Senate Hosts Sierra Leonean Parliamentarians -Exchange Pleasantries, Agree on Areas of Collaborations

Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence on Thursday February 13, 2025, received a delegation from the Sierra Leone Parliament at her capitol building office where they held bilateral discussions bordering stronger collaboration in enacting legislations and polices that positively impact the region and Africa at large.

Members of the Sierra Leonean delegation included Hon. Mathew Nyuma, heard of delegation, Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay, Hon. Aaron Aouna Koroma, Hon. Emilia Lollo Tongi, and Hon. Paran Tarawally, clerk of the Sierra Leone Parliament and member of the delegation.

Hon. Nyuma stressed the need for a stronger collaboration between Liberia and Sierra Leone by focusing attention on what brings the two countries together, building bonds that take advantage of the division at the OACPS-EU and using it to enhance cross-border trades.

He emphasized the need for education on climate change and the effects on the population, imploring his Liberian counterparts to focus attention “on what brings us together, make us stronger to make use of the division at the OACP-EU, and by establishing a regional bloc”.

“Let’s focus on trade,” he indicated. “Let’s not close our borders. Let’s strategize appropriately to change the story of our region. Let’s see ourselves as sister countries affected by similar issues.”

For her part, host Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee-Karnga-Lawrence welcomed the delegation to Liberia, and expressed the country’s willingness to collaborate with countries in the region to form a stronger bloc at regional and other international levels.

“We are looking forward to providing the support especially in terms of due payment and forming collaboration at regional bodies,” she said, and added: “Every time we attend these regional meetings, we see each other as the same people. Thanks for coming and let’s remain more engaged. You have our support, as the Liberian Senate.”

The OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) is a unique and permanent democratic institution that brings together an equal number of elected members of parliament from the African, Caribbean and Pacific states and Members of the European Parliament.

In addition, there is the Samoa Agreement which also provides for the setting up of three Regional Parliamentary Assemblies (RPAs) for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.