Monrovia – Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence(Liberty Party, Grand Bassa County) has admitted that both the Liberian Senate, and the Executive Branch of government erred and could have done better to avoid what she describes as a regretful situation relating to the US$6,500 paid to each member of the upper house of the national legislature.
Each member of the Senate recently received US$6,500 in Central Bank checks approved in the National Budget to be used for the operations of Senate offices including the furnishing and supply of stationeries, computers and other needed logistics. It is the second installment payment of a USD13,000 budgetary appropriation intended to also support the relocation of senators into the new office spaces assigned and only partially furnished.
Critical Senators in the line of Fire
The controversy has been a thorn in the side of both Senator Lawrence and Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon, two of the most vocal critics of the George Weah-led government on the Senate floor.
Last week Senator Dillon acknowledged the concerns of some of his supporters who questioned the timing of the money released to Senators. “Whether from supporters, opponents or independents, we have heard, and we are listening to all the views and expressions. Some about “legality”, some about “expediency”, some “moral”; and some about “timeliness”, some even more political than facts, etc. We take note! Whether these concerns, views and expressions are right or wrong, fair or not, informed or not, sentimental or not, purely political or not; we appreciate and embrace all such views and expressions in good strides. We set the bar and standards for holding public office; we must embrace, accept and endure the scrutiny that comes along. We take note of the reality that, “an agent of change must always expect to be fought by those that do not desire change.” We shall stay the course, take corrective measures where necessary and continue to strive to do better for the common good.”
Senate Can Do Better
In a statement Monday, the Grand Bassa County lawmaker said the Senate could do better to act in ways that inspire public confidence rather than erode it by shrouding itself in unnecessary secrecy and suspicions. “Rather than seeming to prioritize ourselves, we must be looking to assist those who are sacrificing more to help us,” Senator Lawrence averred.
Additionally, she said, financial transactions of the Senate could be done more transparently and accountably or the body risks being publicly misunderstood and suspected.
Said Senator Karnga-Lawrence: “It is overdue that the entire Legislative Branch brings itself within the orbit of financial probity, audit and public accountability, especially if we deserve to be taken more seriously in our legislative duty of oversight. It is deeply troubling that we who have a duty on the public’s behalf, to oversee the affairs of the government, are so publicly burdened by our own iniquities and inequities. Consequently, what we continue to breed is growing public distrust in the performance of our responsibilities. We cannot continue this way.”
‘I Get it’: Health Workers Plight
According to Senator Lawrence, the budgetary appropriation was made against the backdrop that only three offices – the Offices of Speaker, Pro Temp and Deputy speaker have budgetary appropriations to support the running costs of their offices.
She explained that salaries and benefits which are often converted to the cost of running lawmakers’ offices were adjusted downward in the 2019-2020 budget to include cuts of USD2,500 against monthly salaries, USD1000 against monthly gasoline and fuel, as well as the elimination of all other benefits consistent with the budget harmonization plan.
The Senator says she understands why the transaction is raising eyebrows. “Firstly, it occurred around the time of the consideration and passage by the Legislature of the Declaration of a State of Emergency by the President. As such, amidst the pervasiveness of corruption in the country, the payment impressed that senators were being bribed to offer their constitutional consent to the Executive.”
Even more regrettably, the Senator said, the disbursements occurred at a time of a compelling need to prioritize support for public health sector. “Our healthcare workers are battling on our behalf at the dangerous frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 without PPEs, gloves, masks, and basic hazard benefits, and our hospitals are without ventilators and basic supplies to care for and treat the sick and infected. Yes, I get it!”
The Senator said it is long overdue for the entire Legislative Branch to bring itself within the orbit of financial probity, audit and public accountability, if it wants to be taken seriously in its legislative duty of oversight. “It is deeply troubling that we who have a duty on the public’s behalf, to oversee the affairs of the government, are so publicly burdened by our own iniquities and inequities. Consequently, what we continue to breed is growing public distrust in the performance of our responsibilities. We cannot continue this way.”
