As it resumes session from over two months closure, Parliament reopens on 6th October 2016 with a call for the Minister of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley to explain to the people’s representatives the rationale for the recent fifteen percent Goods and Services Tax imposed on electricity consumption.
The zest to summon the Minister was openly displayed with a heavy tap on their desks when the SLPP Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Sualiho M. Koroma raised the issues in the well.
He said, “the Minister of Energy should come to Parliament and explain about the increment noting that Section 107(2 a & b) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone empowers parliament to do so in the interest of the masses. He quotes the said portion of the Constitution as thus: “A Minister may be summoned before Parliament or a Committee thereof-(a) to give an account of any matter falling within his portfolio; or (b) to explain any aspect of Government policy.”
All the Members of Parliament present gave him a standing ovation as a show of national interest and readiness to discuss the issue further.
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sheku B. B. Dumbuya said he will not allow any other person to dilate on the issue and requested that Hon. Koroma follow the laid down procedures that will ensure the presence of the Minister to face the Parliamentarians for what he said would be when the issue can be properly discussed.
Also, another SLPP MP, Hon. Bashiru Silikie raised the issue of the increment on the cost of a passport, explaining that he read it in a newspaper that starting 1st November 2016, the passport price will be increased from Le500, 000 (Five hundred thousand Leones) to Le750,000 (Seven hundred thousand Leones). He said the implications of such an increment are enormous.
However, the Speaker of Parliament was quick to interject and asked the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Sesay whether he has seen that notice. The Clerk responded in the negative.
The Speaker therefore cautioned the MP to hold his peace until Parliament is made aware of the increment notice officially.
More in the well, a lot of papers were laid in Parliament for adoption in subsequent meetings including one on Audit Service Sierra Leone relating to audit of the procurement activities in selected public sector entities for the period January to October 2015, the Annual Report on the Anti-Corruption Commission for the year ended 2015, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (downstream petroleum) Regulations 2016, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Act 2004 (Act No. 3 of 2014),Report on the sittings of the Parliament Committees on Pan-African Parliament, Clerks, and Speakers Conferences, held in South Africa Midrand , from 27th April to 13th May, 2016 among others.
By Emmanuella Kallon
Friday October 07, 2016