MONROVIA – The Chairman on Internal Affair at the Liberian Senate says the Local Government Act recently passed by the 54th Legislature and signed into law by the President will give local people the responsibility for decisions making.
Report by J. H. Wabster Clayh, [email protected]
Senator J. GBleh-bo Brown of Maryland County made the statement at his Capitol Hill office when the National Civil Society Movement of Liberia (NCSML) honored him for spearheading the passage of the Local Government Act.
President George Weah in September 2018 signed the Act and the Ministry of Foreign Affair printed it into handbill.
The Maryland County lawmaker said over the years activities were heavily centralized in Monrovia, Montserrado County.
“So, this bill intends to give some of the power to the local people,” Senator Brown said.
“I feel that through this, there will be sustainability because there will be ownership, local people are going to own most of the things they are going to do.”
He continued: “In the decision making the entire projects they are going to do; there will be sustainable peace,” Senator Brown said.
He said upon the return of senators from their constituency from break, the committee on Internal Affair will summon the Minister of Internal Affair Varney Sirleaf to explain how the Ministry intends to roll out the Local Government Act to the local people.
“There is so much in it and we want to see how they (Ministry of Internal Affair) are going to do that,” Senator Brown said.
“Let sustain the democracy Liberia has yarned for over the years. Getting our people involves in this will help to sustain our democracy.”
According to Senator Brown, among the many bills that were passed, the Local Government Act received “much critical analysis” on the Senate floor.
“It is not a perfect law but I can assure the Liberian people that the Local Government Act was debated lengthily. And so, that is why I am proud of it,” the Maryland County Senator said.