central government to pay that money, so that the road will be completed.
We now have many learning institutes in that area.

For instance, IPAM is constructing staff quarters at Bureh Town.

We need that road and it should be completed.

Please, if approved by this House, make sure that road is completed.

Presently, I am staying with the Quarry Manager and for the past one week, they have been moving their gargets or machines to Moyamba Junction.
When I asked why they were moving those equipment, they told me that the government has to pay them and if they do not receive the $39mln, they will not complete that road.

Therefore, I want call on the central government to solve that problem for us.

I thank you [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I thank the Honourable Member, especially for his brevity in his presentation and recognising that indeed we are press for time.

Now, the last two speakers are all going to come from my left.

HON.
HON.

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

Before I make my presentation, I want to respond to what my colleague from Bo was saying.

We hardly know the difference between Bo and Kenema [Applause].

If the CSE had not been paid, why are they seeking for more contracts?

I know very well that they are not a benevolent organisation.

They work to make profit.

Whatever we say should not be embellished with inaccuracies.

Let us try to be more precise.

I think am protected.


THE SPEAKER: Alright, you are protected, Honourable Member.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I do not want to say much about the people in front of us today because so many good things have been said about 29 them.

They are fine nominees.

Of course, we have two women amongst the five nominees.

I have always been in support of women to occupy key positions.

This shows that we have regard for them and we must respect them.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start with the engineer, Mr Amara Halim Jambai Kanneh, proposed Director-General, Sierra Leone Roads Authority.

We have camaraderie between Kenema Government Secondary School and the Oxford of the North Government Secondary School for Boys in Magburaka [Applause].

That relationship generated envy from our colleagues from Bo.

I will not call their names because some people will feel offended.

I know them and I can see them clapping.


However, I know they will not clap if I say what I want to say.

A colleague of mine here is telling me about one school close to Magburaka, somewhere twelve miles away; i.e., the Saint Francis School.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, please move away from controversy.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I want to state here that Mr Amara Halim Kanneh is suitably qualified.

No question about that.


He has the qualification that is required for that position [Applause].

I have no question about it and he is somebody I have known for quite a while now.

I know he could do what is supposed to be done at the SLRA [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to remind this House that we have to do the right thing.

Roads are not only bad in the South-East, they are also bad in the North-West.

[Applause].

Let us pay attention to them.


I want to call on the people who have been given these appointments to understand that after politics it is nation building.

We are all Sierra Leoneans.

So, let us get a national outlook rather than the local focus [Applause].

I want to call on my colleagues to hastily approve these nominees, so that they can go to work.

However, I want to remind you that you are going to work for Sierra Leone and not your party anymore [Applause].
We know that the party gave you the job.

We are quite aware of that and appreciate it, but let us look at it from a national lens rather than a partisan lens.

This is just an advice to all the nominees.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to remind the nominee who will be going to the Children‟s Commission that I have worked as Chairman of Social Services Committee and 30 we want to see robust policies about our children.

This is because they are vulnerable.


I always care for the vulnerable population.

I think in our last session, I spoke about the vulnerability of women.

Today, I must also talk about the vulnerability of children.

If you are approved, you have to make sure that you develop policies that will help our children.

We hope and pray that they become people that will better this country.
On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I call on my colleagues to hastily approve these nominees, so that they can go to work.

Please work for Sierra Leone and not for SLPP.

Thank you very much [Applause].

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to take this opportunity to remind ourselves that we on this side; i.e., the APC, do not complain about roads that are not there.

If they are not there, we construct them.


And this is what we have been doing for the past several years, constructing roads.

And whether you like it or not you only need to drive to Segbwema to discover that one of the best roads in West Africa is found there [Applause].

I will not elaborate on that because the facts are there.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as one of the people, including the Speaker, who created and established the Sierra Leone Roads Authority during the days of President Momoh under the APC, it was for good reason [Applause].

Mr Speaker, of all of those whose spoke elaborately on that day when you spent about one and half hour yourself justifying the establishment of the SLRA, you made the point very clear.

Let me tell you NPRC came and implemented it.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, let me help you.


For the younger Members of this House, some of you may not have come into existence [Laughter].

