Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698082942887.pdf (Sierra Leone)
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ (HANSARD) ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT FIRST SESSION-FIRST MEETING SESSION – 2012/2013 1 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ (HANSARD) ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT VOLUME: I NUMBER: 8 First Meeting of the First Session of the Fourth Parliament Of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held on Tuesday, 22nd January, 2013.

_____________________________________________ C O N T E N T S I. PRAYERS 2 II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR FRIDAY, 18TH JANUARY, 2013.

III.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROPOSER: HONOURABLE S. B.
B. DUMBUYA SECONDER: HONOURABLE DR MATHEW TEAMBO BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE THIRD REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE BE ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE AND THAT THE RECOMMNEDATIONS CONTAINED THEREIN BE ADOPTED.
3 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE _____________________________________________________________ FIRST SESSION-FIRST MEETING OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Tuesday, 22nd January, 2013.

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

I. PRAYERS [The Clerk of Parliament, Hon.

Ibrahim Sulaiman Sesay, Read the Prayers].

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

Justice Abel Nathaniel Bankole Stronge, in the Chair].

The House was called to Order.

II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR FRIDAY, 18TH JANUARY, 2013 4 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I now go through the record of Votes and Proceedings for Friday, 18th January, 2013.

Page 1?

Page 2?

Page 3?

Page 4?

HON.

FILIKIE: Page 4 Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Which Number Honourable Member?

HON.

FILIKIE: Mr Speaker, page 4, item 96.


It supposed to be Honourable Filikie THE SPEAKER: It means we should add an „e‟ at the end of that name?

HON.

FILIKIE: Yes Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please take necessary action.

Page 4?

HON.

HASSAN SESAY: Honourable Sesay Hassan.

It should be Sesay Hassan A.

THE SPEAKER: Mr Clerk, please take necessary action.

Page 5?

Page 6?

Page 7?


Can somebody move that the record of Votes and Proceedings for Friday, 18th January, 2013 be adopted as amended?

HON.

ANDREW V. LUNGAY: I so move Mr Speaker THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

FRANCIS A. KONOWA: I so second Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any counter motion?

(Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to) III.

MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE 5 PROPOSER: HONOURABLE S. B.

B. DUMBUYA SECONDER: HONOURABLE DR MATHEW TEAMBO HON.

S. B.
S. B.

B. DUMBUYA (Majority Leader of the House): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I present to you the Third Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service on Presidential nomination.

INTRODUCTION: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service met on the 16th and 17th January, 2013, and interviewed eleven Presidential nominees for appointments as Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.
PROCEDURE: The Committee maintained strict consistency to its established procedure.

Inquiring questions put to the nominees pertained to their educational backgrounds, track records in pertinent work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their visions for a successful tenure.

Allegations of malpractices in public office and or unsuitability in terms of character to hold such high offices of State were very closely looked into.
SEVENTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY, 16THJANUARY, 2013 The following nominees were interviewed: (i) Mr Abdul B. Barrie, Proposed Deputy Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure; Mr Barrie is a politician and private businessman with extensive entrepreneurial work experience in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Sierra Leone.

He has previously served as a Deputy Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure from 2007- 2012.
The nominee promised to work to the best of his ability for the success of the Ministry.
6 (ii) Mr Hadiru Ibrahim Kalokoh ,Proposed Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development; Mr Kalokoh is a veteran Educationist of repute and has held the following positions in the field of education: 1970-1971, Pupil Teacher, Magburaka Boys Secondary School; 1985-1997, Principal, Sierra Leone Islamic Federation Secondary School, Masiaka; and 1997–2003, Inspector of Secondary Schools, Ministry of Education; 2002–2007, Deputy Director of Education, North-West Region and later District Director of Education, Port Loko District.
Responding to questions on the non-payment of salaries of Chiefdom functionaries nationwide, Mr Kalokoh admitted that it has been very difficult for Government throughout the last five years.

Attempts, he said, had been made to solve the problem because it included the non-payment of salaries to Paramount Chiefs as well.
“This situation has arisen mainly because their salaries are drawn from the revenue they collect and we had a very deplorable situation of revenue mobilisation at the chiefdom level nationwide.

Therefore, what we did was to persuade the Government to allow the salaries of chiefdom functionaries to be charged on the consolidation fund.” Responses from Government, he said, were favorable in that direction.
Thus, towards the end of last year, the Ministry had put up a case for the payment of a backlog of salaries for at least one year for the chiefdom functionaries.

He said: “I am happy to report that salaries for six months of that one year were paid to the chiefdom functionaries by November, 2012.
We intend to pursue the other six months‟ salary this year and henceforth, for the salaries of the chiefdom functionaries to be charged from the consolidated revenue fund.” (iii) Mr Ahmed Khanou, Proposed Deputy Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment; Mr Khanou has worked as a teacher at the Sierra Leone Grammar School, from 1996- 2002, and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) from 2002-2010, where he 7 rose to the position of Senior Assistant Registrar.
In 2010, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment, a position he has held to date.

Responding to probing questions, Mr Khanou said that he had specifically supported the Minister in putting together arrangements for the successful management and administration of lands in that Ministry.

Their Work, he went on, had included the drafting of policies that would enhance an effective and efficient land management.
“That policy is ready for endorsement by Cabinet for Parliamentary approval.” Mr Khanou believed that the law has to be implemented for things to be done the right way.

He said: “I came to the Ministry from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) with that background.

I believe that things have to be done with integrity, honesty and sincerity.

If we do not bring sanity into land management, then, we stand the chance of creating a situation of chaos and anarchy in our country again.
We are relatively better off than other countries where land management is a crisis altogether.

