Liberia senators snub US

  1. Posted on Thursday 30 April 2009 - 11:04
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    Henry Flomo, AfricaNews reporter in Monrovia, Liberia
    The US Embassy in Liberia has threatened Liberia lawmakers for delaying the passage of a threshold bill aimed at re-demarcation of constituencies pending national elections by 2011. The legislators sharply reacted to the communication, requesting the US to stay away from Liberian politics.
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    The US Charge d’Affaires, Brooks Robinson, this week wrote the heads of the bi-camera Legislature expressing US dismay over the delay in the passage of the draft Bill. The correspondence noted that unspecified consequences would be metered out to lawmakers who renege on the passage of the Bill.

    The Threshold Bill was several months ago sent to the lawmakers by the National Elections Commission of Liberia for passage into law. The draft Bill is based on the national census report of 2008 conducted by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services- LISHIS, the first of its kind in 28 years.

    The American Embassy said it remains concern about the Bill, as any delay in passing it would jeopardize the peace process of Liberia thereby delay the upcoming 2011 elections.

    The upper house of Senate contended that it was an affront and gross interference and threat. The Senate head, Cletus Wotorson, said the letter contains unhelpful threats that are unacceptable.

    They also argued there were procedural errors in the way the communication was sent to them terming it as a breach of laid down procedure. The Senators said: “According to Senate standing rules, communications coming from a well-organized international body to the Senate must pass through the Foreign Affairs Ministry for onward transmission. They also contended that the letter was not signed by the U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield, instead a low ranking officer.”

    The Senators have also argued the LISGIS report are preliminary, which has not been sent to them officially.

    Earlier this year, the lawmakers voted to pass the Bill but later took a dramatic turn by freezing it.

    The Threshold Bill will redefine representation numbers and constituencies for the 2011 Legislative and Presidential elections. Some members of less populated counties of the country fear their representation will reduce.

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