The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Abass Bundu today vows to ensure that those Members of Parliament who were involved in the Wednesday 23rd November, 2022 tensions in the Well of Parliament, face the full penalty of the law.
He expresses dismay over the conduct of some Members of Parliament during Wednesday’s plenary sitting, adding such unwelcomed act will not go unpunished.
‘I will ensure that MPs involved in such an act will face the full consequences of their actions”. Speaker Bundu stated.
He went on to say: “The conduct that I observed on Wednesday in this Well will not go unnoticed and will not go without consequences. Those consequences will be severe.”
Hon. Bundu added that he has exercised patience beyond endurance. Stating: “What I witnessed on this yeaterday was an affront to the dignity of this House, an affront to my office as Speaker and it will no longer be tolerated, enough is enough. The law will be allowed to take its consequences.”
He quoted provisions of the 1991 Constitution specifically Section 97 which deals with the responsibilities and privileges of MPs and and Section 99 which limits the privileges of Parliamentarians.
“The privileges are restricted to what you say in parliament not what you otherwise do, you can shout to high heavens if you want and you are privileged but when you go physical and you go violent, I am sorry you are not entitled to enjoy any immunity,” Hon. Budu said.
The Speaker of Parliament was giving a notice to Members of Parliament during 24th November 2022 plenary sitting.
It could be recalled that Members of Parliament scuffled over the laying of constitutional instruments on Propositional Representation by the deputy Attorney General and minister of Justice, Umaru Napoleon Koroma during Wednesday 23rd November sitting.
The following instruments namely; ‘The Public Elections (Local Councils Proportional Representation System) Regulations, 2022,
The Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991(Act No.6 of 1991)
Statutory Instrument No.13 and the Public Elections (District Block Proportional Representation System) Regulations, 2022
The constitution of Sierra Leone 1991(Act No. 6 of 1992) Statutory Instrument No. 14.’