Section 37: Interpretation.

In this Part— “defamatory matter” means any matter which if published of and concerning a person (deceased or alive) is likely to expose him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule or to damage him in his trade, business, profession, calling, or office whether such matter be expressed in spoken words or in any audible sounds or in words legibly marked or in any substance whatever or by any sign or object signifying such matter otherwise than by words wither directly or by insinuation or irony; “import” means to being into Sierra Leone; “periodical publication” includes every publication issued periodically or in parts or numbers at intervals whether regular or irregular; “seditious intention” includes an intention— i. to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the person of Her Majesty, her Heirs or successors, or the Governor-General or the Cabinet or the administration of the Government of Sierra Leone as by law established; or ii. to excite citizens of Sierra Leone or other residents in Sierra Leone to attempt to procure the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any other matter in Sierra Leone as by law established; or iii. to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Sierra Leone; or iv. to raise discontent or disaffection amongst citizens of Sierra Leone or other residents in Sierra Leone; or v. to encourage or promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different tribes or nationalities or between persons of different religious faith in Sierra Leone; but does not include an intention— a) to show that Her Majesty has been misled or mistaken in any of her measures; or b) to point out errors or defects in the government or Constitution of Sierra Leone as by law established or a legislation or in the administration of justice with a view to the remedying of such errors or defects; or c) to persuade the Citizens or inhabitants of Sierra Leone to attempt to procure by lawful means the alteration of any matter in Sierra Leone as by law established; or d) to point out, with a view to their removal, any matters which are producing, or have a tendency to produce, feelings of ill-will and enmity between different classes of the population of Sierra Leone; and in determining whether the intention with which any act was done, any words were spoken or any document was published, was or was not seditious, every person shall be deemed to intend the consequences which would naturally follow from his conduct at the time and under the circumstances in which he so conducted himself: “seditious publication” means a publication having a seditious intention; “seditious words” means words having a seditious intention; “to publish” includes— a) with reference to spoken words or audible sounds, to speak such words or make such sounds in the hearing of another person; b) in all other cases, to cause, directly or indirectly the print, writing, painting, effigy or other means by which the defamatory, seditious or false matter is conveyed, to be so dealt with, either by exhibition, reading, recitation, description, delivery or otherwise, so that the defamatory, seditious or false meaning thereof become known or is likely to become known to any person (including the class of persons or person whom the defamatory, seditious or false matter may be understood to refer to). P ART VI – PUBLIC EMERGENCY