In a momentous address at the British House of Commons on the evening of Monday March 11, 2024, the Speaker of Sierra Leone parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, delivered a poignant speech commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth.
The House of Commons in UK is an elected body consisting of 650 members known as members of Parliament (MPs).
The Anniversary’s theme is, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.”
This formed the thrust of Dr. Bundu’s remarks, echoing the collective aspirations towards harnessing the collective strengths of nations while nurturing unity among Commonwealth nations.
Dr. Bundu, who was addressing an eminent body consisting of parliamentary speakers, ambassadors, and high commissioners, underscored the imperative of transparent governance and equitable prosperity, stressing the need for an unwavering commitment to shared values.
He called for a renewed dedication to the global fundamental principles on the rule of law, representative democracy, and inclusive governance.
He asserted the pivotal role of the global principles in fostering sustainable development and progress for the vast majority.
He highlighted Sierra Leone’s remarkable strides under His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s visionary leadership.
Dr. Bundu lauded the nation’s achievements in a number of areas including gender equality and youth empowerment.
The Hon. Speaker, notably, observed that Sierra Leone had reached an important milestone with a 30% female representation in parliament, which signals a significant step towards meeting gender parity and a moving toward achieving a recognition of the invaluable contributions of women in governance and in society.
Moreover, Dr. Bundu emphasized the importance of inclusive decision-making processes which embrace gender and youth perspectives thus fostering an environment conducive to innovation and transformation.
He underscored the necessity of rejecting all forms of discrimination, affirming their incompatibility with the shared vision of a better world.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Bundu expressed heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed attendees for their unwavering dedication to Commonwealth ideals.
His address was concluded with a resounding call to all to action, urging collective efforts towards building a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all within the Commonwealth and beyond.