PHOTO: Dignitaries and participants at the conference
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The 4th National Judicial Conference has opened near Monrovia, with the Swedish Ambassador saying that effectively implementing the constitutional provision on the separation of power remains a major challenge in Liberia.
The theme of the conference is: The law, public policy and the Economy.
Ambassador Ingrid Wetterqvist noted that Article 3 of Liberia’s 1986 constitution calls for the separation of power and the balance of power within this Republican form of government, something she says behooves all Liberians to live with this sacred constitutional dictate.
But the Swedish diplomat observed that implementation and clarification of decisions amongst the three branches of government remain a key challenge, hoping that this would be addressed in deliberations at the ongoing conference.
On mounting calls for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia, Ambassador Wetterqvist her government be partner to whatever decisions the Liberian government and people will reach on the setting up of such a court.
She told the Judicial conference, which opened on Monday, June 7, 2020 at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, that the international donor community are also concerned about the resources to establish the war and economic crimes court.
“Sweden supports justice, but it should reflect existing resources and the current justice system need to be explained, while taking note that the grounds are shifting. Amid all of these, the Judiciary Branch of Government need to put itself in a position to be a progressive force,” the Swedish envoy said.
The Swedish Ambassador also spoke against the corruption menace and spoke of the need for strong anti-corruption measures which she said “are important to build trust in and society and the Liberian society is of no exception,”
“The rule of law sector and the business environment cannot thrive in the midst of corruption,” Ambassador Wetterqvist asserted.
Bribery and ethical transgression in the judiciary hurts the ordinary citizens most, and the Swedish envoy said this is also true when someone is compelled to pay bribe to open a small business.
“These need to end and the culture of trust needs to be built,” she said adding that it is only the authorities that can inspire this change while, international partners may aid in the process.
According to the Swedish envoy, the conference marks a very important and historic day in the workings of the judiciary branch of government, not because the judiciary as an organ of the government of Liberia is hosting this judicial conference, but the judiciary has shown substantial leadership by convening this conference with the goal to tackle pertinent issues affecting the business climate in Liberia and the rule of law, Ambassador Wetterqvist.
She expressed hope that the national judicial conference will design strategies to overcome bottlenecks and ensure that a strong and transparent rule of law sector is at the core of government in Liberia.
The Swedish Ambassador congratulated Chief Justice Francis Korkpor for convening the conference but said Sweden would be delighted to see how resolution from this week’s conference “will be implemented to improve the rule of law sector and the business environment in the short, medium and long terms.”
After 4 Years, Outcome Of National Judicial Retreat Not Yet Made Public
t has been four years now since a well-publicized National Judicial Retreat was held, but so far no report of its outcome has been made public, yet the Supreme Court has now announced another national conference slated for next Monday.
After 4 Years, Outcome Of National Judicial Retreat Not Yet Made Public