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SLAJ seriously concerned about the SLBC bill

Author: SEM Contributor

Freetown – The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists once more wishes to express serious concern about the surreptitious manner in which the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Bill is being handled by the Ministry of Information and Communication. For the second time running the bill was tabled before Parliament on Wednesday 10 December by the Minister, Hon Ibrahim Ben Kargbo in a manner that bore the hallmarks of either a secret agenda or a disrespectful treatment of other key stakeholders to the corporatisation and future administration of the SLBC especially SLAJ.

The association and civil society stakeholders on the Transitional Management Team (TMT) including proposed Board members were neither informed about the tabling of the bill nor did they receive any copy to be sure that key decisions reached at the TMT were reflected in it.

SLAJ is further disturbed that despite the earlier passage of the bill in parliament which had so many grey areas that led to it being sent back to the House by President Ernest Bai Koroma, following a protest letter from SLAJ, some of the concerns which were accepted as genuine, have still not been reflected. The grey areas included the appointment of the Director General and their security of tenure, which were reflected.

However, contrary to a consensus reached at the TMT that a representative of the Board of Trustees of the future SLBC from the University of Sierra Leone should come from the Mass Communications Department, the amended bill sent to parliament states that such a representative should come from the Engineering Department. SLAJ sees this as a complete misrepresentation and betrayal of trust.

Also, despite concerns that the future Director General must be a media professional or have a media background, nothing of the sort is contained in the amended bill.

SLAJ hereby wishes to appeal to the Honorable Members of Parliament to rise up to the occasion and ensure the bill is passed in the best interest of the nation by reflecting these concerns, which will contribute significantly to ensuring that the SLBC becomes a truly independent public service broadcaster.

The Association is available for discussions with MPs on this matter, while appreciating the urgency in passing of the bill.

Mustapha M.K Sesay, National Secretary General, SLAJ

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