MONROVIA – Montserrado County Senator Abraham Dillon says he supports comments made by Ambassador Michel McCarthy on the governance process of Liberia, which includes the three branches of government, especially the legislature that has the appropriation powers.
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
The Montserrado County Senator said nearly everything highlighted by the US ambassador has been his call, his advocacy, his fight, and his desire for change at the Senate in particular and at the Legislature in general. In a statement, he said: “I can understand and do appreciate the general aspersions cast on the entire Legislature in your statement over the poor governance in our country. Your very blunt statement issued today could not have come at a better time, and I stand with you.”
He said he and a few others have pushed and consistently called for reduced salaries of lawmakers and other high-ranking public officials to reallocate said funding that would address other priority needs of the people.
“We have even proffered a Bill at the Senate in said direction, setting the monthly salary package of lawmakers and other high-ranking public officials at $5000USD or below. My Bill remains in ‘Committee Room’ untouched because majority lawmakers see and treat it otherwise, sadly.”
Speaking further, Senator Dillon said, notwithstanding all the frustration, resistance, and challenges he and few other lawmakers continue to confront, he embraces the Ambassador’s ‘realistic critique’ in good strides. Senator Dillon believes the statement should encourage officials and assure himself and a very slim minority of his colleagues in the Senate that have been courageously ‘standing up for real, systemic change’ shall not relent.
“We shall remain resilient in our fight and desire to seek the real change for the common good of our country and people. We have consistently demanded Budget Performance Report in the spirit of transparency and accountability. We have demanded accountability over payments of Domestic Debts. The majority has refused to act! We have demanded and insisted on Program-based Budgeting, proper scrutiny of Draft Budgets for appropriate allocations, and easy tracking of public funds. The majority cares less!”
“We have urged the need for a robust Senate/Legislature in performing proper OVERSIGHT to ensure check and balance. The majority does not seem to care! We have openly VOTED (on the Record) AGAINST the last two National Budgets, VOTED AGAINST the unauthorized use of Road Fund revenue, VOTED AGAINST the unreasonable Retirement Law, etc. We also refused and did not sign the Joint Resolution on Printing New Banknotes, refused and did not sign the Joint Resolution on the failed ‘$25M USD Stimulus Package’, rejected and did not sign the Senate Anti-War Crimes Court Resolution, etc.”