By: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department
The Parliament of Sierra Leone started a Motion of Thanks to President Bio on Thursday, 07/11/2024, for the speech he so graciously delivered on the Occasion of the State Opening of the Second Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone in the Chamber of the Parliament Building on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024.
In continuation of the debate on the Fourth Allotted Day, Hon. Alice Kornah Sandi from Kenema District commended the achievement of President Julius Maada Bio in the Feed Salone. She said the debate over the days had been centered on the Feed Salon with little to no notice of the tremendous gain made in the Private Sector in the country. She lauded the Sardine Factory, recently launched by President Bio, for providing jobs for youth. The MP also alluded to the PC and Son’s investment in Onion supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. She highlighted that PC and sons had established colossal Onion farms in Loko Masama Chiefdom in Port Loko District.
She also acknowledged the fiscal discipline of the government, which had ensured the salaries were paid promptly. The MP added that the prudent Fiscal reforms yielded dividends and restored the IMF and World Bank’s Confidence in the Bio Administration. He also commended the Bio Administration’s laudable fight to win the $480 million MCC Compact.
The MP from Kenena also lauded the Bio Administration for supporting Women’s Empowerment, especially the enactment of the GEW Act and the 30 quota for female representation. She referenced the ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ Campaign launched by First Lady Madam Fatima Bio to protect and dignify girls’ rights. She also referenced the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act legislated by the Sixth Parliament.
Hon. Komba Quee from Kono also joined the bandwagon in commending the President for such a developmentally oriented speech he delivered. He alluded that President Julius Maada Bio is passionate about providing sustainable development for the nation. He recalled that in 2022, the Bank of Sierra Leone significantly improved monetary policies. He said the fiscal deficit had narrowed due to the fiscal policies put in place by the Bio Administration. He decried the APC regime for lacking the gumption to implement good fiscal policies.
Hon. Haja Miatta Amara from Western Area Rural District thanked the President for his address. She acknowledged the former President Koroma for his tremendous work on Road infrastructure. She recalled that Kenema had four major roads linking to Kenema, adding that the former President constructed three of those roads.
Hon. Haja Amara decried the terrible road of the Kenema-Zimmi Highway, which the Bio Administration had long forgotten. She confirmed that Kenema enjoys the electricity supply in Kenema, but the locals of Kenema cannot withstand the astronomical tariff on EDSA. She added that kenema is engulfed with poverty and hunger. She expressed passion for Persons Living with Disability, adding that Grafton is full of Persons Living with Disability.
She said little or nothing had been done for Persons Living with disability. She continued to advocate for Persons with Disability and requested the government to provide buses for Persons Living with Disability. She also called for decent accommodations for Persons Living with Disability.
Hon. Sarty Banya from Kailahun refuted the contributions made by Hon. Haja Amara regarding the road construction in Kenema. He said for the rest of the years of President Bio’s tenure, Kenema City was engulfed by Blackout. He said President Bio’s speech was very nationalistic.
He called on MPs to redirect the political party lens and put on the national lens. He mentioned that many reforms had been made in the Health Sector with too Many pin codes under the Bio Administration. He concluded by alluding that the Kailahun District had benefited tremendously in terms of healthcare infrastructure.
Hon. Marie Kamara from Bombali District continued that the supply of seed rice and fertilizers had been untimely and hindered food production. She called for an earlier supply of rice seeds and fertilizers. She called for what was necessary to be done so that the Feed Salone would be a success. The MP from Bombali continued that the government should listen to the APC Party, adding that the Opposition Party is always ready to help. She emphasized that lack of inclusiveness tended to hinder progress.
Hon. Racheal Mariatu Sesay Pessima from Port Loko District expressed optimism in President Bio’s leadership to deliver for the nation. She said President Bio had tremendous dreams for the development of the nation. He noted that President Bio had taken tremendous strides in developing Healthcare delivery for the nation. She referenced the Mighty Hospital constructed under the Bio Administration at Lumbley.