So, please learn from the history that is being narrated [Applause].

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Mr Speaker, I thank you immensely for making the point very clear, but apart from my parliamentary participation in the establishment of the SLRA, I also wanted to state one very important point.
As consultant to the SLRA and Mr Kanneh knows that I was consultant for the SLRA at one time.

I also know that Mr Kanneh is a capable man and we on this side are not praise singers.

We call things by their proper names.

If Mr Kanneh is capable, he is capable but let us make one point clear.

We on this side will not allow this country to be divided into North-West or North-East [Applause].
31 This country is Sierra Leone and if we have difficulties with roads in the North, South, West and East, we have to repair them.

This whole talk about North-West and North- East must now come to an end, so that we work towards the development of this country [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I made a statement elsewhere that whether we like it or not for us to develop as a country, we must work towards national reconciliation.
We have to bring the people of the South, East, North and Western Area together, so that all of us can work as one cohesive team to develop this country.

Somebody from the other side made a point.

It is not President Bio that will be asked questions, but the holders of the offices.

If you have been asked to perform a certain function, for goodness sake, perform it.

What President Maada Bio has done is to give you the opportunity and you have been given the opportunity.
I have no doubt in Mr Amara Kanneh‟s nomination.

We will support him, but we also want to be very certain that when you assume your functions, you undertake them in the spirit of patriotism [Applause].

I am not using the word „nationalism‟ like most of them have done.

I will use patriotism.

Like I said, we are trying our best to develop this country and everybody has contributed a little bit to develop this country.
But what we are going to do is to continue to develop this country and this is why Mr Amara Kanneh has a responsibility to construct the roads of this country.

Having said that, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move to Ms Mahota Demby.

People may now be shouting all over the country about 50/50, especially people of our age who were part of the society in earlier days.

Madam Mahota Demby is highly respected and was also a revered citizen of this country.
Some people may now shout that we are the women, but they are the first women graduates who came to this country.

She is a Lawyer and she works for the Bank of Sierra Leone.

She works there, not as somebody who was just hanging around, but as a lawyer, advising the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone.

Therefore, notwithstanding some of the questions that were asked somewhere else, the appointment of Ms Mahota Demby is a great step taken by the President of this Republic.
I asked her the simple question whether she was going to utilise the knowledge she has acquired over the years to mentor the younger generation like we are mentoring people now [Laughter].

She told the Committee that she would transfer her knowledge to 32 other people.

I want to congratulate you and please use your knowledge professionally.

You are not only a Lawyer, but an administrator and you are also going to be a mentor to help those who need help.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we keep saying that we have worked so hard and we know that we cannot continue to repeat ourselves.

I want us to however accept one thing, the conservation of our flora and fauna are important to us.

I am raising this point because the Leader of my delegation to the European Union would attest to the fact that two weeks ago, it was a topic for discussion; i.e., maintaining the flora and the fauna.

We have to make sure that we do not destroy all our animals and our trees.
This is why we think that it was a sensible decision on the part of the President to appoint somebody to that very important position.

As I speak, there is a conference in London and it is a pity that we are not there to take part, in terms of discussing how to protect our flora and fauna.

The place where I built my house in Makeni was at one time a leopard zone and a leopard was captured there.

It shows that leopards were around, but now the Leopard population is extinct.

Wild animals have disappeared.


My mother told me at one point to stay away from leopards, but the fact remains leopards were there.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am making this point because is a pity that when country like Botswana, South Africa and others are talking about elephants and tigers, we have nothing to show in the area of wildlife.
The only time we are tempted to preserve wildlife and we were compelled to do so was during the Ebola period, when we were told not to eat monkeys and we did not eat monkeys because the Ebola was ravaging our people.

The monkey population multiplied in certain parts of the country, especially in the Kono District.

Therefore, I plead with the nominee to put in place mechanisms in Kamakwe, so that we can have a place to preserve our environment.
Sometimes, what we forget is the „Blue Environment.‟ The Blue Environment constitutes the sea, where we have sharks, Whales, etc., but how to preserve them is the question.

Preserving animals is not only the issue, but we also talk about the „Blue Environment.‟ This is also very important for those of us who are knowledgeable in these areas to share ideas with the nominee.

