By Joe Tucker
Honorable members of parliament are currently holding a four (4) days workshop at the well of parliament starting from Monday the 14th to Thursday 17th may, 2018 to discuss a range of issues that would make the house all inclusive, sensitive and responsive to the needs of all interest groups in the country.
The workshop is funded with support from the West Minster Foundation for Democracy, UNDP, UKAID and the Standing Together for Democracy Consortium.
MP’s, Representatives from civil societies, women, youth and disadvantaged groups discussed various topics ranging from the role and Operation of the Parliamentary Service Commission in modern parliament, managing parliamentary committees and, ensuring that parliament works for all interest groups and how can parliament effectively perform its representative function formed part of the deliberations .
President 50/50 group Sierra Leone Fatu Taqi first started by congratulating the MP’s for their election into office further stating that the issue of inclusivity is not a new phenomenon in the politics of Sierra Leone. Madam Taqi informed the lawmakers that expectations are high among Sierra Leoneans who voted them in terms of making laws that are very inclusive and stands the test of time.
Madam Taqi noted that at 57 years we have still not been able as a country to deal with all the issues that are very relevant. She congratulated women MP’s whom she described as having fought harder to be in parliament. She urged MPs to have a gender lense when making the laws of the country.
“Men and women must work harder to make the necessary change needed.” The 50/50 President noted.
Sahr Lamin a Representative from the National Commission for persons with Disability spoke about disability awareness to Members of Parliament.
He noted that since they as disable people voted for them as MP’s, they are in turn here to solicit their support to take disable issues very seriously in both the enactment of laws and their oversight functions as members of parliament. According to him, person’s affected with disability cannot interact socially and cannot perform their duties independently without so many barriers in the society.
Issues of disability according to him have taken a center stage in the world, noting the ratification of the UN Convention on peoples with disability and the Persons with Disability Act, which according to him still needs to be strengthen.
Representative from Center for the Coordination for Youth Activities, Mr. Ngolo Katta said that, eventhoguh the country has policies, laws and programs for young people that have been ratify over the years coupled with the creation of a number of youth agencies and organizations, the problems of youths have still not been addressed.
He concluded by calling on parliamentarians to commit themselves to the problems of young people.
The discussion continues today wherein the Inspector General of Police, Head of Anti-Corruption Commission amongst others is expected to make presentations to the legislators on the workings of their respective institutions before the closure of day four of the deliberations.