By Ragan M. Conteh

The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Priscilla Schwartz has informed Members of Parliament that “entry to the proposed new city will be restricted.”

She made the submissions on Monday 23rd June 2025 during a pre-legislative hearing on the investment framework agreement for investment in and development of Sherbro Island between the government of Sierra Leone on one part, and Sherbro Alliance Partners limited.

Presenting the agreement at the pre-legislative hearing Madam Schwartz said the agreement is tended to establish a new Sherbro City, and economic zone.

She said the primary objectives of the development zone are to incentivize and attract long-term public and private sector investment through a specially designed fiscal and trade regime to be promulgated by development authority.

She stated that the zone also enables businesses to expand without excessive government intervention as well as encourages local entrepreneurship and human capital development.

She pointed out that the new Sherbro City will constitute the city as a public corporation with full legal and legislative and  executive capacities set forth in the statute, grant the development authority the authorities necessary to plan and administer the development zone, including zoning regulations and building codes as well as implementing the Master Plan and development programme, among others.

The city, according to Madam Schwartz, will also attract other services and infrastructural projects.

The current Attorney General  and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, also buttressed the importance of the agreement, stating that it will provide huge investment opportunities as well as serve as a touristic hub in the world.

Sesay emphasised on the need for the agreement to facilitate trade and development of Sierra Leone.

As the agreement is being prepared to sail through in Parliament, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas urged the lawmakers that will be attending Tuesday 24th sitting to do justice to the agreement.

Other MPs also contributed during the pre-legislative hearing on the importance of the agreement.

However, parliamentarians from the opposition bench boycotted the pre–legislative hearing, stating that until their concerns regarding the Clerk of Parliament are addressed.