By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Considering the legal framework and the public interest associated with the matter, the Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone has on Thursday 29th February 2024 at the well of Parliament put on hold the recently reviewed toll gates tariff and laid the instrument of the paper on table for ratification.
Setting the records straight, the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu intimated that the agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and CRSG Company for the Wellington-Masiaka Road Project was signed in 2015 following a ratification by the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
The Speaker therefore affirmed that the agreement is a valid binding agreement that could not be under any question in whatsoever. He strongly admonished not to misunderstand Parliament’s consideration as he assured that Parliament role was not to add or subtract but ensure that the provisions contained in the agreement are fully complied by the parties of the agreement.
Commending the Minister of Works for understanding the crucial nature of the matter, the Hon. Speaker said the tariff is an integral part of the agreement and any review of that part of the agreement must come to Parliament based on the fact that the agreement in entirety was ratified in Parliament.
“And this is why we have come here today this morning to lay the paper on the table of this House. We will now determine what to do and on a future date. You would be informed on our readiness and we will invite you to come and make your presentation but we have no date for now. We are going to put things in ambience for as long as necessary and give the relevance committee in Parliament to ascertain the details what you have laid before us, the Speaker disclosed.
Recognizing the crucial nature of the matter, Parliament Speaker recalled that they had first convene a stakeholder’s engagement meeting on Tuesday 26th February in which they gave every representative the unique opportunity to express their concerns. The Speaker called to mind that one of the things that came out very clearly at the stakeholder’s engagement meeting was that any review of the toll gate charge has to be evidence based, and it must be based on concrete empirical evidence. Dr. Abass Bundu emphasized that the Parliament of Sierra Leone is a listening parliament and that they seek nothing but the best interest for the country and its people.
The Speaker went on expressing that he was very pleased to announce that out of the discussion of the stakeholder’s engagement, the Motor Drivers Union had come with a paper focusing on their areas of concerns. Amongst the Six categories of vehicles the Speaker read out the most concerning category listed on the Drivers Union proposal which was Group five, the group that contained the highest tax.
The Speaker said the Union described the vehicles in that category as the most important based on the fact they are the types of vehicles that transport food stuffs from the extremity of the capital to the provinces and from the provinces to the capital. He therefore said, whatever charges levied on that Group it would heavily affect on the cost of living in the country and assured that it is a matter they would not take lightly.
The Hon. Speaker Dr. Abass Bundu commended the effort of the Union for expressing their concerns in a very professional manner and went on implored the union to please make their proposal public. He clarified that Union’s demand on the proposal came out of their free will and without being coarse by any force. He firmly assured that the paper would be taken into account. The Hon. Speaker reinforced that they appreciated the agreement in the context of its being valid and assured that there would be no attempt to undermine the agreement adding that it was why they would not make a hasty conclusion.
Stating his own point on the matter, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Hon. Abdul Kargbo assured that they have no intention to scare away investor in the country as he said that would have another adverse effect on others. On behalf of the Members of Opposition in Parliament he affirmed that they were in total agreement with what the Speaker said that due consideration must be given. He also affirmed that it is the procedure that whatever that had been passed in Parliament must also come to Parliament for further decision making.
The Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathw Nyuma stressed that there are categories of issues they must be taken into consideration with all seriousness as a state. He equally assured that they would not go back to undo things as a state. The Leader pointed out that in such a matter they must be taken into consideration the side of the state, the side of the investors and the said of the people, adding that they must pay attention to all categories.
Leader Mathew Nyuma read out section 40 subsection 4 of the constitution of Sierra Leone which gave power to Parliament to ratify any documentation or agreement. He reaffirmed the Opposition Leader submission that any documents that had come to Parliament for ratification must equally come to Parliament again for ratification.
Hon. Mathew Nyuma however revealed that there were so many allegations during the stakeholders meeting and said they proved some not to be true. He reiterated the transport union concern on group five and the civil society concern on raising awareness to the public on the matter.
He expressed that SLRA were so transparent in discussing the issues and called on the Committee on Works to duly take into consideration some of the major allegations concerning the road. Hon. Nyuma strongly warned for the issue not to be politicized as he said Government is a continuity and they would strongly uphold that. He commended the Speakers attention on the matter, the Drivers Union and all other contributors on the matter.
