MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dee Maxwell Kemayah, has mandated all Honorary Consuls representing the post-conflict nation abroad to with immediate effect cease from all functions and operations.
By Obediah Johnson, obediah.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
The government’s action stemmed from the launch of a revised regulation for its Honorary Consuls at a brief ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia on Monday, February 13.
Honorary Consuls serving in Italy, Israel, Argentina, Greece and two states in the United States, including Minnesota and Atlanta are exempted from the cease functions order from the government. They were given a three-month grace period by the government due to ongoing maritime and other operations they are presently engaged in.
Speaking during the launch of the new regulations, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Cllr. Deweh Gray disclosed that the initiative was in fulfillment of the reform agenda of the current administration at the ministry.
According to her, the new regulations were reviewed from the 2012 regulations for Honorary Consuls that went through many months of scrutiny from home and the embassies of the Liberian government abroad.
She disclosed that the new regulations provide additional clarity and also prescribe compliance systems to enable the country to benefit from the services of individuals who applied for the positions.
Minister Gray disclosed that the new regulations allow for a more stringent application and vetting procedures.
“It will track individuals who are serving Liberia, evaluate their performance through periodic reports to the ministry as well as match their words with actions and allows for reactivation and strengthening of the Standing Committee to vet applications and bringing on board other actors relevant to the approval process.”
She noted that the new regulations will also enable the government to collect revenue from Honorary Consulates that provide consular services in jurisdiction where Liberia may not have an active representation.
She pointed out that for several years Honorary Consul providing consular services for Liberia were not remitting to the government what was due.
“There was difficulty in tracking some of their activities. Some Honorary Consuls were using the opportunity to collect revenue to pay themselves, staff, and rent for premises.”
Minister Gray maintained that the new regulations will set timelines for reporting as well as penalties for non-compliance with reporting requirements.
She said it will also allow for the creation of an “up-to-date data base and directory of Honorary Consuls.”
She added that the document will ensure that the country benefits from the services of successful applicants in line with the government’s development agenda as well as providing tenures for Honorary Consuls, especially the number of times an applicant can be allowed to renew their status as Honorary Consuls.
For his part, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dee-Maxwell Kemayah disclosed that the issuance of the new regulations is in furtherance of the ongoing uncompromised reform for the worth of taxpayers’ monies and the benefit of Liberia and its citizens.
He disclosed that a committee to revise the 2012 regulations was appointed to bring some values to the consulate services being rendered by Honorary Consuls representing Liberia.
The committee was headed by Deputy Minister Gray.
“When we took over, we embarked on this process which is not an easy journey. Change is not usually welcoming. It is very costly. The new to revise the Honorary Consul regulations were necessary because we were not getting the values that we should have.”
He said following the completion of the document, copies were sent to various foreign embassies in Monrovia for feedback in keeping with the participatory decision-making principle of his administration.
Not knowing Honorary Consuls
Minister Kemayah pointed out that since he became head of the ministry a little over two years ago, it has been very challenging to “even know the number of Honorary Consuls that we have.”
“The country needs every cent of revenue which belongs not to any individual, but to the government and people of Liberia and to be used for the good of the public. We as public servants need to continue to work for the good of the public and that good can only come through the services that we rendered. There are some honorary Consuls who were even engaged in collecting consular service fees but were not remitting to the government of Liberia when we need every penny so that the government uses the people money towards developing the people’s country which is the Republic of Liberia.”
He said no Honorary Consul is clothed with the authority to collect and use monies collected on behalf of Liberia.
He maintained that monies collected for consular services must be remitted to the Consolidated Account of the Liberian government, in keeping with the Public Financial Management (PFM) law of Liberia.
Transferring positions
According to Minister Kemayah, some of these Honorary Consuls were also engaged into the transfer of their positions to their children or other relatives unknown to the government.
“Under no circumstance is the post of Honorary Consul transferable.”
He stressed that as a result of this, the current management team at the ministry will ensure that every cent collected by Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls abroad are reported and remitted into government’s coffers and timely reporting will not be compromised.
He said the new regulations takes into consideration the general provisions of the appointment, functions and termination of honorary Consuls of Liberia.