That is important for us to take that into consideration.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we are talking about children.
I was asking a lawyer and there are lawyers seated here, but I think I was asking a Magistrate and you are not a 33 Magistrate.

I said what is your greatest challenge?

The magistrate said: “Penetration of children and the theft of mobile phones.” These are the two challenges facing the judicial system.

Somebody was telling me that about five hundred mobile phones were stolen in Freetown monthly.

However, that is not the problem at all.


You can always buy another one, but when a seventy year old man decides to penetrate and destroy a five year old child, that is unforgivable [Applause].

We have a society that has high morals.

My grandmother told me when I told her that it was possible now for men and women to kiss.

THE SPEAKER: In public?

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Yes, Mr Speaker, in public [Laughter].

My grandmother asked the question.

How do you go about kissing?


I said the male would put his tongue into the mouth of the female [Laughter].

My grandmother said, if it were during my days, you would have been driven from my village.

That was unacceptable, Mr Speaker, but it is one of the morals our people maintained in those days.

Every now and then we hear about penetration.

Something has to be done.

The nominee should put in place the structures or mechanisms to make sure that we address this issue once and for all.
I am optimistic that we will address this menace.

This is one issue that cuts across APC, SLPP and NGC.

We are talking about Sierra Leone not parties; and we are talking about our children not about the APC or SLPP.

We have seen a trend which must be stopped and something has to be done.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I spoke to a judge who sent somebody in jail for five years in Kono.

I asked him whether the five years are not too much.
He said that five years was too small and he was thinking about sending people to jail for seventy years.

The nominees are good and we the APC… - [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: Order!

Honourable Member, just ignore them.

There is still a cleavage between the two of you.

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: I am going to ignore that, Mr Speaker [Laughter].

What the SLPP would not get is the quality of people of our type on their side [Applause].
At least a small error has solely become a cause for celebration [Laughter].

I respect you and everybody here is satisfied.

Like I said, we are not going to undermine anything.

Undermined is now being used in the media to mean something else.

We would not 34 undermine the government, but we would work with the government.

We are people of quality and we are people who have administered this country twice.

We are people who have left positive legacies.


Therefore, we would be happy if President Bio leaves a legacy behind.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, this is a very big surprised.

Frankly, I think we should all respond as loudly as we can to the surprise announcement.

Let us all rise and sing it once more.

Shall we rise and sing the birthday song for Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo?

[The Happy birthday song was sung by Members across the Floor].
I would like to add my own voice to the resounding chorus right across the Well.

Many happy in returns, Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo [Applause].

Now, we shall wind up the debate.

I am sorry Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, but you came late.

HON.

CHERNOR R. M. BAH [Leader of the Opposition]: When I heard the birthday song for Honourable Ibrahim B. Kargbo, I thought we would sing for the NGC because today is their birthday as well [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I thank you very much and a lot has been said about the nominees, some are correct, but some incorrect.

However, we are here to approve Presidential nominees and it has been confirmed that the Report is the unanimous view of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service.

I have never gone against the Committee on Appointments of which I am a Member and today will not be the first day to go against it.
On that note, I know you are very close to the President, but fortunately, since you are the referee in this House, I will pay attention to the Chairman of the SLPP, who happens to have enjoyed the day in this House [Applause].

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the qualifications of the nominees are not in question and people are given jobs based on their qualifications.
A lot has been said about children except for those who were born in 90s, like Honourable Mathew Nyuma because he was not born the date we are talking about.

THE SPAEKER: Honourable Member, you do not have my permission.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, the appointment as I said will not be questioned because it is the prerogative of the President to do so.
As a Parliament, we will continue to support where we are supposed to, but I 35 want to call on those around the President to provide sincere advice that will help him govern this country.

I am saying this because the President is just one man and he is not perfect.

He needs people to work with him and in a sincere way.

The President is very busy doing many things at the same time.

When all of us will be finding corners to hide or disappear, he has no place to hide because the box stops at his desk.
So, we owe him a duty to ensure that we are providing the right and correct pieces of advice as and when they are necessary.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, there is a vacancy at the SLRA for the number two position because we lost the gentleman.

