Finance, CSA snub plenary

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Civil Service Agency have separately turned down invitations served them by the Plenary of the House of Representatives to appear yesterday, March 17, 2015, to explain the continuous poor state of the education system in Liberia. 

Authorities at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning did not appear yesterday on grounds that they are still putting document together, while the Civil Service Agency did not sent any communication on its conspicuous absence.

Upon arrival of the Minister Education and her staff Wednesday into the House’s Cambers, Speaker Alex Tyler asked about the whereabouts of the Representation of the Ministry of Finance and the Civil Services Agency. 

But the chief clerk later informed plenary: “I received a call this morning from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to inform plenary that they were unable to appear today due to the incompletion of compiling their document”, and added that she did not receive any information from the CSA.

The comment prompted Grand Bassa County District #4 Representative, J. Byron Browne, to complain to plenary about the continuous disrespectful habit of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, particularly against the august body.

According to Representative Browne, the refusal of Finance Minister Amara Konneh to appear was not the first time, and recounted the gross disrespect of the Minister toward plenary, adding that the last time the Minister was asked to write a letter of apology and have it published in several local papers here, he refused.

Plenary summoned the Ministry of Education, Finance and Development Planning, and the Civil Service Agency, to explain why the nation’s education system is rapidly deteriorating.

Plenary reached the decision on Thursday, March 12th following a communication read on the floor from Grand Bassa District #4 Representative, J. Byron Browne, reporting the deplorable state of public schools in the country.

However, Speaker Tyler and members of the House of Representatives told the Minister of Education Madam Etmonia Tarpeh,  to go and return on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, adding that the hearing could not continue due to the absence of both the CSA and the MFDP.

The Speaker then instructed the chief clerk to send a communication to the two institutions, asking them to appear next Tuesday. 

By Ben P. Wesee