2 Senators Challenge RIA Road Deal

By Alex Yomah

The Liberian Senate journal dated December 18, 2019 has confirmed that that both the Senate and the House of Representatives were in agreement to have the East International Group contracted for the construction of the RIA road expansion project. The clarity came amidst heated debates between some lawmakers over the concurrence of the Liberian Senate with the House of Representatives thereby allowing the Executive begin initial discussions with the group regarding its legality as a sole winner of the bid to construct the route leading to the Roberts International Airport.
In what appeared to be a blur copy of a journal hand delivered to this paper by Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson, it states: “Communication from the House of Representatives or [HOR] on the addendum to an Act to ratify the Pre-financing Agreement between the GOL and the East Int’l Group.”
In this document, a motion from Senator Dan Morias states, “Mr. Pro-tempt, after receiving from this document HOR which is intended for the growth for our country, I move that same be received and acted upon with the HOR and this document was seconded by Senator Victor Watson of Grand Cape Mount County.”
Contrary to the journal and some senators’ positions on this ratification, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon and Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper have been expressing total disagreement that the senate did concur with the House and vowed to produce more evidences that are contrast to the reported ‘Senate journal.’
In separate interviews to newsmen on yesterday, the two senators accused Senators Sando Johnson and Saar Joseph of not telling the truth because the Senate has never taken any position to ratify a deal that allows the East International Group construct the RIA road.
“We have been informed through the media that Rep. Acarous Gray has been on the radio stating that the Liberian Senate, during its emergency sitting, did concur with the House of Representatives to ratify an agreement to expand the RIA highway road project.
“To the best of our recollections, that is totally untrue. What is even more appalling and disappointing is when the Chairperson on Executive at the Liberian Senate takes the airway to agree with Rep. Gray that the Liberian Senate acted.
“Before we went on constituency break back in October, the President wrote the Liberian Senate seeking our advice on how to transfer the contract from Bomi County to the RIA expansion project and the plenary’s decision was to advice the President which was not the function of the Legislature and that the leadership of the Liberian Senate should send the letter back to the President and handle that appropriately. The Liberian Senate did not take an action to concur or agree with the President to transfer the East International from its project in Bomi to the RIA.
“When we returned to emergency session as requested for by President George Weah, similar letter appeared on the floor and the Liberian Senate did similar action. So, we have not voted to grant such agreement with the East International Group.
“The Chairman, I particularly want to be on the record, the Chairman of the Executive of the Liberian Senate, Senator Saar Joseph lied,” Senator Dillon explained.
The former Senate Chairperson on Public Works, Senator Cooper buttressed Dillon’s argument that the Senate did not ratify or concur with the House of Representative as alleged by some of his colleagues.
The East International Group did not have the pre-requisite accomplishment and degree to even do the road from the Barclay Training Center to the Budget Bureau.
“I can safely tell you that the entire East Int’l Group and or the entire road project is questionable,” Sen. Cooper stated.

In separate interviews to newsmen on yesterday, the two senators accused Senators Sando Johnson and Saar Joseph of not telling the truth because the Senate has never taken any position to ratify a deal that allows the East International Group construct the RIA road.
“We have been informed through the media that Rep. Acarous Gray has been on the radio stating that the Liberian Senate, during its emergency sitting, did concur with the House of Representatives to ratify an agreement to expand the RIA highway road project.
“To the best of our recollections, that is totally untrue. What is even more appalling and disappointing is when the Chairperson on Executive at the Liberian Senate takes the airway to agree with Rep. Gray that the Liberian Senate acted.
“Before we went on constituency break back in October, the President wrote the Liberian Senate seeking our advice on how to transfer the contract from Bomi County to the RIA expansion project and the plenary’s decision was to advice the President which was not the function of the Legislature and that the leadership of the Liberian Senate should send the letter back to the President and handle that appropriately. The Liberian Senate did not take an action to concur or agree with the President to transfer the East International from its project in Bomi to the RIA.
“When we returned to emergency session as requested for by President George Weah, similar letter appeared on the floor and the Liberian Senate did similar action. So, we have not voted to grant such agreement with the East International Group.
“The Chairman, I particularly want to be on the record, the Chairman of the Executive of the Liberian Senate, Senator Saar Joseph lied,” Senator Dillon explained.
The former Senate Chairperson on Public Works, Senator Cooper buttressed Dillon’s argument that the Senate did not ratify or concur with the House of Representative as alleged by some of his colleagues.
The East International Group did not have the pre-requisite accomplishment and degree to even do the road from the Barclay Training Center to the Budget Bureau.
“I can safely tell you that the entire East Int’l Group and or the entire road project is questionable,” Sen. Cooper stated.