People were expecting that position to would have been the first to be filled, but it has pleased His Excellency the President and what has pleased him will not be questioned by me.
As I said, the President is a very busy man and that is why you have Ministers and advisers in the office of the President to guide him.

We had a replacement at the NRA.

The woman that was heading that institution was replaced by a man.

Again, the EPA boss was a woman, but was replaced by a man.

Fortunately, Madam Sarah Baindu was sent to the Marine Time Administration.

Mr Leader, let me finish [Undertone].

Removal is separate and distinct from Suspension [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Honourable Shaka Sama and many others who spoke today have encouraged all of us to have a national outlook and that is what I am doing today.

I have always been doing that and that is why my name, across the length and breadth of Sierra Leone is respected [Applause].

It is a respect I earned.

[Applause] the President is my friend, he knows that.
I will repeat, it is his prerogative to appoint and I will not question it but we owe him the duty to ensure that we assist him in providing advice as and when necessary.

He is human and we are not here to represent ourselves.

We are here to represent the people and Sierra Leone as far as Kissy Teng, kroobola, to York.

We are here to represent them.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, is Kecheon another extremity?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, I want the President to consider the women [Applause].
We have competent women in this country.

I am happy for Mr Amara Kanneh because he is capable.

I was also surprised when the Leader of Government Business was reading and referring to the Quran.

Mr Amara Kanneh is better placed in that area.

I want to admonish all and sundry about our duty and assist where necessary.

I want to join all 36 others in confirming that the nominees are qualified and competent to man various offices they have been nominated to serve.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I can still remember that Mr Kebay of blessed memory served at the SLRA till his retirement.

Again, Mr Munda Rogers served till his retirement.

I know what I am talking about and we even gave him an extension.

Mr Speaker, let me be heard.

The records are there to be checked.

THE SPAEKER: Order!

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: When I say something from this podium, I say it as a fact.

THE SPEAKER: I know there is room for undertone, but it should not be multiplied.
HON CHERNOR R.M.

BAH [Leader of the Opposition]: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

I am sure they would understand that very English you have used.

Also, Mr Aziz Kamara served throughout his tenure.

Mr Speaker, Madam Kumba Jalloh had been at the SLRA all these years.

She is one of the finest female Engineers in the Republic Of Sierra Leone.

I am however happy that Mr Kanneh has institutional memory and knowledge.
Mr Speaker, for those who are closer to the door, please endeavour in ensuring that we assist before coming to Parliament.

I thank you very much.

[Applause] HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS [Leader of Government Business]: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as usual, I want to start by thanking my colleague Honourable Members for giving their full support to the approval of the presidential nominees who are present here this morning.
I have no doubt that these are highly qualified individuals who have been nominated by His Excellency the President.

I know most of the nominees and I have worked with at least one of them; i.e., Mr Amara Kanneh, when I served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the SLRA.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, before I sit down, I really just want to respond to few issues raised by my colleagues.

As usual, I will start the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition.
I want to state here that Mr Munda Rogers was sacked.

I was the Director of the SLRA when Mr Munda Rogers was appointed Director General of the SLRA.

He never reached his retirement age when he was sacked [Applause].

I was there and there was no extension for Mr Munda Rogers.

Mr Munda Rogers and the then Minister of Works, Mr Alimamy P. Koroma, commonly called „Petito,‟ were sacked on the same day.

If you 37 have forgotten, I would not.

There was absolutely no extension.


I was there as member of the Board of Directors under the All People‟s Congress [APC] for that matter.

Mr Munda Rogers was sacked by the former administration prematurely.

This is the man that was praised by the then government for doing so much for introducing the city roads that we are enjoying today.

He laid the plan for the city and township roads, and even some of the Trunk Roads, yet he was sacked by the last administration on the basis of incompetence.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I also want to react to my colleague, the Leader of the Opposition about women in governance.

For the first time, we have a woman as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

I want you to understand that I am talking about the Attorney General and not the Chief Justice.

For the first time His Excellency the President removed a man as Attorney General and replaced him with a woman.

The woman in question is very competent.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, today is just a typical example of His Excellency‟s commitment to women.

We have five nominees and 40% of them are women.

