By Alex Yomah
Members of the Liberian Senate are urging President George Weah to address the nation so as to restore hopes in Liberians amidst the existence of the Coronavirus in Liberia.
Senators Daniel Naatehn, Gble-bo Brown, Prince Johnson and others asserted that the Liberian leader always reneges to provide updates the nation on a regular basis as it is done by other Presidents since the introduction of the coronavirus.
The senators’ statements were triggered following a briefing from the chairperson on the Senate’s Committee on Health, Dr. Peter Coleman, on those who recently invaded health protocols at the Capitol Building as well as the recent National Health Emergency issued by the health authority in Monrovia.
He also told colleagues that the Liberian leader is regularly briefed by health authorities on the status of the virus but following his committee’s report, the senators said while it is true, the new health law gives health authorities the legal rights to declare National Health Emergency, President Weah needs to speak to his people to allay the fears and perception of denial.
Senate Pleads for Economic Relief for Citizenry.
The Senate is seeking a leadership discussion with President George M. Weah to strategize ways to find an economic relief for the citizens in the wake of the stay-home mandate.
The Senate also wants President George M. Weah to address the nation on issues of national concerns.
Members of the Senate in session on Tuesday March 24, 2020, said the proposed discussion is necessary to bring relief to the Citizens as the government of Liberia enforces measures for non-essential workers to stay home.
Sitting in their respective seats six (6) feet apart in the joint chamber of the Legislature with their masks on, the Senate says, if the citizens especially those who depend on the regular sales from their market daily to feed their family must stay home to abide by the health regulations put in place by the Government, the needs for the Government to come to their needs must be considered.
The decision by the senate to call on its Leadership to discuss with President Weah was triggered by a regular briefing from Senator Peter S. Coleman who chairs the Senate Committee on health and also represents the Senate on the incident Management Team set up to combat the Coronavirus.
Bringing the Senate up speed with the latest updates on the status of the pandemic in the Country the Chairman of the Senate Statutory Committee on Health, Dr. Peter Colemen noted that the three persons who were confirmed positive are still in stable condition and are almost in their 14 day incubation period.
Senate Coleman further disclosed that Liberia will received masks and other safety materials from the African Union, based on a donation to that body by a Chinese billionaire.
Addressing the concern of the Senate for the Government to address the Economic needs of the Citizens, Senator Coleman also informed the Plenary of the Senate that although there is a package of US$15 million from the World Bank toward the fight against the deadly Coronavirus, there is no straight jacket spending on the amount. He said with the new request for economic relief, the Government can possibly meet the World Bank and find a way to bring economic relief to the population.
Accordingly, the Senate has acknowledged the efforts of Health Team are collaborating with all, including the Ministry of Justice, and the National Security institutions to ensure that the measures to fight the virus are adhere to.
Chair, Cllr. Emmerstine Morgan-Awar- Commissioner, Floyd Sayor- Commissioner, Barsee Kpankpa-Commissioner and Josephine Kou Gaye –Commissioner of the National Elections Commission pending confirmation actions by the Liberian Senate.
Recently, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and in an effort to keep the nation safe, the Ministry of Health (MOH) declared National Emergency in Montserrado and Margibi counties.
According to release issued over the weekend, the declaration of National Health Emergency is in keeping with title Article 33, Chapter 14 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised known as the Public Health Law.