Last Christmas and the 2023 New Year affected the calendar events of the Legislature in Liberia.
New Year’s Day celebration was deferred to Monday, January 2, 2023 and that caused serious disruption in the year’s events.
For instance, the sixth and final session of the 54th Legislature, which should have begun on the second Monday in January 9, 2023 was then deferred to Monday, January 16, 2023.
The rescheduling was as a result of the disruption caused in the government’s calendar of events in the New Year.
This means constitutionally, Article 32(a) which instructs that the Legislature shall officially resume on the second working Monday in January of each year, is now deferred to the third working Monday.
In a related development, restrictions have been placed on individuals or groups that are not officially invited at President George Weah’s State of the Nation Address.
President George’s nation address which is the last of his first 6-year tenure scheduled for Monday, January 30, at the Legislature will be exclusively restricted to invited guests.
Therefore, uninvited guests are advised to stay off the perimeters of the Capitol Building because it is going to be restricted even to journalists or media practitioners who are not accredited by the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) and the Legislature.
Addressing the MICAT regular press briefing yesterday in Monrovia, the Representative of District 8 in Montserrado County, described this year’s address as a unique one.
It is said that in the regime’s final of its first term report to the nation, the President will speak on specific issues and achievements made mainly on the economy during the review.
According to protocol, anybody who does not have an official invitation will not be allowed to venture around the proximity of the event as security is expected to be vigilant.
“Journalists or media practitioners who are not accredited by both the Legislature and MICAT will not be allowed; no matter who you are, because the address will be carried live and there will also be restrictions on vehicles,” he noted.
The President’s message is expected to be on matters of national importance and in accordance with the Article 58 of the 1986 Constitution which states that the President shall make an annual report to the population on the affairs of the country.
At the moment, accreditation is said to be ongoing at the Legislature and MICAT therefore journalists or media practitioners are advised to take advantage.
