Members of Parliament yesterday continued the debate for the Apprioriation Act 2008, being an act to authorize expenditure from the consolidated fund for the services of Sierra Leone.
Hon Dr Moses Sesay of the APC ended up his contribution by stating that comparative analysis of the figures in the budget to the previous ones proved that expected performances are required by the ministeries.
Hon Martin Nyuma of the SLPP highlighted the scale of preference of the government by allocating Le 74.4 billion to the energy ministry for which much attention is given to electricity. The second on the priority list which is said is Guma Valley has a least budget of Le 2.6 billion.
The Finance Minister was present after being requested for but the majority leader Hon Edward Turay requested for the minister to leave as he has to be in cabinet. That request was objected to by Hon Dr Brima Kamanda of SLPP that the budget debate was very important for which the minister was required to be present. He questioned that if the minister was leaving to attend other important government matters when non of his two deputies were not present “ then I will ask that we adjourn for tomorrow”
Despite the explanation of Hon Edward Turay that the minister was needed at cabinet and his two deputies out of the country on national assignments, the M.Ps raised dissatisfaction.
The speaker of parliament Hon Justice Abel Stronge intervened that he saw the point of Hon Brima Kamanda reasonable but because of the exigency of the situation at the moment “ The minister has my permission to leave”
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