The Chairperson of the Trade Committee in Parliament, Hon Veronica Kadie Sesay has frown at the Minister of Trade and his team for in several occasions refused to attend Parliamentary summon.

The MP said the Minister of Trade is treating her community with levity, stating the nonchalant attitude of the Minister and his team will result to withholding their 2025 budget allocation.

“I will make sure I alert Parliament to withhold your budget and I can assure that such unwarranted behaviors towards my committee will have no option but to invoke Section 95 which is contempt”

Hon Sesay further that why some of these Ministry are failing year in year out is because of the failure to work with Parliament.

She said Parliamentarians are not beggars, citing that they are in Parliament to execute their mandate that the people of Sierra Leone give to them.

Therefore, she stated that the attitude of the Trade Minister and his team do not portray President Bio’s agenda.

“I have summoned Trade Ministry several times to answer questions to the committee regarding their work but they did not come. They treat us with pettiness.

The Committee Members have also expressed disappointment over the manner in which the Trade Minister and his team behave towards lawmakers, describing their actions as nonchalant which tend to undermine Parliamentary oversight work.

MPs said Parliament have the power to withhold budget of any MDA that violates or impede the work of Parliament.

They said trade ministry has a lot of work and the MPs are there to augment the work of government or Presidential appointees.

It could be recalled that, some outside sources have in several time complaining trade ministry officials for the lackadaisical attitudes when it comes to executing their mandates.

However, on behalf of her boss, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Fatmata Kargbo has scrolled in Parliament begging the committee for their nonchalant behaviors.

“Please, please forgive us. It will not happen again” Deputy Minister Cries.

The committee has warned the ministry not to attempt refusing summon or face the wrath of the law.