Parliament yesterday ratified agreements between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Government of the State of Kuwait on Economic and Technical Cooperation, Trade, and a memorandum of understanding on conducting of Bilateral Consultation dated 24th May and 14th September 2010 respectively.
The Minister of Internal Affairs and International Corporation Joseph Bandabla Dauda while presenting the ratification said “the people and Government of Kuwait funded the construction of the Kent Waterloo road, Kenema Pendembu road and the Lumley Tokeh Road.”
He stated that “the Kuwaiti Government also funded the agriculture feasibility study on rice extension, funded the construction of schools, hospitals and the tickets for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims.”
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Chukwuma Johnson opened the debate and most of the parliamentarians expressed their optimism over the benefits of ratifying an agreement with the Government of Kuwait which they believe will contribute to the socio economic development of the country.
Hon. Chernor Bah said the ratification of the agreement demonstrates President Koroma’s call for 2011 as a year of implementation of developmental initiatives. He assured Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Kuwait of parliamentary support.
Hon. Momoh Pujeh cautioned that the benefits of the agreements should be equitably distributed across the country making mention of tickets for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. He additionally stated that projects funded by the Kuwait government should be effectively implemented.
At the end of the debate Parliamentarians unanimously agreed to ratify the Sierra Leone Kuwait agreement.
This reporter contacted the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Kuwait Ibrahim Kamara after the ratification of the agreement. He said with the ratification of the agreement it will create the enabling environment for him to carry out his duties in Kuwait.
He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for facilitating the ratification in parliament and assured that he will do everything possible to implement the ratified agreement as soon as possible.
Ambassador Kamara commended the parliamentarians for ratifying the agreement which he said is in the best interest of the country and its people.
Meanwhile the Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Bandabla Dauda also presented parliament with convention No 182 on worst forms of child labour adopted on 17th June 1999 by the conference of the International Labour Organization at its eighty seventh sessions dated 19th November 2000 in accordance with article 10.
Parliamentarians commenced the debate on convention 138 for minimum age however the debate for ratification continues at the adjourned date for committee stages.
By Saidu Bah
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