Monrovia – Members of the House of Representatives at the 53rd National Legislature are at odds once again repeating the situation of February 2014 when a scuffle over a failed attempt to remove Speaker J. Alex Tyler led to physical fight resulting into one lawmaker Adam Bill Corneh (Bong County) fainting, requiring medical assistance.
“Morality is optional colleagues, if the Speaker doesn’t want to accept your request write plenary and test your strength into a voting process which is a normal legislative procedure”-Representative James Biney, Maryland County
Things went really bad Thursday when heated argument ensued between rival lawmakers-one group pushing for Speaker Tyler to recuse himself from presiding over deliberations by the plenary of the House of Representatives and the other group in support of the Speaker.
When the lawmakers appeared at the Capitol to carry out plenary deliberations, the floor of the Chambers went wild when a group of lawmakers opposed Speaker Tyler from presiding, demanding that a letter written by Representative Edwin M. Snowe for the Speaker to recuse himself from presiding be debated.
The other rival lawmakers went in support of the Speaker and things went personal as the lawmakers began raining insults against each other, attempting to engage in physical fight.
Conflict of interest concerns
The body could not conduct normal legislative business as a result of a motion from Representative Emmanuel Nuquay of Margibi County calling on Speaker Tyler to step aside based on communication from Representative Snowe that was on the agenda for discussion for the day to avoid conflict of interest.
Representative Nuquay’s motion was overruled by Speaker Tyler but the Speaker‘s action to overrule the motion sparked serious debate amongst the lawmakers in the fight to have the Speaker step aside.
To make matter worse Representative James Biney of Maryland County in remarks referred to some of his colleagues’ actions to disrupt session as hooliganism.
“Order Mr. Speaker, order, some of the lawmakers shouted. Mr. Speaker let Representative Biney take back his comments of hooliganism”. It took the Speaker minutes to accept the order and Representative Biney responded by saying “I accept to take it back”
The Maryland lawmaker in further comments admonished his colleagues to be civil in their action to ask the Speaker to step aside by soliciting the two third votes required to have that done and not to focus their argument on morality.
Representative Biney said: “Morality is optional colleagues, if the Speaker doesn’t want to accept your request write plenary and test your strength into a voting process which is a normal legislative procedure.”
The debate got more heated as lawmakers walked and talked across the floor without being recognized, pointing fingers at each other.
‘I am your mother boyfriend’
The debate was above party line and county of Representation. Lawmakers from same political parties or same county were divided on the issue of Speaker Tyler stepping aside. In one instance, lawmakers from the opposition Congress for Democratic Change were embroiled in bitter exchanges.
Lawmakers including Representatives Acarous Gray, Julius Berrian, Thomas Fallah and Adolphus Lawrence of the CDC protested and were heard loudly but Representative Solomon George also of the CDC took a different trend against his colleagues and asked them to raise the two third to unseat the Speaker.
Representative George known for his bold speaking told his colleagues they were proceeding wrongly a statement that led to his colleague Thomas Fallah responding with a question “who are you”? and George responded “I am your mother Boy-friend”.
Sticky Snowe’s Communication
Earlier during the week, the Supreme Court Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie ordered the House of Representatives to address the concerns raised by Montserrado County District#6 lawmaker Snowe against Speaker Tyler’s decision to maintain a quorum of lawmakers present in session on June 2, 2016 to July 2, 2016.
The high court Justice after listening to the petition took the decision on Monday when the Montserrado County lawmaker made formal to the court his request for a Writ of Prohibition through his legal counsels Cllrs. Arthur Johnson and Swahilo Sesay.
Representative Snowe lawyers indicated in the petition that on June 2, 2016 and or Tuesday’s regular session, a motion was made to the effect that the number and the members present at that sitting would constitute a quorum for one month that is from June 2, 2016 to July 2, 2016.
Citing Article 33 of the Constitution the lawyers also indicated that a simple majority of each House shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business but a lower number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members, whenever the House of Representatives and the Senate shall meet in joint session, the presiding officer of the House of Representatives shall preside.
The petitioner also indicated that accordingly no roll call would be in effect from June 2, 2016 to July 2, 2016 therefore making the presence or absence of a member of the House of Representatives meaningless.
“Your honor there are 73 lawmakers currently in the House of Representatives and less than 37 were in session therefore if this decision for roll call remains in force that means that the constituencies of the affected lawmakers voices will not be heard” said Cllr. Arthur Johnson who prayed the Associate Justice to issue a writ of prohibition against the respondent and restrain him from pursuing any action to the decision.
The lawmaker who raised the contentious motion for the June 2 quorum to be considered for a period of one month told FPA in an interview that his intent is to help accelerate the debate on the draft 2016/2017 National Budget.
Lawmaker George Mulbah (Bong Couny, NPP) told FrontPageAfrica Wednesday that as the essential draft 2016/2017 is currently before the National Legislature for discussion and passage into law, more than 23 lawmakers will be out of plenary deliberations attending to pressing legislative functions and as such getting quorum to deliberate on the budget will be impossible which prompted him to file the motion to enable the lawmakers present during the June 2 plenary discussions to continue to meet the requirement of quorum to discuss the national budget.
“I want the budget debate to be accelerated. Twenty-three members of the body will not be available for plenary discussion from now until July.
The Ways, Means and Finance committee has 15 members and Public Accounts Committee has 8 members.
These members will not be present as they will be busy in committees’ room working on the draft budget. Four lawmakers will also be attending the African, Asian pacific and European Parliament meeting whole another three will be bust at ECOWAS”, he explained.
According to the lawmaker with twenty-three members expected to be out and unspecified lawmakers might also be attending to other issues as it is usual occurrence, he fears that getting a quorum to discuss the budget will be very difficult which led him to raise the motion.
On Thursday June 16 the House of Representative sent to the Committee on Judiciary the Supreme Court’s mandate for review to be brought back in two weeks.
Speaker Tyler has survived at least two attempts to be removed by his colleagues. The Speaker has formed what is known as the Tyler bloc with these lawmakers very loyal to him.
Legislative observes believe that the ongoing confusion at the House of Representatives could have negative ramification for discussions on the 2016/2017 draft budget which could delay passage, resulting to economic consequences.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]