Stakeholders at a Town Hall meeting in Kossoh Town, in the Western Rural Area, have called for a ban on political party rallies during elections. The meeting, which was organised by the regional office of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD), also attracted calls for easing of political tension in the country and the recall or petitioning of Members of Parliament (MPs) who abandon their constituents.
Teachers, youths, women, the elderly, the physically challenged, religious leaders and representatives of National Elections Watch and other civil society organisations attended the meeting which was on the theme: ‘The Relationship between Parliamentarians and Citizens in Promoting Democratic Good Governance in Sierra Leone.’
NCD Commissioner for the Western Region, Benjamin Macfoy, told attendees that the event was to discuss the roles and responsibilities of MPs, and said people are now aware of their democratic and political rights.
The former Commissioner of the NCD Western Region, Georgette de’ Marke, who acted as Chairperson during the discussions, spoke about some of the functions of MPs and the many promises they make to the people during campaigns, thereby raising their expectations. She also made references to the many misconceptions people have about the roles and responsibilities of MPs, and urged that Parliamentarians themselves be truthful to their constituents.
She continued that it is not the responsibility of MPs to pay the school or college fees of the children of constituents or give them money for personal matters and other public functions. She suggested that MPs must organize quarterly meetings with their people to know their concerns and for the lawmakers to tell them about laws enacted in parliament.
The Director of Communications and External Relations, NCD, Reverend Gibrilla Kargbo, explained about the partnership between MPs and their constituents that could help promote good governance, decentralization, gender parity, service delivery and conducting of periodic elections.
According to Rev. Kargbo, MPs must work with their constituents to address corruption, injustice, and hate speech, and for them to frown against buying of votes. He also suggested that Parliamentarians should have offices in their constituencies, sign non-violent pacts with their constituents and develop strategic plans for their constituencies, all aimed at fostering democratic good governance.
A lawyer, Habib Sesay, observed that Parliamentarians are divided along party lines, and said they must seek the welfare of all their constituents irrespective of political affiliation. Sesay also pointed out that the lawmakers must make themselves accessible to the people.
Parliamentarian for Constituency 012, Kenema District, Momoh Bockarie, in his statement said their constituents bring to them very personal matters and appealed for MPs to be capacitated with staff and other logistics.
Participants at the end of the meeting called for the implementation of the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee.
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