MONROVIA – Senator Darius Dillon (CPP-Montserrado County) has submitted a bill that seeks to amend several portions of the National Code of Conduct, especially relating to the use of government properties for political activities.
In his bill, Senator Dillon laid emphasis on Part 5, Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 of the Code of Conduct.
Part 5 Section V. of the Code of Conduct on Political Participation prohibits all officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia from using Government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities. In his proposed amendment, Sen. Dillon wants the law to be applied both during and after work hours.
Senator Dillon is also recommending that officials of the executive wanting to contest elected office to resign at least one month to the day he/she applies to the Elections Commission, expressing his or her interest to contest for an elective public office.
The current law mandates officials of the executive to resign two years to an election year. In his opinion, officials of the executive should be given dispensation in the exercise of their political rights, especially during electoral processes.
In 5.3 of the Code of Conduct, Senator Dillon is recommending that it is unlawful, and would be a violation of the right of any person for any public official to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or to attempt to intimidate, threaten or coerce such person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such person to vote or not to vote as he may choose, or of causing such person (s) to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for any elected public.
Section 5.3 as it is; states that, It is unlawful for any public official to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or to attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other persons to vote or not to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other persons to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for any elected public office.
Senator Dillon is also recommending that 5.9 be amended that, any Public official, after due process, who is found guilty of violating any provision of this section shall be immediately removed from the position or office held by him/her; shall be denied the right to contest for any elective public office in the election at hand; and where the violation established has a criminal nature, said official or employee shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Republic shall make no payment to said individual under any pretext whatsoever as compensation for time served; neither shall said individual be entitled to any benefit in the name of retirement.
The law as it is currently states in Section 5.9 that any public official, after due process, who is found guilty of violating any provision of this section shall be immediately removed from the position or office held by him/her, and thereafter no part of the funds appropriated by any law for such position or office shall be used to pay compensation to such person.