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FREETOWN: REGINA PRATT:

Minority Leader of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) in Parliament, Hon. Momoh Pujeh has told journalists that "Speaker of the House, Hon. Justice Abel Stronge has gagged MPs by stopping the debate on the boundary delimitation document." Hon. Pujeh said the speaker's act on Tuesday was bad for the country's fledgling democracy.

He said the private member notice of motion proposed by Hon. Dr. Kamanda and seconded by him should have informed the populace about what is happening in the National Electoral Commission on the boundary Delimitation but was overruled by the Speaker on the basis of technicalities.

The motion was, "that this House in accordance with section 170 (6&7) of the constitution of Sierra Leone Act No. 6 of 1991 section 2 of the Electoral Laws Act; Act No. 2 of 2002, section 1 (1) 3 (2) of the constitutional and statutory instrument Act, no 6 of 1991 do not accept the ward boundary delimitations proposed by NEC and laid before Parliament on March 11, 2008 and request NEC to hold consultation at Local Authority levels with stakeholders in preparing a new boundary delimitations of wards." He said the appropriate consultations with MPs did not take place as was disclosed by NEC.

"What we presented was for the document to be taken back to NEC for a proper presentation," he said.

He added that the Speaker did not object when the motion was placed on the other paper slated for Tuesday April 8, 2008.

Hon. Pujeh pointed out that Sierra Leoneans have not been educated on the new boundary delimitation exercise and noted that the speaker should have treated the mater with fairness.

"There is a motion to be debated and the motion should be laid in Parliament for 21 days in which there will be an objection vote by members. If those against are more than those in favour of it then the motion will be out of order." He said the Speaker should have allowed members to debate on the motion as it is very important for the development of the nation.

On the other hand, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu of the All Peoples Congress said the private member motion put in by the SLPP MPs contravened standing order 25 (2) of the Sierra Leone Standing Orders of Parliament

He said the notice of motion shall be addressed to the clerk.

Pujeh replied that the motion was given in writing while he quoted Standing Order 25 (3).

Meanwhile, the Speaker has overruled that the motion was out of order and has therefore adjourned the house for the next session.