Things are not still right but we have started to put structures, policies, legal instruments and necessary technology in place to ensure irrefutable registration of title deeds.” (iv) Retired Major Alfred Palo Conteh, Proposed Minister of Defence; Retired Major Palo Conteh is a veteran military Officer.
In addition to his military training, he is a Barrister in Human Rights and Constitutional Law and has a wealth of work experience in the States of America.

In 2007, he was appointed Minister of Defense, a position he has held to date.

When asked about his contribution to the development of the Sierra Leone military over the last five years, he said that he was proud to have been the Minister of Defence.

The rapid transformation of the Sierra Leone Army, he said, was visible enough for all to see.
Mr Conteh outlined the following as some of his achievements: 8 (a) “Sierra Leone had not contributed to the united Nations Peace-Keeping mission for 50 years.

The last time we were out under the „Blue Beret‟ was between 1960 and 1961.

Now we have a company in Darfur helping to bring peace to that region.

Hopefully, in the next few weeks, we will have 850 personnel going to Somalia to restore order to that war-torn country; (b) “Years back, there was only one agricultural Unit of the Army at Makeni.
Now, they have two others, one at Motobong in the Moyamba District and the other at Kolifam- Mabang in the Tonkolili District.

With time, the army would be able to feed itself; (c) An industrial tailoring Unit has been established at Juba barracks.

We want to see the Army making its own uniforms to cut expenditures on uniform.
Plans are being made to make uniform for other forces and for schools; and (d) He is currently pre-occupied with barracks accommodation which, he said, required a huge capital outlay.

“Four hundred pre-fabricated housing units have been constructed at Benguema, Wilberforce and Murray Town Barracks.
Other achievements included the rehabilitation of the „other-ranks‟ Canteen at Benguma Barracks, upgrading of the 34 Military hospital which is serving not only the soldiers but the local community as well, establishing a Military Mortuary, upgrading the Engineering Units of the army to start making feeder roads nationwide etc.

These, he said, were some of his achievements and he planned to do more for the Army.
(v) Dr Abu Bakarr Fofanah, Proposed Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation; Dr Abu Bakarr Fofanah is a Medical Practitioner with an admirable background in tropical medicine.
He has acquired a wealth of experience in the field of medicine, both in the United Kingdom, United States of America as well as Sierra Leone in the following 9 capacities:2009 – Date: Managing Director, Adding Years to Life Ltd, UK; 2004–2007, Lecturer 1, COHMAS, University of Sierra Leone; 2002–2004, Held Several Positions in the Ministry of Health including Medical Officer and Senior Registrar; 2001–2003, Lecturer 2, COHMAS, University of Sierra Leone; and 1993–2001, Served the University of Sierra Leone in Research and Teaching Assistant capacity Reacting to the committee‟s perception that he would be better placed in the medical field than in politics as a Minister, Dr Fofanah deposed that in 2007, he was actually nominated for the same position.
He had, he said, humbly declined the offer because he wanted to stay put in the medical field.

“This is the second time I am being nominated for the same position.
I consulted with my family and they said to me, „look, you can‟t continue turning down a good and genuine offer forever, you don‟t know why the President keeps making the offer.‟ So I decided to give it a go and though I am entering politics, I want to continue teaching in the medical school, not for money though but to offer my service free-of-charge.
(iv) Mr Momodu Lamin Kargbo, Proposed Minister of State, Ministry of Finance & Development; Mr Kargbo is a professional Economist and Management Executive with extensive work experience in Projects Management, Rural Development and policy formulation, operation of financial institution and development of credit schemes, geared towards poverty reduction among others.
Mr Kargbo is also held in high esteem for his cautious handling of the national budget at Ministerial level and in dealing with multilateral and bilateral agencies such as IFAD, EU and World Bank.
He has served Sierra Leone in the following capacities: 2007–2012, Deputy Minister of Finance; 2004–2007, Private Businessman;1991–2004, Chief Executive Officer, National Co-operative Development Bank; 1979–1990, Senior Agricultural Economist, National Authorizing Office; and1978– 1979, Project Officer, National Development Bank.
10 Addressing the concerns of the Committee for the disrespect shown by the Ministry of Finance to Members of Parliament by treating them like daily wage workers with respect to their pay package of December, 2012, Mr Momodu Kargbo said: “Honourable Members, I am fully conscious of the scope of government, the Executive, the Legislative and the judicial arms of Government and each has enormous responsibility and commands respect.

I cannot in any way think of treating Parliament with contempt.
I have had the information that in the course of the adjustments for November/December of 2012, only six days of November was paid for.

I cannot say here that I will change the decision because there must have been some basis for that decision.

All I can say here is that, if confirmed, I will carry out the import of the message and how strongly you feel about it.

I will relay the message to the Minister to see what could be done on the basis of the facts.
If it becomes necessary for changes to be made then they would be made accordingly.” EIGHTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY, 17THJANUARY, 2013 The following nominees were interviewed: (i) Mr William Juana Smith, Proposed Resident Minister, Eastern Province; Mr Smith is a resilient and consistent politician whose unflinching loyalty to his party is widely acclaimed as unquestionable.

In 2007, he was appointed Resident Minister, Eastern Province, a position he has held to date.
In his interview, Mr Smith deposed that he believed that he had performed excellently enough as Resident Minister for the President to re-appoint him to the same position.
In responding to a question raised by a member of the Committee, he said: “Peace and Unity is the watch-word for my second term and I will endeavour to bring peace, unity and reconciliation to all people in the Eastern Province.” (ii) Mr Arrow John Bockarie, Proposed Deputy Minister of Justice; 11 Mr Arrow Bockarie is a private Legal Practitioner in the Southern City of Bo.

In 2010, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice and is being reappointed to the same position.
Questioned on how he would like posterity to remember him in the light of the current widespread injustices in the country, Mr Bockarie said: “I share your views and we do accept the fact that we have challenges in the Ministry of Justice but we are making desperate efforts in order to meet those challenges.

