IPU President calls Youth Participation in politics

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 By Mohamed Amara Gando 

The President of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Edward George representing the people of Constituency 097 Moyamba District has called on the Inter-Parliamentary Union to support them in their advocacy drive for more symbols to be awarded to young people in Sierra Leone for representation in Parliament. He said 65% of the voting population in Sierra Leone were young people and that they wanted to see how they could increase the current 11% representation of young Members of Parliament (MPs) in the current composition of the Sierra Leone Parliament in the 2023 general elections. He made this call on Monday 21st March 2022 during the 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Nusa Dua, Bali Indonesia.

Speaking during the Forum of Young Parliamentarians’ meeting, the IPU President for Sierra Leone Young Parliamentarians informed the Young Forum of MPs that following the last meeting held in Spain in 2021, they have made remarkable progress by engaging more young people in radio stations, television discussion programmes, outreach to schools and universities in their “Yes We Can” campaign to raising awareness on the importance of youth representation in Parliament.

“IPU has to support us so that we can advocate more for young people who want to be given symbols to come to Parliament and we also want to engage political party leaders to see how they can award more symbols to young people for the upcoming 2023 general elections which have already been declared by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone.

He disclosed that they now have a formidable youth organization of which he is the president. The lawmaker informed colleagues that Sierra Leone has over 17 registered political parties and awarding symbols to young people is very difficult, “as far as politics is concerned in west Africa” the MP said.

The SL IPU President stated that the Youths Member Board of “Yes We Can” has discussed and deliberated on a good number of issues regarding youth representation in politics. He continued that the “Yes We Can” team has engaged so many political parties to see how they can award symbols to young people to go to Parliament.

“Presently, with the proposed adoption of the 30% quota for women in Sierra Leone Parliament, we are now looking on how many quota and what is now going to be given to the youths that will also be represented in the House of Parliament” he added.

He pointed out that for far too long after the 11 years civil war in Sierra Leone, it was not easy for young people to be in the Sierra Leone Parliament, but however, he said because of advocacy they now have 11% representation of young people in the Sierra Leone Parliament.

The Hon. Member of Parliament apprised, they are now working to increase the 11% in the current Parliament in the next elections in 2023, “so that we will have more youths in the House of Parliament, but we cannot do it without your support because we have to engage political parties’ leaders to see the importance of young people in politics,” he said.

“If we only give elections to the old folks most of our colleagues will not make it to Parliament, even some of us that are presently in the House of Parliament will not come back because of the way they award symbols” he said.

 The lawmaker called on IPU to take their concerns very seriously, adding that the way elections are held in Africa, especially in West Africa, is very difficult, noting that elections in West Africa are different from that of Europe and Asia. He emphasized the need for the formation of “Yes We Can” as it has helped in engaging media houses, civil society organizations and they have gone to universities to talk to young people to come forward and contest for elective positions.

Sierra Leone Parliamentary Delegation in attendance to 144th IPU Assembly includes Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, Hon. Neneh Libbie, Hon. Abdul Aziz Bangura, Hon. Musa Fofanah, Hon. Edward George and Mohamed Amara Gando

Bai Bureh Heritage Foundation To recognize nation builders

Description: C:\Users\User 2020\Desktop\BAI.jpeg

Bai Bureh Heritage Foundation is set for a Selection of Twenty (20) Personalities as Faces of Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards

This is part of the Organization’s innovative strategy to showcase some caliber of individuals who have received one of the greatest legacies of appreciation (Bai Bureh Award) for what they have contributed towards Humanity, Community Development and National Transformation. The Selected Personalities will be considered as Faces of Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards to mark the 5th Edition of Sustainable implementation in an atmosphere of applauding Service Providers.