Minister Kemayah noted that the document also points to the establishment of Consular Offices to be headed by Honorary Consuls.
He disclosed that under the new regulations, the candidature and qualification for the post of Honorary Consul of Liberia and application procedures will be subjected to stringent vetting procedures and the conduct of the standing committees.
He stated that there are about 13 committees of Honorary Consul that will oversee the activities of the Honorary Consul from the application process beyond the appointment.
Minister Kemayah averred that reports from the Honorary Consuls to the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be turned over to the various standing committees.
He named Deputy Minister Deweh Gray as Chair of the vetting committee, while Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Administration Thelma Duncan Sawyer and Adonnies Greaves will serve as Co-Chair and Secretary General respectively.
He said in the interest of transparency and accountability, each department at the ministry will form part of the committee, while his office will be represented by the President of the Workers Union (even though the new regulations call on the Minister to appoint staff from the ministry).
He pointed out that the committee will vet all those re-applying to serve as Honorary Consuls of Liberia and recommendations will be made to the President to commission after a thorough vetting process.
“We are terminating the transitioning clause for those who are out there. We will have a very good process for the Honorary Consuls in the field. For the Standing Committees, we have the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Legal Affairs, Administration, International Cooperation and Economic Integration, two members of the Policy Advisory Council of the Ministry considering gender who shall serve on the committee. The regional bureau will also serve on the committee.”
He indicated that as part of the new requirements, a person can either apply or be recommended by a Liberian to serve as Honorary Consul.
Minister Kemayah said such applicant as part of his/her application process would prepare an annual engagement plan and have it submitted in the application.
He emphasized that back ground checks will be done by the National Security Agency (NSA) and other competent security agencies before the name of an applicant is submitted for commissioning by the Minister of Foreign Affairs by directive of the President.
He noted that Honorary Consuls failing to report within a specific timeframe will bear the consequences, including the revocation of their commission.
Minister Kemayah indicated that all Honorary Consuls will serve tenure of two years, subject to renewal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the submission of reapplication, comprehensive report for the period served and a revision done by the Standing Committee of the Honorary Consul that will make recommendation to the Minister for approval.
He added that no Honorary Consul will serve for more than six terms or 12 years.
When rejected by the Liberian government or receiving state, Minister Kemayah noted that no one who applied for the post would make claims for all activities undertaking during the processing of his/her application.
Minister Kemayah pointed out that the functions of Honorary Consuls shall be governed by the revised regulations, the laws of Liberia, and international treaties signed by Liberia, including the Vietnam Convention of Consulate Relations.
He indicated that obtaining an Honorary Consul title is no longer a requirement for obtaining a Liberian Diplomatic Passport.
He said only the President or Minister of Foreign Affairs can deem it necessary to issue a Diplomatic Passport to Honorary Consuls.
Minister Kemayah disclosed that no Honorary Consul will be given commission from revenue generated for the Liberian government.
He said this is in keeping with best international practice.
“This is in line with the reform. It’s not going to be a popular decision, but we have to do that in the best interest of the Republic of Liberia and its citizens. As we launch this new revised regulation today, every Honorary Consul around the world will cease to function. We have informed our different embassies and foreign missions about this to inform whoever they know that are carrying this title (Honorary Consul) that as of this launching, they are no longer Honorary Consuls. If they have interest, they can reapply.
“We are giving exception to four honorary Consuls on the request of the Liberia Maritime Authority to avoid disrupting their functions which have implication on revenue generation. We will give three months transition period to our Honorary Consuls in Italy, Greece, Argentina and Israel. We will make sure that those four names will be passed from maritime to us so that we can send their communications.
In Minnesota we are working to ensure the opening of our passport application center and we want to turn it into a Consular Service and Atlanta also. We are giving them a timeframe of three months also. ”
Meanwhile, Minister Kemayah has assured of his administration’s unbending quest to generate more revenue for the Liberian government.
“Honorary Consuls will report every penny to the Government of Liberia Consolidated Account.”
Minister Kemayah used the occasion to commend the Chief Architect of Liberia’s foreign policy, President George Weah, for approving the new regulations.
He, however, expressed the hope that the new regulations will yield the necessary imperative dividends for Liberians.