By Sulaiman Jalloh

The sixth Parliament of the Second republic of Sierra Leone through the Office of the Clerk has on Friday, October 18, 2024 announced new security measures for especially strangers or visitors to the precincts of parliament aimed at allowing members of parliament to do their work freely.

According to a release from the office of the clerk, for visiting purpose, visitors should be in formal dresses to gain access to Parliament and that any/every visitor should present formal identification including passport, national identity card or driver’s license.  “Visitors should sign a Visitors Book and leave their identity with an Officer of the House who will provide them a visitor’s tag. Visitors will receive their identity upon returning the tag after visitations” the release stated

These measures he said will take effect on the 31 October, 2024. He added that only Ministers, Diplomats and Journalists are allowed to enter the Chamber of Parliament with their phones, noting other persons would have to leave theirs’ at the Main Entrance and their phones will be given to them thereafter.

“These new measures are aimed at strengthening security around the precincts of Parliament and not in any way whatsoever intended to bar citizens and non-citizens from gaining access to the Parliament of Sierra Leone” the statement emphasized

Members of Parliament are currently on recess and they are expected to resume sittings on Thursday, October 31, 2024 a day that these security measures will take effect.