We are trying to enhance the professional human resource capacity of the Ministry.
Two years ago, there were only fourteen professional staff, charged with the responsibility of manning the various Divisions of the Ministry.

Now, we can boast of forty-four professional staff.

I think we are on the right track in meeting these challenges.” (iii) Mr Sheka Tarawally, Proposed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs; Mr Tarawally is a journalist of no mean standard who has practiced his profession in diverse capacities in Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.
He was appointed Presidential Press Secretary (2007–2010) and later Deputy Minister of Information and Communication from 2010–2011.

Responding to questions of how his journalistic background was going to help him as a politician, he said that currently there was a war of words between the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the police who are directly under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Mr Tarawally promised to use his journalist background to mend bridges to bring the Police and SLAJ together for a good working relationship.

On what he hoped to bring to the Ministry, he said: “when the President had said that he would not encourage lawlessness in his second term, he had noted the enormity of the work involved in the fight against lawlessness and indiscipline.
When the President nominated me for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I believed the President was asking me to help make Sierra Leone a lawful, orderly and structured society.

It would not only be about „operation WID‟, it has to go beyond that to all facets of society so that we 12 can restore law and order in Sierra Leone for prosperity to thrive.

This I am prepared to do with diligence,” he said.


(iv) Mr Foday Sawi Lahai, Proposed Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation; and Mr Foday Sawi Lahai has vast knowledge in Development Studies and Public Health Nutrition and has amassed a wealth of work experience in emergency relief programmes.

Questioned on how best he could influence the diet of the citizens of this country to improve on their health, Mr Lahai said “I have been thinking very seriously about that.
I have a whole strategy about what this country could do to be able to positively influence both the dietary practice and the nutritional value of the diet of this country.

Beginning with the children in school, if we are able to influence them from that point, then this whole business of mono-diet of rice can be overcome by introducing other kinds of locally grown food and in the process create markets for them.

In the process we could also change the long term food habits of those children.
I have a whole concept on these, but I would not like to open them here because it would take too long to explain.” (v) Mabinty Daramy, Proposed Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development.

Miss Mabinty Daramy has many years of managerial work experience in diverse areas, including retail, financial services and property management especially in the United States of America.

She has proven ability in development strategies and achieving project goals.
She was appointed Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry from 2007- 2012.

13 Reacting to question, Madam Daramy said that she did not have an inkling of what her work in the new Ministry was going to be: “but I know it is about money and I know how to handle money.” From the Ministry of Trade, she said, she was hoping to bring over lessons learned from handling the fuel sector of the Ministry.

She promised to draw on lessons learned for the success of her new assignment.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees to be suitably qualified for their proposed appointments, and are recommended to the House for approval: (i) Major Retired Alfred Palo Conteh, Minister of Defence; (ii) Mr Momodu Kargbo, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance & Economic Development; (iii) Mr William Juana Smith, Resident Minister, Eastern Province; (iv) Mr Abdul B. Barrie, Deputy Minister of Works, Housing &Infrastructure; (v) Mr Hadiru Ibrahim Kalokoh, Deputy Minister of Local Government & Rural Development; (vi) Ahmed Khanou, Deputy Minister of Lands, Country Planning & Environment; (vii) Dr Abu Bakarr Fofanah, Deputy Minister of Health & Sanitation; (viii) Arrow John Bockarie, Deputy Minister of Justice; (ix) Sheka Tarawally, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs; (x) Mr Foday Sawi Lahai, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation; and (xi) Mabinty Daramy, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Fourth Report portrays the collective view of the Committee.

I therefore move that the Fourth 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.

Signed by Honourable S. B.

B. Dumbuya, Chairman.

14 HON.

DR MATTHEW TEAMBO: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise to second the Motion.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, any Counter Motion?
(Question Proposed) HON.

DR MATTHEW TEAMBO (Majority Chief Whip): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, indeed, I am very happy this morning to see these nominees before us in the Well of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I will not waste much of your time this morning.

It is no accident that we have most of these nominees re-nominated by no lesser person than His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma.
Most of these nominees have the required qualifications and experiences to run the executive of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Out of eleven nominees, I know seven of them personally.

I have been to their offices during the last Parliament.

I have been watching them executing their functions.
For me, I have already made my judgment that these are the people we like to have in this country to preach the „Agenda for Change,‟ which is now the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ I believe they are going back to these offices to continue the good work they have started five years ago.

A very strong team counts on its Captain; and it is no mistake when the people were referring to His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma as the „World Best.’ Once again, the „World Best‟ has selected his team.
This is another formidable team he is going to work with.

We know that this team is ready to work with Dr Ernest Bai Koroma.

This team is ready for victory.

We are supporting His team so that we will be able to execute the functions and bring in the goods and services which the people of this country need.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to say that the other nominees that I have just met recently during the interview (I believe based on their presentations and what I heard from them) I am convinced that they are also ready.

All of these nominees deserve the positions for which they have been nominated.

I believe they are ready to work with the President.

I want this entire Honourable House to support the approval of these nominees.

I will vote favourably for their approval.

Thank you Mr Speaker.


15 HON.

GLADYS BRIMA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members I want to thank the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service for a job well done.

In my quick intervention, I am not here to praise people.

I am here to remind us all this morning about our commitment to national duty.

We are here not on our own personal behalf, but we are acting on behalf of the people who have actually voted us here.

The bulk of the people who voted us in were women.


We all know that if we are to achieve the „Agenda for Prosperity,‟ we have in the new direction; we cannot do it if we do not do it with conscious effort of integrating the women of this country.

We know for sure that…-(Interruption).

THE SPEAKER: Sorry to interrupt you Honourable Member.
Honourable Members, I want to appeal to you all, let our interruptions be as minimal as possible, particularly when an Honourable Member of Parliament is making her maiden interventions (Applause).

