Liberia: Independent Legislative Caucus Condemns Speaker Chambers ‘Divisive’ Comments

Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Members of the Independent Legislative Caucus (ILC) have staunchly condemned House Speaker Bhofal Chambers’ comments referring to them as ‘regalia wearing lawmakers.’

Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]

The group, headed by Rep Larry Younquoi (Nimba, Dist. #8) comprises of several lawmakers including Reps. Yekeh Kolubah (Montserrado, District #10), Thomas A. Goshua II (Grand Bassa, Dist. #5) and Cllr. Beyan D. Howard (Lofa Dist. #5).

Other ILC members include Reps. Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis (Montserrado, Dist. #4), Ivar K. Jones (Margibi, Dist. #2), Francis S. Dopoh (River Gee, Dist. #3), Vincent T. Willie, II (Grand Bassa, Dist. #4) and J. Nagbe Sloh (Sinoe, Dist. #2), among others.  

The ILC members in a release claimed that Speaker Chambers, on a trip to Nimba recently, branded them as ‘regalia wearing lawmakers’ who have lost focus of their legislative responsibilities and are bent on destabilizing the first branch of government.

They said the Speaker further accused them of bringing the House to public ridicule and called on their respective constituents to recall them because they are doomed to fail since as Speaker, he will not recognize them as their embodiment make-up is unconstitutional.

Although the Speaker has denied ever making such comments, the ILC members noted that the statement emanating “from the head of the first branch of government is not only laughable but speaks to his limitations of the legislative norms.”

They vowed that ‘no amount of scare tactics, press conferences or with-holding communications from appearing on the legislative floor for debate will quiet the voices of the people;’ adding: “The masses know their leaders, and when their leaders call, they rally to support their leaders.”

The ILC members argued that they are not compelled to have a spelled-out constitutional backing or recognition from anybody to legitimize their operations as they are independent and free to make “rightful decisions in the best interest of their people and not to be partakers of the so say one, so say all bandwagon as the 54^th Legislature are being characterized.”

According to them, Speaker Cambers was in error to question the constitutionality of their group as there are several caucuses including the Women Legislative Caucus, South-Eastern Legislative Caucus, CDC Legislative Caucus, Maryland Legislative Caucus and the Qatar Legislative Caucus of which the speaker is a member and these blogs do not operate on the basis of constitutional backing.

They further argued that outside of Liberia, specifically in the United States’ Congress, there exists congressional Progressive Caucus, Medicare for All Caucus, New Democrat Coalition, Blue Dog Coalition, Blue Collar Caucus, and Congressional Black Caucus, among others.

On Speaker Chambers’ alleged call on ILC members’ constituents to recall them because they have lost focus, the ILC members noted that it is the Speaker and his Majority Blog members’ that have lost focus because of their ‘continuous silence over the unfair treatment of Rep. Yekeh Kolubah by the Police for the same act (ordering the beating of fellow citizens) allegedly committed by Rep. Acarous Gray who there said has been left alone to fly in and out of Liberia without any form of harassment or intimidation. 

The group re-emphasized that it is governed by the rules adopted by the 54^th House of Representatives and formed to uphold and protect the sanity and sanctity of the Liberian Legislature; not fight anybody or any branch of government as is being insinuated by ‘misguided’ individuals.

“Whenever good things are done in the interest of the Liberian masses, we will appreciate and applaud, but know that when ugly, shameful, demeaning and evil acts are done against the Liberian people’s interest, in like manner, we will condemn and speak against them without fear, favor nor intimidation,” the group warned.

It called for the Legislature to focus on the more pressing issue affecting the current, with specific reference to the continuous decline of the economy from 4.7 percent to 0.4 percent, according to the IMF latest report on Liberia, and “our diminishing authority of oversight for which the Liberian people are bashing us daily for being a major contributor to our failing economy.”  

Meanwhile, the ILC said it supports the call of the Unity Party Legislative Caucus against any form of salary cuts of civil servants.

The group indicated that the decision undermines Pillar one of the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) which talks about power to the people.

“We see such act as diminishing the purchasing power of citizens (while prices remain astronomically high) and could reduce revenue generation drastically due to perceived decline in the collection of personal income tax,” it maintains.