By Ethel A. Tweh
The Liberian Senate on Friday, 17 March 2023 closed for the first constituent break of its 6th session. The break runs from 17 March to the middle of May 2023.
Making a closing statement, Senate President Pro-Tempore Albert Chie said they debated the pension bill and finally passed it at the Senate and sent it to the House of Representatives.
He thanked the Executive, the Legislature, and the partners for the conduct of the 2022 Census. Chie said the census result projecting a population of 5.2 million people was a preliminary result.
He noted that the final results will be ready in May. Chie added that once the final results are given, the Legislature will comply with the mandate of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, he said the Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to prepare the modalities and start the process for the setting of constituency threshold.
He indicated that during the session, the Senate had hearings with state securities about crimes in the country, like armed robbery, arms coming into the country, some unexplained deaths, and importation of drugs, among others.
“We advised the security to be proactive and to conclude reports on investigations in the country. These public hearings and meetings with security actors will continue upon our return,” the Grand Kru lawmaker said.
“Our citizens are also admonished to desist from violence in the country as a way of seeking redress to their problems.”
Speaking on the violent clashes between supporters led by Representative Acarous Gray and students of the University of Liberia, Pro Temp Chie denied a statement from his Grand Kru County colleague Numinee Bartekwa.
He rejected Bartekwa’s claim that he called Representative Gray to back off on his decision to visit the UL main Campus.
It can be recalled that while speaking on Tuesday on the violent act that occurred on the UL campus, Senator Bartekwa said several top government officials including Pro-Tempore Chie had called Representative Gray to abandon his decision to go on the campus, but he refused.
Chie said at no time did he call Gray as alleged by Bartekwa. He clarified that he called someone who has proximity to Representative Gray to speak with the Montserrado County District #8 Representative. But Chief said he did not have the opportunity to do so.
