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The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema has said that the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is not afraid of political street rallies.
Leema was responding to questions relating to the ban of political rallies by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) last week.
The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema has said the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) supports the ban on street rallies by political parties set up by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).
He told FM 98.1 that their support for the ban was done “in the best interest of Sierra Leone”.
Responding to communities without community centres, Leema supported the idea of having designated rally spots while citing that political leaders cannot speak everyone in a community.
“At least, (they) can speak to quite a good number of representatives in that community,” the deputy minister said.
He admonished political parties to use stickers to campaign and that questions with regards campaign messages could be asked through Public Relations Officers (PROs) of political parties. He furthered that the PROs could use radio stations to answer to questions raised.
Leema stated that political messages need attentiveness and reflections that would opportune attendees to ask questions.
He claimed that when the idea of banning street rallies came from the PPRC, all political parties were present.
“All of them subscribe (to the ban). APC was there; all of them subscribed to it and met at a consensus,” he said.
He added that the only differing view was on the guidelines which was promised to be worked on.
Earlier on April, the PPRC announced that they are placing a ban on street rallies citing violence from party supporters. They said all political parties acceded to the ban.
However, the main opposition APC has denied the PPRC and threatened to take the matter to court.