HON.

GLADYS BRIMA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

I was saying that this nation would not move forward or achieve the „Agenda for Prosperity‟ without conscious efforts of women.

With all due respect Mr Speaker, I want to remind us all that the women form the bulk of the population of this country.
The women form the bulk of those voted us to be seated in this Well of Parliament.

They form the bulk of those who are unemployed.

They also form the bulk of the illiterates in the country.

They form the bulk of those who are petty traders in the streets and those who needed protection.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to say that in all of our engagements, we must make conscious effort in ensuring that women are properly catered for.
If we are talking about prosperity, it is not prosperity for only Members of Parliament, but it is prosperity for all the people out there.

Most of these people are women.

Therefore, I am very much convinced that the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service must have taken all of these issues into consideration.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to reiterate to the nominees before us that they should make conscious effort in promoting the women of this country.
Always ask 16 about the women of Sierra Leone.

Such questions as: where are the women; what have we provided for them; and what positions are they holding?

It is not good to always think that when we make development plans the effects should ripple down on the women.

We must be convinced and make conscious effort that women are always thought off.

The „Agenda for Prosperity‟ will not be achieved if women are not catered for.

On that note, I wish all the nominees well in their new appointments.
I know very well that, all the nominees will be shortly announced as Ministers and Deputy Ministers of state.

I thank you very much Mr Speaker.

HON.

IBRAHIM BUNDU (Deputy Majority Leader): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise this morning to make my own humble contribution to the nominees before us.
As a Member of the Appointment Committee, I am not here this morning to bore you on the suitability of these nominees to occupy their positions, but rather, to throw cautions and admonishments to the nominees, especially the way Ministries and Departments have treated laws enacted by this House, with particular reference to Commissions and Boards.

Commissions and Boards are established by law.


The Bill was enacted into Law in this House, and was signed by His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, who has nominated you to be approved by this Honourable House.

You are here this morning to be approved.

Laws are made to be obeyed.

Although some schools of thought are saying that if laws are not broken their profession might not blossom.

Well, I do not want to call names here.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we have been having difficulties concerning the proper functioning of the Commissions and Boards in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

These establishments are made by law, and not by appointment.

It is the Law that passes through this House to send these people to as Commissioners and as Board Members to operate in the various MDAs.

As I speak, we even have a formal complaint that needs our attention.
Mercifully, the various Committees have been constituted.

But Mr Speaker, Commissioners who are supposed to operate in these MDAs are not given the requisite space to operate effectively.

I think this House need to intervene as soon as possible.

I am preparing the minds of 17 Honourable Members about these matters before us.

We are going to take a robust move to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Departments work with the Commissions and Boards that are created by law.
The necessary functions that are contained in the Act must be obeyed.

I am sure if members of these Boards are given the requisite space to perform the functions for which they were created, the jobs of these Ministries and Departments will be enhanced.

Therefore, as a way of contribution and admonition, I want to appeal to the Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State to be mindful of these Commissioners.

These Commissions were created through an Act of Parliament.

Thank you very much.

HON.


MUSTAPHA BRAIMA: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I cannot deny myself the privilege for the first time to talk on few issues bordering on the appointments of the proposed Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.

Mr Speaker, great thinkers have maintained that „man is selfish,‟ therefore, the first law of nature is self preservation.

I would not want to look at all our nominees.

I will only look at two of these nominees.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the first person I want to talk about is Mr Sheka Tarawally, proposed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

I want to congratulate him in the first place.

Mr Sheka Tarawally was very active in the Student Union politics and he had occupied the media wing of students‟ unionism at Fourah Bay College.

You were one of those who watched the behavior and attitude of students on campus.
Hence, his contribution to the Aureol Times is not something strange to many of us here.

Aureol Times was able to contain the students.

This was because the slightest mistake a student made, Aureol Times will figure out all the mistakes at the end of the year.

Mr Sheka Tarawally was very active in that.

I want you to use those skills you have mustered in trying to mould the attitude and performance of students at Fourah Bay College in your new position as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.
You are aware for the fact that there is lawlessness all over the country.

You were very watchful in determining and conditioning the behavior of students.

I want you to use those skills you have mustered to actually monitor and look critically on the performance of the Sierra Leone Police in maintaining law and order in this country.

You are not only a 18 Deputy Minister for the All People‟s Congress, but a Deputy Minister for Sierra Leone, assigned with specific Terms of Reference (TOR).
I want you to critically look at… - (Interruption).

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, let me attempt to correct you that there is no Minister of any political party in this country.

All Ministers are Ministers of State i.e., Sierra Leone.

HON.

MUSTAPHA BRAIMA: Accepted Mr Speaker.

Therefore, Mr Sheka Tarawally, you are Minister of the State of Sierra Leone (Applause).
Please Sir, as the Proposed Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs, I want you to use your skills, experience and expertise to ensure that the Sierra Leone Police becomes a disciplined force in this country.

I want you to watch them closely in the execution of their duties.

There are many bad things going on in the streets of Freetown.

Some of these things they know very well.

They know many bad things going on among commuters, „Podapoda‟ drivers, taxi drivers, bike-riders etc.
Please watch them critically.

Monitor the politicians as well, especially the All Peoples Congress (APC) politicians (Applause).

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I wish Mr Sheka Tarawally all the best in the performance of his duties.

I know he can do it.

He has done it before, he will do it today, and will continue to do it throughout.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the other person I want to talk about is Mr Arrow John Bockarie.
When I entered Parliament, this is the first nominee that has connection with my Constituency.

I can say now that he is one of my constituents.

He comes from Pendembu.

He is the proposed Deputy Minister of Justice.

Although he is an APC member, each time we meet together, he is always ready to talk to me.

We do talk on various issues, especially Politics.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I did attempt to guide you just now.

Some of these utterances are not good at all.


The danger is not those of us sitting here, but for 19 the people out there.

They might conclude that Ministers are Ministers of political parties.

That will hinder the performance of their duties.

HON.

MUSTAPHA BRAIMA: I disabuse my mind from that Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Arrow John Bockarie is the proposed Deputy Minister of Justice.

He is always willing to engage other people.

We speak at various levels and I know he is a very hard working person.
We were in college together.

I know his performance and I have followed up that performance.

I only wish that he would continue to perform like Mr Sheka Tarawally, Proposed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

I thank you very much Mr Speaker.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I must say a few words on some of these nominees seated in front of us waiting for parliamentary approval.

They must have gone through vigorous exercise by members of the Appointments Committee.
After going through that exercise, we have no doubt that they are dignified people.

But there are certain people that I know personally.

I think it will be prudent for me to say few words about them.

Some of them have proven well in public offices in Sierra Leone and some did their best out of Sierra Leone.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to start with Mabinty Daramy.

I came to know this lady when she was in College.


Mr Speaker, when she was abroad, she demonstrated her capacity to administer a big Estate.

Having demonstrated that, she was given appointment in the last government as Deputy Minister.

Due to her remarkable performance in that Ministry, the President thought it fit to bring her in and take part in the realisation of the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ Because of that, I want to appeal to all Honourable Members of Parliament to approve this nominee.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, another person I want to talk about is Mr Ahmed Khanou, Deputy Minister of Lands and the Environment.

Now that we have a new Deputy Minister in that Ministry, I believe he will provide the necessary knowledge to help the Minister and guide him in the execution of his duties.

The appointment of 20 Ahmed Khanou is a demonstration of the President‟s commitment to the idea of bringing the youth to take charge of the future of this country (Applause).
I want to say here that it is not only about being a youth, but when somebody grows more than his age, give him the duties that are befitting that particular individual.

That is why I would say that Mr Ahmed Khanou is fit to take that position.

I only hope that he will live up to expectation.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I also have the opportunity today to talk about a personal friend.

He is no other person but Mr Alfred Paolo Conteh, proposed Minister of Defence.
He was an active sportsman, a professional in the army.

He has demonstrated his innovative ability when he was appointed Minister of Defence during the last Government.

I am sure during his first five years, he did his best to give our Military the credence they have now.

I know that he is going to do more if approved today by this Honourable House.

He will perform and deliver like we expect him to do.

It was not easy for him during his first five years.
But now, we have seen the innovations he has brought to the Military.

I want to inform this Honourable House that in the next five years, he will do more.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have the opportunity to talk about somebody that was my senior in school, Mr Momodu Kargbo.

Mr Speaker, I attended two schools that have produced Presidents in this country: the Albert Academy and the Methodist Boys High School.

When I was at the Albert Academy, Mr Momodu Kargbo was the Head Boy of that school.
When I was there as a form II pupil, I have been watching him closely.

I was his junior then.

Mr Speaker, the attributes he demonstrated when he was a Head Boy has been demonstrated at the Ministry of Finance.

I would like to see people in the „Agenda for Prosperity‟ with modesty, humility and commitment to duty.

This is the more reason why the President decided to bring back such an individual for our approval.

I hope you will continue the good work.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have another person that I want to talk about.

We have seen the improvement of the infrastructure in the past five years.

If the same 21 person is chosen to be approved again as Deputy Minister of Works and Infrastructure, I think it is because of the good work he has done in that Ministry.

Mr Speaker, since this man is capable, let him continue to be in that Ministry.
I want to ask my colleagues in this Honourable House to give them the approval and support they have come here for.

But let me also caution you.

I want you to open your doors to the Parliamentarians.

They are the representatives of the people.

I want you to understand that as Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State, Members of Parliament are supreme (Applause).

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will not do justice if I failed to talk about Mr Hadiru Kalokoh.
Mr Speaker, as we grow up in life, we have people we do admire.

We have people we cherished.

We do admire their values, honesty, humility and commitment.

If I have the opportunity of standing here today, to say a word or two about these nominees, I think it would be appropriate for me to say that Mr Kalokoh has not been disappointed at all.

I know he will not disappoint the President.

Honourable Members, let us give them the support they need from us.
Let us all (after the vigorous screening these nominees have gone through in Appointment Committee, where we have Honourable Dr Bernadette Lahai) approve the nominations of His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma (Applause).

I know that they are competent and have the ability to perform, particularly so in the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want us all to give them our approval.

They need our approval so that they can perform their respective duties.
I thank you (Applause).

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, today seems to be a day for maiden speeches (Laughter).

HON.

ABI KALOKOH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to thank God for bringing me here and for giving me the privilege to talk on these nominees for the first time.

I want to congratulate the proposed Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State for the positions they have been nominated for.

I want to first of all talk about one of the nominees, who happen to be my husband (laughter).
I am here today with his 22 blessings.

He gave me all the support in my political career.

Mr Speaker, happiness will not permit me to speak much (laughter).

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, you seem to be over joyous this morning (Laughter).

Did I get you correctly that one of the nominees is your husband?

HON.

ABI KALOKOH: Yes Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Congratulations Honourable Member.

I see why you are so happy.

HON.

ABI KALOKOH: The person I am referring to is Mr Hadiru Ibrahim Kalokoh.
I just want to advise Mr Hadiru Kalokoh and give him all the praises.

I say congratulations Mr Kalokoh.

I want you to be strong and work with this Honourable House.

I know you will do it.

I want you to work with the Minister so that you can achieve the goals that the President has set for the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ We have to work together so that we accomplish the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ I thank you very much Mr Speaker.

HON.
HON.

MOIWAI MOMOH: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I first of all have to commend the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service for a job expected to be well done.

I only hope that the proposed Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State, if approved, would work diligently and prudently in serving our country, Sierra Leone.

I will like to fish out few names of the nominees.

I am not going to condemn or praise any of them, but to caution them about their responsibilities to service this country.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will start with Mr Palo Conteh, proposed Minister of Defence.

Mr Palo Conteh, you have served this country well.

You have also served the Military well.

I hope you will continue your good job.

You have been able to over-come pressing issues, especially the issue of the Ex-combatants that you were able to overcome, even though we were made to understand that you had to escape by jumping over the fence in the Ministry of Defence (laughter).
Most importantly Mr Speaker, I will like to draw your attention to the Daru Moa Barracks.

It is becoming Urban picky.

That is the defense for this country.

I could remember during the war, 23 rebels or invading forces had to attack that Barrack and if they were able to overcome it, the whole Nation would have fallen into the hands of the invading forces.

But they were not able to do.

Therefore, I believe that as a Barrack at the battle-front do not neglect it.
Don‟t take rumour that will draw your attention to the April, 1992 incident.

If you allow the Military to be well equipped in that Barrack, what happened then will not happen again.

Those who came here will never gather together to cause another havoc.

Please draw your attention to that Barrack.

The buildings are falling down gradually.

They are demolishing on their own because they are tired of being neglected and abandoned.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to draw your attention to Mr Lahai Sawi, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation.

Mr Lahai Sawi, you are a new man in the job and I know you have done so well in other areas you have been serving.

You have served in so many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The Constituency where I am coming from is the Constituency you hailed from.

The residents in that Constituency are in dire need of hospitals and pipe borne water.
Please, I will work with you hand and glove to make sure that we attend to the dire needs of our people.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the last nominee I want to talk about is Mr Williams Juana Smith, proposed Resident Minister, Eastern Province.

Mr Williams Juana Smith, you have done well in that capacity as Resident Minister, Eastern Province.

You have been able to manage the various groups, the various colours, the various individuals and the various entities.
Recently, you were opposed and challenged by most of your people for having managed that community well on their own personal behalf.

You are indeed a father and a nursing mother.

You have been accommodating every type of group and party colours in the Eastern Region.

I hope you will do more than what you having been doing.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I don‟t know much about the other nominees.

I hope, if you approved, they will do better to serve this Nation.

I thank you very much.

24 HON.


MOHAMED KAMARA: Mr Speaker, I have a word of advice for all these nominees.

Sierra Leone was once known as the „Athens of Africa.‟ Later, Sierra Leone became one of the poorest nations on earth.

We did not get there by coincidence or by accident.

It was because when you appoint a man to the position of trust, he abuses that position.

I will say that our biggest fight in this country is corruption.

I would like all of us to join hands in fighting corruption.
This is not about party colour.

It is about the Nation called Sierra Leone.

It is about the national interest that we fight against corruption.

Corruption is a cancer in our society.

We will not like to have a repeat of what happened some years ago.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the second area I want to talk about is the behavior and attitude of the citizens of this country.

If you go to some of these Ministries, you will hear people talking to members of the public as if they are nothing.
Some of the behaviours of our civil servants are not acceptable at all.

We want to see staff, especially civil servants addressing members of the public with some amount of respect and dignity.

I want to congratulate all the nominees this morning for their nominations.

I have no doubt that the President has nominated a team that will ensure the realisation of the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ Please.

Let our priority be nation-building.


I wish you all the best and I hope you will continue to do the good works some of you have started.

I know that some of you are new in the job.

But I hope you will join the team in delivering the goods for the betterment of this Nation.

Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Honourable Member, Order!

Honourable Member, I noticed you were raising your hand.

Raising your hand up is not applicable to this House.

HON.
HON.

SENESSIE FAWUNDU: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I will like to say thanks to the new proposed Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.

I want to say a word or two to few nominees.

I want to first of all talk about the Minister of Defence, Mr Palo Conteh.

He has a very important function to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of this Nation.

I was moved when I listened to his speech.

I was moved by the fact that our soldiers are now doing well in the diaspora.
I was also moved when I 25 heard that there an Agricultural Unit within the Military of this country.

This country, as we all know, is a poor country.

When the President was addressing the Nation on the 14th December, 2012, he said that for this country to become prosperous, we have to pay much attention to the Agriculture Sector.

He also said that Sierra Leone is one of the most peaceful countries in the face of the Earth.
And if what the President has said is nothing but the truth, I would love to tell the Minister of Defence that (if we are so peaceful and we have so many men in the Army and that some of them are exercising their gallantry in Dafur) the time has come for him to create an Agricultural Battalion within the Armed Forces so that these strong men and women are utilised in providing food for the Army, the police and the prisons.
If you look at the Financial Report, you will find out that we are spending so much money on imported rice in this country for the Military, the Police and the Prisons.

Sierra Leone is now a peaceful country.

And as a result, we should not be exercising our gallantry in Dafur.

We should use our strength to bring prosperity in the country.

We have to sacrifice our energies for the betterment of this country.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, let me take you to Central America, Costa Rica.
Mr Speaker, during the time when Mr Sajista was in power, Costa Rica had over 350000 men in the Army.

Costa Rica by then was the most illiterate country in that part of the world.

At the end of Sajista regime, the Government that came in later decided to ask America to protect their country and disband Army.

Mr Speaker, the money that was spent in disbanding those soldiers was utilized to literacy programmes.

Today, Costa Rica is the most literate country in that part of the world.
In that light, I want to talk to our Minister of Defence.

I do not know him but I want to tell him that the Ministry of Defence is one such area that I have passion for.

Because with very strong men in this country, we saw how our men fought the war in gaining our freedom.

Now that we are peaceful we would like them to use their strength, and their skills in agriculture so that we can be prosperous in food production also.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, another person I want to talk about is my own personal lawyer, Mr John Arrow Bockarie.

