Sen. Doe-Sheriff condemns S/Court

County Senator Gerraldine Doe-Sheriff has condemned Liberia’s Supreme Court for its recent ruling ordering the National Elections Commission to conduct a re-run in three precincts in Bong County where former First Lady Senator Jewel Howard Taylor got re-elected last December.

Speaking last Thursday, 13 August at the John Gbessie Beach in Boys Town, Margibi County, the Lawmaker – formerly of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change, said: “we the women of Liberia condemn the Supreme Court ruling ordering Senator Taylor to go for re-run; we do not accept it.”

She was making remark last week at an event where a multitude of women led by the Gender Ministry gathered to present a document to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, particularly requesting her action on seeing their quest for equity, equal participation, women and children rights and better representation become constitutional before her term expires.

Senator Doe-Sherrif, who claimed that no longer will men who are in minority decide their fate, complained of a decline of women representation in the Legislature, and that the few elected were not being retained.

She publicly requested President Sirleaf’s intervention in the political crisis involving Bong County’s Senator Jewel Howard Taylor after Liberia’s highest court already ordered a re-run in three precincts of the county.

But in a direct response to Senator Doe-Sheriff, President Sirleaf declined making comment on matters already dealt with by the Supreme Court, only telling Senator Doe-Sheriff that she got her way of making her “mojo” work.

The President, however, told women that there was a decline in women representation in the Legislature because they were not giving each other the support at the ballot box. “Now, Senator was very concerned about one issue; you know in this country, we like to talk, but we got our part of way to make our mojo work,” President Sirleaf said amidst cheers from the audience, while singing: “no more men in the front and women in the back; together we will go side by side.”

The Liberian leader admonished women to work together if they must achieve better representation in the Legislature, meaning that they will have to go to the poll and vote women leaders and not just vent their frustration every time about male dominance in leadership.

“I know one thing that touches everybody’s heart is how women will be better represented particularly in the legislature,” she said, adding “but you all didn’t vote for the women, you’ll didn’t vote for them, so why you want put it on me?”

Prior to Senator Doe-Sheriff’s emotional comments, President Sirleaf was presented a document by women containing some points they already had at the Constitutional Review in Gbarnga such as equal opportunities, rape issues, inheritance rights, domestic violence, statutory, traditional or custom and the common law marriages, among others. –By Winston W. Parley