|
PIERCING THE VEIL OF SECRECY OF THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER
By Emmanuel Abalo Liberia’s rebirth of democracy with the
inauguration of long time opposition political activist Ms. Ellen John-Sirleaf,
can be viewed as marred by the “election” of a top ally of former President
Charles Taylor as Speaker of the bi-cameral Parliament.
According to news reports, Mr. Edwin Snowe, an
ex-son-in-law of former President Charles Taylor, stood as an independent
legislative candidate in last year's polls that ended Liberia's 14-year
civil war. The Speaker, who according to the Liberian Constitution, is third
in line to ascendancy of the Presidency.
Mr. Snowe, who is banned by the UN from leaving Liberia because of his
past association with Mr. Taylor, has come under increased public scrutiny
and allegations as incompetent and one of the most corrupt individual in the
Liberian public theater.
The scrutiny and calls for an aggressive “forensic” audit of the Liberia
Petroleum Refinery Corporation (LPRC) which the Speaker-elect now heads is
led by the Center for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE), a human rights and
advocacy consultancy group in Monrovia.
The new Speaker-elect, who laughably, has committed himself to
“protecting democracy” during his six-year tenure has denied the allegations
of corruption. But he was prevented from attending a recent workshop for
newly elected parliamentarians outside Liberia because he is still under the
UN travel ban
While under the UN travel ban, Mr. Snowe has continued to maintain
telephonic and other contacts with indicted war criminal Charles Taylor. But
in defense of his continued shady association with Mr. Taylor, Mr. Snowe is
quoted by the Daily Observer newspaper as criticizing the UN for “allowing
those who committed excess human rights violations and “killed president to
walk about freely.”
Where does Mr. Snowe draw the moral and professional rectitude to
“protect democracy” let alone criticize the United Nations? It is quite easy
to throw around a catch word like “democracy.”
The outmost concern here is the process of election of the Speaker of
Parliament. Credible news reports have indicated that Mr.Snowe, intent on
becoming Speaker of the Assembly undertook to “bribe” some of his colleagues
for consideration.
In a release issued by the Federation of Nimba Youths and Student
Organizations (FENYSO), the students said that incoming legislature must
understand that they will be taking “expensive risks if they vote for Mr.
Snowe in the wake of mounting concerns and disapproval for his corrupt and
exploitative conduct” at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC)..
In spite of widespread opposition to his candidature by students,
individuals and civic institutions, Mr. Snowe was elected as Speaker by his
colleagues. How much money changed hands? Who took what? Who lobbied their
other colleagues to switch votes based on “chopping“? What were the
qualifications required to be Speaker? Is there a record of a roll call and
of votes taken as is mandatory in such proceedings?
There is nothing wrong with the legislative process of “give and take” to
get legislative work accomplished. However, when an illegal and criminal
action such as bribery taints the process, then an intrusive investigation
must be undertaken the law must take its course.
It is obvious that due to the “veil of secrecy” one may never know
tainted this process was. But the honorable thing here is for every new
Member of Parliament involved in the election of the Speaker to explain to
their constituency how and why they voted the way they did. This would
signal the first steps of honesty, transparency and accountability by the
lawmakers.
The Liberia 1984 constitution, replaced the Liberia 1847 constitution
which was suspended on April 12, 1980, following the coup d'etat which
overthrew the presidency of H. E. William R. Tolbert, Jr. The process of
writing a new constitution began on April 12, 1981, when Dr. Amos Sawyer, a
political scientist at the University of Liberia, was appointed chairman of
the National Constitution Committee (NCC), the 25-member body that was given
the responsibility of drafting a new constitution for Liberia. The NCC
completed its work in December 1982, and submitted the draft constitution to
the PRC (The People's Redemption Council) in March 1983. A 59-member
Constitutional Advisory Committee (CAA) was then appointed to review the
draft constitution. The CAA completed its work on October 19, 1983. On July
3, 1984, the new constitution was submitted to a national referendum and
approved.
Under Chapter XI, Article 90, subtitle “Miscellaneous”, it specifically
states that,
a. No person, whether elected or appointed to any public office, shall
engage in any other activity which shall be against public policy, or
constitute conflict of interest.
b. No person holding office shall demand and receive any other
perquisites, emoluments or benefits, directly or indirectly, on account of
any duty required by Government.
c. The Legislature shall, in pursuance of the above provision, prescribe
a Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees, stipulating the
acts which constitute conflict of interest or are against public policy, and
the penalties for violation thereof.It goes without saying that every
lawmaker and official of the Liberian government must minimally adhere to
the Constitution.
In a welcome development, The Interim Transitional Legislative Assembly
has mandated the incoming government of Mrs. Sirleaf, in a “binding
Resolution”, to hire independent, local and international auditors to audit
the incomes and expenditures of the Transitional Government from October 14,
2003 to January 3, 2006.
The Resolution also mandates that Interim Chairman Gyude Bryant, cabinet
ministers and heads of public corporations be barred from leaving the
country during the period of the audit. Mr. Snowe is an official of the
outgoing interim government and must fully submit himself to this audit and
not claim legislative immunity.
The big question here then is how relevant and effective can a lame
Speaker, saddled with allegations of corruption, incompetence and a UN
travel ban, be in the functioning of the Legislative arm of the Liberian
Government?
Emmanuel Abalo is an exiled Liberian journalist, media and human
rights activist. He is the former Acting President of the Press Union of
Liberia (PUL). Mr. Abalo presently resides in Pennsylvania, USA and works as
an analyst with CITIGROUP, North America. |
