By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
The Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has on Monday 14 August 2023 commenced a deliberation on the Presidential Address delivered by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio on the occasion of the state opening of the Sixth Parliament on 3rd August 2023.
Having taken a critical look at the clauses in the Presidential Address which is tailored by the Big Five Manifesto, the Honourable Members of Parliament showered praises on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for being considerate and for having good intentions for the people of Sierra Leone.
Honourable Member of Parliament, Mathew Nyuma, Leader for Government Business in the well of Parliament profoundly digressed on the Presidential Address with a view on almost all the five key pillars of the ‘Big Five Manifesto’. He said as a government they are very concerned in discharging their responsibilities in line with the people and the constitution. Hon. Nyuma said that the ‘Big Five Manifesto’ was crucial to the heart of everybody and therefore called on all Paramount Chiefs and Members of Parliament to work in unity and achieve the goals in the manifesto.
On the Youth Empowerment Scheme which is the third pillar of the manifesto, Hon. Mathew Nyuma emphasized on how influential youth empowerment is, especially in the context of Africa. He said there is need to empower youth by bringing in the private sector. The hon. MP made reference to the Temple Run and Mediterranean Sea where youths had been risking their lives in search of greener pasture. He therefore reiterated that there was an urgent need to address such which he said could be by putting youth in the forefront, adding that, it was what President Bio had exactly done.
Speaking on other national critical issues, Hon. Mathew Nyuma affirmed that there must be challenging issues after every election. He said post-election challenge is not a new phenomenon adding that it does happen in other countries even in the United States of America. He emphasized that President Bio is a righteous man, though not a God but said he is a democrat. Hon. Mathew Nyuma called on other members of parliament to be futuristic for their nation and as well be critical in directing the President rather than lauding praises on him. “We should aid with supporting reasons to the President,” he said.
Hon. Member of Parliament Bashiru Silikie, Deputy Leader 1 for Government Business in his statement while addressing the Big Five Manifesto expressed that he is pleased with the decisions of His Excellency the President. He said President Bio’s message to prioritize education has reached every household. Hon. Silikie emphasized that the competition has become higher as the country now has more pass rate on public exams and more girls, especially in the fields of Sciences than before.
Hon. Bashiru Silikie continued to emphasize that the government remained the highest employer in Sierra Leone. He said this is unlike to other countries where government workers could not be seen easily. Hon. Silikie re-echoed President Bio’s intention to revitalize the vocational institutes. “I am very pleased when I heard the President is bringing more technical and vocational institutes to alleviate jobs scarcity,” he expressed. He went on recalling that President promised 500,000 jobs and assured that they would ask him at the end of the day.
Hon. Silikie challenged and encouraged all Parliamentarians and members of committees to follow up on MDA’s. “I would be very pleased to see MDA’s coming and complaining but not the other way round,” he said. The Hon. MP expressed that if that is not done in enforcing the President’s manifesto, he said they would be disappointing the people who voted them in. He further called on all MP’s to join hands in achieving the President’s manifesto.
Hon. Wuyatta Bernadette Songa from Kailahun District thanked the President for His Speech. Deliberating on the clauses in the manifesto with focus on the health sector, she recalled on the life expectancy in Sierra Leone which she said was at 53 during 2018 but said it had been ameliorated and now at the time of reporting at 61. Hon. Songa expressed that, such achievement was a huge gain they as a country had made. “There is a serious government looking at the health of its people,” she added. Hon. Wuyatta emphasized that there had been a huge revamp in the health sector making mentioned of the Rokupa Hospital, Jojoama and some others built during the Bio’s government.
Hon. Wuyatta started a discussion and expressed a strong condemnation on ‘Kush’ importers and smokers, HIV distributors, adding that HIV is becoming a Pandemic in Sierra Leone. She said those health problems including depression are worsening every day because less attention was being given on them. Proffering solutions on those health issues, the Hon. MP requested for 3 percent to be allocated to Mental Health from the 15 percent President Bio had promised to allocate to the health budget. She further requested for a cancelling service on youth and a robust check on the types of drugs being sold to youths, saying that would make a great change.