BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
The clerk of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone Hon. Dr. Umaru Paran Tarallie has made a disclaimer that Parliament has no intention to meddle into the affairs of the Parliamentary Press Gallery (PPG) but rather wants to ensure that sanity prevails within the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
“As a parliament we are not interfering in the conduct of the PPG affairs but to ensure that sanity prevail in the PPG”, Paran Tarawallie Said.
Dr. Tarawalie made the statement in an emergency meeting he held with the Interim Executive where he assured that he wants to see Parliamentary press Gallery that is well coordinated and does its job with no undue influence. He further disclosed that two years back, he set up a special fund for the running of the Parliamentary Press Gallery but as a result of the conspicuous division of the Gallery, he refused to make those funds available to the out-gone Executive.
Dr. Tarawalie maintained that before taking the decision to appoint an interim executive of PPG, the leadership of Parliament and SLAJ met severally in which the latter agreed to resolve the protracted PPG impasse, but woefully failed to do the needful.
The Clerk of Parliament also assured the Interim Executive that there are a lot of opportunities PPG has been missing over the years, but with the formation of this interim executive, all opportunities the PPG deserve will be accorded to it.
He called on the PPG interim executive to cross-check the membership list and to ensure that all those whose names will be included are ready to work with parliament and not to serve as antagonists to the PPG.
In terms of capacity building for the PPG, Dr. Tarawallie also intimated the PPG interim executive that members will be benefiting from both local and international trainings and that journalists from the PPG will be sent to Kenya for training in due course. The Clerk also promised the PPG of a fully equipped office space and the production of the standing orders and constitution to the membership.
Speaking on covering oversights and other international parliamentary sittings, he assuaged the interim executive that no sooner there is a comprehensive list of PPG members; he will now ensure that all committee chairmen will be directed to work with the Public Relations Department and the PPG.
He also said that after the issuance of accreditations to members of the PPG, only those that are with the accreditations will be allowed to cover parliamentary function, and they can only recognize reports coming from the PPG.
On her part, the UNDP Technical Adviser in Parliament, Hon. J.K thanked the newly appointed PPG executive and assured of her unflinching support to the PPG. She revealed that, as a way of strengthening the PPG, her office has allocated funds for the training of PPG members on Parliamentary reporting.
She said that the training is scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week and certain professionals in the world of Journalism have consented to serve as facilitators of those two days training, among them are the Deputy Director of Public Relation, Dr. Francis Sowa, Director of Committees to name but a few.
Deputy Director of PR, Mr Sheku Turay thanked the leadership of Parliament for taking the bold step in ensuring that the PPG takes its rightful position in Parliament. He assured the Clerk of their office’s commitment and support to the PPG.
The Interim President of PPG, Vincent Jabbie Momoh thanked the Clerk and the leadership of Parliament for the appointment and assured the Clerk of a vibrant PPG executive that will stand the test of time.