MONROVIA – Even before the National Elections Commission (NEC) could announce its first preliminary results from the by-elections in Montserrado County, Mr. Abraham Darius Dillon, the man poised to be named junior Senator of Montserrado County says his days in the Senate may be numbered as he would not relent to bring to the public everything discussed in secret sessions.
“I might not be at the Senate for very long because I will be your eye in the dark; I will tell you everything discussed in the secret once it has no security implication. They say they have rules that when things are discussed in secrete session it shouldn’t be discussed outside, but I will be your witness,” he said.
Speaking at the Liberty party headquarters when partisans and supporters gathered to celebrate victory of their candidates, he promised that his first salary and benefits received as senator would be announced to the public and if it is above US$10,000 he would request that it is sent to the Central Bank and begin to advocate with his colleagues to reduce it to a minimum of US$5,000.
Senate rule on secret session
Rule 9 Section 1of the Senate standing rules state that: On a motion made and seconded to close the doors of the Senate for the purpose of discussing any business which may, in the opinion of the Senate, require secrecy, the Presiding Officer shall direct the hall to be cleared, and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain closed to all persons except the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant-at-Arms who shall be sworn to secrecy. During the discussion of such motion, the doors shall remain closed.
Session 2 of the same rule states that any Senator or Officer of the Senate who shall disclose the secret of confidential business or proceedings of the Senate shall be liable; if a Senator, he/she shall be censured by the Body; and if an Officer, he/she shall be disciplined and punished in accordance with the administrative procedures.
Dillon told an array of supporters that he would be the light in the Legislature that would bring some brightness in the lives of the ordinary people.
He promised to disclosed his assets and liabilities on the day of induction in accordance with law for the sake of accountability and transparency.