She said the legislature needs to show more prudence and commonsense in the way it prioritizes allotment of meager resources. “It seems unconscionable that payments to run our offices, however legitimate, will be done over the concerns of the unavailability of PPEs to hospitals and healthcare workers. This is really sad and deeply regretted.”
While stating that she cannot take personal responsibility for the prioritization process of the government, the Grand Bassa County Senator said she feels compelled to apologize to the nation for this. “It was and is wrong. It is unjustifiable. Hopefully, it is a lesson we will all not soon forget.”
How the money was used
Explaining how she utilized the money, Senator Karnga-Lawrence said two years ago, her office was moved into a new building with no budget for furnishing. “I had to furnish two offices for my Senior Staff, one conference room, and get additional furniture for my office as it was only partially furnished. All of these were done out of pocket, for which I am still indebted to vendors. Of course, there is the recurrent costs of maintaining and running the offices.”
Accordingly, she explained, she instructed the US$6,500 check for her office to be made out into the name of one of the Legislative Procurement Agents to settle some of the arrears, purchase needed supplies and report the receipts to the office for proper accounting purposes. “In my mind, and as budgetarily provided for, this was an allocation for the smooth operations of the offices and should have been treated as such and not given to individual senators to use as we saw fit.”
“The truth also is that I did not advocate for this budgetary payment at this time, nor was it a requirement and precondition for my work and constitutional consent. In fact, during the Senate’s consideration of the SOE, working with others, I presented the Senate a written counter resolution for its consideration. Of course, I lost on many of the fine points.”
Senator Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence(Liberty Party, Grand Bassa)
The Senator dismissed suggestions that the money was in any way a bribe to influence her decisions and actions in the Senate, particularly regarding the recent passage of the President’s State of Emergency Stimulus Package. “Across the bailiwick of the Liberian Senate, and the country, it is by now common knowledge that I am a known and open critic of the administration. It is unthinkable that I can and will be bribed by the same administration I am unafraid to publicly criticize.
The administration knows this and is even more aware that were they to consider “bribing” senators for whatever reason, I would definitely not be on their list, nor will I accept to be a part of such designs and schemes.”
The Senator said as the only female in the Senate, with added public duties and responsibilities, she simply has too much to protect and defend, and too much to stand for and represent, to lower herself into bribery. “The truth also is that I did not advocate for this budgetary payment at this time, nor was it a requirement and precondition for my work and constitutional consent. In fact, during the Senate’s consideration of the SOE, working with others, I presented the Senate a written counter resolution for its consideration. Of course, I lost on many of the fine points.”
As a member of a small minority, Senator Lawrence said she is aware that she will not win every fight on the floor. However, she added: “My duty is to try to seek out strategic and tactical advantages whenever I can, even in defeat. I believe we achieved this in exchange for our consent to the declaration of the President.”
Not Lowering Standards
During the course of her work in the Senate, she said she has managed to get a commitment for serious legislative oversight, and for a budget recast process. “I felt convinced that we will hold the Executive accountable for all the powers and terms and conditions of the SOE as was agreed upon. In my time at the Senate, I have learned that I will not win all I advocate for, however reasonable I believe my position to be. Such is the nature of Legislative politics. Where it is possible to find small victories, I try to get it and build stronger collegial relationships and influence for the body’s next consideration of another important question.”
The Senator conceded that the challenge is to now seize upon the strategic advantages created in the oversight and recast in order to achieve the important ends of transparency and accountability that are necessary and in the best interests of the nation. “I can only hope that we do so, and pledge to do my best in these regards. I understand that with the pervasiveness of corruption in our country, it is easy to imagine the possibility of bribery especially as the disbursements occurred at the time of the consideration of the State of Emergency. But this administration knows that I am not a senator it will believe and consider for bribery!”
The Senator added: “I assure all that I do not intend to lower those standards, let anyone down, and even more importantly, let myself down. I recognize that my standard is bigger and higher, as it should be, and thereby, many women and girls may dream for bigger possibilities in Liberian politics.”