By Amin Kef-Ranger
In a Press Release issued by the Parliament of Sierra Leone dated 8th June, 2022 and signed by Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally as Clerk of Parliament it was pointed out that the attention of the Office of the Clerk has been drawn to a certain document on social and other media entitled “Parliamentary Welfare Act 2022″ with the name of the Speaker of Parliament ascribed.
Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally stated that he wishes to clarify that the said document, being a private member’s bill has not been presented to Parliament for consideration and as such, neither the Office of Speaker nor Clerk is aware of its existence.
He underscored that even though it is the right of individual Members of Parliament to prepare and pilot private member’s bills as provided for in Standing Order 61, Parliament wishes the general public to note that it has nothing to do with the above-mentioned bill.
The Clerk of Parliament maintained that the law provides that for a private member’s bill to be recognized by the House, it must fulfill certain conditions, including Gazetting the document and formally serving the Office of the Clerk reiterating that as at the time of the Press Release, the bill in question has not met the said conditions and hence, “not before Parliament”.
He said Parliament therefore wishes to disassociate itself from the bill and to inform the general public accordingly.
