|
|
Liberia: "Please Pass Defense Act" - Minister Brownie Samukai
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
The Analyst (Monrovia)
22 May 2008
Posted to the web 22 May 2008
George J. Borteh
National Defense Minister Brownie Samukai is enjoining members of the 52nd National Legislature to pass the Draft National Defense Act into law.
The Act provides the basis for the professionalization of the new army, and as such, he expressed hope that the lawmakers will see reason to pass it into law.
Minister Samukai made the appeal recently following a closed-door hearing at the House of Representatives. "Please Pass the Draft National Defense Act", Minister Samukai appeals to the Lawmakers.
The Draft National Defense Act has not been made public, but it according to defense authorities, it provides essential measures intended to professionalize the country's new armed forces
According to information gathered by this paper, the Act is likely to take effect immediately upon publication into handbills. The Draft National Defense Act supersedes the National Defense Law of 1956 and amends the Coast Guard Act of 1959 and the Liberian Navy Act of 1986 in their entirety.
It is enshrined in the Act, according to information gathered by this paper, that an Assistant Minister at the Defense Ministry will head the what is to be known 'The Liberian Air Wing,' replacing the then Air Reconnaissance Unit and shall have the rank of a colonel.
It is learnt that the Draft Act empowers the minister of National Defense to establish a National Military Response Center (NMRC), which shall function as a center crisis monitoring and management origination for the Ministry of Defense. The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is to coordinate its activities.
It also takes into consideration so many guides and benefit for soldiers of the AFL. It provides a Code of Conduct for the AFL and personnel of the Ministry of National Defense.
This paper learnt that the Draft Act provides pension benefits for veterans of AFL, Widow, Widowers and minor children of members of armed services killed in performance of duties.
Apart from calls from the Minister of Defense, some Liberians are also want the Legislature pass it. They said Draft Act is intended to set good standard for AFL.
James Z. Wiah and Janet Madill told this paper: "Though we have not read the Draft Act, we believe that the Draft Defense Act is intended to give Liberia a professional army."
|
Jeremiah S. Taylor and Johnson B. Wolo in separate statements called for the passage of the Defense Act on grounds that there was need for the country to move forward in setting up a professional defense force. According to them, the National Legislature needs to give the Drat National Defense Act serious consideration.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 The Analyst. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
