Nov 17, 2015
Krio Descendants Union Petitions
Sierra Leone Constitutional Review Committee
rio community, today
met with the Constitutional Review Committee and presented their
position paper relating to the ongoing review of the Sierra Leone
Constitution. About 20 members of the KDU, including its President,
Cassandra Garber, Vice President, Sam Macauley and members Alari Cole,
Roland Buck and Paul Conton met with Justice Edmund Cowan, CRC
Chairman, Saa Kpulum, Executive Secretary and other members of the CRC
at the large meeting room in the CRC offices at Miatta Conference
Center, Brookfields, Freetown.The meeting was called to order by the Executive Secretary of the CRC, Mr Saa Kpulum. During her presentation Mrs Cassandra Garber highlighted the lengthy process of consultation among diverse sections of the Krio community at home and in the diaspora that had resulted in the final document. She hoped that the CRC would find the document of use and would see fit to include its recommendations in their final report. In response, Justice Edmund Cowan, CRC Chairman, thanked KDU for taking the time to review the constitution and formulate its recommendations. He regarded the size of the delegation, on a busy working day, as an indication of the seriousness KDU attached to the issue and was also impressed by the wide-ranging nature of the KDU submission.
In forthright remarks on the land question, which was top of
KDU's list of issues, Justice Cowan said that Cap 122 (the
notorious Provinces Land Act that divides Sierra Leoneans into
"natives" and "non-natives") was introduced when Sierra Leone was
divided into Colony and Protectorate, but now the country was unified
there should be one set of land laws for all. Votes of thanks were delivered by Haja Alari Cole and Mr Paul Conton, members of the KDU Constitution Committee.
Political observers have noted that this is the first time in many, many years that Krios have come together as a group to present a common political postion.
Download full text of the KDU submission to the CRC here...