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GeneralLiberia news

‘Respect yourself!’

--Pro-Tempore tells PYJ

By Ethel A. Tweh

The chambers of the Liberian Senate became a battleground Thursday, 23 February 2023 when Senate President Pro-Tempore Albert T. Chie and Nimba Senator Prince Y. Johnson engaged in verbal clashes. 

Pointing his finger at Senator Johnson, Pro-Tempore Chie angrily ordered his colleague, “respect yourself, the things you can do [to] other people, don’t do it to me, or else I will put you outside.”

Argument erupted in the Senate after Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence raised concern about a fatal armed robbery incident at the residence of former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott.

Alleged armed robbers killed one of Cllr. Scott’s daughters at her Brewerville residence on Wednesday night and wounded another in the house.

Sen. Prince Johnson

According to Senator Karnga-Lawrence, the girl that who died in the armed robbery attack had her mother Cllr. Scott’s room keys.

Senator Karnga-Lawrence explained that the girl had refused to give her mother’s keys to the armed robbers, and the suspects eventually stabbed her to death before the keys were taken from her.

According to the opposition Liberty Party (LP) political leader, it was through the use of a pepper spray against the suspects that Cllr. Scott managed to escape the scene.

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In response, Senator Chief, a stalwart of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), urged his colleagues to pass a law for their protection. 

According to him, senators must stop the politics and seeking ex-leaders’ protection.

Based on the Pro-Tempore’s statement, Nimba Senator Prince Johnson said they need to pass a law allowing lawmakers to carry arms for their protection. 

Johnson wondered what was wrong with lawmakers carrying arms when city police who are not authorized are carrying arms in the country.

The Nimba Senator’s assertion prompted a war of words between him and Mr. Chie.

Also speaking, Lofa County Senator Steve Zargo suggested that what happened to Cllr. Scott needs a scrutiny from the Liberian Senate. 

He said she alarmed it about two times that her life was in danger, and that people had tried entering her home to kill her.

Zargo argued that the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Police Support Unit (PSU) of the Liberia National Police and other security units needed to take seize of her complaints to provide her security. 

He noted that the woman has said it before, but the securities didn’t protect her. 

Zargo added that the Senate should call the Attorney General, and the Police Inspector General to appear and tell Senators why the former Chief Justice wasn’t protected when she reported her case earlier. 

For his part, River Gee County Senator Conmany B. Wesseh said this issue is a very serious case that shouldn’t be done on party level. 

And Grand Cape Mount Senator Varney Sherman said the former Justice Minister and former Chief Justice had complained on two different occasions to the Justice Minister that her life was in danger.

He added that Cllr. Scott had said that on one occasion, she recognized one of the boys’ face and she could still recognize him anywhere if she sees him. 

According to Sen. Sherman, the person that went to fix Cllr. Scott’s iron bar was the one that hid himself in the house to execute his plan as early as 9 PM. 

Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon suggested that the Liberian Senate should pass a vote of no confidence in the Police Chief and the Justice Minister since they did nothing to protect the former Chief Justice after she raised alarm two times about her insecurity.

Dillon said the police chief has more security officers assigned to his home and behind him than the ordinary citizens whose lives are at risk. 

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NewDawn

The New Dawn is Liberia’s Truly Independent Newspaper Published by Searchlight Communications Inc. Established on November 16, 2009, with its first hard copy publication on January 22, 2010. The office is located on UN Drive in Monrovia Liberia. The New Dawn is bilingual (both English & French).
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