Capitol Hill, Monrovia – As the 54th Legislature is set to close its extraordinary sitting on Friday, October 4, it is doing everything possible to pass into law several instruments submitted to it by President George Weah.
Among them includes two mineral agreements between the government and Prosis Mining Liberia Limited in two targeted areas, the eastern and western parts of Liberia.
The bills were earlier passed in the Senate and forwarded to the House of Representatives on September 20, 2019.
A joint committee was then requested to review and consider due diligence to both agreements and report to the House within one week.
The committee, in its report, recommended plenary to pass the agreements without amendment, noting that both bills had gone through robust scrutiny.
Several lawmakers from both regions were seeing rallying their colleagues to vote in favor of a motion proffered by Rep. Clarence Massaquoi of Lofa County.
Speaking to reporters following the passage, Rep. Joseph Matthews (Gbarpolu Co. District #3), said the passage of the agreements will bring a ‘great’ relieve to the people of the county and the entire western region.
“We know that the government cannot do all. We must help the government to empower our people. Our people will benefit from education, health training among other things,” he said.
The investment, according to him, is worth over US$100 million and will last for 15 to 20 years, depending on the company’s gold and diamond mining activities.
Meanwhile, the House also ratified the ‘Additional Financing Agreement’ between Liberia and the International Development Association (IDA) to increase access to piped water supply services in Monrovia and improve the operations of Liberia Water & Sewage Corporation (LWSC).
The decision was reached following a recommendation from the House’s Committee on Public Utility.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Albert Hills of District #1, Bong County said the agreement when ratified, will generate a total income of US$24,740,000 as credit with an interest rate of less than two percent.
He said the money will be paid in the period of 32 years beginning April 15, 2025 and April 15, 2057.
In addition, Rep. Hills noted that Liberia stands to benefit from US$3.8 million as grant for also improving the “struggling water sectors.”
President Weah last month submitted over 30 instruments including bills and concession agreements to the Legislature for passage.
Although the extra session has been dominated by the 2019/2020 Draft National Budget and the ratification of a resolution over the establishment of a war and economic crime court in Liberia, there is intense negotiation going on behind the scene for the passage of the President’s instruments.
The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill and Finance Minister Samuel Tweah are frequently seen on Capitol Hill holding meetings with lawmakers including Speaker Bhofal Chambers and President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie.