Highlights of Good Morning Sierra Leone Program on Radio Democracy FM 98.1-Tuesday 12th November, 2013 Station reporter on the 3-day consultative conference on the part to prosperity organized by the Office of the President at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown • The President said the conference will make Sierra Leone a middle income country in 22 years • He continued that economic growth, led by the private sector, and other developments will qualify the country for this and that SL will continue to contribute to world peace • That the country has identified agriculture, fisheries and industries for this growth and that SL is a prime candidate for this development and industrial growth • That agriculture is another main sector–that a third of the Le5.7 billion budgeted for the Agenda for Prosperity will go to the agriculture sector • The President continued that the Agenda for Prosperity will help the country meet the target • The Minister of Fisheries said the sector has employed thousands and that fish accounts for 10% of GDP • The Minister of Agriculture said the forum will bring onboard all sectors in the agriculture value chain • That the sector provides jobs to over 500 people and this reduces poverty • The forum is the part to prosperity • Donors pledged support to the process Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu on the Constitution of Sierra Leone Amendment Act 2013 • Before a Bill is tabled in Parliament it is placed in the national gazette twice to inform members of the public • The Bill is a Parliamentary initiative to bring Parliament at par with the sub-region, Africa and the world • The qualification in the Constitution for a Speaker has been the case since 1971 • The Speaker presides over the sittings of Parliament • The Bill states that for an MP to be elected Speaker, he/she must have served for at least 5 years-MPs want a Speaker who is well-grounded • If MPs want to remove the Speaker they do not need a Constitutional amendment • The Attorney General will table the Bill in Parliament • The Bill has the support of MPs • There is nothing wrong with the timing • The Constitutional Review Process (CRP) is to review entrenched clauses in the Constitution that require a referendum • The Bill has two purposes: to bring Parliament at par with others and for a well-grounded Speaker to regulate and conduct the affairs of Parliament • There are 124 MPs • The majority party elects a Speaker • Politically it is the norm for MPs to be partisan • Has served the ACP Parliament and the Speaker and that of the US Congress are not lawyers • The amendment is simply the workings of Parliament-members of the public are invited to the debate to enrich the discussion • The Bill will be debated as soon as possible • The relationship between MPs and the current Speaker is good • Currently, there are numerous Bills in Parliament to be enacted–they will be prioritized • Constitutional amendments for non-entrenched clauses are often • Every law is subject to amendment Head of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Valnora Edwin on the same issue • The amendment should be left with the CRP • What is the justification and why now • SL is in a catch 22 situation–other Bills are currently going through Parliament • Does not think the Bill is worthy • If enacted, it will water down the criteria for the position of Speaker • It will undermine the work of the CRC • The Speaker is the third in command-the holder must have integrity • Encouraging every citizen to tell their MPs not to enact the Bill • The provision for Speaker should remain as it is • Most MPs are partisan-this is unfortunate • The opposition seems to be focused but the moment it assumes power the focus changes • Most MPs toe the line-this does not help the process
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 16:20:36 +0000
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