The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Morrison O.g. Sayon
16 July 2008
The Liberian Senate, yesterday, concurred with the lower House of Parliament on the much-anticipated Armed Robbery bill. The Senate at the same time rejected an act that seeks to repeal COMIUM's concession agreement.
The armed robbery bill was passed few months ago by the House of Representatives and submitted to the Liberian Senate for its concurrence. The amended version of the armed robbery act seeks to make armed robbery, hijacking and terrorism a capital offence punishable by death or life imprisonment based on the gravity of the case.
Addressing legislative reporters at his regular press briefing yesterday, Senate Pro-tempore, Isaac Nyenabo, disclosed that on Tuesday the Senate concurred with the House on several relevant bills that have been before that august body for some months now.
Pro-tempore Nyenabo said among the bills concurred with by the Liberian Senate yesterday include the armed amended version of the armed robbery act, the Chemical Weapon bill and a bill of an extension of the judiciary system in which Criminal Court-D is to be established to deal with rape cases.
The Grand Gedeh County senior lawmaker pointed out that the Criminal Court-D, when established would be responsible to try rape cases, as the crime is a first-degree felony. At the same time, the Liberian Senate has rejected an act to repeal the COMIUM concession agreement.
Disclosing this to legislative reporters yesterday, Pro-tempore Nyenabo said though the Senate rejected the COMIUM act, it has made some recommendations to the Executive branch of government.
Sen. Nyenabo said the Senate recommended that the Executive take charge of the COMIUM issue by entering into renegotiation with the company before resubmitting it to the National legislature for its input.
According to the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate, any investment in the tone of US$10 million or above must seek legislative ratification, something that was done with the COMIUM Act by the erstwhile National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA).
In more legislative news, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has called on the National Legislature to extend its tenure for additional nine months, ending June 2009.
In a communication to the Legislature, a copy of which was obtained by this paper, the TRC noted that additional time would be necessary in order to ensure that the work of the commission adequately reflects the admirable version of the National Legislature and the public.
The TRC letter under the signature of its Chairman, Cllr. Jerome Verdier noted that the commission will not be able to fulfill its mandate in the original prescribed timeframe and as such it is fully persuaded that only an extension of its tenure by the Legislature can enable the TRC to successfully meet Liberia's needs for reconciliation and a full telling of the history of the conflict.
According to Chairman Verdier, the commission's request for a nine months extension constitutes a request for three consecutive periods of extension of three months each.
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