Speaker Abel Stronge
An authoritative source in government has intimated Politico that after weeks of speculation Speaker of Parliament, Justice Nathaniel Abel Stronge on Wednesday tendered his resignation. The same source says the House will on Tuesday 21 January 2014 agree on a new speaker.
The now former Speaker would not comment when contacted but majority leader in parliament, SBB Dumbuya, MP, is widely expected to become the next speaker.
In November last year parliament amended Section 79 of the country’s constitution by passing into law the bill entitled Constitution of Sierra Leone Amendment Act 2013. This effectively means that the next Speaker does not necessarily have to be someone with a legal background.
In the absence of the then Speaker, Justice Stronge, for which no reasons were given, the bill was presented to the House by Deputy Minister of Justice, Arrow Bockarie, and presided over by deputy speaker Chernor Maju Bah, MP.
The bill was recently signed into law by President Ernest Bai Koroma.
But the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party MP, Bu-Buakei Jabbie, said the passing of such a bill should have come to the House after the constitutional review process had been completed.
The highly respected former judge was elected Speaker in 2007 after the elections that brought President Koroma into office.
(C) Politico 16/01/14
