Three contending Commissioners on the Board of the Independent Human Rights Commission (INCHR) have accused Vice Chairperson Charles Harris of being responsible for the zero progress in the affairs of the Commission.
Commissioners Pela Boker-Wilson, Pindarous Allison and Mohammed Fahnbulleh argued that the lapses under Commissioner Harris’ leadership range from bad administrative governance, poor financial management coupled with his inability to administer control and manage the staff and Commission effectively.
Therefore, being appointed and elected as Vice Chairperson in less than a year, the two-third majority of the board members on whose blessing he serves in said position have announced a vote of no confidence in his ability to continue in said post.
Article (IX)(5) of the INCHR 2005 Act gives the commissioners through a two-third majority the power to appoint by voting a Vice Chairperson among themselves since the Chairperson is appointed by the President and with a five-member BoC, three persons constitute a majority.
In a resolution signed by all three commissioners Boker-Wilson, Allison and Fahnbulleh who are presumably the ‘majority’ and voted Cllr. Charles Harris as the Vice Chairperson, they are contending that their choice has handled his stewardship negligently.
Accordingly, the Vice Chairperson’s accusers claimed that he has fueled the ongoing strife and division currently at the INCHR due to his failure to fulfill his statutory mandate of being the deputy to the Chairperson and performing responsibilities of the Chairperson in his or her absence or incapacity.
According to the Commissioners, Cllr. Harris in some instances intentionally mishandled the affairs of the Commission thus leading to administrative malpractices and financial improprieties, thereby blaming him for the existence of a dual payroll; the continual remission from the Ministry of Finance salaries of seven commissioners when in actuality they are five and his silence, omission and inaction supported a form of disrespect meted upon two commissioners openly by his Technical Assistant.
Commissioners Wilson, Allison and Fahnbulleh further accused the Vice Chairperson of adopting a nonchalant and laid-back approach on matters and proposes no administrative action against his personal staff.
“Not only has the Vice Chairperson failed and neglected to perform the statutory responsibilities, but he has also acquiesced, influenced and aided the Chairperson in his flagrant disregard of the Board’s decision, the INCHR Act and by extension, the laws of Liberia,” the three Commissioners stated.
Though the INCHR Act is clear on how the Vice Chairperson shall be elected and in Article XIV, but the confusion is that the Act only grants the right to the President to appoint a Commissioner for replacement in accordance with Article XI of the Act in the case of death, resignation or dismissal from office or is incapacitated and or is unable to perform duties of his/her office.
The contending Commissioners said they have requested a meeting with the Chairperson on several occasions and he had failed to convene any Board meeting and or has also put up an intransigent posture
The Act also says a Commissioner shall not engage in any other occupation, business or profession or any other activities for which he or she is paid; something Commissioners Boker-Wilson and Chairman Brown are yet to exonerate them from.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners are resolved that with the same power vested in them to vote into power a Vice Chairperson, they are requesting Chairman Dempster Brown to convene a board meeting in accordance with Article XI of the Act for the election of a new Vice Chairperson since they have cast their vote of no confidence to nullify their first decision.
However, when Commissioner Harris was contacted, he dismissed the allegation and stated that he strongly believes that the Commission still has the capacity of settling its matters independent of the public and the media pointing out that the story has no legal basis; C. Winnie Saywah-Jimmy reports.