Mr Speaker, there was a time in Bo when 26 somebody angered me.

I went to this man and asked him to arrest and detain the culprit.

He told me that that is not the way they do things in the legal profession.

But he started the case with a writ.

He was so quick to serve the man a writ.

The man was arrested later and was arraigned before the court the same day.
Therefore Mr Speaker, this man is a good lawyer (Laughter).

I am sure the way he treated my case is going to be the same way he will treat other cases in the Justice sector.

THE SPEAKER: I am sure your pocket told the rest of the story (Laughter).

HON.

SENESSIE: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all our new nominees, Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

We want you to work assiduously to bring prosperity to this country.

I thank all of you.

HON.


PATRICIA BROWNE: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is a pleasure to be able to stand here to say a few words about our proposed Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.

Mr Speaker, please allow me to focus on three nominees.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the first person I want to talk about is Madam Mabinty Daramy.

Madam Daramy, I know you have done a marvelous job during your tenure of office in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
I came to know this through the good works you have done and your past experiences in the United States of America and even in Sierra Leone.

But I would like to caution you that you are going to a new Ministry, the Ministry of Finance.

I hope, as a woman, you would use all your powers to empower us, including the women of this country.

As a woman going to that Ministry, we are going to rely on you.

I want you to use your office to help the women of this country.
The women of this country are not empowered at all.

Therefore, we are kindly asking you to be opening your door and give us your attention.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to say something about another nominee, Mr Ahmed Khanou, proposed Deputy Minister of Lands.

He is also from my Constituency.

He voted for me.

He is a young man, focused and serious in his work.

He is somebody with integrity and honesty.

He has been in that Ministry for two years to 27 three years.
Mr Speaker, because of his hard work, he has been retained in the same Ministry.

That means a lot.

It means he has done his job well.

It also means the President and the people of this country can rely on him.

I have worked with him personally.

I know what he can do in my Constituency (Laughter).

I have worked with him in my Constituency closely.

I only want him to make sure that he continues the good work he has been doing.

I am asking this Honourable House to please consider his approval.
He deserves to be approved.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the other nominee I want to talk about is Mr Momodu Kargbo, proposed Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development.

He is not from my Constituency, but he is from Kambia District, which is my district.

This country has benefitted a lot from his experience and expertise.

Mr Speaker, anybody given such position as Finance should know how to manage state funds.

Mr Momodu Kargbo is somebody that is not frivolous.
He knows where, how, why and when to give and take.

He has served this country so well that we have seen the benefit this country has realized from his experience.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am prevailing on this Honourable House to approve his nomination.

I know that the rest of the proposed Ministers and Deputies of State are all worthy of the positions the President has bestowed on them.
I also know that the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has done their work diligently in making sure that these people are the right people for the positions they have been nominated for.

Therefore, I am kindly asking this Honourable House to give them the approval they deserve.

I wish them all the best in their next duties.

Thank You.

HON.
Thank You.

HON.

DR BERNADETTE LAHAI (Minority Leader of the House): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the proposed nominees from the various Ministries have appeared before us during the last few days.

We are about to approve their nominations.

I have the honour to say that some of them are well known to me and some are not.

I have my former student whom I taught at the Christ the King College 28 (CKC) when he was doing his Sixth Form, Mr Arrow John Bockarie.
Among the nominees also, I knew Mr Foday Sawi Lahai when he was teaching us Biology.

Mr Foday Sawi Lahai was a very good teacher (Laughter).

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Ms Mabinty Daramy was my college-mate at Fourah Bay College.

We both entered Fourah Bay College in 1979 and left in 1983.

I also have my Resident Minister from the East with whom I have the privilege when the APC was in opposition to be given lift every day from Lumley Road to the APC Office.

We have had very good relationship.


Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Mr Momodu Kargbo, Deputy Minister of Finance then is now the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance.

He is a good friend of mine.

I want to remind him that we have not yet received our 50% gratuity.

We hope that he will do all the necessary arrangement for us to get what has left.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as I said earlier on, the rest of the nominees I may not be familiar with but nevertheless, they have served in those various capacities.

All the nominees have appeared before the Appointment Committee.

We have had the privilege of interviewing all of them.

We have been asking them of their vision, their intention and the challenges they see in the various Ministries they are coming into.

We were very well satisfied with the answers they were giving.
That is why they are before us this morning.

So, I will say that the reward for hard work is more work.

Mr Speaker, immediately these nominees are approved, they will all be rushing to the President‟s Office to take the Oath of Office to serve diligently and impartially in their various offices.

We have no doubt that they will carry out these responsibilities to the best of their ability.

This is because at the end of the day, the work that these people will be doing will live after them.
We will call them from time to time either in this Well of Parliament or in the various Committees for them to give stewardship of their work.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Minister of Education has already been interviewed.

The Minister of Transport had been interviewed.

But there is something very saddened.

I felt very sad about the situation at Model Junction.

The Fourah Bay 29 College Students and are in dire need of getting up to that institution for lectures.
I am bringing this up because most of you sitting in this Well must have attended Fourah Bay College.

I am also a product of Fourah Bay College.

Mr Speaker, most of us are driving from Model Junction to Parliament.

All us can testify the suffering both male and female students are experiencing at Model Junction to go to Fourah Bay College.

If you listened to 98.1 Radio Station, a lot of the students were interviewed to get firsthand information on the peril that they go through.
Some get up as early as five o‟clock to get to Model.

Mr Speaker, even if they reach at Model as early as possible, they have to stay there for one or two hours before they could get a taxi that would take them to Fourah Bay College.

In fact, almost all of them do not live on the campus.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the first time I came to Freetown was in 1975, when I received a letter to attend an interview for admission to Fourah Bay College.

I did not have anybody in Freetown by then.


When came to Freetown, I was lodged by a friend.

After few days, I secured a room at Fourah Bay College Campus where I stayed for four years.

