Parliament, Agric Ministry Validate Bills to Protect the Environment
Freetown, November 3 (SLENA) -The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, chaired by Hon. Alimamy G. Kargbo last week partnered with the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), under the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other stakeholders in the development arena to mark and finally validate the draft bills on Wildlife Conservation Bill 2015, Forestry 2015 and Wetlands Bill 2015.
Amendments were also proposed to the current NPAA Act at Leone Lodge in Aberdeen, Freetown.
Speaking on behalf of the Agriculture Committee in parliament, Hon. Aaron A. Koroma welcomed the initiative of NPAA and the Ministry of Agriculture in putting the documentations together aimed at protecting the environment. Hon. Koroma promised that Parliament would look into the proposed bills when officially placed before the House for deliberation.
In his statement, Dr. Sam- Sesay, Minister of Agriculture acknowledged the role played by his ministry in the promotion of agricultural activities in the country. On the bills, Dr. Sam Sesay noted that it would empower the NPAA to protect the environment with other line ministries and agencies in the country.
Executive Director of NPAA, Dr. Kolleh Bangura commended UNDP and other agencies for their support and said that after the final validation of the bills, they as an agency would send the draft bills to parliament for legislators to make their inputs for it to be passed into law for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone.
Representatives from civil society organizations, Paramount Chiefs, line ministries and UN agencies welcomed and appreciated the initiative of NPAA and pledged their support for the protection of the environment.
The two days’ validation programme set the agenda for the protection of the environment as the proposed bills are focused on the protection and conservation of the environment.
Credit SLENA
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