By Grace Q. Bryant
The House of Representatives has summoned the Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, regarding bottlenecks on the issuances of diplomatic passports to lawmakers.
Since the inception of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature on Monday, January 15, lawmakers have been experiencing difficulties regarding receiving diplomatic passports following applications.
The House’s decision was prompted from a communication from Nimba County District #9 Representative, Taa Wongbe.
In his communication, the Nimba lawmaker said, “As you are aware, many of our colleagues have requested diplomatic passports based on their travel requirements, but have not been issued passports based on their personal and unexplained reasons.”
Rep. Wongbe added, “However, Article IV: A. of the March, 2016 Revised Regulations to Govern the Administration and Issuance of Liberian Passports, restricts the issuance of diplomatic passport to certain category of officials of government and individuals based on their ranks or positions as a matter of privilege, and when assigned by an appropriate governmental institution to represent the government or render service for the Government of Liberia in foreign countries.”
Rep. Wongbe added, “We view this regulation to be archaic and counterproductive, and we ask that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revise this regulation to allow for diplomatic passports to be automatically issued to individuals deserving of diplomatic passports once confirmed, and or certificated by the relevant authorities.”
The House’s Foreign Affairs Committee has been mandated by the Plenary on Thursday to investigate and report back within one week.
