-Senate confirmation hearing guidelines: only Liberian citizens will be confirmed
Liberia’s first elected female Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor vows to pursue the CDC-led government’s pro-poor agenda, as she formally takes over her role as President of the Senate, while the Senate releases robust guidelines on the confirmation of Presidential candidates.
Speaking in the Senate chambers on Tuesday, when she took over the gabble of authority as President of the Senator, the new Vice President pledged to work in collaboration with members of the Legislature, especially Senators to promote the interest of the Liberian people.
“Each of us will play well our respective part to carry out our government pro-poor agenda. Today, we embark on a new social contract,” something they are under obligation to uphold, Howard-Taylor said a day after she took the oath of office on Monday at the Samuuel Kanyon Doe sports stadium near Monrovia.
The newly inaugurated Liberian VP challenged Senators to recommitting their energies to fulling the wishes of the Liberian people, underscoring the current high youth unemployment and the plight of women across the country.
As she presided over the Senate for the first time, the upper House of the Legislature, the Press Bureau on Tuesday released guideling governing the confirmation of what is expected to be hundreds of presidential norminees over the next few weeks and months in line with Article 54 (a) of the Liberian constitution.
The guidelines, which was approved by the Senate in its second sitting first session of the 54 Legislature on Thursday January 18, 2018, among other things said “Consistent with the constitution of Liberia, only Liberian Citizens shall be confirmed approved the following guidelines.”
“Any nominee who offers or attempts to offer a gift to any committee member prior to or during the confirmation period will be disqualified.
Any Testimony given by a nominee should be factual and the truth; misstatement or falsification of the truth shall be deemed perjury and prosecutable under the laws of the republic of Liberia.”
According to the guidelines, the confirmation process consists of several parts to include but not limited to background checks of nominee, be it credential, experience, performance at previous areas of works, behavior in community and or society and etc.., accordingly, the Senate is requesting the public to send in any pertinent information of any nominee.
Other Senate confirmation guidelines include the following:
- “There shall be former public hearings for all officials to the rank of statutory districts Superintendents. Other methods of vetting shall be applied to nominees below the rank of statutory districts superintendents.
- All nominees will be treated with respect and dignity during the vetting process. All nominees are advised to conduct themselves properly during confirmation proceedings.
- All confirmations proceedings shall be conducted in the conference room of the Senate or Pro Tempore’s conference room or in the Senate’s Chamber.
All cost associated with any confirmation process shall be borne by the Senate.
Any nominee who offers or attempts to offer a gift to any committee member prior to or during the confirmation period will be disqualified.
Any Testimony given by a nominee should be factual and the truth; misstatement or falsification of the truth shall be deemed perjury and prosecutable under the laws of the republic of Liberia
All nominees will be treated with respect and dignity during the vetting process. All nominees are advised to conduct themselves properly during confirmation proceedings.
All confirmations proceedings shall be conducted in the conference room of the Senate or Pro Tempore’s conference room or in the Senate’s Chamber.
All cost associated with any confirmation process shall be borne by the Senate,” the Senate confirmation hearing guidelines say.