PHOTO: Judge Blamo Dixon speaking during the opening of the November term of court on Monday
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Finance Minister Samuel Tweah has again run into trouble with the Liberian Judiciary/
This time, one of the Circuit Court Judges at the Temple of Justice, Blamo Dixon has said that Minister Tweah is in violation of the Financial Autonomy Act.
The Supreme Court of Liberia last Monday November 7, 2022 ordered the arrest of Liberia’s Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah for impeding Judicial function. Supreme Court Orders Liberian Finance Min. Samuel Tweah’s Arrest – News Public Trust
Finance Min. Tweah
The Minister later reported himself and told the Supreme Court that delay in salaries at the Judiciary and other pay related issues were due to “technical glitches” and promised that they would have begun receiving their salary arrears by the end of last week. But Minister Tweah was later purged of contempt charge.
In the wake of salary disparity in the Judicial Branch of Government, Judge Dixon of Criminal Court “C” in Monrovia has described the salary problem facing the Judiciary as ‘irregular and painful. And he has blamed it on the constant gross violation of the financial autonomy act of the judiciary by the Minister of Finance and development planning Samuel D. Tweah.
Speaking on Monday, November 14, 2022, during the formal opening of the November A.D 2022 term of court at the Temple of Justice Judge Blamo Dixon said Justices, Judges, and Judicial employees are working for sixty days for one more salary; adding that even the one-month salary cannot be paid in full.
“We can receive 20% thereof in forty-five days and the balance 80% in sixty days,” Judge Dixon noted.
The Criminal Court “C” judge was delivering his charge on behalf of Criminal A, B, C, D and E said that the situation of the Finance Ministry has gone from bad to worse and ridiculous to the extent that the motivations have dwindled.
Judge Dixon however, called on the Chief Justice of Liberia Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh to restore the high motivation on the job for workers of the judiciary to dispense transparent Justice without fear or favor.
He reminded Chief Justice Yuoh about her assurance to the Liberian people and the world at large of Judicial Independence, Rule of Law, Due Process of Law, Uprightness, Human Rights, Due Diligence, and Women Empowerment.
Judge Dixon noted that the Chief Justice also promised to build the capacity of the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) and the Grievance and Ethics Committee (GEC) of the Supreme Court.
Judges’ role in ensuring stability in 2023
At the same time, the Criminal Court “C” Judge has asserted that Judges are not afraid of bomb shells from the media or anyone else, because they are capable to defend their decisions.
As Judges enter 2023, Judge Blamo Dixon said that the stability or instability of the country lies in the quality of the judgments, verdicts, decrees, orders, and decisions that will render in the various courts from November 14, 2022, to November 14, 2023.
“Madam Chief Justice, you are from within the Supreme Court Bench and you are aware of the issues, problems, and challenges confronting the employees of the Judiciary Branch,” the Judge said.
Judge Dixon stated that judicial employees’ expectations are not high; because they are convinced that the Chief Justice will resolve some of the challenges for consideration.
For her part, Chief Justice Yuoh has called on Judges and all judicial staff to work in unison to engage the government as one body.
The Chief Justice at the same time assured the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) of her cooperation in making the Judiciary a better place to dispense Justice for all.