9 September 2008
Political activist Milton Teahjay and Careysburg City Major Gabriel Knuckles are among other prominent Liberians calling for the rejection of any attempt aimed at dissolving statutory cities and districts in the country.
Such dissolution, according to them, would not only engender disunity, but increase criminality, prostitution, divorce, school dropouts, hunger and underdevelopment in Liberia.
Mr. Teahjay and others made the call yesterday at the Capitol Building when the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Affairs held a public hearing on bills seeking the dissolution of cities and districts as well as the reduction of presidential term from six to four and senior senatorial term from nine to six, among others.
The two government officials asked the lawmakers to pass the law reducing about 148 cities to 16, reduce senatorial term from nine to six including presidential term from six to four years as well as new scheduled for general and presidential elections in Liberia, among others.
Chairman Fromoyan said NEC also seeks simply majority election for municipal and legislative elections while presidential election remains absolute majority to help reserve lots of energy, times and resources in conducting runner-up-elections.
They further seek changes in the schedules of the presidential and general elections and inauguration in the country.
Internal Affairs Minister Abdullai Johnson said the reduction of cities and districts would help to decentralized development, local government and seriously beef up socio-economic and political development in all sectors of Liberia.
He said the proposed bills, if passed into law would largely speedup developments, unity, reconciliation amongst Liberians. He pleaded with the senate to give the proposed bills some speedy consideration for the greater good of all.
Political Activist Milton Teahjay who also make remarks at the hearing, described the bill as "bogus trip" aimed at denying current senator of possible re-election by their people because such bills would cause extreme hardship for electorates.
He termed the bills as a loaded M16 machinegun directed to one own chest to be fired because such bills would hunt them when passed into law, "Reject this whole package and sent it back".
Careysburg City Major Gabriel Knuckles who also addressed the public hearing urged the senate to reject the entire package because it contains more problems then solutions owing to its strict jacket method for changes.
He said dissolution of cities and districts in strict jacket method implies that all cities and districts have similar problems which is very far from the true. He accused NEC personnel of intimidating citizens to have signed a petition calling for dissolution of cities and districts.
He said NEC reneges to Liberia's own definition of cities and districts but rather using western benchmarks to determine a city in Liberia.
In keeping Western Definition of cities, Major Knuckles said there is no place in Liberia one can equip with a western city because cities in Liberia lack electricity, recreation centers, hotels, modern infrastructures, good roads or street, schools, among others.
He disclosed that his city Careysburgs was established in 1923 while Bensonville city which is favored was established in 1971.
" Instead of Bensonville We can only accept Careysburgs as our capitol city for Montserrado county for we are far older". He than lauded the Senate for the opportunity afforded them.
Senators Blamoh Nelson and Dolo of Grandkru and Nimba Counties, among other lawmakers questioned the rationale dissolving cities and districts within the counties.
They said such actions would undermine integration, unity and development in the various counties because the aftermath of the dissolution would bring about resentment and hatred, among others.
Members of the Franklyn Siakor led committee on Internal Affairs reportedly felt that the bill if passed would make their re-elections very impossible.
Senator Blamoh Nelson terms the calls to reject the bills as anti-development because the bills when passes would bring development in the counties, especially Grandkru County.
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Reducing the term of the president and the senate to 4 and and 6 respectively, is something I've advocating among friends as it is in the best interest of the nation. I think if the nation decides to stick with the current term of 6 years, the president should only serves one term. Having a 4 year term would move the country in the right direction in terms of peace and development. When a leader sits in office for 12 years, that leader tends to be kind of ineffective in many ways. It also has the tendency to stir the emotion of oppositions and citizens, especially, when the leader is not living up to his or her promise. For a young and fragil democratic nation like Liberia, it is in the best interest of the nation to keep things moving relatively smoothe. I also feel that Liberia should have a system like the many European nations, that calls for early election should a leader fails to deliver or runs into serious leagal and ethical problem that will limit his or ability to govern. Liberia should also put into place a law that will make the president to stand trial for crime committed prior to becoming president and during his or her administration. Our leaders should not be exempted from any unethical behavor as they are not above the law. This too, would set a good example for anyone tempting to violate our law.
