SLPP resolutions
Friday 29th November - Saturday 30th November 2013 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting
- 1. Review of SLPP 1995 Constitution (as amended)
The National Executive Council (NEC) on March 23rd – 24th 2013 constituted a Constitutional Review Committee with the overall mandate to review the SLPP 1995 Constitution (as amended). The Committee presented its report at the November 29th -30th 2013 Meeting of NEC and the proposed revised Constitution was duly laid before NEC by the National Secretary – General. In accordance with the provisions of the SLPP Constitution clause 10 sub-clause (2) “ All proposed amendments of the Constitution shall be forwarded to the National Executive Council which shall circulate them to all regional branches of the party at least three months in advance of the next Party Conference”, the National Executive Council has resolved as follows:
- The proposed Constitution should be circulated to all regional branches of the Party on or before December 5, 2013.
- The regional executive facilitates district consultations and regional meetings to discuss the proposed Constitution.
- All comments on the proposed Constitution from the regional branches should be submitted to the National Secretariat on or before February 5, 2013 for onward transmission to the Constitutional Review Committee.
- The Constitutional Review Committee compiles and consolidates all the comments from the regional branches and submit to National Officers on or before March 5, 2013.
- The National Executive Council convenes a NEC meeting and National Party
Conference on or before April 30, 2013.
- 2. Reconciliation
To date, some members who contested for different positions or supported candidates that lost elections are still challenging the results and refusing to either accept the legitimacy of the current National Executive or to participate in party activities. (i) In its inaugural meeting, the National Executive established a set up a broad based Reconciliation Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie.
This Committee had the unenviable task of reaching out to all with the view of reconciling our differences and building the foundation for a more cohesive SLPP. However, despite various interventions and engagements by the Reconciliation Committee and key stakeholders in the process; the Committee is yet to report on a major breakthrough in the peace process. In order to enhance the Committee’s efforts and expedite the process; the National Executive Council also resolves that:
(i) The Parliamentary Caucus Leaders to serve as Peace Ambassadors in their respective Districts to lead members of the Reconciliation Team to resolve differences among our membership in those districts.
(ii) The activities of the Investigative Committee are put on hold to allow unhindered reconciliation efforts.
(iii) The National Executive through the respective regional/district executives convene meetings inviting all members of the respective executives who are inactive to discuss their functions and participation in affairs and running of the party. In the event, they refuse to attend such meetings, the issue to be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for appropriate action.
(iv) A National Retreat to be held for frank discussions on the way forward for the Party’s victory and The National Executive Council sends a letter to the Petitioners in the pending matter before PPRC inviting them to nominate people to serve on the Reconciliation Committee.
- 3. Party Discipline
Political Parties like all other organisations are built on the bedrock of discipline, exemplary conduct and behaviour. Party officials and members are therefore required to imbibe these values for the success and well-being of the Party.
Party discipline has become the greatest challenge facing us as a Party today, with our supporters and members constantly engaging the media not to propagate the ideals of the Party but to make utterances that cast aspersions on key functionaries and the Party thus bringing the latter into ridicule and contempt. In this regard NEC resolves that the letter and spirit of our Disciplinary Code of Conduct be adhered to in all its plenitude by all members to ensure order and restraint. In this regard NEC further resolves that:
(i) The Disciplinary Code of Conduct strictly guides the work of the Disciplinary Committee.
(ii) Disciplinary Committees to be established at all levels of the Party structure inconsistent with the Code of Conduct
(iii) All pending disciplinary matters are hereby referred to the Disciplinary Committee for immediate action.
