By Bill W. Cooper The plenary of the Liberian Senate was a scene of drama following the abrupt postponement of the confirmation hearing of the Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, due to the over-crowdedness of the Senate’s Chamber. In keeping with Article 54 of the Liberian constitution, Madam Sarah Beysolow Nyanti was expected to face Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, following her nomination by President Joseph Boakai. Madam Nyanti’s confirmation hearing which was scheduled for 2:00 pm yesterday could not be held as planned, due to the overcrowding of Senate’s Chambers as supporters filled the sacred chamber to capacity, including sitting in the seats of senators. Among those present were all current ministers, diplomats, family members, alliance of political parties’ leaders, among others. Prior to the arrival of the Foreign Minister-designate, some senators, including Edwin Snowe and Momo Cyrus, had already begun expressing dissatisfaction and at one point, Senator Snowe vented his anger by saying, “I am going, and if my seat is clear, you can call me back for the process.” Madam Nyanti was seated around 2:50pm for the hearing, but she could not be cross-examined by the Senators as a result of the disorganized chamber. Sitting all alone and patiently to get started, it was also observed that staff were locating and relocating chairs from one point to the other, as well as removing journalists from their seats for the guests. As a result of the situation, the Chairperson on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Abraham Darius Dillon, shockingly announced the postponement of the hearing to Monday, February 5, 2024. Justifying his decision, the Montserrado County Senator attributed the situation to what he termed as security reasons and other factors. In a conversation with Senate’s reporters, Dillion also termed the situation as a complete blunder by the Secretary of the Senate to have allowed non-Senators to troop into the chamber. According to him, the Senate Secretary is to blame for ‘blundering’ during the entry of individuals into the chamber, and emphasizing, “The Secretary blundered and we are going to correct that.” This, he said, “We know that these confirmation hearings are of public interest, that is why we wanted to ensure that the media is here in a free environment.” “The Senate Chamber is the sanctity of the Senate and you saw what happened there. Everybody sat in the chamber and in the seats of the Senators, and it was embarrassing and so unfortunate,” he noted. Dillion asserted, “Things were put into place but everybody wanted to intrude in there just like the inauguration, and it was looking like they all wanted people fainting again, but thankfully, that did not happen.” The Senator added that confirmation hearing of Presidential nominee(s) is not and should not be with a cheering squad, but rather, a process of seriousness and focus. Meanwhile, in an effort to resurrect Liberia’s struggling agriculture sector, the Agriculture Minister-Designate, Alexander Nuetah, has outlined an ambitious agenda to promote and modernize the country’s agriculture sector. Nuetah also pledged, if confirmed by Liberian Senate, he and his team will prioritize agricultural development, provide support to farmers, enhance food security, and boost economic growth through agricultural advancements. Nuetah’s comprehensive agricultural plans will also aim to mechanize Liberia’s agriculture sector, including the transformation of the country into an agricultural powerhouse in Africa and the world at large. During his confirmation hearing at the Senate yesterday, the Moa Minister-designate also acknowledged the primary challenges plaguing Liberia’s agriculture sector, such as outdated farming techniques, lack of infrastructure, limited access to finance, and inadequate government support. Assuring the country of his commitment to change the narrative, Nuetah also unveiled his vision, which aims to tackle the challenges head-on, pushing Liberia towards agricultural prosperity. The Minister-Designate also promised to invest heavily in mechanization, modern farming technologies, and irrigation systems to increase crop yield, efficiency, and enhance sustainability. He emphasized that these initiatives would assist local farmers in transitioning from traditional subsistence farming to more productive, commercial farming practices, ensuring increased income and economic empowerment. Commenting on Food Security, Nuetah narrated that one of his paramount objectives is to prevent food scarcity and reduce reliance on imports, which make up a significant portion of Liberia’s food consumption. To achieve this feat, he mentioned a plan to collaborate with local farmers and stakeholders to implement strategies that increase crop production while diversifying the agricultural value chain. According to him, understanding the importance of empowering farmers, he seeks to introduce measures that provide access to finance, training, and agricultural inputs to small-scale farmers. Nuetah said, “I will work closely with financial institutions to facilitate affordable loans, enabling farmers to invest in their infrastructure, farming equipment, and technological advancements to boost their productivity.” “We will also ensure that comprehensive training programs will equip farmers with modern farming techniques, enabling them to meet international market standards and harness export opportunities,” he said. Meanwhile, he has also pledged to collaborate with relevant government agencies and private investors to improve rural infrastructure for the growth of the sector. This, he mentioned, will include building roads, bridges, and storage facilities, coupled with streamline farming operations, minimized post-harvest losses, and strengthening the overall supply chain. Nuetah, at the same time, stressed the significance of international cooperation and collaboration in transforming Liberia’s agriculture sector. He further expressed his commitment to forging partnerships with international organizations, governments, and development agencies, to access funding, expertise, and technological advancements.