I could have imagined if the campus did not house students by then.

We would have suffered a lot.

Mr Speaker, why am I saying all these things?

Most of us sitting here are products of Fourah Bay College.

Let us pay serious attention to education.

Education should be the priority of this country.


I want to inform this Honourable House that no country develops when its human resource is underdeveloped.

And the Universities are our bastion for preparing men and women to take up their rightful role in society.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in our various capacities (as you sit here as Sierra Leoneans and Ministers), let us appeal for the provision of transportation for these students.

We have a lot of buses plying the Provinces.


Melian Tours is also an important means of transportation.

We can appeal to them to at least put one or two bus (es) to ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters who want to learn and take their rightful places in society.

30 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this is the plea I am making.
Maybe, the Minister of Education may not be in that position to provide transportation for the students, but since you are all Ministers, I want you to help these students.

This should be a concerted effort all of us should make in order to lessen the burden of those men and women that are suffering every day under the sun and under the rain.

I don‟t think they deserve that.

Mr Speaker, Fourah Bay College is now at the bottom of the University Performance Index a few days ago.
I think these are the indicators or structural problems students are facing that makes the one time glorified university be placed at the bottom.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, with those few words, I want to congratulate these eminent men and women who are to be approved by this Honourable House this morning in advance.

We wish them good tenure in their offices.

I also want them to count on us in this Parliament.

We are ready to give them our supports to enable them perform their work.
I thank you very much.

HON.

S. B.

B. DUMBUYA (Majority Leader of the House): Thank you very much Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I would first want to avail myself the opportunity of congratulating the new Members of Parliament for their maiden contributions.

They have been very impressive in my estimation.


In the case of the Honourable Gladys Gbappy, I would not give her 100% for the serious hitch in her reference to the „New Direction.‟ I want her to know that we are talking about the „Agenda for Prosperity.‟ The two were put to the people of this country and one was accepted at the expense of the other.

If you want to talk about the New Direction, please limit your discussion to the four walls of your party office.
Mr Speaker, all those that have spoken on this Motion have done so in favour of the nominees, even though in some cases certain names were not mentioned.

But Mr Speaker, the general understanding is that all of them should be approved by this Honourable House.
Mr Speaker, you will recall that the last time when the Honourable Foday Rado Yokie had to contribute to a similar motion before the House, his 31 contribution did take the form of a warning to the nominees which I subsequently endorsed when I was rounding up.

And from now henceforth Mr Speaker, we will be sending out this message to all nominees and officials that come to this House for approval.
Mr Speaker, it is in this vein I want to take the liberty of telling our nominees that going through the rigours of parliamentary scrutiny is not the only hurdle.

That is not all.

There is another hurdle, i.e., performance in the job.

I repeat, performance in the job is the other hurdle.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, it is at this stage that these nominees would be under constant surveillance to see whether they are equal to the challenge.
We the Members of Parliament would be opportune to know (when these nominees shall have assumed office) whether there is any sign of incompetence of the nominees.

And Mr Speaker, incompetency can only be detected when the person is in the job.

I say this because, experience teaches that when nominees know that they are going to face the much dreaded Appointment Committee, they make elaborate preparation, all in a bid to equip themselves well for the crucial moment.
But the moment they go through the Parliament successfully, some of them lapse into inertia.

Some become nonchalant or complacent at the expense of the job they are given to do; and of course to the detriment of the nation.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, those who are doing this kind of nonchalant attitude, let me tell them here today that there are Parliamentary Committees.
These Parliamentary Committees are charged with the responsibilities of overseeing all these Ministries, Departments and Agencies; including Parastatals, Corporations and Diplomatic Missions.

The Committees are there to oversee all Government Establishments.

I would like to inform all present this morning that these Committees look into everything and fearlessly prove everything.

What does this mean?


It means that the moment you receive your respective appointments (after approval by Parliament), you are constantly under the microscopic eye of these Committees.

If you are found lethargic in the execution of your duties, (especially those lazy workers, those who are only trying to pass the test of the Appointments Committee or who may 32 choose to indulge in some kind of administrative malpractices), will face the heavy weights of these Committees.

You are warned.
You are warned.

We will go after you.

The Committees will go after you.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to talk about the proposed Deputy Minister of Finance.

I am not giving an assessment of him.

That has already been done by some of the speakers who spoke before me.

The reply he gave us during the interview concerning the half payment of Members gratuity was not encouraging.

I put it to you that there cannot be an explanation (Applause).

You have to make the balance payment (Applause).


Mr Momodu Kargbo is indeed considered to be a friend of this Parliament, but on that day Mr Speaker, his attitude was unfriendly.

We the Members of Parliament are saying that we are not daily workers.

Ministers are never treated like that.

Why should you treat Members of Parliament who confirm you like that?

Mr Speaker, that is tantamount to contempt.

And unless something is done, we will take action appropriately.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to say something about Madam Mabinty Daramy.

Somebody was saying here that she hopes when you have been confirmed, you would open your door to female Members of Parliament.

Well, we are all Members of Parliament, be you male or female.

Open your door to everybody.

And since you are a woman, the men would like you to open your door very wide for them (Laughter).

Please open your gate to all of us.

Thank you very much Mr Speaker.


On that note Mr Speaker, I recommend all these nominees to the House for approval.

(Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to) Motion of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service has been ratified.

THE SPEAKER: Ladies and gentlemen, it is left with me to congratulate you on behalf of the entire Parliament.

The eyes of the entire country are on you.

You cannot afford 33 to fail.

Failure is not an option.

We all know that the citizenry is aware.


They are very much aware of what is going on.

I congratulate you and I wish you well.

ADJOURNMENT (The House rose at 12.30 a.m., and was adjourned until Tuesday, 29th January, 2013, at 10.00 a.m.).

34