PHOTO: The leadership and members of the Legislature marching into the Capitol Building
By M. Neywon Mengonfia, mmenginfia@gmail.com
Monrovia- The Liberian Legislature has begun its 5th regular Session at the Capitol Building, after their annual recess.
In keeping with Article 32 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, members of the Legislature returned from their annual break to start the work for reach in were elected for by their people.
Article 32 states: “The Legislature shall assemble in regular session once a year on the second working Monday in January.”
It was in pursuant of this constitution provision that members of that body gathered early Monday ensuring that law is obey by them- the Lawmakers.
Lawmakers were seeing hugging, shaking hands as they laughed with each other as though they have no difference politically.
At Monday’s gathering, it was observed that the Speaker of that body made repeated calls as was done during 2021 opening of the regular session.
In 2021, House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers admonished members of the House of Representatives to put the interest of the Liberian people first above all other interests as they begin another year of service.
This was the same message he preached during the just ended opening session this Monday, January 10, 2022.
Although Liberians have over the time complained that the lawmakers are only concern about their own interest, but the Speaker of the House of Representatives has repeated called on them (Lawmakers) to put the interest of ordinary Liberians first.
Making his opening remarks at the official opening of the Fifth Session of the Liberian Legislature, Speaker Chambers noted that legislators up Capitol Hill need to put into place noticeable and durable platforms of constructive aspirations, genuine hope, tangible possibilities, and realistic optimism.
Although the image of the Liberian lawmakers are different in the ears of the ordinary Liberians, but the Speaker said they are under obligation to pledge the task putting the interest of their citizens first for this generation and the next.
“We are under obligation to initiate this task for this generation and the next,” he indicated.
Apparently the reason the Speaker has made this repeated call during the opening of sessions is that he has not lost hope that the right things can be achieved.
The Speaker in his statement indicated that he is of the strongest conviction that his colleagues will become modern architects of the nation’s transformative agenda.
Speaker Chambers also pleaded with his colleagues to with speed and efficiency, endeavor to ensure that significant legislations or laws yet to be passed are fast-tracked.
The Maryland County lawmaker at the same time assured their various constituencies and constituents of a ‘better’ Legislature in 2022 promising that as the people’s deputies and Representatives, they will do their utmost best to ensure that Liberia is positively transformed into what he called refuge of hope and profound optimism.