Capitol Hill, Monrovia – House Speaker Bhofal Chambers and Deputy Speaker Prince Moye’s attempts to debunk claims made by their colleagues that they are not in support of the Government’s harmonization program have given room for more questions.
On Wednesday, October 9, a group of angry lawmakers headed by Rep. Hanson Kiazolu (Montserrado County District #17) alleged that while they have agreed to cut their salaries in line with the government’s salary harmonization program, their leaders, Speaker Chambers and Deputy Speaker Moyes have deliberately refused to cut theirs.
Rep. Kiazolu, who also chairs the opposition Unity Party’s lawmakers noted that it was unfortunate for the civil servants and the Judiciary to allow cut in their salaries, yet the Speaker, who earns a combined total of US$40,000 as allowance (US$29,000) and gasoline (US$15,000) monthly would refuse to allow cut.
They threatened to lead a campaign that will remove Speaker Chambers and Deputy Speaker Moye if it is established that they refused to cut their salaries and allowances as they (lawmakers) did to theirs.
However, Speaker Chambers and Deputy Speaker Moye, debunking their colleagues’ claims, issued a joint statement the next day, Thursday, October 10 and revealed that they have already made individual cuts as of the passage of the 2019/2020 fiscal budget by 31.9 percent and 35.6 percent respectively.
Excerpt of the statement: “As regards concerns raised by few members of the House of Representatives on the issues of remuneration at the Capitol Building, following the passage of the 2019/2020 Fiscal Budget, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, wishes to clarify that it remains committed to earlier agreement with the Executive Branch on salary harmonization across Government.”
“The Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Prince Moye hereby make it unequivocally clear that they have already as of the passage of the budget, made individual cuts in their respective compensation lines by 31.9% and 35.6%.”
In the statement, they revealed that the Office of the Speaker received an annual amount of US$1,221, 123 during Fiscal Year 2018/2019; and has been reduced to US$1,043, 265 for this current budget period.
The Office of Deputy Speaker Moye, according to the release received US$766,381 during the last fiscal year, but has been cut to US$722,942 for FY2019/2020.
“Speaker Chambers’ Office did receive US$1,221,123 in the last Fiscal Year 2018/2019 and was reduced to US$1,043,265 for this current budget period, whilst Deputy Speaker received US$766,381 last Fiscal Year 2018/2019 and was reduced to US$722,942 for the current budget period.”
Wrong Mathematics or Speaker & Deputy’s Hands Cut in the Cookies’ Jar?
Following the statement, FrontPageAfrica has noticed that the figures did not correspond with the respective 31.9 percent and 35. 6 percent cuts in the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s compensation lines.
If Speaker Chambers’ office received US$1,221,123 in FY2018/2019, a 31.9 percent reduction would have amounted to US$831,584.763; while a 35.6 percent cut in the Deputy Speaker’s budget of US$766,381 for FY2018/2019 who have totaled US$493,549.364
If it had also happened the other way around where the budget of the Speaker for FY2018/2029 had experienced the 35.6 percent cut, then it would have amounted to US$786,403.212.
A cut of 31.9 from the Deputy Speaker’s FY2018/2019 budget of US$766,381 would have reduced to US$521,905.461.
Lawmakers Reject Speaker, Deputy Speaker Salary Cut Clarification
Meanwhile, a group of lawmakers has rejected the Speaker and his Deputy’s clarification.
Speaking immediately after the two top officials’ joint statement, Rep. Francis Dopoh of River Gee County District #3 contended the figure affected is the individual’s income, and not office budget.
Rep. Dopoh, who is a member of the Independent Legislative Caucus (ILC) stated that Speaker Chambers and Deputy Speaker Moye should clearly state how much was cut from their respective monthly net incomes of US$40,000 and US$29,000.
Another member of the ILC, Rep. Ivar K. Jones of the Margibi County District #2 also disagreed with their leadership’s rebuttal and called on them to abide by the Harmonization policy.
Said Rep. Jones: “For the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to still maintain the same salaries and argued that their budget has been cut, I challenge it and want to state emphatically that they did not reduce their salaries as recommended by IMF.”
“In this vein, I’m calling on the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to endure the salary harmonization, because the wave of change has just begun. Like the quote goes, “one who preaches equity must come with clean hands”, so is the 54 Legislature and having its leadership acting otherwise is a complete contradiction.”
More Condemnation, Removal Threats
The lawmakers continue to express their disenchantments over the “unjust” behavior of the Speaker and his Deputy and have threatened remove them upon their return from the current constituency break.
Leading the charge in condemning the Speaker and his Deputy said: “This is unfortunate for the Liberian people, and being the head of the Unity Party Legislative Caucus, which is the biggest opposition political party blog in the Legislature, I want to inform the Liberian people that if Speaker Bhofal Chambers maintains his salary at US$40,000 per month, that is US$29,000 by allowance and US$15,000 gasoline allowance, we will resist it upon our return. There will be a revolution here.”
Rep. Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis od Montserrado County District #4, in a in a US President Donald Trump-styled comments, asserted that the Legislature will be a ‘shithole’ assembly if it is established that Speaker Chambers and Deputy Speaker Moye refused to cut their pays and nothing is done.
“It shocked me to know that our Speaker and Deputy Speaker will have a gasoline of US$15,000 and say no, they don’t want to reduce it. You have a salary of US$29,000 and don’t want to reduce to US$19,000. For me in a clear sense, I will say it will be a shithole assembly if the House will sit there and allow the Speaker and Deputy Speaker not to adjust and we adjusted.”
Supporting her colleagues, Rep. Ellen Attoh Wreh of Margibi County District #3 noted that the decision for salary cut was a national responsibility and as such, all officials should abide by it.
“We are people of integrity and our word should be our bond. The fact that we all agreed on it holistically, I think we should live by it. I will add my voice to the many voices to say there will be serious actions taken. We are not going to take it lightly,” she vowed.