-As tributes were showered over fallen Lawmaker before being laid to rest
By Our Staff Writer
At his funeral boycotted by President George Weah and Speaker Bohfal Chambers over the weekend, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor delivered a moving tribute over the remains of the fallen Montserrado County District 15 Representative Adolph Awke Lawrence, who was laid to rest last Friday.
Hailing him as a patriot, VP Taylor said Rep. Lawrence strongly believed in preserving the state and the rule of law.
With emotions in her voice, the Liberian Vice President said he had good human relations and had a bold behavior, saying what he meant and meaning what he said.
According to her, the late Rep. was a founding member of the Independent Legislative Caucus.
This demonstrated the level of boldness for which many remember the 53-year-old Liberian Lawmaker for. Although an elected CDC Lawmaker, the fallen Representative took some strong positions he thought was in the national interest in the House Plenary, which were often not to the liking of fellow CDC Lawmakers.
In a recent incident, Speaker Chambers ordered Rep. Lawrence out of the chambers due to heated disagreement on the floor.
A day before Friday’s funeral service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church in Monrovia, rival officials and supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the opposition led by the Liberty Party were involved in a rowdy standoff laying claim to ownership of the body of the late District #10 Lawmaker.
The confrontation led to his remains being taken from the Capitol, the seat of the Legislature to his Logan Town Constituency last Thursday, thus omitting the official lying in state funeral service in the Rotunda of the Capitol.
In the absence of Speaker Chambers, the tribute from the House of Representatives was delivered by Deputy Speaker Prince Moye.
Deputy Speaker Moye described the late Rep. Lawrence as “a loyal friend and a nationalist.”
In his delivery of the tribute on behalf of the Senate, Pro Tempore Senator Albert Chie could not hold back his tears when he recounted how resourceful the late Montserrado County District# 15 Lawmaker was and the close personal friendship they shared for many years. Both the late Rep. and Pro Tempore Chief shared a common profession—Geology.
Earlier, in the official Gazette read by the Chief of Protocol of Liberia, the government described the late Rep. Lawrence as “an astute political advocate, patriot, administrator, humanitarian, devout Christian and a dedicated public servant.”
As Chairman of the House Committee on Hydro Carbon and Member of the Committee on Investment and Concession as well as Member of the Committee on Youth and Sports, “the deceased can be remembers for his floor fighting and advocacy role in the 54th and 53rd Legislature,” the government’s official Gazette said.
The late Rep. Lawrence leaves behind his wife, Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, who is also political leader of the opposition Liberty Party as well as eight loving children.
Meanwhile, the Executive Mansion has not yet given any explanation for the conspicuous absence of President Weah from Friday’s funeral service.