Drama At House Closing -Lawmakers Chant War, Economic Crimes Court; Threaten Chambers, Moye’s Removal

By Edwin G. Wandah
Several lawmakers who are opting for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia on Wednesday protested that the plenary is delaying the passage of the Resolution which gives their approval for the establishment of said court.
Chanting “War Crimes Court; War Crimes Court,” the aggrieved lawmakers who were seen protesting for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court said another issue was that Speaker Bhofal Chambers and Deputy Speaker Prince Moye have refused to harmonize their salaries and allowances.
The lead campaigner in the lawmakers’ protest, Montserrado County District # 4 Representative, Rustolnyn S. Dennis, was seen desperately debunking her colleagues who refuted the resolution and called on her colleagues to see the rationale behind the court establishment.
Rep. Dennis referred to opposing lawmakers as being bias and not seeking the interest of the Liberian people while she along with other colleagues like Rep. Larry P. Younquoi of Nimba County and Francis S. Dopoe of River Gee County who were determined to make public their position of the establishment of said court.
Amidst the protest action effected by Rep. Dennis and her supporter, a motion to have the lawmakers take the issues to their individual constituencies for consultation was welcomed by the presiding yet majority of the representatives still believed that the instrument did not have to be taken home before a decision is reached on the matter.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are calling on both Speaker Chambers and the Deputy Speaker to ensure that their salaries and allowances are also slashed in the name of harmonization. Speaking shortly after the session, Montserrado County District #17 Representative, Hansan Kiazolu, said it was unfair for the two leaders of the plenary of the House of Representatives to be excluded from the process when all of their colleagues have agreed to cut their salaries and allowances.
“This is unfortunate, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker Moye can’t be exempted from this process, they need to set examples for other lawmakers to follow,” Rep. Kiazolu stated.
“Let me inform the Liberian people that if Speaker Chambers maintains his US$40,000 salary and US$29,000 allowance including US$15,000 gasoline allowance, we will resist it upon our return. There will be a revolution here,” the lawmaker promised.
Rep. Kiazolu, along with several other lawmakers including Reps. Dennis, Francis Dopoe, and Rep. Ellen A. Attoh of Margibi County District #3 have all frowned on the refusal of Chambers and Moye to harmonize their own salaries.
Rep. Kiazolu, who chairs the opposition Unity Party lawmakers further stated that it was unfortunate for Civil Servants and the Judiciary to allow cuts in their salaries, but the Speaker who makes a monthly salaries and allowances of US$40,000 would refuse to allow cuts.
Meanwhile, former House Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe has joined the 52 lawmakers to sign the resolution calling for the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
The Bomi County District #1 Representative affixed his signature to the document on Wednesday, October 9, on the last day extra sitting of the House of Representatives just before its annual agriculture break. Rep. Snowe who also chairs the House of Representatives parliamentary delegation to ECOWAS said he believes that the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court will afford Liberians the opportunity of knowing the truth, getting healed and as well turn a new page in the country’s history.