She added that President Bio is determined to provide affordable and quality Healthcare. She continued by saying that President Julius Maada Bio had greatly developed the Port Loko District. She reminded me that President Bio had supported and commissioned the first Female School in Port Loko.
She also referenced the construction of the Airport under the leadership of President Julius Maadam Bio. She affirmed that most of the workers at the Freetown International Airport are from Port Loko District. She also reminded me that President Bio had initiated the construction of a one-hundred-bed hospital in Port Loko.
In his submission to the debate, Hon. Mohamed Fofonah thanked President Bio on behalf of the people of Kambia District for a speech so graciously delivered. He pinpointed the achievement of President Bio on the international stage. In the United Nations Security Council, he said President Bio was the chairman of that session and applauded his leadership quality in promoting peace and unity.
He recalls President Bio’s speech at the UN Security Council calling for more seats for the African continent. The MP commended the president and the first Lady for championing infrastructural development in the health sector.
Hon. John Sartty Kargbo from the Western Area Rural District submitted that there are economic challenges relative to rice importation for ordinary citizens. The MP decried the government’s bad road network and went on to inform the House that there is a lack of government facilities at Devil Hole and its community in the Western Area Rural District. “Rural livelihood is appalling for the people in the Western Area Rural District,” he said.
Hon Jibrila Surmoijueh from Bonthe District submitted that in the President Bio speech, His Excellency brought out unity in diversity, citing different clauses in the present address. He referred to the president as a visionary leader with the country at heart for development.
On the Feed Salone project, he said it is just a year old and believes it could be achieved significantly, citing the intention of the President to feed Sierra Leone. The MP acknowledged the agricultural developmental strides achieved by this government so far. He admonished his colleague MPs to support the president to achieve for the people of Sierra Leone. he concluded by informing the House on the work of the president internationally.
On his part, Hon. Sorieba Alhaji Turay from Tonkolili District called on his colleague MPs to focus on the previous speech and not otherwise. He called for constitutional loyalty for Sierra Leone and not otherwise. He said human capital development is important for the nation’s development and called for more improvement in all sectors. He called on the government to reduce the 5% tax on rice for 2024 and 2025.
On his part, Hon. Benjamin Turay from Western Area, Ubran, commended the president for his diversity in appointments.
On human capital development, he appreciated the President for creating job opportunities. On the international level, he commended the president for gender empowerment and infrastructural development for the nation.
Hon. Ayodele Thompson from Western Area Urban submitted that the Feed Salone initiatives must work and went on to appreciate the President’s initiatives. He said his community suffers from the darkness of Energy and called for improvement. On nationalism, He called for total unity for the nation and prayed for the president in the right direction.
Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers from Pujuhun District submitted his debate on the military and security forces. He thanked the president for recognizing the work of the security forces in the country and said the security sector had played a pivotal role in promoting governance.
Hon. Tom Tucker from Kono District said most of the promises made by the president are far from reality and praised the previous government for developing the Kono District. He urged for the private sector’s support to improve the country’s economic situation. He called on the government to cut down on traveling. He also called for due attention to communication, especially regarding improving mobile networks nationwide. He called on MPs to take the debate with a nationalistic lense.
Hon. Beatrice Maaya Kangbai from Bo thanked the President for his impressive support to the aged. She lauded the President for appointing qualified Nominees to help deliver for the nation. She commended all the deliverable promises the president made in his Manifesto. The MP also commended the President for improving the health sector. She concluded by commending the President for the vim and vigor he had placed in agriculture, especially the Feed Salone programme.
Hon Kemoko Conteh from Western Area Rural District referenced the President’s Speech, saying, “A hungry man is an angry man,” and noted that the statement is an issue of national security and called on the State to improve the welfare of the people. Regarding Kush, he called for a more concerted effort to address the challenges. On road maintenance, he called for rehabilitation of the neglected ones. He urged for continuity of governance and develop the nation.
Hon Abdul Karim Bangura from Karene District commended the former President for establishing Karene District, though it is political. He said the government had done a lot in human capital development, approved more schools in his district in the education sector, and welcomed the government’s initiative in the nation’s development.
