By Ragan M. Conteh
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Solomon Sengepoh Thomas, says all MPs will be trained on ICTs June 19th 2024.
He disclosed the statement on Thursday 6th June 2024.
“No threats of demonstration will stop the work of Parliament. We will come here on June 19 like I was here on November,” he affirmed.
Mr. Thomas said MPs should avail themselves in Parliament on the 19th June 2024 for Parliamentary functions as well.
“No strangers will be allowed to cover the ICT training of MPs”.
It could be recalled that 19th June 2024 is also the slated date for end of the Tripartite Committee’s investigation into electoral reforms following voting on June 24, 2023 general elections that ended in rifts and uproars.
The Committee will be coming up with their findings recommendations as expected by citizens.
Many social media platforms are now inundated with threats of protests happening nationwide.
The Leader of Government Business Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma has also stated that the training of MPs on ICTs is important because most of the MPs are illiterate in ICTs, adding that for Parliament to be vibrant it should be running paperless.
He said modern technology has been introduced all over the world and Parliament of Sierra Leone should also be part of the digital revolution.
Hon. Nyuma pleaded on the Speaker to have training sessions for MPs on ICT, guaranteeing that the Westminister Foundation is ready to capacitate MPs on that direction.
The Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, said the training of lawmakers on ICTs should not be a one-off training but it should be a continuous process, adding that most of the MPs do not have the prerequisite knowledge on ICTs.
He pointed out that training MPs on ICT a single day is not enough.
The Leader of Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, said the initiative for the training of MPs on ICTs was very necessary.
He pleaded for the Parliamentary leadership to have adequate internet facilities to aid operation.
The MPs had agreed to assemble in the Chambers of Parliament on that day to get capacity training on ICTs.