Briefing Members of Parliament and a cross section of journalists in Committee Room One, Parliament Building, the CA noted that their investigations on the organization showed that the said CBO certificate was neither signed by the CA nor his Deputy. No traces of registration or related documentation were found in the log book, he said. He informed journalists that the Mayor has instructed investigations into the legality of the registration with Council. “We don’t have the evidence to show they went through the registration process with council,” CA Daramy pointed out.
He highlighted Council’s mandate, saying the registration of Community Base Organizations is part of its functions as prescribed in the Local Government Act of 2004. He explained that National and International Organizations are registered with the Ministry of Finance and SLANGO, not Councils.
The Leader of the House, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu, said that Parliament has done its part to investigate claims made by CHRDI, on the 120 billion Leones allegation regarding Constituency Development Funds for MPs. He described those claims as false and misleading, noting that Parliament is not a House of liars as dangerously purported by AYV News Paper’s 15th August, edition. Noting that parliament is one of the organs of the State, the House Leader said that any misleading information on its activities should be treated with seriousness.
Hon. Sualiho Koroma, a longstanding NGO official, speaking on behalf of the Minority Leader, questioned the operations and legality of the CHRDI. He said that Parliament does not have anything to hide and that they are operating within the ambit of the law.
The Deputy Minority Whip of Parliament, Hon. JB Mansary, deliberated on the work of MPs in using the Constituency Development Fund, whilst Hon. Dr. Foday Suma, an international NGO leader and Chairman, Labour Committee in Parliament, elucidated the operations of CBOs and INGOs.
The Director of Public Relations, Mr. Cyril Juxon-Smith who moderated the Press briefing appreciated journalists and noted that Parliament is always accountable to its people.
