Monrovia – The recusal politics at the House of Representatives is gradually turning its face to the Senate as Senator Varney Sherman of Grand cape Mount County is currently sweating over a vote of confidence as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
The Senate on Tuesday was divided over whether or not to support a communication from Senator Sherman seeking the approval of his colleagues for confidence to be reposed in him as chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
The Grand Cape Mount Senator Thursday wrote plenary asking the body for a vote of confidence to continue to serve as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee while the matter of the Global witness Report, for which he was indicted, is ongoing in court.
Senator Sherman is among several other government officials who have been indicted by the State based on a Global witness report on multiple criminal offences including economic sabotage, bribery, criminal solicitation, criminal facilitation and criminal conspiracy.
Stated Senator Sherman in the letter: “This request has become necessary because of the rumors and innuendoes which are spreading in the corridors of the Liberian senate, which must be mandatorily put to rest”.
Willing to relinquish
Senator Sherman expressed in the letter that if his colleagues no longer have confidence in him, he is willing to relinquish is position as Chairman on Judiciary.
“As the Liberian Senate may recall, I was voted as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee unopposed and have strived to serve to the best of my ability, including successfully making representations to the Supreme Court in defense of the Liberian Senate on at least two occasions. If at this time the Liberian Senate no longer has confidence in me to continue to serve, I shall be glad to quietly relinquish the post”.
Senator Sherman is requesting the Senate to declare, through vote, if the body still poses confidence in his ability to serve in the post.
“On the other hand, if the Liberian Senate continues to have confidence in me to serve as the chairman of the Judiciary committee, I suggest that such confidence be shown by a clear vote of the senate plenary.
Otherwise, the work I do as a member and chairman of the Judiciary Committee will be irreparably hampered”, he indicated.
After the reading of Senator Sherman’s communication by the Secretary of the Senate, it received mixed reaction from senators, some of whom supported his communication while others spoke against. Cllr. Sherman’s communication precipitated a resolution signed by 14 Senators who asked Speaker Alex Tyler to resign during the crisis in the House.
Sources in the legislature confirmed that the 14 senators who signed the resolution had other targets which included Senator Sherman, and others indicted in the Global Witness report including those in the Executive branch of Government.
Senators support Sherman’s recusal
Senator Henry Yallah of Bong County is one of the senators who believes that Senator Sherman should do what he believes is the honorable thing.
“Do the Honorable thing and recuse yourself,” Senator Yallah said
Another Senator, Steve Zargo (Liberty party, Lofa County) said, “We have the confidence but you have the decision, make the decision.”
Two Senators, Thomas Grupee of Nimba and Alphonso Gaye of Grand Gedeh Counties, called on their colleagues of the senate to save the image of that august body by giving Senator Sherman the confidence he wants.
Speaker Tyler sets precedent
Announcing what many have described as the ultimate decision, recusing himself as Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives last Thursday, Speaker Tyler disclosed that the pressure by his colleagues is more than just an indictment, saying President Sirleaf has told many stakeholders including members of the Bomi County Legislative caucus that she can no longer do business with him.
Speaker Tyler said the President is accusing him of undermining the country’s development agenda by refusing to pass certain legislations such as financing agreements.
“The situation has now taken on a new dimension in which we were informed by the Bomi Legislative Caucus following their visit to the President, and later on some colleagues of mine who met with her as well as some prominent members of the society who also interacted with her that the Chief Executive has accused me of undermining the country’s development agenda by refusing to pass certain legislations such as financing agreements”, the Speaker disclosed in a statement delivered.
The embattled Speaker, who was under immense pressure to recuse himself, declared that he was taking the decision to reuse himself for the country to move ahead. He said Liberia is bigger than any individual and it is not about him but the Liberian people.
“For me it is not about Alex Jenekai Tyler. The people of Liberia, whom we serve, are looking to us for leadership and their interest and welfare should reign supreme above any individual or personal consideration. I hope all national leaders must be cognizant of this fact.”
“Therefore, if my recusal is the ultimate sacrifices that will move our country forward and end this current quagmire, I am herewith recusing myself from presiding over the plenary of the House of Representatives so that the business of the Liberian people can be fully addressed”.
It is predicted that with Speaker Tyler now ousted as Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives based on the Global Witness report, it has put others implicated in the report in a complex situation.