Senator Nelson, Minister Sieh

….For Preferring Defense Boss To Run State Affairs
By Bill K. Jarkloh/06-468-266
www.theperiscope.com
(panwhanpen.blogspot.com)

Senator Nelson, Minister Sieh
….For Preferring Defense Boss To Run State Affairs
By Bill K. Jarkloh/06-468-266
www.theperiscope.com
(panwhanpen.blogspot.com)

As the Grand Kru County Senator Blamo Nelson bashed at the President for prefereing Defense Minister Brownie Samukai to steer the affairs of State for the period May 15-21, the Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism has reacted, saying that the President broke no law when he named the Defense Minister to chair the cabinet in the President’s absence.

Information Minister Cletus Sieh, addressing the Sinkor Intellectual, Social and Athletic Club on 11th Street Sinkor Wednesday told his audience in response to Senator Nelson that it is the President’s constitutional prerogative to name any one she has confidence in, to act in her stead as cabinet chairman in her absence.

Senator Nelson during plenary Tuesday bashed at President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, when he said it is wrong for the Liberian leader to left the Minister of National Defense in charge of the State. The Grand Kru County Senator told Plenary that this is the second time the President left the country with the Defense Minister who could easily act otherwise eventually, and warned the President that this should be the last of its kind.

But Information Minister Cletus Sieh rubbished the claimed of the Senator. The Information Ministry boss who spoke at the Sinkor Intellectual, Social and Athletic Club at a Hatai center yesterday on 11th Street Sinkor noted that the President committed no crime.

Mr. Sieh, answering question of some members of the club, said leaving the country with the Defense Minister or anyone else is a matter of confidence, and that it is a right ascribed to her by the organic law of the land. “We don’t need to be negative; the President has the prerogative to decide who should act,” the Minister stressed. He the asked: “Why is the Senator crying than the bereaved?”

Leaving recently for the United States to participate in several events and consultations with U.S. Government officials, business executives and other partners, An Executive Mansion Press release state that in the absence of President Sirleaf, the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Christiana Tah, as Chairman of the Cabinet for the period May 15-21, and the Minister of National Defense, Hon. Brownie Samukai, for the period May 22- June 2, will coordinate the affairs of the Executive in consultation with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and under the President’s direction by telephone.

Meanwhile, the Minister who was accompanied to the 11th Street Sinkor Hatai Center by his Assistant Minister-designate for Public Affairs Isaac Jackson, his Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Jerilimek Piah, his Director and Assistant Director for Public Affairs Abel Blackie and Anderson Chea amongst others articulated the policy of the government on the fight against corruption and on the Truth & Reconciliation Commission recommendations amongst others.

Addressing the TRC recommendation issue, Minister Sieh said the government was supportive of the TRC report as an instrument of recommendation, but noted, “Government disagrees to accept that the commissioners are blameless. Besides some of the recommendations within the TRC report are at variance with the Constitution,” he said.

According to Mr. Sieh, the positive aspect of the TRC was that Liberians were able to interact; victims and perpetrators were able to some face each other to resolve and talk about what went wrong.

The Information Ministry boss furthered that government will indeed implement those aspects of the report that are implementable, leaving those that are at variance with the Constitution with the Supreme Court to decide on them.

The Minister was also quizzed on the Motorbike “Pen-pen” Transportation system. On this Minister Sieh indicated that it is sometimes easier on the part of some officials to make pronouncement but difficult for them to implement the pronouncement.

He recalled the Ministry of Transport made certain pronouncement against the Pen-pen riders in the main streets of Monrovia, saying that he does not understand why the Transport Ministry has not enforce the decision.

On the question of the President’s travel with Lenn Eugene Nagbe, the Secretary General of the Congress for Democratic Change, he noted that it is not an attempt by President Sirleaf to buy him over, but it is an attempt to ensure that Liberians are reconciled at all times regardless of their political differences. The Government is forging reconciliation, and all the government is doing is to live by example, he said.