By Nasratu Kargbo
Clerk of Parliament of Parliament Paran Umar Tarawally has said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has through his office requested for the Speaker to release Members of Parliament for investigation.
“Invitations have already been issued for the said perpetrators to be interview by police” said Tarawally. He made this revelation on the 24th November 2022 in parliament, whilst reading a report related to scuffles that occurred on the 23rd November 2022 in Parliament.
He explained that he has a letter from the CID requesting the Speaker to release four MPs whom they seek to investigate. The Clerk also mentioned the names of three APC MPs and one driver, he described as the perpetrators of the attack.
He said that an attack on the maze is an affront to parliament and the speakership, leaving the speaker to decide on what is to be done on the issue. Tarawally explained that the same incident had occurred on two occasions and noted that such occurrence was never a trend in the third and fourth parliament.
The Clerk explained that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has visited parliament and complied inventory of property destroyed during the chaos, and that parliament’s administration has also done an assessment of the property destroyed including cost. Tarawally said: “Total cost of destruction and damage is three hundred and eighty thousand new Leones”.
The Speaker of Parliament Chernor Abass Bundu had earlier promised severe consequences for Members of Parliament that were involved in what he described as an affront to the dignity of parliament and his office as a speaker.
Bundu made this notice in parliament on the incident of the 23rd November 2022, Bundu sternly said “The conduct that I observed … in this well will not go unnoticed and will not go without consequences and those consequences will be severe”.
He warned that such an act will no longer be tolerated, explaining that he has exercised patience and cannot take it any more.
“Enough is enough” said Bundu.
The Speaker highlighted section 97 and 99 of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone which deals with responsibilities and privileges of Members of Parliament, stating that it seems that some members do not understand those sections.
Bundu read section 97 that speaks on MPs responsibility to protect the dignity and image of parliament within and outside through their acts and activities. He added section 99 talks about the limits of their privileges, explaining that no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted by members of parliament by anything said by them in parliament.
He emphasized that their privilege is limited on the things they say, noting that when an MP goes physical or violent he or she will not enjoy immunity and will not be protected by law.
Several MPs belonging to the main opposition All People’s Congress had charged forward throwing chairs and battling with ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) during attempts to lay the Instrument for the contentious Proportional Representation System of voting planned for the 2023 General Elections.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (25/11/22)
