“This is not business as usual, this is our second term in office as MPs, and we will ensure that this time round due diligence is done by all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs). Peoples’ monies must be accounted for”.
This was disclosed by Members of Parliament from the Committee on Environment in Parliament.
During a Committee hearing summoned by the Environment Committee in Parliament, acting director of Conservation and Wildlife Management and Forestry Unit, Madam Kate M B Karemo-Garnett, was briefly detained by the Committee for contempt.
The Committee explained that, the acting forestry director intentionally refused to honor the demands of the Committee.
The MPs stated that, the Director General of Forestry was summoned in parliament to answer questions relating to the institution and she was asked to bring along relevant documents for proper investigation.
The Committee said, the Forestry Department was summoned sometimes in December last year, and authorities of the institution gave excuses which the Committee reasoned with.
The MPs said members of the department agreed to attend the hearing in a later date, adding that the Committee then decided to write a letter summoning the Forestry Department on Friday to attend a meeting on Wednesday yesterday.
What was more disturbing as the Committee explained was that, in spite of the long time given, the forestry institution failed to prepare their documents for the Committee hearing.
“They went in parliament with empty hands; with no documents as demanded by the Committee,” MPs stated.
Eelier the Committee demanded forestry to submit several documents including the Status Report of the Forestry Department, bank documents, report of deliverables and institutional challenges for proper scrutiny.
The Committee discovered that not even a pen was submitted to them rather officials of forestry went in parliament posing with confidence.
Hon. Bash Kamara said the institution especially the acting director general has treated parliament will “levity” which is contrary to the Constitution of the country, adding that that amounts to an offence to impede the work of members of parliament.
“The officials from the forestry department even went to Parliament very late and we sat for several hours waiting for them,” the MPs said.
Hon Bash said parliament would not take it lightly this time to punish defaulting MDAs who refused to give account of their stewardship to the people of Sierra Leone.
“We are the representative of the people; sometimes people blame us for not doing our work. We are bashed every day and this time we will work assiduously to enhance transparency and accountability,” Hon Bash said.
Because there were no documents for proper a investigation to be conducted, the Committee in parliament resolved to stand-down the Forestry Department until a further date which is to be communicated to them to appear for another hearing.
A representative from the Forestry Department shamefully apologized to MPs, promising that such an act will not happen again as they will make sure that they compile all documents demanded by Parliament against the next hearing.