- 4. Party Administration
The current administration of the party at District and Constituency level in the Kenema, Port Loko and Bombali Districts in addition to certain constituencies and the West District of the Western Area and the regional executives in those areas are inactive and at a standstill. Elections conducted in these areas were controversial. Opposing groups have petitioned the executives that participated in the conference. Despite the fact that the National Executive has allowed the executives to continue to perform their role, there is abundant evidence that party activities are very dormant in these areas. This is further worsened by the on-going divide between the Petitioners in the PPRC matter and the current National Officers. NEC therefore resolves as follows:-
That the Executive of National / Regions / Districts of the affected regions/ districts Constituencies where the leadership is dormant are empowered to investigate and where possible to declare those positions vacant and fill them. This action should be preceded by or executed in tandem with Resolution 2 (iv).
5. Petition against the Minority Leader
By Letter of Petition dated 10th October 2013, and addressed to the Chairman and Leader of the Party 25 (twenty-five) SLPP Members of Parliament expressed a vote of Non-Confidence in the leadership of their leader - the Minority Leader in Parliament.
After receipt and acknowledgement of the response of the Minority Leader to the Petition, and many unofficial and behind the scene moves to negotiate with the Petitioners to withdraw the petition, the matter was tabled as an agenda item and was extensively discussed at the last meeting of National Officers which took place on Tuesday 26th November 2013. The motion to allow Members of Parliament to proceed to elect a new Minority Leader was voted for by more than two third (2/3rd) of National Officers present. Notwithstanding, the decision of the National Officers was extensively discussed in this NEC meeting where it was resolved that
- The decision of National Officers to uphold the Petition of 25 out of 42 Members of Parliament against the Minority Leader be endorsed. Accordingly therefore, the National Executive Council authorizes the National Officers to put in place machinery for her replacement
- 6. Court Orders Relating to Elections in Constituencies 05 and 15 and Amendment to the Constitutional Criteria for Appointing the Speaker of Parliament
NEC realises that on Monday 25th November instant the High Court presided over by Justice Adeliza Showers gave judgement in favour of the respondents in the matter involving our Parliamentary candidates in Constituencies 05 and 15 in the Kailahun and Kenema Districts respectively. However and unfortunately contrary to the contents of that judgement the learned Justice unjustifiably ordered that the results of our candidates should be annulled and the results of other candidates should be declared. In this regard, the Chief Electoral Commissioner on the evening of Wednesday 27th November instant declared the APC candidates as the winners and M.P’s for those constituencies in question. She made this declaration against the backdrop that her institution has been served with a motion paper on an application for a stay of execution pending appeal.
We now have a scenario, therefore, where those two constituencies are represented by people who do not have the mandate of the constituents. A classic recipe for chaos.
Also, NEC notes with utter dismay the proposed Act entitled: “The Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendments) Act 2013” that has been passed by the Sierra Leone Parliament.
This proposed Act seeks to alter a fundamental qualification for those aspiring to be Speaker of Parliament. The present constitutional provision demands that only persons with legal background and with the experience of a judge of the Superior Court of Judicature or qualified to be appointed as such can hold that office. The proposed Bill now suggests that everyone from among Members of Parliament who have served for five years or persons who have been Members of Parliament for ten years and had attained the age of forty is qualified.
These amendments coming at a time when an eighty (80) man Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has been constituted and have commenced sittings on reviewing the nation’s extant Constitution, undermines the authority and purpose of that forum in its infancy and fails to depict a commitment to the on-going national consultative process which they have commenced.
In its determination to protect democracy and until the President expressly refuses to give the Presidential Assent to the proposed Act and until the Appeal Court speedily hears our Appeal that has been filed taking into consideration the threat to the tenets of democracy ; NEC resolves as follows:
- That the SLPP suspends its participation in the National Constitutional Review process until further notice
- That the SLPP Members of Parliament suspends participation in certain strategic Parliamentary activities commencing with the next State Opening of Parliament, and, in that regard NEC authorises the National Officers to review the boycott of Parliament by SLPP Members of Parliament from time to time
- That the SLPP communicates its position on this matter to the International Community and the public in writing.
UNITY HOUSE, 15 WALLACE JOHNSON STREET, FREETOWN
(C) Politico 03/12/13