The women are asking for 30%, but we are about to give them 40%.

Today is a critical example of the President‟s commitment to the promotion of women.
THE SPEAKER: Mr Leader of Government Business, I do not want us to mislead the public, but the 40% you spoke about relates to this particular nomination [Applause].

HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Exactly, Mr Speaker.

We have been Members in this Parliament and for the first time, in just six months of administration, we have had more women in governance than almost six years of APC governance.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me react to the comments made by Honourable Shiaka Sama.
In his contribution, he said 80% of the bad things that happened during the APC regime are still happening.

Well I want to remind Honourable Shiaka Sama that the bad things that you are referring to here are so many that it is going to take the Sierra Leone People‟s Party [SLPP] government sometime to clear them [Applause].

We have started already, but be rest assured that the bad things the Honourable Member referred to will be cleared off because this President is very disciplined [Applause].
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the genius in the House, Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, spoke about the creation of the SLRA by the APC government.

Mr Speaker, if you 38 have a child, you would want to ensure that you educate that child to become somebody in future.

Of course the APC established the SLRA, but it was abandoned.

Today, the SLRA is suffering like any other institution that we met [Applause].
However, I want to assure this Nation that under the „New Direction‟ agenda, the SLRA is going to be transformed into one of the most viable parastatals in this country [Applause].

Having said that, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I believe the nominees we have today are capable individuals and they are experts in their areas.

Mr Amara Kanneh, as we all know, is an expert in roads construction.

I have worked with him before.


Again, I have known the nominee for the nominee for the Children‟s Commission for a very long time.

I believe all of them are capable people.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to call on our colleagues to approve these nominees.

Thank you very much [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to this debate.

It is been a very incisive, constructive and indeed informative debate.
I thank the Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo for reminding us about history.

For those who tend to forget history are forced to revive history.

This is why once in a while it does yield dividend for us to accept and go through wise and erudite history lessons.

I thank you.
I thank you.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Motion of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has been approved] THE SPEAKER: It is now left with me, on behalf the entire House, to congratulate the nominees for the approval that has been accorded to their nominations and to wish them well in their new assignments.

You may now leave the Chamber if you wish.

HON.


SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I wish to announce the Memberships of the Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition Sierra Leone Parliament as follows: 1.

Hon.

Sallieu O. Sesay, Chairman; 2.

Hon Boston Munda, Deputy Chairman; 3.

Hon Quintin S. Konneh , Member; 4.

Hon Aaron Koroma, Member; 39 5.

Hon Hassan A. Seasy, Member; 6.

Hon Sheik A. Kassegbama, Member; 7.

Hon Rebecca Y. Kamara, Member; 8.

Hon Saidu B. Kamara, Member; 9.

Hon.


Kadijatu A. Davies, Member; 10.

Hon.

Yusuf Mackery, Member; 11.

Hon.

Abdul Kargbo, Member; 12.

Hon.

Jonathan George, Member; 13.

Hon.

Mathew S. Nyuma, Member; 14.

Hon.

Ibrahim T. Conteh, Member; 15.

Hon Catherine Z. Tarawally, Member; 16.

Hon.

PC Haja Fatmata B.M.K Vi Koroma, Member; 17.

Hon.

Moses B. Jorkie, Member; And 18.

Hon.

Hindolo M. Gevao, Member.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I also wish to announce the membership of the Committee on Governance as follows: 1.

Hon.

Chernor R.M.

Bah, Chairman; 2 .Hon.

Sidie .M.

Tunis, Deputy Chairman; 3.

Hon.

Emerson Saa Lamina, Member; 4.

Hon.

Kandeh K. Yumkella, Member; 5.

Hon.

Ibrahim B. Kargbo, Member; 6.

Hon.

Francis A. Kaisamba, Member; 7.

Hon.

Emilia Tongi, Member; 8.

Hon Veronica K. Sesay, Member; 9.

Hon Shiaka M. Sama, Member; 10.


Hon P. C. Balansama Marah III, Member; and 11.

Hon P.C.

Alie Badara III, Member.

[Question proposed, Put and Agreed to] 40 [Announcement of Membership to both Committees has been carried] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, the remit of the Select Committee on Governance is to examine the annual reports of governance Commissions, including but not limited to the following.

