ย The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 17th May 2016 passed into law, with a slight amendment, the Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, to allow for use of the existing votersโ register for the conduct of bye-elections in Constituencies 001 and 050 respectively.
In piloting the Bill in Parliament, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joseph F. Kamara said among other things that the Bill seeks to provide for the use of the existing votersโ register, which should have been reviewed and revised at least once in every three years. โThe amendment will warrant NEC to conduct the bye-elections in those Constituencies as established by law,โ he said. In responding to MPsโ comments, he also said that โthe amendment will necessitate the filling of the gaps, and affirmed that both the Legislature and the Executive do have a moral responsibility to the people of Sierra Leoneโ.
During the course of the debate, Hon. Daniel Koroma described โthe Bill as clear and non-controversial with the view of serving a nationalistic purposeโ. He also said that โlaws are made with the view that they can be amended when necessary, noting that it is good for our legislative processโ. He said also that โthe Bill will allow for the conduct of the respective bye-elections created by death or those in search of greener pasturesโ. โThose peopleโ he added, are โSierra Leoneans who deserve representation in Parliament to articulate their views and aspirations in the governance of the Stateโ.
Hon. Umar Paran Tarawally also said that โlaws are made by men to conform with the status quo, whilst saying that the existing votersโ register should be used, devoid of police clearance in election administration, that creates room for suspicion and tension in case of missing identity cardsโ. This he described as a โbad practiceโ and noted that โthe police are neither an extension, nor an organ of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
On the other hand, Hon. Alhassan Kamara saw the police as constitutionally mandated to provide security by protecting lives and property in the country, and noted that any act of controversy during the conduct of those bye-elections will be met head-on by the police.
Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, Minority Leader of Parliament told MPs that โthe last review of the votersโ register should have been done by NEC in 2015, but ebola prevented that from happening for all its attendant reasons at least once in every three yearsโ. She explained that โthe amendment is aimed at allowing NEC to use the existing votersโ register for the conduct of those by-elections, which she also challenged, would be won by the SLPPโ.
Hon. Ibrahim Bundu, Majority Leader of Parliament assured that โNEC is going to use the existing votersโ register and not another register, for the conduct of those bye-electionsโ. He also noted that it is expedient to amend the law as and when necessaryโ.
Department of Public Relations
Parliament of Sierra Leone
OAU Drive, Tower Hill
Freetown
