By Saah Hudson, Reporter/Radio Piso, Robertsports
Women and youth groups in Robertsports City, Grand Cape Mount County, western Liberia are calling for the reduction in the tenure of elected officials.
They are also calling for change in the current election date to a more suitable date during the dry season.
One of the citizens, Madam Miatta Williams Kiawu, President of a local women’s group called MUTAMU, wants a change in the current election date from October to probably January, because of the rainy season which continues to affect the election process during each election year.
Madam Kiawu was speaking when she served as one of the panelists at a Community Media Forum (CMF), organized by the USAID-funded media development group, Internews in collaboration with Radio PISO recently,
The group she heads, MUTAMU means, “It Belongs to Us” in the local Vai vernacular.
Madam Kiawu also wants the tenure of elected officials reduce recommending that the tenure for the president and representatives reduce to four from six to years while senators be elected for six years.
For his part, Mr. M. David B. Arma Sr., the local National Elections Commission (NEC) Magistrate for Grand Cape Mount County supported a change in the current election date to the dry season.
He said it will be prudent because it provides the opportunity for many Liberians to be a part of the election process.
Also speaking at the occasion, the head of the disabled group in Robertsport, Mr. Anthony Weah embraced the recommendation that the current elections date be changed to the dry season.
He said this is necessary due to the challenges face during the rainy season to get people living with disabilities to various polling places.
The interactive forum provided a space for discussants to share their views on the current electoral system and at that event several women spoke out on the issues.
Commenting on the process, Madam Matta N. Mandemassa a member of a women’s group also echoed the positions of previous speakers.
She believes that the change in the current elections date to the dry season will enable women to fully participate in the election processes.
Mr. Abraham L. Turay, head of the motorcyclists’ union in Robertsport said that it is not only necessary to reduce the tenure of elected officials but also to take into consideration reducing the salaries of elected officials.
He believes this will make elected officials more accountable and people-centered.
These officials will no longer see these positions as lucrative and attractive to selfish and greedy politicians, Mr. Turay said.
The forum in Robertsport was organized under internews project: Citizens in Liberia Engaged to Advance Electoral Reform (CLEAR) and held in partnership with partnership with Radio PISO 93.2 in the Grand Cape Mount County capital.
It brought together various civil society organizations, youth and student groups, local government authorities, people living with disabilities, among others and it was moderated by veteran ournalist Torwon Solunteh Brown.