1.

Ombudsman‟s Report, which is tabled before this House annually; 2.
Anti-Corruption Commssion‟s Annual Report; 3.

National Electoral Commission‟s Report; 4.

National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights Report; 5.

National Public Procurement Authority Report; and 6.

Diaspora Affairs and any other body that is referred to it by Mr Speaker, which would be the remit of this special Select Committee.
Honourable Members, the reason is that we do not wish to see this in this House; i.e., the new reports of those Commissions gather dust and go unread and unconsidered by this Honourable House.

Let us make a new beginning by ensuring that this Committee will assume the responsibility of examining each and every one of these reports and to report to the entire House about the content of those reports.

On that note, Honourable Members, I want to thank you very much for the approval that you have just given.
Before that let me recognise the Honourable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo first.

HON.

IBRAHIM B. KARGBO: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Honourable Members, through the permission of our own leadership here and that of the Speaker, and the Leader of Government Business, I stand here to make the announcement about the passing on of a very important Sierra Leonean, the Honourable A.G. Sembu Fornah.
The Honourable A.G. Sembu Fornah served this House in diverse capacities, not only as a Member of Parliament representing Bombali-South, but also as a Member of Parliament who also doubled as Minister of Finance, Minister of Tourism and later Minister of Agriculture.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, The Honourable Sembu Fornah was seen by many as a true Sierra Leonean, not only because he was born in Makeni in the North or he went to the Bo Government School in Bo or he got married to women from many parts of the 41 country including Kenema, but because he also befriended almost everybody.

One of his best friends, when he was alive and when the said friend was alive, happened to be the late President Ahmed Tejan Kabba.
Even as young men in those days, Kabba and Sembu Fornah were admired not only because they were educated, but because they carried themselves with great dignity.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Honourable Sembu Fornah started life after he left the Bo School as an administrator.
He worked for the Ministry of Social Welfare and after that he was recruited to become part of the Government Diamond Office [GDO] in Kenema, where he became not only a Diamond Cutter, but also a Diamond Polisher before he left for the United Kingdom to specialise in those areas.

To us the APC, it is important because he happens to be in the first cadre of young people appointed by the late President Shiaka Stevens as Minister and later he served this country well.
For those who have read the book entitled „What Life Has Taught Me,‟ written by late President Shiaka P. Stevens, the late man wrote in his book about loyalty in politics.

He said: „„I will always remember Sembu Fornah who even when the soldiers are bombarding my office with bullets in attempt to overthrow me, he stood by me in thick and thin.‟‟ This was the kind of man.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we on this side will never forget people who have served us well even though; he later switched over to the United People‟s Party [UNPP].

We must also note the facts that he served this country well and I would want to seek your indulgence to allow us from this part to continue to remember him.

I will remember Sembu Fornah well because of his great friends.

I have already mentioned late President Kabba and I have to mention Cyril P. Foray.
These are all his personal friends and he served this country well.

He also lived a beautiful life up to the age of his late 80s and he passed away a few days ago.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I thank you very much for allowing me to make mention of this very important occasion and I hope that the state will perform those duties that are due the necessary respectability accorded to people who have served this country.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.


42 THE SPEAKER: With that, Honourable Members, may I ask all of us to rise and observe a minute of silence in his memory.

[A minute of silence was observed].

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

HON.

EMILIA L. TONGI: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

I am standing on S.O.

23.

Few months ago, I was very sad each time I come to Parliament.

I was only pretending as if I was happy, but I was not.
I explained my story to you the Speaker and some of the stakeholders they decided to put a stop to what is happening.

I want to remind the public that I was elected as Member of Parliament from an election contested with a former Member of the SLPP.

We had SLPP „Loloh,‟ which was me and SLPP former Member of Parliament, which was Sahr Fatorma.

Two gangs started fighting in my place and the town has now become a „hooligan town‟ for quite some time now.

A lot of them were imprisoned and some are in court.
I spoke to the Speaker about it and the Speaker asked me to choose two people to go to my village.

He said to me let us have an SLPP representative and an APC representative.

What actually astonished me was the behaviour of the Leader of the APC.