The twenty personalities that will be drawn from a list of 185 previous awardees in the last four years (2018-2021) will form an integral part in the implementation and advertisement of the 5th Edition 2022 which is highly considered as a celebration of sustainability in what we do. Showcasing the selected personalities, we believe will continue to add on the value of the Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards. Among the twenty personalities that will be selected, one will be invited to serve as Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour, and the rest will be invited as Special Guests. The Bai Bureh Heritage Foundation Secretariat will officially notify every selected personality before releasing the list on Social and Print Media. When people Contributed to Societal Development they ought to be recognized, and this year (2022) Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards will be: A Corresponding Reward for Good Things Done to Better the Lives of Others. An award is one of the biggest sources of motivation and inspiration to do more and to say thank you beyond words. We are proud of our selves and those who have contributed to this venture.

Faces of Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards coming soon ahead of the 5th Edition.

Petroleum Dealers Threaten 72 Hours Shut down

 The Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers and Transporters Union have in a press statement threatened to shut down all fuel stations nationwide until the Petroleum Regulatory Agency engages them.

The press statement which was dated 18th March 2022 states ” the decision reached at by the Petroleum Regulatory Agency on the recent increase in the pump price of fuel was done without their consent.” Therefore, the  Union is of the view that their presence within the oil industry has never been felt and that PRA has been marginalizing them whenever a decision of such nature want to be taken. According to the press statement, the Union claimed that  PRA has violated the act referencing Section 12(13) of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Act of 2014 which gives them the right to be included in any decision to be taken on the increment of petroleum products in the country. The Union also states that PRA never engaged or consult them over the past two recent increments which they consider a violation of their rights as well as the PRA Act of 2014. The other concern raised had to do with dealers’ margin as well as the harassment of their members by the PRA. What they want the government to understand is that the petroleum sector has three key players whose role and responsibilities in ensuring the product reaches the final consumer need not be overemphasized. Therefore, they are giving the government a few days to carefully look into these issues and find a better solution otherwise they will be left with no option but to shut down operations nationwide because they continue to face huge financial loss in the business.

For ease of reference, please see the press statement…

Description: C:\Users\User 2020\Desktop\PD 1.jpeg

 By Mohamed Amara Gando 

The President of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Edward George representing the people of Constituency 097 Moyamba District has called on the Inter-Parliamentary Union to support them in their advocacy drive for more symbols to be awarded to young people in Sierra Leone for representation in Parliament. He said 65% of the voting population in Sierra Leone were young people and that they wanted to see how they could increase the current 11% representation of young Members of Parliament (MPs) in the current composition of the Sierra Leone Parliament in the 2023 general elections. He made this call on Monday 21st March 2022 during the 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Nusa Dua, Bali Indonesia.

Speaking during the Forum of Young Parliamentarians’ meeting, the IPU President for Sierra Leone Young Parliamentarians informed the Young Forum of MPs that following the last meeting held in Spain in 2021, they have made remarkable progress by engaging more young people in radio stations, television discussion programmes, outreach to schools and universities in their “Yes We Can” campaign to raising awareness on the importance of youth representation in Parliament.

“IPU has to support us so that we can advocate more for young people who want to be given symbols to come to Parliament and we also want to engage political party leaders to see how they can award more symbols to young people for the upcoming 2023 general elections which have already been declared by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone.

He disclosed that they now have a formidable youth organization of which he is the president. The lawmaker informed colleagues that Sierra Leone has over 17 registered political parties and awarding symbols to young people is very difficult, “as far as politics is concerned in west Africa” the MP said.

The SL IPU President stated that the Youths Member Board of “Yes We Can” has discussed and deliberated on a good number of issues regarding youth representation in politics. He continued that the “Yes We Can” team has engaged so many political parties to see how they can award symbols to young people to go to Parliament.

“Presently, with the proposed adoption of the 30% quota for women in Sierra Leone Parliament, we are now looking on how many quota and what is now going to be given to the youths that will also be represented in the House of Parliament” he added.

He pointed out that for far too long after the 11 years civil war in Sierra Leone, it was not easy for young people to be in the Sierra Leone Parliament, but however, he said because of advocacy they now have 11% representation of young people in the Sierra Leone Parliament.

