By: M:ohamed M. Sesay
With a unified voice, Honorable Members of the Fifth and Final Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, have on Thursday the 12th of January 2023, graciously enacted into law the bill entitled the Courts (Amendment) Act of 2023.
The Act seeks to amend the Court’s Act, of 1965 to increase the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Courts in Civil matters and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the agreement to Parliament the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice Mohamed Laman Tarawallie said the bill is necessary and timely to increase and expand the jurisdiction of the court system and provide speedy trials in the magistrate court and also to ease the burden of citizens to access justice.
Making his submission to the debate, Hon. Dr. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh referred to the bill before the House as non-controversial but sensitive. He spoke about the challenges of the court relative to delays in court matters and the huge piles of cases in front of the magistrate Court. He said this amendment would help the process of addressing matters of the judiciary, especially petty issues.
On his part, the Chairman of the Legislative Committee in Parliament Hon. Sulaiman Marry-Conteh, said the needful has to be done in the current times of transformation, in order to make things better for the re-vamping of the judiciary. He supports the timeliness of the bill and urged colleague MPs to speedily enact the bill into law.
Independent MP from Pujehun District Hon. Shaka Sama disclosed that the judiciary needs more judges and noted that it is a positive move by the justice system and commended the AG for restructuring the judiciary. He said many people are in prison and their matters are not treated fairly.
Hon. Sheku Munirru Turay commended the minister for the transformation of the judiciary and requested proper clarification on matters of procedures and other related juridical matters of the Court.
The Leader of the Main Opposition Hon Chernor RM Bah joined the bandwagon for a speedy enactment of the bill considering it as very necessary and timely.
Concluding the debate, Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma commended the minister and colleague MPs for their meaningful contributions to the Bill.
He added that that the bill is a good law and underscored the transformation of the judiciary, “We have made a lot of progress in enacting good laws for the State”, he concluded.