When I met him, I told him my story and he asked whom I would like to accompany me to the place.

I told him I would like to take along Honourable Harijatu and he called the Honourable Member immediately and instructed her to accompany me.
The Honourable Member said she would accompany me.

What I am trying to underline here is that, we have people who really love Sierra Leone, especially the Leader of APC [Applause].

He was not thinking APC or the red colour, but he thought about his country and those who were crying.

He was touched by what I told him and he spontaneously responded.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Honourable Chernor R.M.

Bah is a patriot.

He loves Sierra Leone and he loves every part of this country [Applause].
If it were other person, he/she would have said that is Kailahun and let them kill themselves, but he believes every part of this country concerns him.

He believes in peace and without peace God knows people are spending millions to bring peace in their countries.

The Honourable Chernor R. M. Bah impressed me greatly.

I have read so much about him and I have found out that he is a patriot.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, you asked one of our colleagues to stand up and give his Maiden Speech.
In the process of doing that, he astonished all of us.

He was so 43 patriotic in his thoughts that I actually admired you guys.

I think with all these good aspirations from your Leader and I would like the other side to think about the same thing [Applause].

We are one and the same people.

We are all Sierra Leoneans and let us work together under the jurisdiction of our Speaker.
He will be really proud of us to see that all of us are working together for the success of the „New Direction‟ and for the development of Sierra Leone.

Thank you very much, Honourable Chernor R. M. Bah.

I also want to thank Honourable Member who went with me.

Honourable Harijatu gave a fantastic speech and the message of that speech brought the two opposing parties together.

How can an APC get to an SLPP area and make peace?

This is amazing, wonderful and incredible [Applause].
Thank you very much for what you did and I believe with all these intentions, all of us will work together for the successes of the „New Direction‟ and Sierra Leone as a whole.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, all of us love Sierra Leone and I thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Thank you APC for helping me.

I am very happy today.

Before I leave, everybody was dancing and believe you me, I will not bring that kind of problem to you anymore because I have settled it and I am happy for that.
Thank you very much [Applause].

THE SPEAKER: I want to thank the Honourable Member and we all hope and pray that the peace that has been restored in her Constituency will be upheld and sustained.

We wish you well and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Honourable Members who went with her and assisted her in restoring peace in her Constituency.

That is the Spirit of the „New Order‟ and the „New Direction‟ [Applause].

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.


Mr Speaker, I stand on S.O 23.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it saddens my heart to announce to this House about an incident in which a young man was brutality murdered in Constituency 028; i.e., Fiama Chiefdom.

My Constituency covers Fiama and Gbense Chiefdoms.

After the murder of this young man, the deceased family had actually wanted to perform the burial rite because they did not have the opportunity to pursue this matter.
However, the police intervened and decided to bring the corpse to Freetown for post-mortem.

That has been done and as I speak, they have abandoned the body there at Connaught Hospital.

They have asked the relatives to do whatever they could with the body.

The people are very 44 poor and they cannot afford the cost of an ambulance.

That will cost them approximately Le2.5mln to take the body back.
Honourable Members, this is very serious and this is something we have to treat with all seriousness [Undertone].

THE SPEAKER: Order!

Let us be patient, Honourable Members.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Mr Speaker, after the post-mortem, the body has been abandoned in the hands of the bereaved family.

As we speak, no effort has been made to take the body back to the village.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, that is not the only case, it has happened sometimes in 2017 in the famous Nemesedu case that you heard of.
In that case also, it happened in my Constituency Kamara Chiefdom Nemesedu, where the 17 year old girl that was ritually murdered and nothing was done about it.

In fact the relatives of that particular child, up till now are suffering the consequences of that incident.

In fact, the family paid for the body to be conveyed to Freetown and up till now nothing has been done about that body, what happened and what does not happen.
We tend to wonder whether people are serious about the enforcement of laws in this country.

Are we humans?

One tends to ask these questions when issues of this nature arise.

For God sake these people are aware of their financial status that was why they had not wanted anything of that nature to happen.

For them, conveying the body to Freetown for post-mortem and take it back would be very strenuous.
There is also financial implication and that was the reason they asked for the body at that moment for them to bury it and allow natural justice to take its cause.

