The Informer (Monrovia)
Jerome Toe
13 May 2009
Monrovia — The regular session of the House of Representative was yesterday a scene of disruption when Deputy Finance Minister Elfreda Tamba was sent out for 'improper dress code.'
Minister Tamba had appeared before the Lawmakers, based on their invitation, to provide clarifications on the 2009/10 national budget submitted by the Executive on Monday.
As she was about to take an oath before addressing the august body, the Sergeant-At-Arms, Gen. Martin Johnson who escorted her into the Chambers, said the Deputy Minister was not 'properly dressed' to face the Lawmakers.
The Minister, he contended, should have dressed with her arms cover rather than what she wore when she appeared.
The Minister went at the Capitol dressed in a black horizontal stripy sleeveless jacket over a sleeveless blouse with similar long black-stripy pants to match.
Her expulsion from the chamber disrupted normal legislative activities for at least 15 minutes with lawmaker differing on the decision.
Montserrado County District #14 Representative Richard Holder described the expulsion of the Minister as "shame" on the Honorable body because the action is not in accordance with the rule and regulation of the National Legislature.
But other lawmakers argued that the Minister knew she was appearing before honorable people and should have dressed honorably.
The Lawmakers are said to have invited the Finance Ministry official to clarify reduction in the budgetary allotment to the National Legislature.
The Ministry recently noted that the Legislature's allotment would be reduced by close to a million United States dollars due to fall in revenue generation as a result of the global financial melt down.
The Deputy Finance Minister was given 30 minutes to return to the plenary for continuation of the hearings, but did not return.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf officially submitted the 2009/2010 National Budget of US$347,035,687 Million to the National Legislature for scrutiny and passage into law Monday.
The budget reflects an increment in wages for civil servants, teachers and members of the security among others.
Under the wage and income policies, civil servants will get a minimum salary of US$580.00; teachers and professional health workers US$100 while minimum salary for reactivated security personnel is pushed to US$100.
The Speaker of the House of Representative Alex Tyler received the budget and was expected to be opened for discussion yesterday but to no avail after the early disruption
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There'll be replies on yes.I'm just totally sadden by the manner in which the the "Honourable House" disgraced our onetime winner of some of the "Best Dressed Ladies in Monrovia" I can boast to say that this Lady knows colours when it comes to dressing.
It was rather unfortunate,that some one who did not know about "Dress Code" raised an alarm in the middle of the program,that blinded the whole House by not noticing their mistakes, in asking the Honourable Minister to go and dress properly.More humiliating,Minister Tamba was given 3o minutes to return.
Representative, Richard Holder, discribed it as a "shame on the Honourable Body.This is just a test case for the House.More proactive measure must be put in place to avoid another mistake in the future. The "Sergeant-At-Arms,Gen.Martin Johnson" also made a big blunder.
'The Minister went at the Capitol dressed in a black horizontal stripy sleeveless jacket over a sleeveless blouse with similar long black-stripy pants to match'
Another version reads: 'deputy minister Tamba was wearing a navy-blue sleeveless trousers suit designed like a coat suit'
Wow, firstly, she was wearing a suit designed as a suit. that's a suit, that's the style. Sleeveless tops are common women wear even in work places and high offices all over the world.
But the question is: IS THE SO-CALLED DRESS CODE COMMUNICATED TO ALL GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS IN ADVANCE? IF YES THEN, I REST MY CASE.
IF NOT, THEN THE MINISTER WAS UNFAIRLY DISGRACED. SHE WAS WEARING A SUIT AND BESIDES SLEEVELESS TOP IS A COMMON WOMEN'S WEAR. ASSUMING SHE WAS WEARING A DRESS THAT WAS NON LONG-SLEEVED, WOULD SHE BE THROWN OUT? OR IF SHE WAS IN A ARICAN ATTTIRE WOULD SHE BE THROWN OUT (THIS IS AN AFRICAN COUNTRY). WE TRY TO WESTERNIZE EVERYTHING. MOREOVER, EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE KNEW SHE WAS TO APPEAR THAT DAY TO ADDRESS THE BODY. WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE INFORMED HER OF THE WAY SHE WAS DRESSED AS SOON AS SHE ENTERED THE COMPOUND/GROUNDS OF THE CAPITOL OR MORESO WHEN SHE ENTERED THE BUILDING. DID WE NOT KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO ADDRESS US OR WHO WE INVITED TO FACE US? WHY WAIT FOR HER TO ASCENT THE PODIUM AND THEN DECIDE TO OPENLY DISGRACE HER? SHE DESERVES AN APOLOGY FORM THE BODY, OPENLY AND THROUGH FORMAL COMMUNICATION.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHE SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED HER TASK AND THE BODY IF SO DESIRE COULD HAVE HANDLY THE MATTER IN-HOUSE DIPLOMATICALLY AND ON A MINISTRY TO HOUSE BASIS. THIS IS NOT JUST A DISGRACE TO HER BUT, ALL WOMEN IN THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT.
IF WE WANT TO BE JUST AND FAIR WHY CAN'T WE DO A SYSTEMS AND OR STAFF AUDIT AND ROOT OUT ANYONE WHO IS NOT A COLLEGE GRADUATE AND OR WHO POSSESS AN ILL EARNED DEGREE?
THIS IS MY HONEST VIEW AWAITING A RESPONSE AND OR REBUTTAL
PHILIP JG PIAH MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA