Chiefs dump lawmakers

Two weeks after Bong County Legislative Caucus signed a joint resolution calling on President George Manneh Weah to take steps against the dismissals of some chiefs by the office of Superintendent Esther Nyamah Walker, more than 50 Chiefs from the county have signed a resolution distancing themselves from the Lawmakers’ previous resolution.

Our Bong County correspondent says the Chiefs stated that they do not support the Lawmakers’ action to have signed a resolution about their dismissals, leaving many to wonder if they Chiefs were not forced by Superintendent Walker to sign such resolution. The latest development has brought serious misunderstanding between the Caucus and Superintendent Walker’s office.

It has been speculated in the County that some chiefs were allegedly dismissed due to their refusal to support the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the 2017 general and presidential elections.

Their alleged dismissals prompted a joint legislative resolution by Bong County lawmakers, seeking President Weah’s action. The lawmaker had made claims that the wave of dismissals of chiefs in the county did not meet the standard of Article 56-B which, among other things calls for the election of chiefs for a six – year term and their removal only by the President for prove of misconduct.

But the Lawmaker’s resolution drew the attention of the public with some expressing disappointment on grounds that it was not important for the Lawmakers to sign said resolution.

According to some of the citizens, the Caucus should have engaged the President on implementing Article 56 (b) of the Constitution to have those chiefs elected.

Our Bong County Correspondent says the Chairman of the Caucus Senator Henry Willie Yallah has described the Superintendent’s action as total disrespect to Lawmakers of the County. Meanwhile, Madam Esther Walker says whether dismiss or not, those that are able to do the job will be given the chance to work.

By Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Bong–Edited by Winston W. Parley