By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Marking the Second Reading of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget on Tuesday 21st November 2023, the Opposition Member of Parliament from Bombali Hon. Ibrahim Barrie has showered praises on the Budget saying if fully implemented would make Sierra Leone as the most successful country in Africa.
“If Feed Salone succeeds every citizen devoid of gender, tribe, religion will benefit and that is why as members of the opposition it is important of us to offer constructive recommendations. If the contents in the 2024 Budget is efficiently implemented, Sierra Leone would be the most successful country in Africa,” APC Hon. MP strongly assured.
The Hon. Member of Parliament from Bombali commended His Excellency President Bio for prioritizing agriculture as in “Feed Salone” in his second term agenda, adding that Agriculture is the backbone for every country to develop. He implored the government to emulate Rwanda’s footprint, policies and strategies in ensuring that “Feed Salone” is become giant success in Sierra Leone. He highlighted some Rwanda agriculture polices and strategies that he said had been a challenge in to implement in Sierra Leone.
“From Rwanda let me also recommend to you the Zimbabwe model. Hon. Members Zimbabwe introduced what they called the green revolution and the land reform. However, Zimbabwe did not succeed because of lack of consistent government policies, improper monitoring system,” Hon. Barrie disclosed.
Hon. Ibrahim Kanu further emphasized on the need for effective monitoring evaluation and effective research policies, adding with another recommendation that the government should be able to connect the farms and the market. He concluded with a genuine prayer for the President flagship program which is “Feed Salone” to succeed.
Addressing the Budget, the Kono Hon Member of Parliament Tamba Simeon Johnny responded to the much raised concern from the minority said regarding the depreciation of the Leone currency. He frankly admitted that the Sierra Leone currency has indeed depreciated compared to the Guinea Franc currency but said a 100 United States Dollars could get someone three solid bags of rice in Sierra Leone but not in Guinea.
The Hon. Member from Kono assured that that the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget is one of the most informed budget amongst all the budgets that had been presented in the House of Parliament. He revealed that the policies in the budget might seem difficult but said they should be implemented now to save the country.
He expressed that the government was not wicked but said it was finding measures to better the lives of its citizens. He emphasized on what he described as significant gains made over the last five years on education. He said the Free Quality Education program had bridged the gap of students in the provinces from going to distance places just to go and sit public examinations, adding that the government had recruited more than 10,000 teachers which he said had never happened at once in the history of the country.