East Int’l loan deal in deadlock?
The US$59.5 million loan agreement proffered to the Liberian Legislature by the Executive branch of government appears to have fallen on death ears, as members of the House of Representatives are not considering its passage into law.
The lawmakers are currently on break for the country’s 170th Independence Anniversary celebration tomorrow, Wednesday, July 26. Immediately upon their return this week, members of the lower House, many of whom are seeking reelection, will close in August for constituency break to return in January, 2018 after the polls.
The Liberian government had sent the loan agreement to the legislature for ratification, members of the Liberian Senate without delay passed the document and forwarded same to the House of Representatives for possible concurrence, but some members of that august body are reportedly resisting its passage.
The document, which should have been passed last week, is currently locked up in the offices of the Chief Clark of the House of Representatives.The loan agreement from the President’s desk is requesting the Liberian Legislature to ratify a pre-financing loan agreement costing US$59.5 million for the pavement of roads.
In a two-page document, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said that the loan is meant to pave a 24.5km road from Clay to DC Clark in Bomi County and a 51km neighborhood road in Monrovia and its environs.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne
