Sierra Leone: Ensuring they come out with a better bill, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Honourable Chernor Maju Bah, has assured all that as a Parliament they are looking at the Cybercrime Bill 2020 with one eye and not on partisan basis.
The Leader of the Opposition commended the Minister of Information, Mohamed Rahman Swarray for continuously listening and acting on the direction of Parliament since the repeal process of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act to the Cybercrime Bill 2020.
According to him, the Information Minister had been engaging and consulting with relevant stakeholders on the cybercrime Bill, and he believes by the time the Minister returns to Parliament to continue the discussion on the Bill, they will be able to reach a common ground to have a Bill that will not be for an individual or group but a Bill that will stand the test of time that will cover everyone and situations.
He said Parliament is aware about the ongoing comparism that is going on among members of the public stating the Bill is more draconian than Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act. He stated that they are still looking forward to receive views and opinion from the public as they are the people’s representatives.
Hon. Chernor Bah promised that they will look at the views and opinions submitted and those they think make sense from the legislative angle will be considered while putting the Bill together, adding that they are looking at the Bill with the same unity they had while repealing the 1965 Public Order Act.
It could be recalled that the House of Parliament recently requested the Minister of Information to go and do further engagement and discussion on the cybercrime Bill 2020 with relevant stakeholders and public within two weeks to ensure everyone is aware about the Bill and its contents and for people to make input in the process.
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on Tuesday 13th April 2021, presented its position paper on the Cybercrime Bill 2020 to the Minister of Information after thorough consultations with not only its affiliate bodies but also constituent members including the Independent Media Commission, Media Reform Coordinating Group, Right to Access Information, Guild of Newspaper Editor, Veteran Journalists Union among others.
AMK/15/04/2021