Liberia: Legislature’s Joint Chamber Allegedly Vandalized Amid Deepening Management Disaster
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – On Monday, lawmakers and workers on the Liberian Legislature arrived to seek out the joint chambers in disarray, with over 500 chairs uprooted. A FrontPage Africa reporter on the scene confirmed that every one chairs had been eliminated by unknown people, escalating the continued disaster throughout the House of Representatives.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
According to the structure, the joint chamber serves because the venue for each the House and Senate to conduct joint enterprise, sometimes presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This area is often used for key occasions, together with the President’s annual message—often known as the State of the Nation Address—and finances evaluation classes by joint finances committees.
However, the joint chamber has change into a focus within the present management dispute, as a majority bloc of 43 lawmakers calling for Speaker Fonati Koffa’s elimination has been holding “sessions” there, presided over by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah. This bloc accuses Speaker Koffa of corruption and conflicts of curiosity, asserting he now not has their confidence.
Speaker Koffa has condemned these gatherings as unlawful and has referred to as for due course of. His try and halt the group’s conferences was denied by Justice-in-Chambers Yamie Gbeisay, who dominated towards stopping the classes.
The alleged vandalism coincides with the House’s ongoing modernization marketing campaign, which incorporates renovations of the primary chamber. Speaking to FrontPage Africa, Rep. Prescilla Abram Cooper, chair of the House Modernization Committee, urged that the uprooted chairs could also be a part of this undertaking. “I will have to check with [the workers], but I am sure they are the ones,” she mentioned. “The dome over the joint chamber was a hazard, and reconditioning it is part of the contractual agreement. Since nothing was damaged, I believe they’re setting up scaffolding for work on it.”
Rep. Cooper downplayed issues that the incident would exacerbate the management disaster, emphasizing that every one lawmakers are conscious of the renovation. She highlighted the deteriorating situation of the joint chamber’s dome, which she mentioned wants restore to make sure the protection of lawmakers and guests. “I don’t think this has anything to do with the crisis,” she added. “Why would lawmakers want to destroy property we all need? I don’t believe anyone would be that insensitive.”
The Senate management has not formally commented on the incident, although a rating Senator, who requested to not be named, said that the Senate was unaware of any renovations deliberate for the joint chambers. “The Senate leadership is not aware of any appropriation for the renovation of the Joint Chambers. If funds were allocated, both the House and Senate would have coordinated on the project,” the Senator mentioned.
This incident coincides with the anticipated arrival of an ECOWAS parliamentary delegation led by Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. The delegation is anticipated in Liberia to mediate between key stakeholders, together with Speaker Koffa, Deputy Speaker Fallah, and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, in an effort to resolve the management disaster.
FPA Sfaff reporters Obediah Johnson and Webster Clayeh contributed to this story
