MONROVIA – The Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Sen. Albert Chie, has likened the recent comments coming from U.S. Congressman Chris Smith to comments usually coming from Representatives Yekeh Kolubah and Francis Nyumalin.
Sen. Chie who was responding to journalists on his take on the Congressman’s criticism of the George Weah-led government said, Rep. Smith is a “mere congressman” like the two Liberian lawmakers.
Both Reps. Kolubah and Nyumalin are known for their harsh criticism of the Weah-led government – some of which have landed them in trouble with state security.
Lofa County District 1 Representative, Francis Nyumalin, has been tough-talking in his condemnation of the delay in the certification of Mr. J. Brownie Samukai as Senator of Lofa County.
He was recenty invited by the National Security Agency for questioning on his statements considered as threats against the presidency, vice presidency and other high-raking positions.
Also in the case of Rep. Kolubah, plenary, the highest decision-making body of the House of Representatives last Thursday took a decision to suspend Rep. Yekeh Kolubah for 30 Sitting Days (equivalent to almost four months) without pay for what it termed as Rep. Kolubah’s constant habit of raining insults at President George Weah.
Rep. Kolubah has been a staunch critic of President Weah and his CDC-led Government since 2018. He is often heard accusing the President and some members of his cabinet of being corrupt.
Recently, the Congress man accused the Government of President George Weah of leading a Kleptocratic government that has been engaged in political corruption from the day he assumed office by depleting the government’s coffers for personal use while the people of Liberia suffer.
In an Interview with reporters at the Capitol Building Senator Chie said: “We respect congressman Smith’s opinion, but he is just a mere congressman like any member of the House of Representatives or senate. He is just like Representatives Yekeh Korlubah and Francis Sakila Nyumalin”.
Recently, the U.S. Congressman blamed President Weah for the high rate of poverty in the country by using his political power to appropriate the wealth of the country through embezzling or misappropriating government funds at the expense of the wider population.
Said Rep. Smith: “In Africa, we have a special relationship with Liberia which was founded by freed American slaves. Unfortunately, President George Weah leads a Kleptocratic government that is engaged in political corruption from the day he assumed office by depleting the government’s coffers for personal use while the people of Liberia suffer.”
In a virtual broadcast marking the first hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on the implementation of the Act via cisco on March 24, Congressman Smith claimed that President Weah has been allegedly depleting the country’s coffers since his ascendancy to the Liberian presidency.
The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is a bi-partisan commission which was established with the unanimous consent of the United States House of Representatives in 2008.
The Commission is charged with promoting, defending and advocating for international human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments. The Commission undertakes public education activities, provides expert human rights advice and encourages members of Congress to actively engage in human rights matters.
The Commission is chaired by two members of the House of Representatives who are appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader. For the 117th Congress, Rep. James P. McGovern (MA-02) is the Democratic Co-Chair, and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04) is the Republican Co-Chair.
This year, the act currently runs out as an executive order and Congressman’s Smith is leading the charge to expand it to make it a permanent law not requiring reauthorization every four years.
Trumpeting the Act last week, Rep Smith who serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, blamed President Weah for the high rate of poverty in the country by using his political power to appropriate the wealth of the county through embezzling or misappropriating government funds at the expense of the wider population.