By: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department
The Parliament of Sierra Leone continues a Motion of Thanks to President Bio on Tuesday, 05/11/2024, 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 Presidential Address, Hon. Rugiatu Rosy Kanu of the Western Urban District expressed doubt and referred to the government’s achievement as vague.
She decried the Free Quality Education relative to teachers without pin codes, the poor output of pupils, and poor water and sanitation in schools.
The MP emphatically decried poor-quality education and extortion in schools. She described the Feed Salone as an economic burden to the people engulfed by a bad road network, making it difficult for farmers to move freely with perishable goods.
Hon. Charles Abdulai from Bo District clarified statements made by the previous debater regarding retention rate and performance in public exams and water and sanitation in schools, comparatively from the previous government to the current. He said the speech encompassed every achievement of the President.
He reflected on the previous activities of Parliament in light of their responsibilities and unity. Agriculture, the MP said, has achieved a lot of grants. He said the government is working hard to promote active food security and improve donor confidence in the government.
Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray from Moyamba District said he expects the ruling bench to consider the debate a democratic dialogue. He recalled that the previous government implemented several electricity projects.
The MP used the opportunity to explain the difficulty of delivering services and the lack of manpower, especially in health and education.
He also spoke about delays in paying school subsidies, poor salaries, and difficulty registering candidates for the West African Senior Secondary School Exam (WASSCE).
Hon. Hindolo Moiwo Ngevao from Kailahun District described the speech as the State of the Union Address in tandem with unity and peace, amongst other things. He described President Bio as the best Sierra Leone has ever produced.
The MP informed the House that amidst challenges, including insecurities, President Bio is making outstanding performances.
He predicated his debate on the practice of democracy, good governance, and the promotion of peace and used the opportunity to urge compatriots to allow elected leaders to rule. Hon. Ngevao categorically stated that President Bio delivers more than any other President and highlighted the president’s achievements.
Hon. Mohamed Papa Bangura from Bombali District used the opportunity to address the poor and grassroots.
While speaking on improving and growing the economy, the MP said many people can’t afford to buy a bag of rice, and there is hunger and despair across the country. Certain communities, the MP said, are not accessing the mobile network, and there is a delay in fixing a collapsed bridge between Bombali and Karene Districts. He described Feed Salone as a campaign slogan and asked the government to make it a reality and commit to it.
Hon. Joseph Kanu from the Western Area challenged the previous debater on electricity in Moyamba.
He called on citizens to collaboratively support farming and the government’s tremendous effort to provide electricity. He used the opportunity to ask the government to improve road construction in Waterloo. He urged all politicians to be united and represent their people well.
In his submission to the debate, Hon. Aruna P. Lako from Tonkolili District urged the government to speedily accomplish certain road projects in Waterloo and some that are in progress.
He called for unity in diversity and added that the people should be represented well.
On economic growth, he said, they can’t challenge what is documented, but what is grounded is far from reality.
Hon. Lakoh gave comparative analyses of the economy from the previous government to the present, considering their rice buying. On agriculture, he said the previous government constructed roads linking farms for proper agricultural productivity.
For her part, Hon Umu Pyne from Moyamba District predicated her debate on the achievement of primary health care under the visionary leadership of President Bio’s administration.
Hon. Pyne said there were over 200 PHUs around the country before 2028, but President Bio has established 1557 PHUs nationwide. She alluded to the President’s bio administration’s recruitment of many nurses and doctors.
She applauded the work of the Ministry of Health and other line health agencies.
She commended Parliament and the president on gender-related issues for empowering women to participate in politics.
Hon. Cecilia Mabinty Banguran from Karene District noted that the people should hold the government accountable and that in agriculture, the government needs to do what is needed to improve the agriculture sector and road infrastructure to boost the nation’s development.
She said the situational health facilities in the country are nothing to write home about and urged the government to do what is necessary to improve the health care facilities for the nation.
On her part, Hon. Lollo Tongai from Kailahun District applauded the first lady for providing Sanitary pads to school-going children. She pleaded with authorities to take agriculture seriously and develop the country’s agriculture sector.
On corruption, she commended the ACC boss for championing the eradication of corruption in the country. On gender equality and women’s empowerment issues, she commended President Bio for standing tall in giving women the right to participate in the governance of the State.
In her submission to the debate, Hon. Hawa Conteh from Koinadugu District decried the initiatives of the Feed Salone project and urged the government to properly concentrate on roads, like agricultural farms.
She said Koinadugu and Falaba Districts are key districts in promoting agriculture in the country, adding that greater support is needed to improve the agriculture sector.
Hon. Simeon Johnny from Kono District commended President Bio for championing development for the nation. He said that under President Bio, this country is exporting Doctors to Rwanda and other sub-regional countries to help fight deadly viruses.
On health-related construction, he said the northern region had benefitted many other regions. He said the president’s movement out of the country had benefitted the people of Sierra Leone, adding that Sierra Leone, under President Bio’s administration, had gained more accolades in the international arena.
In his debate, Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Kargbo from Karene District questioned the Torma Bum rice project and called for sincerity in terms of development for the State. He called on the government to construct roads linking neighbouring countries for international trade. He called on the Government not to politicize development.
In his submission to the debate, Hon. Abdulai Kamara from Western Area Urban said agriculture is a pillar of development and noted that the government is struggling to feed its people .” Sierra Leonean people are very hungry,” he said, calling on the speedy product of the Tarma bum rice project.
He concluded by calling on the government to help people and serve them well.
Concluding the debate for the second allotted day, Hon. Ing. Habib Keifa Fabbah from Bo District referred to the president’s speech as “nationalist.” He went on to note that the president’s agenda is to give the country a new facelift and urged the opposition to support the president’s agenda in the development of the State .”Let put Sierra Leone first,” he concluded.
