-As Women Legislative Caucus installed
By Mark N. Mengonfia
As new officials of the Women Legislative Caucus are installed, Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has said it is sad that the number of females being elected to the Legislature is declining.
VP Howard-Taylor decried the low number of female lawmakers at the Liberian Legislature and has called on women to re-double their efforts to ensure more women Representatives at that branch of Government.
She was speaking at the Capitol on Tuesday, when she served as Keynote Speaker and induction officer of the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia.
VP Howard-Taylor said that in previous elections the number of women was far above what it is now in the present 54th Legislature.
“Sadly there are fewer women in the Legislature and there is a need for more women to get at the legislature,” Liberia’s first elected female Vice President said.
Out of 73 representative and 30 senators, only 11 women can be counted among the huge number of lawmakers at the Liberian legislature, VP Howard-Taylor noted.
She indicated that there is a serious need for the gap of few women lawmakers that is in the legislature to be filled something according to her when it is done will help with the forward march of the nation.
The Liberian VicePresident told the women and Liberians who have gone to grace the occasion that over the next few years, women should amalgamate their forces to ensure that the number of women at the legislature increases at the Liberian legislature.
She called on women of Liberia who want to see themselves at the top of political seats to start their work not and not to wait for about six months to elections before they start their political engagements.
She told them that it is important for women to find political parties within they can play active roles and start to carry out their engagements before any election, something she said when it is done will put them at a better positions to winning an election.
“We are strong together,” the Liberian Vice President said.
Those inducted are Representatives Rosanna G.D.H Schaack of Rivercess District #1 as Chairpersons of the women Legislative Caucus, Munah E. Pelham-Youngblood of Montserrado County District #9 who is undergoing medical attention as Vice Chair for International Affairs, Julie F. Wiah of Lofa District #2 as Vice Chair for National Affairs.
Others are Montserrado County Senator, Geraldine Doe-Sheriff as Secretary, Senator Nynoblee K. Lawrance of Grand Bassa County as Program, Representatives Rustunlyn S. Dennis of Montserrado County District# 4 as Finical S.G, Ellen A. Attoh of Margibi County District #3 as Treasure, Mary Karwor of Grand Bassa Dirtrict #2 as Chaplin and Moima B. Mensah as program person.
Representatives Mariamu B. Fofana of Lofa County District #4 and Haja F. Siryon of Bomi County District #3 were inducted as advisors to the women legislative caucus of Liberia.
The program was attended by both the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers, Senate Pro-Tempore, Albert Chie, representatives from the European Union, African Union, UN Women and among other dignitaries.
According to Speaker Chambers and Pro-Tempore Chie, women can compete with their male counterparts and reach the top of the political ladder in the Liberian society.
The two heads at the legislature were quick to let women know that they were better than 30% parity they have always been requesting for.
They both spoke of the Land Right, Domestic Violence, Gender Parity bills that are before them and called on women to give their fullest support for the passage of the bills.
Pro-Tempore Chie and Speaker agreed that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) should not be regarded as a crime, but people should reach the age of consent before they can partake in that traditional practice which they see as not bad for the country.
Speaker Chambers said those donors from the other end have their own tradition and it is not regarded as a crime so the issue of FGM should not be seen as a crime because Liberia’s donors do not want to see it.
“Liberia culture must be respected,” the House Speaker said.