The Inquirer (Monrovia)
14 October 2008
Acting President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Lahai Lasanah has been explaining report surrounding the allocation of US$178,000 for the use of his office.
In an interview with the INQUIRER yesterday, acting Pro-tempore Lansanah said that the apportioning of the said amount was crafted and approved by the Liberian Senate and not something he personally did unilaterally.
Senator Lasanah said the amount was approved by the leadership of the Liberian Senate in a bid to have him execute the operation of the Senate efficiently. "As you may know, Senator Isaac Nyenabo was suspended and until we result to plenary in January, the work of the Liberian Senate must go on," he added.
He said the budget of the office of the President Pro-tempore of the Senate is US$ 423,920.00 and the US$178040 was allotted for his use as acting president pro-tempore pending the return of the suspended Pro-tempore in January.
He then disclosed that a special Senate Committee was set-up by the President of the Liberian Senate, Vice President Joseph Boakai to find funding for the operation of the acting pro-tem pore's office.
Senator Lansanah named members of that committee as River Gee Senator Frederick Cherue, Lofa Senator Sumo Kupee and Margibi Senator Claris Jah.
He said all of the committee members signed the resolution for the allotment of the amount with the exception of Senator Jah who was then in the United States.
He said this formed part of the September 11, 2008 agenda of the Liberian Senate following which it was sent to the Senate's Leadership for approval because it is the leadership that approved financial matters.
"In fact the Senate wanted to give me a special amount for rental but I refused this because I have my own house and taking such amount for housing would have been stealing from government" he said in a serious mood.
He said the suspended pro-tempore has been telling people that it was because of the fund allotted to him (Lansanah) that he took the Liberian Senate to Court, saying "this money business was decided by the Senate Leadership and not me."
He expressed surprise that two local dailies could run the story without getting his side.
"I am not a journalists but I do know that they must balance their stories before publication. However, despite telephone calls which I made to them, they intentionally refused to get my side of the story," he stressed with emphasis.
He said amount was not taken from Senator Isaac Nyenebo's budget but that of the office of the President-pro-tempore, an office in which he is now acting until January when the Senate shall meet legally to restore the suspended Pro-tempore.
He also disclosed that Senator Isaac Nyenabo was in session with other Senators when the issue of the US$178,040 was discussed.
On the vital issue of respecting the mandate of the Supreme Court of Liberia to reinstate Senator Nyenebo, the acting Pro-tempore said until the senate plenary, such a strategic decision can not be merely taken because anything done outside of their regular session would be illegal and unconstitutional.
He said the Lawyer of the Liberian Senate has since filed their return to the Supreme Court of Liberia. "I am not disrespecting the Supreme Court but we are not in Session," he concluded.
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Liberia is indeed doom corruption and people that are in the first branch of government don't really care about the innocent masses. What so much Lahai Lasanah is doing that and his buddies are allocating USD 178,000 when infact the ordinary people are suffering. I am astnoish to know that that up to USD 400,000 plus is even been set aside for the that office. People in the legislature need to start requesting ear marks that will go direct to their development of the counties or districts they represent.
These guys don't know the role of been in the house of senate or representatives. I hope the Liberian people don't elect those fools again.
one question for this Senator, you are on Agriculture break until January 2009 and not in cession now,so how will you use $178.000.00.do you make Speaches around the country or using you Temp. position to travel around the world.for $178.000.00,for what? those so-call Senators that signed this FOR you, what was their CUT? we are watching you people. you said, something about rent, did you really mean that they wanted to pay for your rent while you are acting for few months?.I guess the Liberian Senate is a money make INSTITUTION. we are watching YOU
For God sake, you mean a controverssial person like Lahai Lasanah would allow he and his clonies to use US$178000.00 for his office in this short period of time when the basic needs of Liberians are seriously lacking? What kind of people were selected, not elected, to head the Liberia's soceity? Moreover, it is very dishearteding to learn that the office of the pro-tempore of the Liberia senate is allocated over US$400,000.00 per year. What a waste of needed financial resources. Do the Liberian people know how many lives could be saved with such a fund? Wouldn't such funds be used to build needed clinics and provide basic medical needs of many of the citizenry who are in dire need? Let these so-called senator ask them- selves, could any of them honestly earn such a hugh sum of money in ten year's period? Can't these so- called people know that they were selected not on merit but marriage of convenience- for the sake of peace?
Throughly now is the time for the Liberian people to come together and have a national referemdum to set a time table for the tenure of service for these leeches. It is sad that people who could not earn even $US10,000 a year are burden to society than problem solver.