Legislative Report card Released

The institute for Research and Democratic Development or IREDD has released its report on the performance of the Liberian Legislature for the period of eight months.

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday in Monrovia, the Executive Director of the group, Mr. Harold Marvin Aidoo said members of the House of Representatives attended more sessions than those of Senate. Unity Party’s Senators Fredrick Doe Cherue of River and Mathew Jaye of River Gee County attended all 48 sessions held at the Senate and got the score of A+.

According to Mr. Aidoo, other senators with high plenary attendance include: Joseph Nagbe of the Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APDandSinoe County, Henry Yallah of  National Democratic Coalition or NDC and Bong County, as well as Adventus D. Gueh of the Liberia Destiny Party and Rivercess County.

According to him, Senator Mobutu VlahNyenpan of the APD and Sinoe County got the lowest in plenary attendance. He attended 28 out of the 48 sessions held and got a score of “F”.

He indicated that others senators with low plenary attendance include: Joyce Musu Freeman Sumo of the Congress for Democratic Change or CDC (she travelled to attend AU Parliament) and Montserrado and Cletus S. Wotorson of the UP and Grand Kru County. “They got a score of “D” respectively, “he said. It can be recalled that Sen. Cletus Wotorson was pronounced sick for a month and half.

The IREDD Director  pointed out that nine representatives with  a score of “F” in plenary attendance include: Jeremiah W.N. McCaulay of the NDC and Sinoe, Jefferson Karmoh,of the APD and Sinoe (his membership of the ECOWAS parliament  might have necessitated his continuous absence from plenary session), Ricks Y. Toweh of the National Union for Democratic Progress or NUPD and Nimba, Solomon C. George of the Congress for Democratic Change or CDC and Montserrado, Clarence Massaquoi of the ruling Unity Party or  UP and Lofa, George WessehBlamohof  UP and Grand Kru, as well as Manbu M. Sonii of Liberty Party or LP and Grand Cape Mount, Alfred G. Koiwood of CDC and Gparpolu and Haja F. Siryon of UP and Bomi.

The civil society group further stated that the plenary of the Liberian Senate recorded a total of 31 distant times during its 48 sittings, while the House of Representatives recorded 156 distant times.

Senator Mabutu Vlah Nyenpan got the highest distant times at the senate. He was reportedly pronounced distant six (6) times, while Rep. Henry B. Fahnbulleh got the highest distant times in the House of Representatives. He was pronounced distant fourteen (14) times.

Four others members of the lower house got higher distant times are Johnson Toe Chea of the  NDC and Rivergee, Mariamu B. Fofana of UP and Lofa, George WessehBlamohof UP and Grand Kru and Samuel G. Karmo of Bomi County.

The report maintained that Senator Fredrick Doe Cherue of UP and Rivergee County got the highest participation  at the Senate., noting that Sen. Cheru spoke 89 times, while others with high participation marks include: Peter S. Coleman of the CDC and Grand Kru spoke 88 times, Isaac W. Nyenabo of NDPL and Grand Gedeh, 85 times, Armah Z. Jallah and NPP and Gbarpolu, 83 times, Alphonso G. Gaye of UP and  GrandGedeh, 82 times, Sumo G. KupeeofUPandLofa, 81 times and John A. Ballout, and UP and Maryland, 76 times.

Bong County Representative Prince K. Moye of UP got the highest participation at the Lower House. He spoke 115 times. He is followed by Hon. Jeh Byron Brown who spoke 70 times.

Interestingly, ten lawmakers got zero (0) in plenary participation. They include: Jeremiah W.N. McCaulayof  NDCandSinoe, Charles K. Bardyl of UP and Rivergee, Samuel G. Z. Worleh of NUDP and Nimba, Adolph A. Lawrence- an  independent candidate of Montserrado, Roland OpeeCooperof  LP and Margibi, Zoe Emmanuel Pennue– also an  Independent candidate of Grand Gedeh, Manbu M. Sonii of LP  and Grand Cape Mount, as well as Robert N. Siaway, Sr. of APD and Bassa and MalaiGoutoGbogar of  LP, and Gbarpolu.

Commenting on bills at the Liberian Legislature, IREDD said  a total of thirty two (32) bills were recorded at the legislature during this reporting period. Of the 32 bills recorded, 9 or 28.125% came from the Executive Branch of Government, 7 or 21.875% came from the senate and 16 or 50% came from individual legislators.

Of the 32 new bills introduced during this reporting period all were passed by the House of Representatives, four approved and printed into hand bills, while twenty one are still pending for concurrence in the chambers of the senate and six are pending before the President for signature.

Meanwhile, Senator Geraldine Doe Sheriff of the Congress for Democratic Change and Montserrado County wrote the highest communications during the period and was followed by senator George Tengbeh of the ruling Unity Party and Lofa County. They both wrote five (5) and four (4) communications respectively.