By Ragan M. Conteh
The Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu, on Monday 21st December 2020 disclosed that after several months of rigorous debates and services to the nation, the Parliament of Sierra Leone will be on recess until 26th January 2020.
The House of Parliament, according the Speaker, is expected to resume sittings on the 26th January 2021, wherein all Parliamentarians are expected to attend and on time.
Parliament is the legislative branch of government and as is the case with every legislature, Sierra Leone’s Parliament is one institution where the needs and interests of citizens are expressed and addressed through debates on public policy.
Parliament provides a unique opportunity for the voices of Sierra Leoneans, particularly those most affected by government policies, to be heard in the policymaking process.
The Parliament of Sierra Leone is therefore key to reinforcing democracy and making public policies effective.
When it resumes sitting in 2021, the Parliament is expected to fulfill its three main functions of representing citizens, bringing their needs, goals, problems, and concerns to the policymaking process, and making laws to govern the nation.
The Parliament is also expected to continue its oversight exercise by ensuring that legislation and government policies are implemented effectively, according to the original intent and within the parameters of the law.
The Members of Parliament are currently playing critical roles in strengthening the country’s democracy; however, competing demands can make an MP’s life and work a perpetual balancing act trying to reconcile demands from one’s political party, from executive branch agencies, from constituents, and family.
Some constituents have lamented that even though the House is now on recess, MPs are never off duty as they are either visiting their constituencies, participating in committee meetings or plenary debates in the parliamentary building, or travelling abroad to represent the parliament and the country.
The Constitution of Sierra Leone states that “all Members of Parliament shall regard themselves as representatives of the people of Sierra Leone and desist from any conduct which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the people,” Article 97(b).
Voices across the board said regular contact with constituents enables the MPs to easily identify their needs and elicit their input on policy debates.
Many have stated that frequent interactions between MPs and constituents also facilitate information sharing that could make government more accountable to the people. MPs can also help achieve this outcome by informing citizens about legislative actions during recess, ensuring that citizens’ voices are reflected in budgets and public policy, and assisting constituents to gain access to governmental services.
MP’s roles that people cannot dismissed are to help improve constituency relations by making regular visits to constituencies, particularly while Parliament is on recess and, in some cases, establishing offices in their constituencies.
It could be recalled that Parliament is the supreme legislative authority in Sierra Leone, as defined by Part V of the 1991 Constitution.
Bills become law once they are enacted by Parliament and signed by the President. The constitution determines the lawmaking role of parliament and the standing orders lay out the internal process within parliament. Parliamentarians are responsible for enacting laws to ensure that the country’s democracy operates openly and freely.
Laws are meant to address the country’s problems and should provide for the best possible quality of life for the people.
The lawmaking role of MPs includes reviewing and passing the country’s annual budget, funds allocated in the budget directly affect citizens through the government policies and programmes adopted.
To exercise their legislative powers, Members of Parliament can introduce legislation (a private member bill) to address specific issues; review, debate, and amend government bills presented by the Executive branch and introduced for debate by the majority caucus.