Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I move that this Honourable House ratify the Stakeholders Communiqué on the agreed toll fees for tricycles, vehicles and trailers plying the wellington/Masiaka highway.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this Honourable House ratified the Wellington- Masiaka highway toll and Government viewed the concerns of citizens, particularly with reference to the prices of the toll gates. Additionally, on the standing relevance of the integrity of Parliament that has approved the Agreement and it is the responsibility of Government to respond to the concerns of citizens, Government thought it fit to review the prices downwards. In the circumstance, I want to inform this House that Government have now reviewed the prices of the toll downwards by three folds [one third] of the initial prices [Applause]. In the circumstance, a toll that was supposed to be Le 12,000 per gate is now Le 4,000.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the Government of Sierra Leone, under the directive of President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, is not unaware of the economic situation in the country. Therefore, he took into good path the agitations of all Sierra Leoneans in terms of our toll gates. Assigned to it by His Excellency the President, the Ministry of Works invited all stakeholders, involving the Sierra Leone Road Authority [SLRA], International Trade Organisation [ITO], the Motor Drivers Union, Ministry of Youth Affairs, truck owners to name a few. All of them took part in two months consultations geared towards reducing the price of toll by three times. So, it is the agreement of all stakeholders, including Parliament that prices are reduced downwards to a point that is practically affordable by Sierra Leoneans.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, you will agree with me that before now, there were no official toll gates in the country; therefore, Government recognises the newness of the project and understands the concerns of Sierra Leoneans that they were frowning at paying at the toll gates. But having understood in detailed, not only the need, but the relevance and necessity of toll gates, Sierra Leoneans are now in readiness to pay for tolls.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I can ascertain with documentation that 80% of Sierra Leoneans have now agreed that we can use toll which is a good vogue in the country that we are opening our hearts to the new big hearts of the world. About 80% Sierra Leoneans agreed that we must not only use the toll road, but pay for the tolls. I also want to inform Parliament that Sierra Leoneans are now happy with the reduction of the prices and they are prepared to pay.
In the circumstance, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Government, particularly the Ministry of Works, is now geared towards starting the toll roads by tomorrow. But before that, it is the law that whenever an institution changes price or taxes consistent with Parliamentary Standing Orders 18[1] and [2], we must come to Parliament to make sure that we ratify and make it legal. In that regard, the Ministry of Works, the SLRA and stakeholders presented themselves to the Parliamentary Committee on Works, Housing and Infrastructure and did our presentations. In that Committee, which was stage one in rectifying the document, we understood ourselves clearly and we made corrections to the documents which are now being adapted to the new document. With the support of the Committee on Works, Housing and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Works was emboldened to bring the document to Parliament to come and rectify it.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, any Minister in the right mind dealing with this matter must know that he has to come to Parliament to effect such changes in price. Therefore, I made myself available not only to the Committee, but also to avail myself to the whole House of Parliament because the Committee is the first point of contact by making corrections and addendum to the ratification.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, legitimacy number two is coming into the Well of Parliament for the whole country; meaning Parliament to ratify the document you have tampered with, in other words, change legally. Otherwise, the cost as beautiful as it might be, cheap as it might be, they are illegal unless approved and ratified by the House of Parliament. Like I said, ‘ab initio.’
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am not unaware of the relevance of Parliament in this particular matter and also recognising the integrity of Parliament in law making. I want to therefore humbly present to you, consistent with S.O 18[1] and [2], to ratify the Stakeholders Communiqué on the agreed toll fees for tricycles, vehicles and trailers plying the Wellington/Masiaka highway changed downwardly for ratification. I thank you Mr. Speaker