By Sulaiman Jalloh

During its plenary sitting on Thursday, April 11, 2024, Parliament unanimously suspended the recent national health emergency proclaimed by President Julius Maada Bio for lack of regulations expected to guide the health emergency proclamation.

Hon. Daniel Koroma, deputy leader of the opposition in Parliament, said they are in full support of the proclamation but asked for regulations from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “We cannot import regulations,” he said, noting regulations are required to enforce the state of emergency.

Earlier, the leader of government business in Parliament, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma had applauded the opposition lawmakers for something he called ’emphatic’ support/collaboration in the fight against Kush. He said whilst the government is committed to the fight, regulations are important before the tabling the constitutional instrument.

“We don’t want people to misuse the public health emergency; we are worried about people who would misuse the emergency,” Hon Matthew Nyuma. He joined Hon. Daniel Koroma of the opposition to ask the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to provide regulations within the given period of time.

Hon. Aaron Koroma from the opposition said, without regulations, the state of emergency is just a frame.

The deputy speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, said the fundamental issue of health emergency is due process while he urged the Justice Minister to provide regulations as asked for by lawmakers.

Earlier this month, President Julius Maada Bio, in an address to the nation, announced a national health emergency on drugs and substance abuse, especially to address the deadly Kush drug.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Monday, April 15th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)