Monrovia – The leadership squabble at the House of Representatives took a dramatic trend Tuesday when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recognized the leadership of deputy Speaker Hans Barchue by writing him an official communication explaining ongoing delays in discussing the national budget and other major instruments.
President Sirleaf’s resubmitted letter also appeared at the Capitol on the same day when the Supreme Court of Liberia Justice-In-Chambers, Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokollie declined to issue a Writ of Prohibition prayed for by Speaker Alex Tyler against the majority bloc presided over by Deputy Speaker Barchue as both situations dealt the pro-Tyler bloc a huge blow in the long running conflict.
After losing major grounds in the fight from the two major events, Thursday saw what many who visited the Legislature described as a weakened pro-Tyler bloc as the bloc failed to hold regular session like it has been done in the last few weeks in the Chambers of the House of Representatives.
At the other end, the anti-Tyler bloc conducted normal legislative session in the Joint Chambers of the National Legislature with the some legislative staffers including the communications Director and Sergeant-At-Arms all showing up at the anti-Tyler bloc for the first time.
With journalists and other observers watching proceedings, the anti-Tyler bloc roll call showed a total of 37 lawmakers with two said to have requested an excuse for their absence taking the number of lawmakers in the Joint Chambers to 39.
Number claims still linger
Before the end of normal working day, the usual debates surround activities during the course of the day at the National Legislature came to fore once again with lawmakers from both pro and anti-Tyler blocs claiming that they have the simple majority to conduct normal legislative business.
Representative Larry Younquoi, Nimba County called on a local radio program claiming that the pro-Tyler bloc had 37 lawmakers present.
“We had simple majority today, 37 lawmakers and we had session”, the lawmaker said.
When quizzed where was the session held when the regular Chamber where they normally meet was empty the entire day Thursday, Representative Younquoi said the pro-Tyler lawmakers conducted normal legislative discussions in the conference room attached to the office of Speaker Tyler.
Four other lawmakers from the anti-Tyler bloc or ‘majority bloc’ also called on the talk show and frowned on their colleague for what they termed misleading the Liberian public.
“It is unfortunate that Honorable Younquoi will continue to mislead the public. We are 73 lawmakers, visibly we had 37 lawmakers today that everybody including the journalists saw us having session, so why will Honorable Younquoi be lying to the public that they too had 37”, Representative Munah P. Youngblood said.
Another lawmaker Acarous Gray also expressed dissatisfaction over the utterances by his colleague Younquoi saying such misinformation is only intended to mislead many Liberians who do not go to the Capitol to see the lawmakers at work.
Both lawmakers George S. Mulbah (National Patriotic Party, Bong County) and Edwin Snowe of Montserrado also expressed concerns over the claims by lawmaker Younquoi that the pro-Tyler lawmakers were 37 in number Thursday.
Legislative extension
As the split deepens the both sides are believed to be taking separate decisions on the usual agriculture break of the lawmakers which normally starts at the end of August and last for a period of six months.
The leadership conflict has led to the lawmakers unable to discuss the draft national budget for 2016/2017 and also deliberate major bills currently before the body as the time for their agriculture break nears but lawmaker Snowe said the majority bloc has already signed a resolution extending their stay at the Capitol while on the other hand, the pro-Tyler bloc is said to have decided to take their agriculture break as scheduled.
“We will be remaining at work to do the Liberian people work, all the lawmakers that will not show up to work will not be paid”, Representative Snowe said.
As the debate continues over the leadership saga, legal issue continue to hang over the anti-Tyler group with arguments that the attempt to oust the Speaker is illegal and unconstitutional especially a provision that provides for the Speaker to be removed through a decision by 2/3 majority of members of the House of Representatives.
Even though the Supreme Court has declined to intervene in the matter but Speaker Tyler continues to argue that the process of asking him to recuse himself is illegal and he will fight to uphold the law in order to not set the wrong precedent.
The debacle will get intriguing over the last few days leading to the period for the normal agriculture break of the Legislators as Liberians will be watching to see whether the 39 anti-Tyler lawmakers will remain at the Capitol to continue to work while the remaining 33 or perhaps 34 take off for their agriculture break.
It will be the first time in the history of the country for a large number of lawmakers to take off for break while the remaining lawmakers continue normal legislative business.
President Sirleaf issues Proclamation
President Sirleaf who has already recognized the leadership of Deputy Speaker Barchue late Thursday issued a proclamation extending the session of the Legislature for a period of one month beginning September 1.
An Executive Mansion statement indicated “President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a proclamation extending 5th Session of the 53rd Legislature for a period of one month beginning September 1, thru September 30, 2016 to allow the Legislature the opportunity to discuss and act upon matters of national concern. The Fifth Regular Session of the 53rd Legislature of the Republic of Liberia adjourns on August 31 of each year”.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf took the action following the receipt of a Certificate of extension signed by 29 members of the House of Representatives and 18 members of the Liberian Seante. Eighteen (18) members of the House of Representatives and Eight (8) members of the House of Seante are constitutionally required to sign a Certificate for extending a Legislative Session.
Article 32 (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia provides that the President shall, on the President’s own initiative or upon receipt of a certificate signed by at least one-fourth of the total membership of each House of the Legislature, and by proclamation, extend a regular session of the Legislature beyond the date of adjournment or call a special or extraordinary session of that body to discuss or act upon matters of national emergency and concern.
Article 32 (b) of the Liberian Constitution further requires that when the extension or call is at the request of the Legislature, the proclamation shall be issued no later than forty-eight hours after receipt of the Certificate by the President.
In accordance with Article 32 (b) of the Liberian Constitution, a certificate signed by at least one-fourth of the total membership of each House was laid before the President on August 25, 2016 for the extension of the Fifth Regular Session of the 53rd Legislature for a period of one month, beginning September 1, thru September 30, 2016, to allow the Legislature the opportunity to discuss and act upon matters of national concern.
The next one week will prove crucial in the long running leadership debate especially when one group –the pro-Tyler hold onto their decision to take off for agriculture break while the others remain to work.
A decision by majority members of the Legislature is binding on the others and in the wake of the receipt of certificate signed by 29 members of the Legislature as indicated in President Sirleaf’s proclamation the pro-Tyler group wanting to go on break will be obliged to adhere to the extension but with confusion at play it might prove to be a very different scenario.