By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay

The Acting Leader of the Opposition in the House of Parliament, Hon. Daniel Koroma on Thursday 11 April 2024, appealed to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to set up a tribunal following the proclamation made by the President on National Emergency on Drugs and Substances Abuse.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawallie Esq., on that day tabled a Constitutional Instrument in the Chamber of Sierra Leone Parliament for the proclamation made by President Julius Maada Bio in relation to the declaration of a public health emergency on drug commonly called ‘Kush’ and other harmful drugs or substances in the country. According to the Acting Leader, the AG and Minister of Justice should set up the tribunal as quickly as possible. He stated that, the BAR Association should give recommendations for the setting of the tribunal and the guiding principles that follow regulations.

In his submission, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma, advised the AG and Minister to do the needful by drafting the regulations that will go in line with the public health emergency declared by President Bio. “The regulations should go along with the public health emergency,” said the leader. He added that, he did not want a situation where people would cast blame on Parliament for doing the wrong thing which may serve as a precedent, and that was why he was requesting for the regulations to be submitted to Parliament.

According to the Acting Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas also supported the opinions of MPs for the due process of law to be followed and requested the Minister to do the regulations to suit the public emergency for it to be effective and efficient. “When you bring a proclamation, you should bring the necessary regulations otherwise we are just going here and there,” said the Acting Speaker.