The Minority Leader of Parliament Hon. Bernadette Lahai has referred to a statement made by Hon. Dixon Rogers on 98.1 Radio that Members of Parliament are planning to bring a bill in Parliament to eliminate certain members from contesting the presidential election as “wanting to put Parliament into disrepute”.
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament (MP) made this statement on the 30th June, 2016 at the Well immediately after they have passed in to law the National Civil Registration Act.
Hon. Lahai said “SLPP Hon. Dixon Rogers was on the radio station making a statement and the statement he made is putting parliament in to disrepute”.
According to the Minority Leader, “The statement Hon. Rogers made in 98.1 is that a female MP traveling to Brussels did make statement that MPs particularly the leadership is planning to bring a bill in parliament to eliminate certain members from contesting the presidential elections as presidential candidate”.
“There are 14 female MPs and that statement has created suspicion between and among us because we do not know which female member of Parliament did make such allegation”, she said.
“I am standing on Standing Order 23 so that for some of you who did not listen to the broadcast that this Parliament request 98.1 for the clip so that the clip is played and we are left in no uncertain terms the exact statement of this MP”, Hon. Lahai said adding that “having listened to that tape I will want to know who is that female MP”.
Hon. Chernor Bah requested the Clark to call for the tape through the Public Relations Officer.
Responding, Hon. Rogers said “I have been warned not to make any statement on the issue. The only thing I will say is that one day I heard a call from one parliamentarian from another country, whom I had not met before, who told me that he travelled with one female MP to Brussels who said that Parliamentarians are planning to bring a bill in parliament to eliminate certain members from contesting the presidential election as presidential candidate”.
On the issues regarding an interview with 98.1, he said “I did not remember using the word leadership of parliament. I actually say female MP in parliament but I did not specify which parliament. Whether it is Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria parliament I did not specify which one”.
By Emmanuella Kallon
Monday July 04, 2016
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