By: Mohamed M. Sesay
In a bid to eliminate the gross misconception and misinformation saturated around the 2022 Public Elections Bill with Particular reference to the Proportional Representation clause in the bill, the Speaker of the Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone Hon. Chernor Bundu, has admonished Members of Parliament that the District Block Representation should not be contentious since it is provided for in the 1991 constitution.
The Speaker further elucidated that the District Block Representation System in the form of Proportional Representation mentioned in the 2022 Public Elections Act, was introduced in the laws of Sierra Leone far back in 2001. By way of the constitutional amendment, he said such law was encapsulated in section 38 of the 1991 constitution. He therefore reiterated that the debate about the Proportional Representation should not be a topical issue.
Hon. Abass Bundu emphasized that the Proportional Representation is already embedded in the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone which is the highest law of the land. He intimated 2022 Public Election Bill seeks to address the empowerment of women geared towards giving women justifiable saying in the parliamentary affairs by increasing their percentage of representation to a minimum of 30%.
Speaker Bundu continued that the 2022 Public Elections Bill also seeks to strengthen the independence of the Electoral Commission by making it extremely difficult to remove the commissioners from Office. He furthered that the bill also seeks to remove the prerogative power of the president in determining the date of elections by fixing a date for such elections which will now be set in the constitution in the same way as it is done in the United States of America.
“This is the main issue that we should focus our attention. I proposed to explain in greater detail to this house and the general public by extension, of the true nature and character of the instruments lay before this parliament. If only to enhance their better understanding and appreciations of both their contents and their implications for the political development, peace and stability of our country”, said Speaker.
He made a clarion call on the leadership of all Political Parties Represented in the House of Parliament, to lend their respective voices in removing the concept of misunderstanding and misinformation that seemed to have been surrounded the bill.
With his authority as Speaker of the Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, also being mindful of the need to accelerate the momentum in their consideration of the important bill before the house of Parliament, Speaker Bundu said Sierra Leoneans in and out of Sierra Leone have been misinformed and misguided about the bill. He therefore, promised to elaborate further in the 2022 Public Elections Bill for the benefit of the public as and when necessary.
He concluded by encouraging Members of Parliament to address the foundation that contains so much in the 2022 Pubic Elections Bill. He stressed that it is imperative by the house of Parliament to construct the foundation of the metaphoric building of the importance of the bill adding that, the 2022 Public Elections Bill should be understood and acceptable by all and sundry.