Sawyer blasts Legislators

The Chairman of the Governance Commission or GC, Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, has expressed frustration over the continuous absence from the policy dialogue of officials of the ruling Unity Party and Members of the 53rd Legislature.

According to Dr. Sawyers, the conspicuous absence of most of the political parties, especially the unity party, was very noticeable.

He intimated that the UP had a prime responsibility in working with the various political parties to ensure that the outcome of the dialogue is fully implemented. 

He noted that while it was true that many politicians were in the constant habit of staying away from the tasks required of them as it relates to the electoral process in the country, Members of the Legislature were in the same habit, owing to the fact that they are the ones who mostly file complaints in every electoral process.

The Chairman of the Governance Commission made the remarks Wednesday, December 10, 2015 at the close of a one-day policy dialogue resolution, issues and challenges held in Monrovia. 

The dialogue -conducted under the auspices of the GC, took place in the James Fromayam Conference Hall at the National Elections Commission in sinkor.

The program brought together officials of government, members of the society, various stakeholders, and representatives of various political parties in the country.
According to the GC, the dialogue was intended for representatives of political parties to give views on election resolution and challenges.

Earlier speaking at the opening of the dialogue, the Chairman of the Committee on Elections at the House of Representatives, Gabriel Smith indicated that election was a contest and that in every context there must be dissatisfaction. “And that is why we as a country must put proper measures in place that will address that dissatisfaction whenever they occur,” said Rep Smith of Grand Bassa County.

He added that all around the world, there was no election that was perfect, saying there were people heading such an institution with their own shortcomings as others do have.

He said it was always good for people desirous of participating in any election to follow the rules and regulations of the process – the election laws and guidelines, for a safe and peaceful, be it election in 2017. 

Giving the overview of the dialogue, the Program Manager of the Governance Commission, Mr. Matthew B. Kollie, noted that the Commission was established by law to accomplished a number of goals to include collaboratively designed policy for the attainment of good governance, develop implementation strategies for the roll-out of those policies, monitor and evaluate the policy impacts on the population and on the broader governance architecture , with view of advancing options for mid-course correction when necessary.

According to him, Wednesday’s policy dialogue was being held in support of the fulfilling of the commission’s 4th statutory goal AGR, adding that in 2013, the GC published its first AGR focusing on the Health and Education sectors, with the report title: Delivering Education and Health services to the people.

According to the GC Program Manager, following the 2013 AGR, the Commission under took a study, producing the first in a sequel of studies and publications on Liberia quest for attaining middle income status by 2030. Mr. Kollie said the broad objective of the study was to assess the Liberian electoral system against the backdrop of experience, challenges and success, with the view of determining the

general state of the major institutional actors and processes as Liberia prepares for the critical task in 2017.Edited by George Barpeen