The scene at the well of the Sierra Leone parliament was yesterday 19th July 2016 turned into a showroom when Members of Parliament (MP) for both the ruling All People Congress (APC) party and the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) were being welcomed.
The show started immediately after the record of votes and proceedings was done. The ruling APC party newly elected MPs for constituency 050 in Port Loko district, Honorable Osman Karanka Conteh and the opposition SLPP Navo Kaikai of constituency 001 were officially sworn-in as Members of Parliament in accordance with the Third schedule of the country’s 1991 constitution which deals mainly with procedure in parliament.
The well of parliament was full of praises and love from Members of Parliament queuing behind and around their respective elected MP during the swearing-in ceremony throwing their weight and support on either side whiles other family members, friends and party supporters who crowded the entire reserved seats and hanging on the press gallery as well were singing songs of support.
At a particular time the Speaker of the House of Parliament Honorable S.B.B. Dumbuya had to caution supporters to maintain decorum and listen to the proceeding pointing that the purposes for which they were in the parliament was almost over. He called on his colleague parliamentarians to give double applauds to the newly elected Honorable Navo Kaikai for being an elected female MP with more hope of fruitful deliberations in the house in the interest of the country.
Outside the well of parliament was jam-parked with supporters parading all the corridors in anticipation with joy singing party and societal songs as proceedings were ongoing all dressed in their party colors beating drums and other local instruments as they sing and dance. The APC supporters were shouting, “If you wan better cam APC,” so also the SLPP supporters were saying, “With SLPP Paopa Salone for better.”
This drama and fun packed actions captured the minds of many who were not fortunate to have seats in the parliament to witness the ceremony but had come from as far as Kailahun and Port Loko districts respectively to demonstrate love and loyalty to their various political parties. Though less noisy as compared to campaign periods, the scene was peaceful and friendly as supporters’ chatted, laughed, and cracked jokes with each other and even shared water among themselves.
By Mohamed Kabba
Wednesday July 20, 2016
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