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Politics News

Ellen, Lawmakers meet Sept. 29

Information gathered by this paper indicates that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to visit members of the 53rd Liberian Legislature today, Monday, at the Capitol Building in Monrovia.

According to a highly placed source at the Capitol, the non-statutory visitation by the Chief Executive is predicated on the coming of the United States Marine Corps to the country.

The President is expected to brief the Lawmakers on the moral operandi of the foreign troops on Liberian soil.

President Sirleaf is expected to also explain to Lawmakers her decision on the current State of Emergency and ongoing curfew, as well as national concerns raised by citizens on strategies employed by the government to fight the Ebola Virus.

Article 53 (a) and (b) of the Liberian Legislature states that the President shall visit the Legislature at his or her own will to brief the august body on happenings in the state during the State of emergency.

President Johnson Sirleaf will use the time to explain the state of affairs, including funds generated to combat the Ebola Virus. She will appeal to the Lawmakers for the speedy passage of the 2014/2015 national budget.

The Executive Branch, through the Finance Ministry, submitted a draft national budget of more than US$500m for 2014/15 in May of this year, but members of the Ways, Means and Finance Committees of both the House and Senate have failed to conduct public hearings or state the status of the fiscal instrument.

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He also expected to discuss in detail the West Point shootout involving the Armed Forces of Liberia and death of 13years old Shacky Kamara during a street protest by residents of the Township of West point against the establishment of an Ebola holding unit.

Some Lawmakers, including Sinoe County Senior Senator Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan, Representatives Acarous Gray of Monsterrado and Dr. Bhofal Chambers Maryland County raised serious observations on the coming on the US troops without a status of forces agreement, as well as the failure of the Executive to inform the Lawmakers on the current national crisis.

The executive session with the two chambers is expected to commence at 12pm behind closed doors in the William Richard Tolbert Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building. About two weeks ago, President Johnson Sirleaf wrote United States President Barrack Obama about the Ebola Virus outbreak, seeking the U.S intervention- something the American President honored and ordered the deployment of 3000 troops to further increase U.S support to Liberia.

It can be recalled that on April 14, 1979, the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) headed by late Gabriel Baccus organized a demonstration against the Government of Liberia headed by the Late William R. Tolbert, Jr.. President Sekou Toure of Guinea offered to assist the government by deploying Guinea armed troops to Monrovia- an offer President Tolbert accepted.

The 100 Guinean troops, alongside government troops suppressed the demonstration, resulting to the deaths of several individuals (estimates range from 40 to 300).  Guinean troops withdrew from the country on May 15, 1979.

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