By Ragan M. Conteh

The Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Solomon Sengepoh Thomas has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to show to Parliament all conventions signed by the Sierra Leone Government for ratifications.

“Why are conventions that have been signed for 20 to 30 years still in shelves without being ratified by Parliament?” Speaker Thomas asked.

Speaker stated that some conventions are good for the development of the country and so are worthy to be presented in the Well of Parliament swiftly for ratification.

The Speaker made the submissions during the ratification of the Conventions on the Protection and Use of Trans-boundary Watercourse and the International Lakes of 17th May 1992.

Also the convention on the law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, passed in New York, 21st May 1997.

The Speaker said, these conventions would have benefited Sierra Leone if they had been passed in Parliament at the time.

He urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to gather all the conventions it had received.

“This is the reason Sierra Leone has not benefited a lot. Those conventions that are useful for the country are not being brought for ratification,” speaker stressed.

The Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon Bashiru Silikie has also buttressed on the speakers statement.

Hon Silikie said the bill is good and it will help strengthen international legislations.

He appealed to other nations to ratify their conventions they have signed, adding that these conventions will not be useful if the nation’s onky sign them but never ratifies them.