DO WE HAVE ANY FUN LEFT IN SIERRA LEONE POLITICS?
What will POST NOVEMBER 2012 elections be like in Sierra Leone?
"BE IT RESOLVED that
this House express great concern over the collection of gifts by members of the
government from the people of Koinadogu District to the tune of some Ten
Thousand Leones involving about 200 cows, 1 horse, dozens of sheep, goats,
fowls, eggs, gold and native gowns, especially at a time when the people were
struggling to meet their annual tax obligations".
C A
KAMARA - TAYLOR (Opposition): "Pride goeth before destruction". "We have been told by the Honourable
Member for Koinadugu that he is so entrenched that the
A.P.C. will never have a footing in Koinadugo. We leave that for TIME TO
TELL"........... The
records of these debates exists and although not as efficient as in the greater
developed countries let us hold firm to what we have.. SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND!!!!!”
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In April 1965, the Leader of the opposition(Siaka
Stevens) tabled the following motion:
"BE IT RESOLVED that
this House express great concern over the collection of gifts by members of the
government from the people of Koinadogu District to the tune of some Ten
Thousand Leones involving about 200 cows, 1 horse, dozens of sheep, goats,
fowls, eggs, gold and native gowns, especially at a time when the people were
struggling to meet their annual tax obligations".
In the debate, government members especially
those from Koinadugu, opposing the motion, made the following contributions:
KAMANDA BONGAY- (Works): "I wish to oppose this motion and I will
first of all outline what native customs are. The majority of us are natives
... and we have certain binding traditions. No chief visits another chief
without receiving something as a mark of respect ... the ministers who went,
and the Prime Minister, spent much money in return than the value of those
presents... the people gave those presents backed by the customs and traditions
we have in this country. If these presents are refused, the people will
consider it an insult. When the member (Siaka Stevens) was a minister, he knows
full well the number of cattle, goats and other things he used to bring to my
place for transportation: now because he is not a minister he has brought this
motion."
KAI SAMBA (Agriculture): "When the President of the USA Mr Kennedy
went to visit Mr Kruschev not even in Russia but in Austria, as a mark of
respect and to prove that this custom is universal, Mr Kruschev not only gave
one highly bred dog to the President for his little daughter, he also gave
three other animals including a porse whiich was highly bred. So that Europeans
not only give you presents, they gave for your wife and children[also]. This is
universal custom among nations ....and for you to come and speak here on motion
like this is in my view the question of SOUR GRAPES" (cheers).
S B MARAH (Koinadugu): "Koinadugu possesses the
greatest number of cattle in this country. We are in a possession to give even
more than 200 cows but as a matter of fact, 200 cows were not given. If gifts
were given to the Prime Minister and his party those gifts were voluntary and a
sign of respect. I see nothing wrong in that. To give an example, even when the
honourable member for Tonkolili (South's father, was Chief Clerk in Kabala,
gifts were given to him."
M O
BASH – TAQUI ( Tonkolili South): "Point of Order Mr. Speaker. I take the strongest
objection to anyone referring to my father because he is not in this House to
defend himself. The honourable member has no right to refer to my parents. I
crave your indulgence to clear this point".
KAI
SAMBA (Agriculture): "When the leader of the opposition referred to my
own father I did not quarrel with him" [No
reply from the chair and Honourable M O Bash -Taqui walked out of the House]
A.
H. KANDEH (Koinadugu ): " What is really worrying the
opposition is not the gifts to the Honourable Prime Minister. They did not get
what they expected so as to prove that they had supporters. They went to a
chiefdom called BALO FONIA where they told the people that the Mayor, the man who owns Freetown, was visiting the chiefdom
and they should get the musicians to go and meet him. Nobody met them on
arrival. They then went to sleep with their agent and that night they were
presented with 2 cows. They did not accept the cows there, but they had somebody
who collected them overnight and brought them to Freetown. We are law abiding
and we know what respect for authority is. The whole of
Koinadugu is SLPP. We have never been fooled by fools who go on fooling
people (cheers). If you want to feel your strength in
the Northern Province, exempt Koinadugu; you will never get anyone to support you there.
The opposition has brought this motion because they failed to get the welcome
they expected for the Mayor and because they anticipated getting more presents
than the Prime Minister."
C A
KAMARA - TAYLOR (Opposition): "Pride goeth before destruction". "We have been told by the Honourable
Member for Koinadugu that he is so entrenched that the
A.P.C. will never have a footing in Koinadugo. We leave that for TIME TO
TELL"........... The
records of these debates exists and although not as efficient as in the greater
developed countries let us hold firm to what we have.. SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND!!!!!”
What will POST November 2012 elections be like in Sierra Leone Parliament?
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