By: Mohamed M. Sesay
As the Fifth and final Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone debates the 2022 Public Election Act, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party North America Desmond Pessima, has urged Members of Parliament to repeal the discriminatory clause in the 19991 constitution preventing diasporans from contesting parliamentary elections.
In his clarion call, Chairman Pessima expressed that the current bill before Parliament is very important to them because the bill assures them of the benefits that they enjoy as Sierra Leoneans regardless of their dual citizenship status. He explained that one acquires citizenship status in Sierra Leone by three criteria which are by birth, naturalization and descent. He added that most of them who are pushing for the repeal and replacement of the discrimination clause in the 1991 constitution on dual citizenship are first-class citizens as they were given birth in Sierra Leone.
Chairman Pessima also elucidated that the reason some of them went overseas is in search of greener pastures, to gain outside knowledge, expertise and experience to come and help develop Sierra Leone.
Chairman Pessima continued that the dual citizenship conundrum does not only affect one political party as it affects the SLPP, the APC, NGC, C4C and all other smaller political parties.
In terms of quality representation, he said they would rather let the people make that choice regarding quality representation during the electioneering process. He added that if the people feel that somebody who is living in Sierra Leone can better represent them than diasporans, then it is for the people to make that choice other than lawmakers or the constitutions to predict those who can give quality representation to the people.
Chairman Pessima equally intimated that most of them in the diaspora are more connected to their constituents than even those elected as Members of Parliament. He said just this year, he has travelled three times to Sierra Leone and has been impacting the lives of his people on all of those occasions he visited Sierra Leone.
He confessed that the law is very discriminatory against them living overseas. He made specific reference to chapter 6 sections 75 and 76 that talk about qualification and disqualification for becoming a member of parliament. He noted that section 75 is giving them the right to vote and be voted for, whilst section 76 is discriminating against them. He considered such a conflict in the constitution adding that the ideal thing the nation should do is to look at what makes sense in representing the people.
Chairman Pessima affirmatively stated that what makes sense is to allow the diasporans who are more connected to their people, to have the expertise and knowledge to serve their people. He, therefore, implored Members of Parliament to consider the discrimination aspect of the law by doing the needful. He assured Members of Parliament and the entire nation that their allegiance would be to Sierra Leone. He disclosed that the commonsensical reason why people travel overseas is in search of greener pasture.
“Most of us are more connected to Sierra Leone, and we don’t just travel overseas and forget about our country Sierra Leone. We are concerned and participate in the development process of the country, Sierra Leone. There are other countries like the United States who have allowed naturalized citizens to go to the level of senators and congressmen and women. Developed nations have always tapped into the talents of immigrants and have allowed them to serve the country to the level of Senators and congressmen. What they don’t allow you to become is to be the Speaker, Vice President and President”, he said.
Earlier in his presentation, Chairman Pessima extended profound thanks and appreciation to President Dr Julius Maada Bio for staying committed to his promise to them living in the diaspora. He recalled the promise made by President Bio in pushing for the repeal and replacement clause in the previous Public Elections Act.
He said with such a promise from the president, those in the diaspora will have the opportunity to exercise their franchise as far as being a Member of Parliament is concerned. He said with glad tidings the promise made by President Bio precipitated the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to present that bill in parliament which parliament is now debating.
