The need for Natural Resource protection in the Constitution “Climate change should now be a human rights issue,” These were the words of the Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Land, Natural Resources and the Environment Subcommittee of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC). Whilst welcoming the subcommittee, Jatou Jallow spoke about the silence of the extant Constitution on natural resource management and the willingness of EPA to add their voice for the creation of a new chapter in the Supreme Law that deals with same. The Environmental Protection Agency is one among many institutions that the Natural Resources Subcommittee had consulted within the last couple of months. From the Maritime Wing of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to the 3rd infantry Brigade, the issues were not dissimilar. Depletion, encroachment, deforestation, hazardous logging, unregulated fishing, among others, were identified as those debilitating the gainful use of the nation’s natural resources. Such is the crisis facing Sierra Leone that members of the CRC thought it fit to form a subcommittee charged with the responsibility of consulting various stakeholders for the incorporation of a specific chapter in the revised constitution dealing with natural resources. The destiny of 6 Million people lies in the judicious use of a little over 27,000 Square miles of land and other resources. Members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces made some recommendations for constitutional change including the need for proper health care for the military, the revision of Military Aid to Civil Power (MACP), changing the maritime wing to the navy and the need for the parliamentary oversight committee to regulate military barracks. If anything was to be left out of their recommendations, it won’t be the manner of awarding contracts to foreign mining companies. Citizens have witnessed the abuse of their rights by multi-national institutions such that the diamonds, gold, iron ore, bauxite and other resources have not reflected on the livelihood of the people. The Land, Natural Resources and the Environment Subcommittee had a lot on the table if they are to succeed in recommending a new chapter on the subject matter.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:54:27 +0000
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