Monrovia – The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) has named Grand Gedeh County as the county that scored the highest point with an average attendance score of 89.2%, while Montserrado County ranked the least at 28.2% at the level of the Senate.
Report by Henry Karmo [email protected]
In the IREDD monitoring report for the period January to September 15, 2018, Rivercess County ranked second with an average attendance of 83.3% followed by Maryland County and Grand Kru County in third with an average of 82.1.
Others are River Gee, Lofa, Bomi, Sinoe, Margibi, Sinoe and Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Nimba counties.
Highlighting the highest and lowest performing counties in the Senate, Grand Gedeh County, which ranked highest scored with an “A” and a “B” grade.
For the least performing Montserrado County, Senator Geraldine Doe Sheriff, the lone Senator for much of the legislative sitting, scored an “F” which was largely due to her illness.
The IREDD monitoring report also shows that 15 bills were passed by the House of Representatives during the period under-review. Of that number, the Senate concurred with the House on 10 although the President vetoed one of the bills: ‘The Mineral Development Agreement between the Government of Liberia and the Hummingbird Resources-Liberia Inc.’
At the Senate, IREDD recorded 22 bills, 20 of those bills are pending concurrence at the House of Representatives. IREDD noted that two of the bills it has long advocated for — Local Government and Land Rights Act — which originated in the Senate were finally passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the President on September 19, 2018.
PARTICIPATION
In the House of Representatives, a total of 849 participation times were recorded over the period. Of those participation times, the opposition Unity Party (UP) performed highest with cumulative participation of 282 participation times followed by the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in second with 213 participation times. They are followed by the People’s Unification Party (PUP) with a total of 164 participation times.
Others are independents (86); LINU (20); ALP (16); MDR (16); MOVEE (14); LP (13); VCP (11); LTP (9); MPC (5) participation times, accordingly.
At the Senate, a total of 1146 participation times were clocked during the period. The UP attained 509 participation times while the Liberty Party came second with 125 participation times. The ruling CDC attained 103; the National Patriotic Party (102); NDC (100); IND (65); NUDP (40); ANC (33); APD (30); PUP (23); and MDR (16) participation times cumulatively.
“It is important to note that participation time as defined by IREDD does not measure the quality of the debate, just the number of times a representative spoke on the floor of plenary.”
ATTENDANCE
IREDD’s record of attendance encapsulates averages of whether a lawmaker was recorded “present, absent, distant, excused, or sick” during the plenary period.
House of Representatives
According to IREDD report, a total amount of 3,568 present times were recorded by IREDD for the period. The ruling CDC topped with 898 present times followed by the UP with 835 present times. Others recorded were IND (535); PUP (206); LP (152); ALP (131); MDR (76); LINU (53); LTP (52); VCP (47); MOVEE (45); MPC (39) present times cumulatively.
Total “absences” for the period were 838. Of this figure, CDC lawmakers toped the absent times with 219 times cumulatively. The UP absences amounted to 144 times; the PUP (199); Independents (160); LP (53); ALP (22); MPC (13); MOVEE (10); VCP (5); LINU (3); and the LTP (2) absence times cumulatively.
For the category of “distant” which accounts for lawmaker’s not in session or attending plenary but is out on official duty either abroad or in his or her district, the total recorded figure is 272 “distant times.”
“The “excuse” category which denotes absences based on letter written by a lawmaker seeking excuse from plenary for other reasons were 30. In the “sick” category which is official excuse due to illness, the total “sick” times recorded was 28. Of this number, Representative Munah Pelham Youngblood of the CDC accounted of 26.”
IREDD observed that on average, for every three times a representative attended session, he or she was away from session one time.
“Comparing the attendance record of the representatives of three parties, the CDC scored four A’s, six B’s, six C’s, four D’s and two F’s. The UP obtained seven A’s, six B’s, three C’s, one D, and three F’s. The LP obtained no A, no B, three C’s, and one D.
“A record of attendance between 90-100% equals “A”; 80-89% equals “B”; 70-79% equals “C”; 60-69% equals “D”; any average below equals an “F” grade.”
House of Senate
A total number of 817 present times were recorded by IREDD for the period. The UP topped with 321 present times followed by the LP with 88. Others recorded were CDC (70); NPP (64); NDC (63); Independents (40); NUDP (35); PUP (29); APD (29); LDP (29); and, ANC (25) present times cumulatively.
Total “absences” for the period was 122. Of this figure, UP lawmakers were absent the most times (29). The NDC absences amounted to 15 times; LP (14); CDC (8); NPP (10); MDR (10); PUP (8); ANC (7); APD (7); LDP (7); NUDP (3); and, Independents (2) absence times cumulatively.
For the category of “distant” the total recorded number is 103 “distant times.” There were seven in the “excuse” category and in the “sick” category; the total “sick times” recorded was 43. Of this number, Senator Geraldine Doe Sheriff accounted for 28.
“As with the House of Senate, IREDD observed that on average, for every three times a Senator attended session, he or she was away from session one time.
“Comparing the attendance record of Senators of three parties, the CDC scored no A, with only two B’s. The UP obtained three A’s, three B’s, two C’s, one D, and one F. The LP obtained no A, no B, 1 C, and 2 Ds.”