Monrovia – The Liberian Senate Tuesday, January 22, debated whether to or not to return to the Executive a communication from President George Weah appointing Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. George S.W. Patten.
Senators Gbleh-Bo Brown, Maryland County, and Daniel Naatehn, Gbapolu County raised issues about the word “Appointment” as indicated in the President’s Communication instead of “Nomination” as they expected.
Despite their qualms, other senators referenced Senate Rule 55, which speaks about appointment from the President. But Brown and others rubbished their arguments that the rules of the Senate cannot be equated to the Constitution of the country.
“This issue is based on the credibility of the Senate. It is appalling that some of our colleagues in the Senate will equate the Senate rules to the Constitution,” the Maryland County Senator said.
The Senate during the session debated a motion filed by Senator Johnathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa County, who moved that because of the concerned circumstances surrounding the wording and the appointment of Patten, the President’s Communication be sent to the Senate’s Committees on Judiciary and Foreign Affairs to advice plenary on what action to take.
After a sustained argument, the President Pro-tempore, through a “yea and nay motion”, passed on Senator Kaipay’s motion for the two committees to advice on the way forward.
Last week Tuesday, January 15, 2019, the Senate’s first working session following their recess, Senator Nyounblee Karnga Lawrence of Grand Bassa County wrote the Senate’s Plenary requesting them to write and invite Foreign Minister Gbehzhongar Milton Findley to appear before that body to show reasons while the procedure of appointing officials of government was violated.
The communication was read and sent to the committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Dan Morias of Maryland County with a mandate to investigate and report back to plenary in a week.
Political commentators believe the appearance of Ambassador Patten and Foreign Minister Findley will be used mainly to request the two to offer an apology, allowing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct a confirmation hearing.
This speculation comes on the heels of a recent communication from Senator Karnga-Lawrence, Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, who is seeking the indulgence of plenary to request the appearance of Minister Findley and Ambassador George S. W. Patten, Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States, for “the blatant violation of Article 54b of the Constitution of Liberia.”
“The Constitution, which is the organic law of the state, is very clear and for the sake of understanding and observance, depicts in Article 54b: “The President shall have nominated and, with the consent of the Senate, appoint and commission ambassadors, ministers, consuls… .,” Senator Lawrence’s letter, dated on Monday, January 14, 2019 was read before plenary on Tuesday, January 15, noted. Senator Karnga-Lawrence wondered, “How then
the President nominate but, without the consent of the Senate, appoint and commission Patten? This action by the Executive is a sheer violation of the Liberian Constitution.”