(MONROVIA, LIBERIA – December 30, 2011): It has been announced in Monrovia that Monday, January 2, 2012, is not a holiday. According to the Executive Mansion, the day is a regular work day.
The general public, business houses and other institutions are therefore urged to carry out their normal activities if they so desire.
Although no reason was given in an Executive Mansion release announcing this, political and legal pundits put it at constitutional reason
Chapter VI, Article 50 of the Liberian Constitution of 1986, "...The president shall be elected by universal adult suffrage of registered voters in the Republic and shall hold office for a term of six years commencing at noon on the third working Monday in January of the year immediately following the elections...."
Usually, holidays falling on Sundays are celebrated on Mondays. However, it is said that the decision to breach this usual way of holiday celebration is to ensure that the the President's inauguration, which falls on the third working Monday of the New Year goes unquestionable and unchallenged.
According to the pundits, canceling the first working Monday will would disqualify the February 16, 2012 inauguration of President Sirleaf constitutionally, since it would render the January 16 Monday the second working Monday of the year contrary to the Constitution's provision under Article 50.
Meanwhile, nine prisoners from the Monrovia Central Prison have been granted Executive Pardon by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Those pardoned include six men and three women who have been held at the prison for minor offenses. The decision was taken Friday, December 23, by the Liberian leader during a visit to the Prison as part of a Christmas goodwill gesture.
The President urged those released to remain peaceful and law abiding citizens. “The next time you violate the law and you are caught, you will not stay in the central prison; you will be sent to the prison in Grand Gedeh County,” the President cautioned those ordered released.
According to an Executive Mansion release the Liberian President has directed the Ministry of Justice to review the cases of other inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison who have been held for minor offenses.
“I’ve asked them to look at each of your case, the person who did not commit a serious crime ... if you did armed robbery or you did murder, rape, I can’t help you. But if that’s something small; they will look at you and say yes they can do it, then, they can work on that next week.”
The President later presented a purse of US$1,000 to members of the kitchen staff of the prison. She thanked the staff for their commitment to duty. The Chief Executive also presented some food items including rice and fish as well as toiletries, mattresses, slippers, coal pots, among other items to the prison.
The Liberian leader was accompanied to the Central Prison by Solicitor General Wilkins Wright and other officials of government.
Earlier, the President distributed Christmas gifts among mothers and babies at the Maternity ward of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital.
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