By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Relations Mrs Melrose Kargbo has in a press conference held at the Ministry of Information and Communication Conference hall informed members of the press and public that the dissolution of Mayors, Chairpersons was done constitutionally according to the laws of the Local Government Act that governed it.
According to the deputy Minister she said the press release for the end of service of Mayors, Councilors, Chairmen and more has sparked reactions and debates from Sierra Leoneans and on Social Media.
She said as a Ministry they have not worked outside of its laws. She said the policy and local government Act was old as she disclosed that it was done in the early 2000`s, that there was a need for a review of the law hence the need for a decentralization that was approved by Parliament to make provisions for a smooth transition.
She maintained that it is not befitting for them to occupy these seats for which they are running for at the same time with others who were also competing for the same.
She stressed that there should be a level playing field for all contestants. She went on to say that these Mayors and Chairpersons were elected on a four years mandate and are expected to vacate offices no later than March 2023.
Mrs Kargbo stressed that these laws and practices would enhance good governance for others to benefit from it.
She furthermore maintained that with the new local government Act Mayors, Chairpersons, Councilors are now entitled to receiving salaries and end of time benefits which she said never happened in the previous government and accolades the Bio government as a “Kombra government” meaning a government with a good heart.
She also disclosed that the Chairman of the Western Rural District Council (WARDC) Kashow J Holland Cole has not been going to his office; she said the statement was testified by staff at the office of the Chairman of the Western Rural District Council.
She also mentioned that the local government new act has given councilors, mayors and chairmen ample time to officially hand over office to the Chief Administrators to handle the affairs of the city and district councils.
Mrs Melrose Kargbo mentioned also that these local authorities challenged the directives of the ministry capitalizing on the clause in the local government Act which states that they should vacate office on the last seat of the council meeting she said is due in May or the day the house of parliament closes in April.
She said this clause was removed from the bill at the committee stage in parliament, she said as a Ministry they are unaware of how such clause entered the bill and was removed immediately by law makers.
