By Mark N. Mengonfia mmenginfia@gmail.com
A wave of illnesses has stricken Liberia’s 54th Legislature, thus claiming the attention of the leadership of this branch of government led by Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers.
The Thursday’s agenda of members of the House captured the names of five lawmakers who have fallen ill, some seriously since the inception of the 54th legislature last January.
The agenda of the 51-day sitting named Muna Pelham youngblood of Montserrado district #9; Matthew Joe, Grand Bassa County District #3; Byron Zahnwea, River Cess County District #2; Mannah Bishop Johnson, Bomi District #2 and Alexander Poure, River Gee County District # 1 as lawmakers who are ill.
According to information gathered, members of the House of Representatives who are discussing the ill state of their colleagues in closed-door session, sought means to ensure that those sick lawmakers get the necessary treatment.
One report says the plenary of the House of Representatives has decided to pay for the cost of medical of those ill lawmakers and for those who spent their own money for treatment outside of Liberia.
The issue of the five Lawmakers’ illness was on the agenda from the 21 of August to the 23 of August. It has been learnt.
Information has it that Representatives Matthew Joe of Grand Bassa, Mannah Bishop Johnson of Bomi and Alexander Poure of River Gee counties are presently out of the country seeking advance medical treatment, while Byron Zahnwea of River Cess and Muna E. Pelham Youngblood are in Liberia but are still not in a perfect health.
Representatives Zahnwea and Youngblood have been in session the last few days, but appear physically frail.
With the intervention of the House plenary, many are praying and hoping that that those lawmakers will regain their health to do the people’s business.