The Law Enforcement Agency and the police denied them that opportunity.

They said they would take the body to Freetown for post-mortem and after the post-mortem result was released, it was confirmed that the individual was murdered and abandoned the corpse.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this is a serious concern and I want to bring it to the attention of all humanitarian Organisations, well-meaning Sierra Leoneans and the Sierra Leone Police [SLP], particularly the Inspector General of Police.

This is because I am told that he is the only person who gives orders for vehicles to ply.

This is my submission, Mr Speaker.


45 THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I know you have exercised your privilege under S.O.23, but have you reported this incident to the police?

This House would be interested to know whether the police are investigating this incident or not.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: I have reported the incident.

As I said, it was the Mortema Police Division that took the body from Kono.
They conveyed the body in a police Van from Kono to the Connaught Hospital in Freetown and after the post-mortem; they discovered that yes indeed this person was murdered, but the corpse was abandoned.

They abandoned the body in the hands of the relatives to find their way.
I tried to reach the Human Resource personnel, who is the Assistant Inspector General [AIG], but what he told me was that the instruction for police vehicle to move and convey that body back to Kono has to come from the Inspector General of Police.

This is my concern and as I speak, Human Rights Organizations are also on the alert in Kono waiting to take this issue very seriously.
THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I would advise you to continue to pursue that matter with the Inspector General of Police and to report to me the outcome of your pursuit.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

HON.

JOSEPH L. WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am grateful to be back and I salute my people in Constituency 081, Jaiama Bongor, and Wonde.

I am talking about the recession.


On a very special note, I said earlier that I had a very successful trip and on that note, I would like to share that experience with the House.

On the 5th of this Month, as I went through the proceedings, I submitted an excuse letter to the Clerk of Parliament since you were not around.

I was given the privilege to deliver a key note address at Belhabour.

THE SPAEKER: Is it not better for you to tender a written report?

HON.
HON.

JOSEPH L. WILLIAMS: Well, it is good, but one of the reasons why I would like to narrate this is that for the equitable distribution… - [Interruption].

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, we have to be very careful how we use S.O23.

Please let us not abuse the privilege of S.O.23.

What you are about to tell us, I think, should be the subject of a written report.

46 HON.

SIDIE M. TUNIS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, considering the heavy work load of Parliament, I rise on S.O.

82 to suspend S.O.
82 to suspend S.O.

51 to move that the next adjournment date takes place on Monday.

THE SPEAKER: That is a Motion for us to meet on Monday.

Any seconder?

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, if that meet your permission, I second the Motion.

THE SPEAKER: I would have loved the Mover of this Motion or the Seconder to please explain to us the purpose of that request before I put the question.

HON.

CHERNOR R.M.
HON.

CHERNOR R.M.

BAH: Mr Speaker, we would be working towards debating the three Constitutional Instruments; and considering your opinion and views, Monday will be the best date because Tuesday will not be appropriate.

Thank you very much Sir.

THE SPEAKER: I thank both the Mover and the Seconder.

I want to bring this information to the attention of Honourable Members that the three Instruments will mature on that very day, 22nd October, 2018.
If you count from the date they were laid; i.e., 2nd October, 2018 under Section 170 [7] of the Constitution, they will run for 21 days and mature on that day.

I am inclined to agree to a debate as requested by both the Mover and the Seconder.

We have been at this for some time now, but I have already indicated before, my inclination, to agree to a debate first on the 11th, but that did not happen.

We adjourned to the 18th, which is today; and again, it has not happened.
Now, a request is before us that we debate the three Instruments on Monday.

The Motion has been moved and seconded and I am favourably disposed.

Just to allay the fears of everybody, including the general public, I would like the debate to be carried live if possible on Television and on Radio.

I would also direct that the International Community be invited and of course the general public.
[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Motion for Parliament to sit on Monday, 22nd October, 2018 has been adopted] THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, the debate will be on Monday, 10:00 a.m. and nothing else will appear on the Order Paper except that item.

47 [The House rose at 2:40 p.m., and was adjourned to Monday, 22nd October, 2018 at 10:00 ADJOURNMENT a.m.] 48