The 55th Legislature of Liberia reopens today, January 13, for its second session, amidst lingering turmoil and unresolved conflicts in the House of Representatives. The impasse has left the House deeply divided, with both the Majority and Minority Blocs interpreting a vague Supreme Court ruling in their favor. The Majority Bloc, bolstered by numbers and support from the Executive and Senate, has effectively taken control of the House’s operations.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
‘Holistic failure’
Prominent Liberians, including legislators and public figures, have voiced concerns over the Legislature’s state. Chief Cyril Allen, President Emeritus of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), described the ongoing conflict as a “holistic failure” of the Unity Party-led government to resolve the crisis.
“Let’s look at this thing holistically. Whether it is majority or minority bloc, this is a failure,” Chief Allen said. “The executive has not taken the requisite action to calm the situation and there are descensions going on in its ranks. That’s a failure. The judicial branch did not make a cohesive decision. In the final analysis, we have chaos. We have demonstration and misunderstanding. The matter is still not resolved. It’s a holistic failure on the part of the Unity Party.”
Chief Allen also criticized the Legislature for “prioritizing its interests” over the welfare of the masses, allocating significant budgetary resources to itself. He further accused the Executive of failing to utilize financial incentives to remove Speaker Koffa, a move he deemed necessary.
He said: “In the last eight months, there is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law in our country. I always told people that I am too old to tell a lie and too old to die. And I am not afraid to die. I made that very clear in my interviews that we have to conform to the rule of law. There are things that must happen in this country and the president must take charge of that. He is a national leader. For us to take national money out of the executive for the legislature to use it to remove their leadership, it is undermining and eroding the base of your leadership. It’s a holistic failure on the part of the Unity Party.”
‘We are threatened’
A key highlight of today’s reopening is the decision of pro-Koffa lawmakers, now the self-proclaimed Rule of Law Caucus, to join the Majority Bloc’s session. Critics, however, argue that this move could compromise their pursuit of justice.
Ambulah Mamey, a political commentator, dismissed the caucus as a mere political ploy. “They are not a Rule of Law Caucus; they are schemers of the law pursuing political objectives. Posterity will judge them,” he said.
Defending the decision, Rep. Bility explained that their resort to the Civil Law Court followed legal advice, as the Chief Justice has the discretion to respond to a bill of information.
“Hearing a bill of information is the sole prerogative of the Chief Justice. If she refuses, that is the end of it… The Supreme Court has failed us, the Chief Justice has refused to hear our case,” he said. “What else can we resolved to? Our lawyer say the Civil Law Court is our only route. We have to cater to 28 people. We are being threatened. Their salaries are being withheld. They removed the Speaker with 42 votes, and the Ministry of Justice accepted it. So, if you don’t go to work as they claim, they can use this same illegal way to cancel the seats of the others and the Election Commission will also accept that. In order to be Representatives of our people, we will go there, we will sit there and use every legislative mean to prove our case.”
The formation of the Rule of Law Caucus comes in the wake of a contentious leadership dispute within the House. The Majority Bloc declared Speaker Koffa’s position vacant and elected Representative Richard Koon as their Speaker. They also suspended seven members of the House and withheld their salaries. The formation also comes as the Liberian National Police Launches investigation on the into the Capitol fire incident. The group, through Chairman Bility, has strongly condemned the Liberia National Police for what he termed as the “unlawful” arrest of individuals linked to the recent Capitol Building fire. Bility has called for their immediate release and urging the international community to intervene to prevent Liberia from descending into a crisis.
‘Somber Ceremony’
This year’s legislative reopening comes under the shadow of a fire that recently devastated the Capitol Building, destroying the Joint Chambers used for presidential addresses and joint legislative sessions. As a result, the President’s Annual Message, or State of the Nation Address (SONA), will not be held at the Capitol, breaking a long-standing tradition.
Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence described the reopening as a “somber ceremony” in light of the fire and ongoing legislative discord. Unlike previous years, she said the ceremony at the Liberian Senate will exclude guest participation and the customary luncheon with the House of Representatives.
Members of both chambers will, however, maintain the tradition of marching together for the ceremonial hoisting of county flags before retreating to their respective chambers for brief opening sessions.
Constitutional Mandate and Program Details
The reopening complies with Chapter 5, Article 32(a) of the 1986 Constitution, which mandates the Legislature to convene annually on the second working Monday of January.
Unlike the Senate, the Press and Public Affairs Bureau of the House announced that President Joseph N. Boakai, senior government officials, diplomats, and civil society representatives will attend the ceremony. The program will commence at 10 a.m. and include a grand march from the Executive Mansion to the Rotunda, followed by the hoisting of national and county flags by the Legislature’s Sergeant-At-Arms.
The House of Representatives will convene at the Monrovia City Hall, where the presiding officer will deliver an address setting the legislative agenda for the second session.
