SIERRA LEONE REPUBLIC BILL [H.L.] (Hansard, 25 November 1971)

§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. Bills of a similar nature have been introduced from time to time when other Commonwealth countries have made a similar constitu- 1154 tional change. This Bill, like the others, is short and uncontroversial. It is however a necessary piece of legislation. Sierra Leone became a republic within the Commonwealth on April 19,1971, immediately after the required legislation had been passed by the Sierra Leone Parliament. The purpose of the Bill is to make adjustments in our own law which such a constitutional change necessitates. It follows the earlier precedents and provides that the law of the United Kingdom and the law of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in so far as it relates to Sierra Leone will not be affected by the fact that Sierra Leone is now a republic. The Bill will only affect the law of Dependent Territories of the United Kingdom so far as it affects Acts of the United Kingdom Parliament extending to them and Orders in Council applying such Acts.
The Bill also makes the necessary provision to enable the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to continue to exercise jurisdiction to hear any appeals that were pending immediately before Sierra Leone became a republic. It excludes all appeals from decisions given by a court or judge in Sierra Leone after that date.
Sierra Leone has now joined the growing number of Commonwealth countries which have become republics. These countries are now in the majority in the Commonwealth but this change does not reduce the respect which the Governments of these countries have for the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. Indeed, the President of Sierra Leone has emphasised that his Government gladly acknowledges the Queen's unique position in the Commonwealth. He also paid a special tribute to the United Kingdom with which, he said, Sierra Leone had had links for more than a century. Dr. Siaka Stevens, the former Prime Minister, is now President and I am sure all noble Lords will join me in extending our very best wishes to him, and to the Government and people of Sierra Leone. My Lords, I beg to move.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES or OF HASTOE
My Lords, this is indeed an 1155 uncontroversial Bill, as the noble Marquess has said, and we on this side have great pleasure in giving it a welcome. As the adjustments are purely legal and technical there need be no comment from this side. But, as the noble Marquess has said we have had links with Sierra Leone for a very long time. Indeed, Sierra Leone was one of the first milestones in the long march and battle against slavery waged by this country. Many noble Lords in this House will have friends in Sierra Leone, and many of her people have been in this country, often for further education of one kind and another; indeed, the present President, Dr. Stevens, was educated at Ruskin College, which gives us a rather special feeling for him. We are very glad indeed that Sierra Leone has decided to remain within the Commonwealth and we all look forward to the contribution she will make through the Commonwealth and through the other international organisations to world peace.
My Lords, as with all developing counties, it has not been an easy time for Sierra Leone—most of all, perhaps, economically—but she is a resilient and vital country, and I know that all parts of the House will want to send our warmest wishes to the new republic.

§ LORD BROCKWAY
My Lords, I wonder whether I may add my good wishes to the peoples of Sierra Leone and to its Prime Minister. It has had one of the most romantic and dramatic histories of the countries which are now in the British Commonwealth. As my noble friend Lady Llewelyn-Davies said, it began with a benevolent effort by Granville Sharpe, even before slavery was officially abolished in this country, to establish a settlement for slaves. Unlike any other country, except Liberia, its beginning was benevolent in that way. Its history has also been dramatic. Like other African countries which have gained their independence, there has been a series of military coups, and when the present Prime Minister, Siaka Stevens, was elected with a majority in 1967 he was overthrown by a military coup. I think it is the only case where there have been four military coups in quick succession: first by the Generals, overthrown
1156 by the Colonels; then by the Colonels, overthrown by the non-commissioned officers; then by the non-commissioned officers overthrown by the privates; and the privates were the supporters of Siaka Stevens, who was able to resume his position as Prime Minister. It is worth remembering that Siaka Stevens is probably the only proletarian Prime Minister in the whole of Africa. He began in the railwaymen's union, in which he was an organiser. He then became active in the miners' union in Sierra Leone, and, as the noble Baroness, Lady Llewelyn-Davies, has said, he was educated at Ruskin College. Therefore on this side of the House we have a sense of unity with him, closer perhaps than with many other African Prime Ministers.
My Lords, there is one respect in which he has justified criticism, and that is for the practice adopted by other African leaders of imprisoning political opponents without trial. As President of the Movement for Colonial Freedom, I wrote to him in this matter and I am now able to say that a number of detainees are to be released on the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic period of daylight fasting, and the celebration of Christmas. Those released will include prominent leaders of the attempted military coup three years ago, among them military officers. In addition there is to be a review of the policy of detention, and it is expected that many others will be released. In our passing this Bill to-day I hope it will lead to the liberation of all those who have been detained for political offences.

§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN
My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Baroness and the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, for their welcome to this Bill, and to endorse what they have said. May I add how interested I was to hear the remarks made by the noble Lord on the history of the four coups in Sierra Leone. I am sure we are all delighted to hear what he has said about the review of the policy of detention, and I can confirm that what he has said is quite true. My Lords, I do not wish to take up any more of your Lordships' time.