By: Bill K. Jarkloh
www.theperiscope.com / www.panwhanpen.com
Email:bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: +231(0)-6-468-244 or : +231-(0)77-468-244
Minutes after the United States Ambassador, Linda Thomas Greenfield criticizes elected officials for reneging on their fundamental responsibility to their people to ensure their development needs and welfare are met, House Speaker Alex Tyler quickly responded, saying there is no restriction on how members of the Legislature should observe their annual or agriculture break.
Speaking Wednesday to reporters in reaction to Ambassador Greenfield assertions against the lawmakers, House Speaker Tyler has clarified that there is no restriction on how and where members of the Legislature should spent their annual or agriculture break. Speaker Tyler further said the annual Legislative break usually taken by Legislators can be spent anyway.
The Speaker argued that an individual lawmaker may choose to either spend the Legislative break on travel or with constituents, conceding however that the annual Legislative break is intended for lawmakers to get to their people, something he said is being done.
But the United States Ambassador, Madam Greenfield disagrees. She said earlier that lawmakers are required to spend their break with voting constituents. Speaking at the formal program Wednesday when she turned over to the Liberian government the newly constructed Headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC) in Sinkor, Ambassador Greenfield indicated that instead of legislators visiting their constituents, they instead choose to spend their break to the United States under the canopy of traveling to meet their constituents abroad.
The United States envoy, in her disagreement asked, “How many of you Liberians know your senators, your Representatives? How many of you Liberians see the legislators at their constituencies often to ask the people what are their development needs? Ambassador Greenfield reasoned that the people of Liberia deserve visitation of elected officials who are responsible to them and who see them as their constituents to discuss development issues.
The Ambassador was speaking to the backdrop that Legislators often use their Agricultural break to either stay in the Capitol City with little concern of the development needs of the peoples of their respective constituencies, or at times run to the United States in the name of meeting non-voting members of their constituencies in the diaspora.
It is said that lawmakers are entitled to some gains accrued from the Agricultural break, but it equally often noted that the purpose of the multiple agricultural breaks of successive regimes have not achieved the requisite developments initiatives that could justify the breaks.
Today, Liberia remains one of the least developed country, a resident of Neezo Community in Paynesville remarked openly, having listened to the Truth FM’s morning breakfast show of Thursday on which the interplay of the Greenfield-Tyler actualities were aired.
Analysts have viewed that the United States Ambassador has right to speak to bad governance practices here in Liberia, considering that Liberians look up to the United States for rescue in time of trouble such as the past civil war and subsequently criticize the US Administration upon failure or delay by the U. S. to intervene.
The US Ambassador observed most Liberian lawmakers do not spend time with the people during their regular legislative breaks. She said these lawmakers are instead seen at the US Embassy collecting visas to visit the United States where they have no constituency
In her view, the United States Ambassador said that those in the diaspora are not voting constituents, and that the legislators need to visit the voting constituents who enthroned them into their legislative offices through their votes than the non-voting ones who are not feeling the actual lack of needed development projects at the constituency levels.
Ambassador Greenfield said from recent travels she has made around the country, most people complained of not having access to their lawmakers. She said elected officials especially lawmakers need to visit their people to discuss with them developmental and other issues.
The U. S. Ambassador also said meaningful democracy requires that all Liberians become involved and engage each other and their leaders with honesty, respect and candor. The US envoy urged Liberians to participate in the democratic process of their country to make sound decision that would promote good governance.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield noted that the NEC that will sit in the new office structure is one of Liberia's most important government institutions. “It is the starting point for the democratic process in Liberia because it ensures that the leaders who run Liberia's democracy are selected by the people in a politically-neutral impartial manner.”
The Ambassador said the completion of the building does not mark the end of the US government's commitment in helping to make sure that Liberians are able to choose their leaders in a free and fair election. “We are committed to supporting the right of Liberians; the key democratic right to decide who runs their government. So, in addition to renovating this building, we are also providing US$17 million to build the NEC's capacity to prepare for and carry out the 2011 elections which will and must be free, fair and transparent,” Ambassador Greenfield announced.
She expressed confidence that the new NEC Headquarters will become symbol of the strength and durability of Liberia's democratic process. A monument depicting a woman her casting ballot has been erected at the new NEC Compound. The ambassador said the woman depicted in the statue will always reminded Liberians that democracy and good governance are ensured by citizens' active participation in the electoral process and the dialogue that follows between elected officials and their constitutions.
“This woman, like many Liberian women before her, is struggling, against all odds, to submit her ballot and vote. I am proud to say that, since arriving in Liberia nearly two years ago, I have seen men and women, young and old, travel worn roads and brave rainstorms in order to cast their ballot. And I have also seen those people ask their politicians hard questions and demand accountability from them after the people put them into office.”
Ambassador implored the NEC that the commission works for the people of Liberia, and that the new building was built for the people of Liberia. “In 2011, Liberians will again go to the polls to exercise their right to vote. This time, it is the NEC alone, without international support that will bear the trust of the Liberian people as it oversees the nationwide elections,” she said
USAID Liberia Mission Director Pamela White, who also addressed the occasion, said true democracy will require effort by all Liberians, and the American. Madam White hopes that the grandeur of the building will inspire the NEC to grasp its mandate with both hands and ensure access to democracy for all Liberians.
“We also hope that this new structure, situated so close to Tubman Boulevard will be a daily reminder to Liberians of the promise of democracy and the vital importance of free and fair elections,” she further said.
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