The Hon. Member of Parliament apprised, they are now working to increase the 11% in the current Parliament in the next elections in 2023, “so that we will have more youths in the House of Parliament, but we cannot do it without your support because we have to engage political parties’ leaders to see the importance of young people in politics,” he said.

“If we only give elections to the old folks most of our colleagues will not make it to Parliament, even some of us that are presently in the House of Parliament will not come back because of the way they award symbols” he said.

 The lawmaker called on IPU to take their concerns very seriously, adding that the way elections are held in Africa, especially in West Africa, is very difficult, noting that elections in West Africa are different from that of Europe and Asia. He emphasized the need for the formation of “Yes We Can” as it has helped in engaging media houses, civil society organizations and they have gone to universities to talk to young people to come forward and contest for elective positions.

Sierra Leone Parliamentary Delegation in attendance to 144th IPU Assembly includes Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, Hon. Neneh Libbie, Hon. Abdul Aziz Bangura, Hon. Musa Fofanah, Hon. Edward George and Mohamed Amara Gando

Bai Bureh Heritage Foundation To recognize nation builders

Description: C:\Users\User 2020\Desktop\BAI.jpeg

Bai Bureh Heritage Foundation is set for a Selection of Twenty (20) Personalities as Faces of Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards

This is part of the Organization’s innovative strategy to showcase some caliber of individuals who have received one of the greatest legacies of appreciation (Bai Bureh Award) for what they have contributed towards Humanity, Community Development and National Transformation. The Selected Personalities will be considered as Faces of Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards to mark the 5th Edition of Sustainable implementation in an atmosphere of applauding Service Providers.

The twenty personalities that will be drawn from a list of 185 previous awardees in the last four years (2018-2021) will form an integral part in the implementation and advertisement of the 5th Edition 2022 which is highly considered as a celebration of sustainability in what we do. Showcasing the selected personalities, we believe will continue to add on the value of the Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards. Among the twenty personalities that will be selected, one will be invited to serve as Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour, and the rest will be invited as Special Guests. The Bai Bureh Heritage Foundation Secretariat will officially notify every selected personality before releasing the list on Social and Print Media. When people Contributed to Societal Development they ought to be recognized, and this year (2022) Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards will be: A Corresponding Reward for Good Things Done to Better the Lives of Others. An award is one of the biggest sources of motivation and inspiration to do more and to say thank you beyond words. We are proud of our selves and those who have contributed to this venture.

Faces of Bai Bureh Service Delivery Awards coming soon ahead of the 5th Edition.

Petroleum Dealers Threaten 72 Hours Shut down

 The Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers and Transporters Union have in a press statement threatened to shut down all fuel stations nationwide until the Petroleum Regulatory Agency engages them.

The press statement which was dated 18th March 2022 states ” the decision reached at by the Petroleum Regulatory Agency on the recent increase in the pump price of fuel was done without their consent.” Therefore, the  Union is of the view that their presence within the oil industry has never been felt and that PRA has been marginalizing them whenever a decision of such nature want to be taken. According to the press statement, the Union claimed that  PRA has violated the act referencing Section 12(13) of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Act of 2014 which gives them the right to be included in any decision to be taken on the increment of petroleum products in the country. The Union also states that PRA never engaged or consult them over the past two recent increments which they consider a violation of their rights as well as the PRA Act of 2014. The other concern raised had to do with dealers’ margin as well as the harassment of their members by the PRA. What they want the government to understand is that the petroleum sector has three key players whose role and responsibilities in ensuring the product reaches the final consumer need not be overemphasized. Therefore, they are giving the government a few days to carefully look into these issues and find a better solution otherwise they will be left with no option but to shut down operations nationwide because they continue to face huge financial loss in the business.

For ease of reference, please see the press statement…

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Description: C:\Users\User 2020\Desktop\PD2.jpeg

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