By Crispina Lois Cummings
Parliament has ratified a bill calling for the transfer of assets of the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (SLPMB) to the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (SLPMC).
The chairman of the legislative committee, Ajibola Manley Spaine, MP, said the committee had not found the bill controversial. He said the memorandum of objects and reasons was clear on the rationale for the promulgation of the bill into law.
The bill calls for the transfer of the interests of the SLPMB to the SLPMC, which include the transfer of the assets, liabilities and staff among others, to the company as part of government’s majority share contribution.
After the reading, speaker of parliament, Justice Abel Stronge asked the House whether the bill should be ratified.
Deputy minority leader, Ansumana Kaikai, MP, raised an objection about the company not having a board, to which Manley Spaine objected saying there was an interim board currently overseeing the SLPMC.
This led to heated debate in the House with the opposition MPs disagreeing strongly.
Minority leader of the House, Bernadette Lahai, MP, said that if there was an existing board overseeing the company that information would have been captured in the bill presented to parliament.
Deputy Speaker, Chernor Bah, MP, explained that it was after the setting-up of the company which was followed by the transfer of assets, that another bill to set up a board for the new company would be brought before the House.
