By Saio Marrah
Parliament of Sierra Leone has ordered the minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rado Swarray, to thoroughly sensitize the general public on the content of the Ciber Crime Act 2020, in two weeks time before it can be finally debated and passed into law.
Adhering the concern raised by members of parliament, the minister of Information and communication, Mohamed Rado Swarray, has in the well of parliament, Thursday 18 March 2021, informed members of parliament that he has had several engagement with with diverse work of life to ensure that the public are well informed about the Ciber Crime Bill before it is being passed by parliament.
In his response, the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu, said even though the Information and Communication Minister, Mohamed Rado Swarray’s move to sensitize members of the public on the Ciber Crime Act, but more need to be done to make sure the least person in the farthest village knows the content of the said bill. “It’s a good beginning no question, but the interest of this house is to ensure that the ordinary citizen of this country from extrenety to extrenety, From Yeliboya to Gbendenbu, from Kurubonla to Tombo, are well informed about the content this bill. So important is the content that we want the grass root to know what parliament is about to pass. So I think you should go beyond the ordinary,”said the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu.
He therefore impore members of parliament to suggest ways by which the minister should popularize the bill before it can be passed into law.
In his suggestion, Paramount Chief member of parliament, Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III of Tonkolili District, said the minister should use Radios, Televisions, and and town hall meetings in Districts and Chiefdoms to pass on the message to the people.
To this, member of parliament, Alice Jebbeh Kumabeh constituency 092, Bonthe District, added that while using the community radios, the minister should also involve the local artist to pass on the message to the people.
Member of parliament, Dickson Momoh Rogers of constituency 100, Pujehun District, added that the paramount Chiefs should be involved in the spread of the message and also suggested that two weeks should be given to the ministry to do so.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (17/03/21)
