The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Thursday November 12, 2020 commenced debate on the Bill entitled: “The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion.” The Bill is aimed at establishing a commission which will promote peace, national cohesion and development in Sierra Leone.
It is seeking to become an Act with a view to establishing an Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion; to confer on the commission the power to take measures to prevent, manage and resolve conflict; to build, promote and maintain sustainable peace in Sierra Leone; and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the Bill to the House, the Chief Minister, Prof. David John Francis highlighted its strategic objectives and importance in the light of conflict prevention and also its management and establishment. He encouraged MPs to take a leading role in enacting and implementing the Bill, which will be an institution which will contribute managing and resolving conflict in Sierra Leone. Chief Minister Francis, also added that without peace, there will be no development and security in any society.
Contributing to the debate, the Chief Whip of Parliament, Hon. Dickson Rogers thanked President Bio and the Chief Minister for the positive initiative with the aim of addressing issues relating to peace. He also said that the Bill will not only create history, but put Sierra Leone on the map in respect of certain benchmarks relating to peaceful co-existence. He describes it as “non-controversial” in nature. He averred that President Bio is trying to unify the country by attempting to bridge a seeming tribal and political divide in the society. Speaking on the causes and effects of conflicts, he said it is necessity for research to be done to improve on conflict prevention, mitigation, resolution and the maintenance peace. Concluding, he advised saying: “let us stop indicating tribe and region when filling important documents.”
On his part, Hon. Moses Andrew Edwin said that development will not prevail without peace, adding that it was timely for such a Bill to come to Parliament for passage into law without delay for the sake of posterity. Making reference to the content of the Bill, he spoke on its nature relative to peace, conflict prevention and development programmes that are in line awaiting implementation.
Speaking to the motion, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas suggested to the House to extend a special invitation to Civil Society Organizations and the Media, pointing out that they should not only be serving and advocating for conflict management, but also be standing as moral guarantors for sustainable peace and development in the country. “This suggestion holds sway and resonates with the spirit of enriching the debate” Deputy Speaker Segepoh, emphasized.
Hon. Shiaka Sama, an Independent MP from Pujehun, express great content to have such a Bill, and noted that as an individual he has never encouraged violence and discrimination in his interactions with people, and called on Sierra Leoneans to denounce tribalism and discrimination. He threw light on Sierra Leone’s political divide and advocated solutions in light of the establishment of the peace commission; citing ensuing conflict in his constituency relating to land rights.
Hon. Rev. Horace E. Vincent referred to the Bill as “the best” and pointed out that in light of lasting peace and cohesiveness, President Bio has done the best through the establishment of a Peace Commission. He went on to say that the Commission will be independent in its composition. “If this Bill is passed, it will bring a lasting and cohesive peace in the country,” he said, and thanked the Chief Minister, Francis for bringing such an important document to Parliament for consideration.
Hon. Musa Fofana said the Bill is a good one and asked that stakeholders be allowed to contribute significantly in its implementation. “I would want to see that every political party is involved in the implementation of the Bill,” adding that, they must be at the centre. The involvement of the entire 16 geographic districts with regards to the Medium Term Development Plan is necessary for promoting the implementation of the said Bill, he said.
However, the APC declined on the debate on the grounds of late receipt of the Bill, but promised to contribute on it in the future.
Source: Department of Public Relations, Parliament of Sierra Leone
13/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7951