Sierra Leone Speaker of Parliament Addresses Gathering at British House of Commons 

By Abdulai Braima

In a momentous address at the British House of Commons on the evening of Monday, March 11th, 2024, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, delivered a poignant speech commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth.

The Anniversary theme, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” formed the thrust of Dr. Bundu’s remarks, echoing the collective aspirations towards harnessing the collective strengths and nurturing unity across Commonwealth nations.

Dr. Bundu who was addressing an eminent body consisting of Parliamentary Speakers, Ambassadors, and High Commissioners, underscored the imperative of transparent governance and equitable prosperity, stressing the need for an unwavering commitment to shared values. He called for a renewed dedication to fundamental principles such as the rule of law, representative democracy, and inclusive governance, asserting their pivotal role in fostering sustainable development and progress for the vast majority.

Highlighting Sierra Leone’s remarkable strides under His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s visionary leadership, Dr. Bundu lauded the nation’s achievements in a number of areas including gender equality and youth empowerment. Notably, the Rt Hon. Speaker observed that Sierra Leone has reached a an important milestone with a 30% female representation in Parliament, signaling a significant step towards gender parity and a recognition of the invaluable contributions of women in governance as well as in society in general.

Moreover, Dr. Bundu emphasized the importance of inclusive decision-making processes that embrace gender and youth perspectives, fostering an environment conducive to innovation and transformation. He underscored the necessity of rejecting all forms of discrimination, affirming their incompatibility with the shared vision of a better world.

In closing, Dr. Bundu expressed heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed attendees for their unwavering dedication to Commonwealth ideals.

The address concluded with a resounding call to action, urging collective efforts towards building a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all within the Commonwealth and beyond.