By Aminata Phidelia Allie
The Constitutional Review Committee is set to start its public consultation and civic education after completing a nation-wide pre-consultation visit, according to a press release issued last week.
It says the committee met with and thoroughly engaged district officers, paramount chiefs, mayors and chairmen of city and district councils and other traditional leaders “to inform them about the imminent consultation and to solicit co-operation for civic education and public”.
In Kenema, the Deputy Mayor, Esther Kaisamba, pledged her city’s commitment to the review process, adding that they would try their best to make the consultation a success.
Paramount chiefs of Kakua chiefdom in the Bo district, Kaiyamba chiefdom in Moyamba and Kholifa Rowalla chiefdom in Tonkolili were among those who received the committee members.
Mayor of the New Sembehun Town Council in Kono and the Chief Administrator of the Bonthe Municipal Council also gave their “overwhelming pledges” to the process, says the release.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing at the Miatta Conference Centre on Thursday, the committee’s new executive secretary disclosed that they would take a two-way approach to the public consultation. One of them, Samuel Coker said, would be to hold town hall meetings to which stakeholders in the district would be invited. The other, he added, would be by holding general meeting at which everyone would be given a chance to have their voices heard and be part of the process.
Chairman of the committee, Justice Edmond Cowan assured that the reviewed constitution would reflect the views of ordinary citizens and not that of any political party. He encouraged everyone to prepare their comments and suggestions as radio and television discussions would start soon.
(C) Politico 29/04/14
