Samuel Kallon 
By Africa 24 News Desk
The constituency representative from Tonkolili District, who is also a member of many committees in Parliament, Hon Aruna Papay Larkoh, urges the entire House of Representatives in Sierra Leone to “lower [their] temperatures in discussing political issues”.
According to Hon Larkoh as opposition they are not there to be declared winners.
They are there, he said, in the well, to debate and unearth the ills of society and proffer solutions to them for the best interest of the nation.
He revealed it seemed as if the current SLPP government is taking Sierra Leoneans especially the people of South-East for granted.
Hon. Larkoh informed the house that the government bench in Parliament are debating on things that are not reflective of the realities on the ground.
He spoke on the many issues that are mentioned in the Presidential speech which he said don’t truly reflect the livelihood of the masses.
He maintained that the real issues of public interests should not be downplayed by law makers and underscored the fact that Presidential speech writers are deceiving the people in words.
He spoke about the astronomical increase of prices of staple food (rice) to be made next year.
He said it would be a counterproductive to the Gov’t Feed Salone drive.
He highlighted that the Feed Salone project should be discussed nationalistically devoid of propaganda.
He furthered that there is lack of sincerity in the document, adding that in 2018, President Bio who was the then flagbearer was elected with the hope of fixing the ills of the then President Koroma’s government especially the rice increments.
He disclosed that President said in the 2018 debate that he would lower the price of rice from Le200,000 downwards.
Hon. Larkoh said today the bag of rice is now around million Leones ( calculated in the old currency).
He further revealed that even though the bag of rice is high the minimum wage is static and the bag or rice is expensive than the minimum wage.
“Minimum wage cannot buy a bag of rice. Before now the minimum wage during Ernest Bia KOROMA’s era can buy two bags of rice and a balance money for the buyer, ” Hon Larkoh confirmed.
The MP said the people of Sierra Leone are going through excruciating hunger and all you get to hear are the jargons in speeches especially on economy.
He urged the government to ensure collaboration and truth be told to the masses.
He said the Tormabum project is a failure, adding that it is now time for government to stop the lip-service.
