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Committee:

Region/District/Village

Individual/Group/Organization

Name Male Female Age

Feedback, Suggestion, Submissions

Chapter Section Subsection

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There are three key areas to concentrate on and give greater attention on information and communications. We need to ask ourselves whether we want to maintain the status-quo, separate the information and communication into two separate departments or if we combine both into a single department known as Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

1. How can the Independent Media Commission (IMC) be strengthened to protect members of the public?

2. How can the media be given more constitutional freedom to promote good governance and accountability?

3. How do we fast-track complaints made by members of the public against the media both at the law courts and the IMC?

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4. To what extent should the constitution make provision for a special court to handle matters on libel and sedition?

5. How can a journalist be protected from undue arrest and intimidation for performing his/her professional duties?

6. Should the constitution mandate all print and electronic media proprietors to pay reporters and other staff salaries that are attractive and below the minimum wage?

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7. Is it important for the constitution to determine the qualifications of Newspaper editors and radio station managers?

8. Should an editor or station manager go through professional training in a reputable institution:

a) For journalists who train on the job, should they have practical experience for at least ten years before attaining the position of an editor or station manager?

b) For qualified journalists, should they have an added experience of at least five years on the job before being appointed an Editor or Station Manager?

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9. To protect members of the public, what do you think about insuring radio stations and newspaper houses with reputable insurance companies to guarantee compensation to citizens libelled or slandered?

10. Provided that all newspapers and radio stations are fully insured to compensate defamed or libelled members of the public. Should Part V of the 1965 Public Order Act be repealed?

11. What do you think about the inclusion of the functions of the Ministry of Information in the constitution?

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12. Is it worthwhile to digitalize telecommunications, taking into account developments in the sector globally?

13. What further authority should be given to NATCOM to ensure that all funds accrued from the ICT sector either in the form of registration fees or taxes are paid into the Consolidated Fund?

14. Since the NATCOM Act is sometimes by-passed by operators, what can be added in the Constitution to compel operators to abide by the telecommunications Act of Sierra Leone?

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15. Why should the Constitution recognise the new Access to Information Law?

16. Who do you think should appoint Directors/Commissioners of the IMC, NATCOM and the Access to Information Secretariat?

17. To what extent can the constitution ensure the independence of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)?

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18. How can the SLBC be monitored to perform its public broadcasting role efficiently as established by the SLBC Act 2010?

19. Do you think that the Constitution should make provision for the Ministry of Education to be divided into two: Ministry of Basic Education and the Ministry of Tertiary and University Education? If so why?

20. Do you think that the Constitution should enforce free basic quality education at Primary and Secondary level in Sierra Leone. Why?

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21. Should the Constitution mandate the Tertiary Education Commission with more powers to enforce quality educational standards? How and why can this be done?

22. Consistent with Government White Paper should bilingualism be made a constitutional provision taking into consideration the ECOWAS standards of regional education?

23. Do you support the legislation of improved conditions of service for teachers and directors pursuant to their qualifications and experience? Justify..?

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PUBLIC COMMENTS: (THIS SPACE IS RESERVED TO ALLOW YOU WRITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANGES YOU DESIRE IN THE AREAS OF COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION)

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