Parliament enacts another Bill
Freetown, June 21 (SLENA): Parliament has enacted the bill titled the ‘Nuclear Safety Radiation Protection Act 2012’.
Presenting the bill to parliament last Thursday, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resource, Mattin Alex Bash Kamara said the bill will protect the public and workers from danger resulting from the use of devices or materials capable of producing ionizing radiation and for other related matters.
Minister informed parliament that last year the international atomic energy agency (IAEA) visited Sierra Leone and some inspections on Radiation offices were done and recommended that measures should be put in place to address radiation control in the country.
The minister noted that in order to meet international standards of radiation protection, Sierra Leone needed to approve the Protection and Radiation Act 2012.
The minister pointed out that the bill if approved can help the country establish structures for the treatment of cancer including the establishment of a nuclear power in the country.
Commenting on the bill, Hon. Mathew Nyuma said the radiation bill has to be approved to help the radiation department have strong laws to control radiation in the country, adding that by approving the bill, it will help the country know the amount of radiation required by mining companies and its effect on certain food stuff.
On his part, Hon Yapo Condeh Conteh said he has serious concerns about the Radiation Protection Board for failing to raise issues regarding poles that mobile companies are using in the country and urged the radiation board to educate the general public on the effect of radiation in the country.
H++on Eric Jumu, in his contribution, supported the bill and observed that parliament can pass the bill his concern was the problem of implementation in order to control the level of radiation in the county.
Hon Jumu urged the radiation board to be proactive in their responsibility to protect the county from the challenges of radiation.
After a the bill had been well deliberated upon by members of parliament it passed through the First and Second Reading and then the Committee Stage, after which both sides of the house unanimously passed it into law.
SB/HOP/SLENA
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