Speaker Dumbuya and SLAJ President Lewis
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) yesterday urged the leadership of Parliament to support the repeal of sections of the Public Order Act of 1965 which criminalise libel.
A SLAJ press release issued yesterday says the association's executive met with the Speaker of the House and the majority Leader.
SLAJ President Kelvin Lewis told the Speaker, Sheku B.B. Dumbuya that the need existed for Parliament to support causes that would help deepen democracy in the country, not least upholding freedom of expression.
“SLAJ supports all democratic initiatives in the country. We believe freedom of expression should be allowed to flourish, which is why we’ve come to ask you to support our cause to have the criminal portions of the Public Order Act repealed or reviewed,” Lewis is quoted as saying.
He said that despite concern as to what would replace criminal libel if expunged, adequate remedies were always available for people who felt their reputation had been defamed, stressing that the 1961 Defamation Act and the 2009 Bankruptcy Act offered very tough penalties for journalists found guilty of libel.
The Speaker informed the SLAJ Executive that “everything about Parliament is lobbying”, which he said was standard practice all over the world.
“You need to lobby the Majority and Minority Leaders of Parliament. My job is to preside over the business of the House, and I don’t have the final say. Members of Parliament have the final say, and I only come in on very crucial matters,” said the Speaker. “Parliament is always ready to work with journalists, our only reservation being some of them are sensational.”
He assured SLAJ of his support and encouraged the Executive to first of all try to win the support of the Majority and Minority Leaders of Parliament.
In a meeting, House Majority Leader Ibrahim Bundu, MP, lauded the association’s approach in having criminal libel removed from the country’s law books.
“In Parliament, we deal with what is before us,” said the Majority Leader. “The law in question was passed way before we came to Parliament, which is not to say we do not have the obligation to bring in new things. I’m grateful that you’ve taken this approach, which will determine the outcome [of your lobbying].”
Bundu said two options were available to SLAJ namely through a Private Member Motion or by a Government Motion.
“You have Members of Parliament who were journalists, you can use them to pilot a Bill through a Private Members Motion. We’ll debate it and then vote on it. As an MP, I’ll welcome such a Bill and vote my conscience,” he said.
The SLAJ Executive also met with the Deputy Speaker, Chernor Bah, MP, who said it was important for people to discuss the fears they might have about repealing the criminal portions of the Public Order Act.
However, SLAJ could not meet with the Minority Leader, Dr. Bernadette Lahai, MP, as she was out of the office when the Executive visited.
(C) Politico 04/03/14
