Hon. Lahai Marrah Speaks on Standing Orders in Sierra Leone
The Honorable Member of Parliament for Constituency 42 in Falaba District, Lahai Marrah who is the Chairman, Public Account Committee in Parliament has thrown light on how Parliament works relating to Standing Orders. (Photo: Hon. Lahai Marrah)
He told Sierra Express Media that Standing Orders principles governs the Sierra Leone Parliament and highlighted that vote and proceedings should not only be available immediately after sitting but all documents should also be available before sitting to have a proper debate.
He explained that the Standing Orders could only be amended by a Standing Order Committee after the Chief Whip moved a motion to amend certain section in the Standing Orders.
He described themselves as not opposition leaders but as majority leaders because he said, they have the majority in Parliament and expressed disappointment that as majority leaders in Parliament supposed to chair the Business Committee but amazingly he said, they are not enjoying that opportunity any longer because their rights have been stolen from them.
He discussed on the important as Parliamentarians to have a working relationship so that Parliament could not be hold into ransom and explained how the election of the Speaker of the House of Parliament was brutal and unconstitutional. He said an injunction was imposed on members of the main opposition party, preventing them from taking part in the election of the Speaker of Parliament, a situation he described as bad precedent sets by the ruling party. He said as majority party in Parliament, they only cheered six out of thirty two (32) committees in Parliament.
However, the APC MP affirmed that the Speaker of Parliament have promised for a dialogue to amend that alarming issue of constitutional violation to have a good Parliament. He said the executive should not misuse its power by interfering into affairs of Parliament. He recalled that during the election of the Speaker of Parliament, they as majority in Parliament were forced, bulldozed and brutalized.
He maintained that only the ruling; Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and Coalition For Change (C4C) that took part in the election of the Speaker of the House of Parliament while the APC and NGC distant themselves from the process because they considered it as undemocratic. “We want the country and the President, Julius Maada Bio to succeed”, he told the well of Parliament and described the Standing Orders as the bible of Parliament.
He expressed disappointment that our constitution does not capture the present state of Parliament and emphasized that we are living in a confused state as the majority which supposed to be leader of Government Business never allow performing that function.
By Amira Tatayea Bangura
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