By Ragan M. Conteh
The Member of Parliament from Kailahun district who doubles as the Chairman of Lands Committee in Parliament Hon Quinton Salia Konneh has disclosed that parliament remains to be seen as the empire of lawmaking.
The MP made the submissions when addressing a section of some community stakeholders who were in parliament for a land dispute settlement at the Committee room one.
Explaining the role of Parliament in Sierra Leone’s democracy, Hon Konneh said, parliament of Sierra Leone is the legislative branch of government.
He said as is the case with every legislature, Sierra Leone’s parliament is an institution where the needs and interests of citizens are expressed and addressed through debate on public policies.
He said it provides a unique opportunity for the voices of Sierra Leoneans, particularly those most affected by government policies to be heard in the policymaking process. The Parliament of Sierra Leone is therefore key to reinforcing democracy and making public policies effective.
He told stakeholders that the parliament is expected to fulfill three main functions including to represent citizens, talking of their needs, goals, problems, and concerns to be reflected in the policymaking process. To make laws that govern the nation; and to exercise oversight function, thus ensuring that legislations and government policies are implemented effectively, according to the original intent, and within the parameters of the rule of law.
Giving the powers of the Committees in parliament Hon Konneh said Committees shall perform the functions as specified in subsection (3).
For example, section 93(3) reads, “It shall be the duty of any such Committee as is referred to in subsection (2) of the 1991 Constitution to investigate or inquire into the activities or administration of such Ministries or Departments as may be assigned to it and such investigation or inquiry may extend to proposals for legislation.
While section 93(6) of the Constitution says, “For the purposes of effectively performing its functions, each of the Committees shall have all such powers, rights and privileges as are vested in the High Court at a trial in respect of:- (a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise;
(b) compelling the producing of documents; and (c) the issue of a commission or request to examine witnesses.
Addressing stakeholder on Contempt of Parliament, Hon Konneh stated that it is something that seems to be an interference with parliament or obstructs it, or affect a member of either House, from performing their duties.
He said the said section is loosely defined also giving that parliament decides whether something is or is not contempt.
He however said it has in contempt perceived as a criminal act, misleading the House, financial misconduct and leaking parliamentary proceedings.
He also mentioned that contempt can also include obstruction such as not obeying a direct command by the House.