The Hon. Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, who doubles as the President of Liberia Senate has on Thursday 30/6/2022 addressed Honourable Members of the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and women’s empowerment.
In her submission, the Vice President appreciated the people of Sierra Leone for the warm welcome she received from them and the Parliament as well.
The Vice president said the Sierra Leone Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh this year visited Liberia by road to outline President Bio’s administration’s achievements in the government sectors and they were pleased.
She said, she is in Freetown at the invitation of the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Bio to attend a conference on sexual and gender-based violence.
The Hon. Vice President encouraged lawmakers to promote the concept of the “He for She” agenda. She called for the promotion of more rights and responsibilities for women in Africa relative to female empowerment in politics. She highlighted the importance of women in the development of a state and also support for women in political representation
Madam Vice President used the opportunity to explain her background as being a two-term senator and a First Vice President of Liberia, and underscored the point that men should allow women to work side by side with them.
In her remarks, the President of the Female Caucus in the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay welcomed the Vice President and referred to her as a woman of substance. She said this is the very first time a sitting Female Vice President had visited the Parliament of Sierra Leone and encouraged more support for women’s participation in politics. The female National Anthem was sung in unison by the House.
On his part, the Leader of C4C, Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina commended the Liberia Vice President for coming to Sierra Leone and acknowledged previous Leaders who had contributed to the promotion of women in society, whilst commending President Bio for sending a Bill to the Parliament of Sierra Leone that touches on a 30% quota for female representation.
The Acting Leader of NGC Hon. Mario Foday Kamara said women’s empowerment is necessary, but believed positions are to be merited and not discriminatory manner. He said the Vice President is a woman of substance and believed she fought her way up as a Vice President and encouraged other women to emulate her.
Opposition Leader Hon. Chernor RM Bah commended the VP and her escort for visiting the people of Sierra Leone and the Parliament of Sierra Leone. He assured the Vice President of the support of women, but on a merit basis.
Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nuyma saluted the Vice President and her entourage. He underscored his support for women.
He encouraged political parties not to discriminate against the empowerment of women.” God created us in his image and likeness,” he started. He reiterated that bad policies and injustices of the past had reduced women from participating in governance in Sierra Leone. He used the occasion to highlight the importance of the Gender Bill that is in front of Parliament for consideration.
Commending the Vice President for her visitation, Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu used the opportunity to outline the configuration of the Fifth Parliament of Sierra Leone, noting that, the Ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has 58 MPs, the main opposition All People Congress(APC) party has 58 MPs, the National Grant Coalition (NGC) 4 MPs, Coalition For Change (C4C) 8 MPs, Independent MPs 3, Paramount Chiefs 14, and one pending to be confirmed before the House.
