By Mark N. Mengonfia —mmenginfia@gmail.com
Members of Liberia’s 54TH Legislature resumed their second session on Monday, January 14, 2019, with by President George Manneh Weah on Lawmaker to work harder in the interest of ordinary Liberians.
The ceremony marking the reopening of the 2nd Session saw members of both Houses of the Legislature parading and saluting the flags of their various counties.
Article 32a of the Liberian constitution says: “The Legislature shall assemble in regular session once a year on the second working Monday in January.”
Following the traditional formalities in keeping with the Law, the lawmakers proceeded into their various chambers where they observed special opening program.
Speaking during the opening session of the House of Representatives, House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chamber outlined the achievements made by them during the first session in 2018.
Dr. Chambers indicated that they were able to pass the total of 26 Bills and 8 Resolutions in the ‘best interest’ of the Liberian people.
“Among the Bills and Resolutions passed, 9 originated from the House of Representatives, 5 Bills were received from the Liberian Senate and concurred with; 12 bills were passed out of 17 bills originating from the Executive and 8 legislative Resolutions were acted on,” Speaker Chambers added.
The House Speaker also said that it is his hope that the total of 53 bill that are languishing in committee rooms will be properly scrutinized for prompt plenary’s action.
Additionally, Dr. Chambers among the Bills in committee Room, 30 of them originated from the House of Representatives with 4 coming from the Liberian Senate. And 5 of them were from the Executive branch of government.
“Other pieces of proposed legislations awaiting actions are 10 petitions and 4 resolutions,” he added.
Following the official opening of the 2nd Session of the Legislature, members of both the House Senate and Representative proceeded to the rotunda of the Capitol Building, where they broke bread with the President Weah, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, members of the diplomatic corps, international partners, among others.
During the program, President Weah thanked the Legislature for the level of coordination and collaboration during the first Session.
President Weah told the gathering that the Legislature, being the first branch of the Liberian government, plays a very pivotal role in Liberia’s constitutional democratic system.
“We were elected by our people to serve. We must therefore work together to ensure that we deliver to their expectations in all areas such as education, health, infrastructure, peace and security and agriculture,” President Weah asserted.
Looking in all directions. President Weah told the Vice President, Speaker, Senate Pro tempore and others that the 2019 year will be a very critical year in terms of their national objective of consolidation of the peace and taking Liberians from poverty.
“During the launch of our National Development Plan, the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity & Development, I asked for the collective effort and cooperation of all Liberians, particularly those of us in leadership, so that together, as a people, we can transform Liberia into a modern nation,” the Liberia Chief Executive said.
President Weah is due to address the joint session of the newly convened 2nd Session of the 54th Legislature on the fourth working Monday in this month, January as mandated by the Liberian constitution in what is called “the state of the nation address.”