The debate over the revised SLPP constitution

The editor of the Peep newspaper definitely has a phobia for the SLPP and would appear to be among the misguided small group which believes that their ill motives would of necessity be translated into reality. The SLPP had a constitution which was ratified at the party’s convention in Kenema last March. At the same convention the party elected an executive committee headed by John Benjamin which is responsible for the day to day administration of the party. It DELIBERATELY DEFRRED THE ELECTION OF A PARTY LEADER WHO WOULD ALSO BE THE FLAGBEARER IN THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION to 2011. Could anything be clearer? Why does the editor of Peep make such a heavy task of it with his Friday October 2 edition of “No leader, No constitution, No rape, No chance?” But, that is the editor of Peep who reduces everything to satire. We are not jokers and he knows it.

No constitution has been finally put together without much debate, much compromise, (give and take) and an element of unsatisfied delegates. There have always been different and often conflicting interests; ask EBK. At the end of a long and sometimes acrimonious debate of the American Constitution , when the final version was put in September 1738, some delegates left before the signing ceremony while three of those who remained refused to sign, Benjamin Franklin who at 81, yes EIGHTY ONE the oldest and most widely accomplished delegate said, “There are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve.” He said he would accept the constitution however, “because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best.” Well, no one left before the end of the Kenema meetings, nor did anyone raise any objections.

It is the opinion of this dinosaur that our constitution as ratified in Kenema be deposited with the PPRC. There will always be room, if not now but in the future for suggested amendments. I believe this is the position of the Review Committee and those of the numerous party members who have spoken to me on the matter. No member must insist on a democratic right but to acquiesce to the view of the majority. 

The SLPP constitution was reviewed by a large meeting of stake holders after suggested amendments. It was then taken to an Executive Council meeting in Bo which made further recommendations and directed the Constitutional Review Committee to make a final draft, taking note of the amendments. These were further discussed before the Kenema convention and on the floor of the convention itself the day before elections, where the chairman of the Review Committee highlighted all the salient points before it was put to the vote and accepted unanimously. Having said that, I must state categorically, that while I admire Abass Bundu’s logical sequence of events in his argument, I completely deprecate his threat of court action. Such ultimatum is not called for and doesn’t demonstrate leadership.

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