Monrovia: Lofa County District # 4 Representative Clarence Massaquoi has described as untimely President Weah’s recent proposal seeking legislation to repeal statutes establishing all tenured positions at the level of the executive.
By Trokon Freeman_trokonfreeman@gmail.com
President Weah during the first sitting of the 54th Legislature’s extra-ordinary session last week submitted a bill for the cancellation of all tenured positions within the executive.
Speaking to the local media Monday in Monrovia, Representative Massaquoi said what is more important at the moment is to strengthen all integrity institutions instead of abolishing them.
Because widespread corruption was one factor that necessitated the 14 years of civil war in Liberia, Representative Massaquoi said integrity institutions void of political interference were established following the end of the crisis to avert recurrence.
The Lofa County lawmaker furthered that the setting up of those institutions was also meant to regain the lost confidence at the level of the international community.
He said the international community would frown if it becomes known that integrity institutions including the General Auditing Commission, Liberia Ant-Corruption, Central Bank of Liberia and the National Elections Commission are being politicized.
“Democracy is not a vacuum, democracy has tenants. Elections, accountability,transparency and credibility. So we put together all these institutional structures. Even if the former government used theses institutions, they serve as the basis for proving to the world that Liberia has become a responsible member among the comity of nations.
We created those institutions in the wisdom of the Legislature that these institutions are the backbone of our democracy and as such they must not be tempored with by any president coming into power, Representative Massaquoi said”
The Unity Party lawmaker however expressed optimism that the leadership of the House will meet the executive to hold a conversation on the way forward on the president’s bill.
