-As Albert Chie becomes Senate President Pro Tempore
By our Reporter
Liberia’s 53rd Legislature was dissolved on Monday, making way for the seating of the 54th Legislature, who have elected their leadership in line with the Liberian constitution.
The 1986 constitution calls for election of a Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore every six years,
As was widely expected, Maryland County Representative Dr. Bohfal Chambers from the CDC won the election on white ballot, taking over from outgoing Speaker Emmanuel Nuquay. Bong County Representative Prince Moye of the UP was elected Deputy Speaker.
On the eve of Monday’s election and transitioning ceremony, outgoing Deputy Speaker Hans Barchue pulled out the race for Speaker, which saw a bi-partisan collaboration between the outgoing ruling UP and the incoming ruling party, CDC.
Shortly after being handed the Speaker’s gabble by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mildred Sayon, the new Speaker Chambers promised his colleagues that he will not disappoint them.
“This House will be rebranded,” the third-term lawmaker vowed.
Chambers called on his colleagues to join him in striving to make Liberia an egalitarian society, stressing the need for reconciliation and unity.
While the Speaker of the 54th Legislature gave ultimate praise to God in heaven for bringing him to this point, Chambers gave credit to the President-elect and Standard Bearer of the CDC, George Weah tipping him as a future Speaker several years ago.
Chambers recalled that Weah had in the past said whatever is, he would be the Speakers whenever CDC won the national elections.
The new Speaker promised to be humble in the discharge of his duties, but cautioned his colleagues that “friendship will not be a priority.”
At the same time in the Senate, Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie won the election for President Pro Tempore, defeating his rival Lofa County Senator Steve Zargo.
Like Zargo, Sen. Chie was elected to the Senator in 2014 during the Special Senatorial election.
The Legislative leadership tide has turned, with the President-elect, Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore all hailing from Liberia’s southeastern region.
In the outgoing administration, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the outgoing Pro Tempore Sen. Armah Jallah hail from the Western region. The predecessor to Speaker Nuquay, Alex Tyler came comes from Bomi in the western region of Liberia.
In his farewell message, the outgoing President of the Senate and current Vice President Joseph Boakai promised to remain constructively engaged as a statesman in order to move the country forward.
‘In bidding you farewell, let me clearly state that I have absolutely no intentions of fading away into the sunset. I intend to embrace my new role as an elder citizen with all the vigor and exuberance of a seasoned politician,’ Liberia 73-year-old outgoing Veep said.