By Alex Yomah
It appears that the Acting Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker-Collins has fallen into trouble with the Liberian Senate due to an unused amount in its budget.
The amount reflected in the Ministry’s Budget report during the expenditure component of the budget hearing which was being held at the Liberian Senate.
The Senate plenary yesterday placed a hold on the Ministry’s budget hearing until the allege misapplication is reconciled.
In the Ministry’s performance report, it reported that out of the US$18.5 million, the Ministry expended the total of US$13.1m for the adjusted $18.9 constituting 69.47% with some US$5.4 million unaccounted for.
The Liberian Senate has mandated the Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning, Tanneh Brunson and the Acting Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker-Collins to reconcile the performance report not later than today.
It all started when Grand Bassa County Senator, Jonathan Kaipay, observed that a new figure for the construction of the damaged bridge leading to the Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC) reflected in the current draft budget before the Senate.
Senator Kaipay demanded an explanation from the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning as to why the bridge fund reflected in the current budget when in fact the Ministry out-turned budget report showed that the money for the bridge has been utilized.
The senator raised the alarm and demanded explanation on grounds that why would funds intended for Grand Bassa bridge be captured in the Public Works report as being used when in reality, it has not been touched.
In response to the confusion and misinformation, Minister Collins told the Senate that because of the variance in the budget, the Ministry did not get the entire amount that was allotted to it.
Meanwhile, Sinoe County Senator, J. Milton Teahjay supported by many senators in session recommended that the budget of the Public Works be withheld until President George Weah appoints her properly or appoints a new Minister.
Teahjay said, Madam Coker-Collins has been acting for over 16 months and she has showed her competence noting that, it was time that the Chief Executive appoints her properly.
The Sinoe County Senator added that it unfair and a risky venture for an acting Minister to sign for a whole country’s development money.
Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, for his part, testified to the works and competence of Madam Coker-Collins.