By: Aminata Sesay
Honourable Catherine Zainab Tarawallie has raised concerns over the welfare of retired military personnel in Sierra Leone, telling Parliament that some former senior officers are struggling to survive on meagre pensions.
Speaking during debate on the Military Veterans Bill, Hon. Tarawallie said retired military personnel deserved better recognition and support after years of dedicated service to the nation.
She disclosed that even former colonels and majors were facing serious financial difficulties, while some retired soldiers could be seen on the streets of Freetown begging for food and assistance to support their families.
She described the proposed legislation as an important opportunity for Parliament to address the longstanding welfare challenges facing former military personnel and restore dignity to those who had served the country.
Hon. Tarawallie said the bill demonstrated government’s commitment to improving the welfare of military veterans, adding that the Sixth Parliament had an opportunity to make history by ensuring that retired soldiers were no longer neglected.
While expressing support for the objectives of the bill, she identified several provisions that required further scrutiny, particularly those relating to appointments, institutional responsibilities and the definition of dependants eligible for benefits.
She specifically called for clarification of Clause 11(2), which addresses benefits for veterans and their dependants. She argued that the legislation must clearly define who qualifies as a dependant to avoid confusion and disputes during implementation.
She also raised concerns about the proposed appointment procedures and called for further examination of Clauses 15 and 16, particularly the position and responsibilities of the Director-General.
According to her, the minister’s authority to recommend appointments must be clearly distinguished from the President’s constitutional responsibility to make appointments where applicable.
Despite these concerns, Hon. Tarawallie maintained that the issues identified were largely matters of clarification and legislative refinement rather than reasons to delay the passage of the bill.
She disclosed that members had examined the proposed legislation during a committee briefing and agreed to revisit the outstanding provisions before returning the bill to the House for further consideration.
She further stressed the need to expedite the process, noting that establishing the proposed institutional structures would be important ahead of the presentation of the national budget.
Hon. Tarawallie called on Members of Parliament across party lines to support the legislation, emphasizing that the welfare of retired military personnel should transcend political differences.
She urged Parliament to ensure that men and women who had dedicated their lives to defending Sierra Leone received the support, recognition and dignity they deserved in retirement.