I would also like to draw into focus another pressing issue that bucks my mind, and that is, dealing with political thieves. With the people's approval, I think the government should reconstruct the Bellayala prison for political crooks as a way of saying, the govenment and the people will not, under any circumstance, allow corruption to persist in our system. While they are serving time in prison, they should work at minimium wage to compensate the Liberian people (with interest on amount stolen). Their their property or ies should also be confiscated and auctioned to reimburse the government. In addition, such individual(s)must never occupied any government position in their life time. If the government believes in fighting corruption, these measures should be considered as it will definitely make a political rogue to rethink his or her action. I am not speaking about eradicating corruption because that will never happened. I am saying that it will minimize level of corruption in our system.
Until then, let us continue to support Mrs. Sirleaf as she strives to rebuild our nation. It will take collective efforts national interests to keep the nation moving in the right direction. Let us once again make our flag to fly proudly!!!
God Bless Liberia and our Leaders!
Reducing the term of the president and the senate to 4 and 6 respectively, is something I've been advocating among friends as it is in the best interest of the nation. I think if the nation decides to stick with the current term of 6 years, the president should only serves one term. Having a 4 year term would move the country in the right direction in terms of peace and development. When a leader sits in office for 12 years, that leader tends to be kind of ineffective in many ways. It also has the tendency to stir the emotion of oppositions and citizens, especially, when the leader is not living up to his or her promise. For a young and fragil democratic nation like Liberia, it is in the best interest of the nation to keep things moving relatively smoothe. I also feel that Liberia should have a system like the many European nations, that calls for early election should a leader fails to deliver or runs into serious leagal and ethical problem that will limit his or ability to govern. Liberia should also put into place a law that will make the president to stand trial for crime committed prior to becoming president and during his or her administration. Our leaders should not be exempted from any unethical behavor as they are not above the law. This too, would set a good example for anyone tempting to violate our law.
I would also like to draw into focus another pressing issue that bucks my mind, and that is, dealing with political thieves. With the people's approval, I think the government should reconstruct the Bellayala prison for political crooks as a way of saying, the govenment and the people will not, under any circumstance, allow corruption to persist in our system. While they are serving time in prison, they should work at minimium wage to compensate the Liberian people (with interest on amount stolen). Their their property or ies should also be confiscated and auctioned to reimburse the government. In addition, such individual(s)must never occupied any government position in their life time. If the government believes in fighting corruption, these measures should be considered as it will definitely make a political rogue to rethink his or her action. I am not speaking about eradicating corruption because that will never happened. I am saying that it will minimize level of corruption in our system.
Until then, let us continue to support Mrs. Sirleaf as she strives to rebuild our nation. It will take collective efforts national interests to keep the nation moving in the right direction. Let us once again make our flag to fly proudly!!!
God Bless Liberia and our Leaders!
Well said, brother gtownsend. I specifically appreciate what you said about earlier elections for bad and unethical performance and the president and other elected officials standing trial for crimes committed before or during services to the nation.
I think the brother has made a very good point about presidents and other elected officials to stand trial for crimes committed by them.I strongly support him and calling on all Liberians to support him also.
Separate the key provisions of this legislation so that amendments can be offered to avoid killing it. The key elements are: 1.The dissolution of cities and districts 2.The reduction of presidential and senatorial terms. Let them be two separate pieces of legislations to address these distinction subjects if the legislators are serious and ready to work. Both presidential and senatorial terms are two long and any legislation calling for the reduction of these two will receive overwhelming support in both houses and from the Liberian people. Including the dissolution of cities and districts is intended to throw monkey ring in the process, which in fact should have never been laws in the first place.
amendments can be offered to avoid killing it. The key elements are: 1.The dissolution of cities and districts 2.The reduction of presidential and senatorial terms. Let them be two separate pieces of legislations to address these distinction subjects if the legislators are serious and ready to work. Both presidential and senatorial terms are two long and any legislation calling for the reduction of these two will receive overwhelming support in both houses and from the Liberian people. Including the dissolution of cities and districts is intended to throw monkey ring in the process, which in fact should have never been laws in the first place
I have a biggest doubt on the truthfulness of this article. You mean Liberia has 148 cities? I hope you are not confusing statutory districts/township with cities. And I hope that some Liberian are not just critizing the laws maker but also bringing some positive suggestion to the table that will develop our belove country.
While I haven't read the bill for my self, I like the idea of reducing the tenures of our president and law makers. I don't know what is the significance of redefininig and reducing amount of cities would be, but if it is in the best interest of the country, I'm all for it; regardless of what Mr. Teahjay and Knuckles are saying.