-As Capitol Building Rotunda stays empty amidst standoff
By Mark N. Mengonfia-mmenginfia@gmail.com
In the wake of a heated confusion, the body of the fallen Liberian Lawmaker Adolph Lawrence did not lie in state at the Capitol Building in Monrovia today (Thursday) for a state funeral as was expected.
It all started with a bitter row between CDC supporters and those of opposition parties at the Samuel Stryker Funeral Parlour in Monrovia’s Sinkor suburb early Thursday Morning, which disrupted the ceremony marking the removal of the body of Representative Adolph Lawrence, who died in a motor accident last month.
Later, there was drama on the grounds of the Capitol Building, when the casket of the late Montserrado County District #15 was taken to the District headquarters of Logan Town in the Bushrod Island suburb of Monrovia, instead of the seat of the Legislature.
With the consent of his wife, Grand Bassa County Senator, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, who is political leader of the opposition Liberty Party (LP), while diplomats, government officials and other dignitaries awaiting the body for the state funeral.
Partisans of the LP together with other opposition and CDC who have gone for the removal of the body took on a more political posture and starting singing political songs.
Those from the CDC carried banner of President George Weah as they sang songs and chanted political slogans, while those from the LP and other opposition parties also carried banners carrying the picture of the late Lawrence.
The two groups made attempts to enter the Building, but were prevented from entering, this caused Senator Lawrence and partisans of the LP to take the body to Logan Town.
According to the protocol, the body should have been escorted by members of the Liberian Legislature led by the Sergeant –at-Arms of the legislature and the Armed Forces of Liberia Band into the rotunda of the Capitol Building, but it did not work as planned when Senator Karnga ,Senator Steve Zago and other partisans of the Liberty Party prevented the body from entering the grounds of the Capitol.
The body was taken to Logan Town and back to the funeral home where it will spend the night and prepare for the burial on tomorrow.
When Rep. Lawrence died, it can be recall that his wife, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence said that she never wanted any support from the Liberian government when for her late husband burial.
In an interview with few lawmakers, they said the situation went out of control because of House Speaker inability to take control of the situation.
Although, the family of the late lawmaker has denied the body from entering the capitol building and going for the night of wake keeping, but the Director of Press at the House of Representatives, Isaac G. Redd said “ With or with the body, the wake of the late rep. will be held at the Paynesville Town Hall in Paynesville”.
He said the lawmaker died as a statesman and the respect due him should be given.
Representative Adolph Akwe Lawrence was a member of the 53rd and 54th Legislature prior to his death; he died as a member of the CDC and served as Chairperson on Hydrocarbon and was member on various committees.
During his late days at the legislature, Rep. Lawrence joined a bloc of lawmakers calling itself Independent Legislative Caucus and he was very vocal during legislative deliberations in the Chambers of the House of Representatives.