By Bill W. Cooper
The plenary of the House of Representatives has re-summoned the management of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), BIVAC, GTMS and shipping lines to state reasons why they should not be held in contempt for grossly disrespecting that august body.
The plenary decision was triggered by the alleged refusal by LRA, GTMS and BIVAC to appear before that august body along with APM terminal Liberia and the National Port Authority (NPA) including shipping lines having been cited to state reasons behind the extraordinary raising of service fees on cargos.
The lawmakers took the decision on Tuesday, January 26, following a letter read by the Deputy Chief Clerk from the LRA and BIVAC in which they stated reasons behind their alleged refusal to appear before that body.
In their letter of excuse read by the House of Representatives, Deputy Chief Clerk, the LRA through its Deputy Commissioner stated that they were unable to appear before that august body due to their participation in the commemoration of World Custom Day held in Grand Bassa, while BIVAC’s reasons for their failure to appear was as a result of poor health condition.
For GTMS, there was no response from that company stating reason for their absence, while the shipping lines absence was as a result of the Chief Clerk’s failure to send a communication due to some oversight.
Following the reading of the letter, several lawmakers took serious assertion to the letter by both entities on grounds that the letter written by the LRA and BIVAC was an affront to them as Representatives of the citizenry.
Montserrado County, District #16 Representative, Dixon Seboe in his deliberation stated that the refusal by BIVAC to appear before them is not the first of its kind, noting that he doubts that the company will honor their second communication.
Rep. Seboe added, “For the few times I spent at the port, this has been business as usual by BIVAC to always disrespect this House whenever summoned. So I recommend that we should bring BIVAC under contempt because the continuous disrespect by BIVAC to this honorable body is unbecoming.”
Some of his colleagues including Nimba County District #2 Rep., Prince O. S. Tokpah, Lofa County District #1 Rep., Francis S. Nyumalin and Montserrado County District#12 Rep., George B. Samah all backed him calling the re-summoning of the various above listed entities to appear before them under contempt.
However, following their deliberation on the matter, Grand Bassa County District #4 Rep., Vincent S.T. Willie proffered the motion, to cite all parties’ top managements and that BIVAC’s management should appear with their medical reports from the Hospital attended on today, January 28, to state reasons why they should not be held in contempt.