Liberia: New Broom, Radio Veritas Irritate Lawmakers - Complain Both Institutions to PUL

The House of Representatives has expressed it anger over a news story published yesterday in the New Broom Newspaper alleging that members of that August body received US$15,000 each to pass the Maritime Authority Act. The House voted to complain the management of the New Broom Newspaper and the Radio Veritas to the Press Union of Liberia for the publication and airing of the US$15,000 under-the-table cash allegedly received by members of the National Legislature to pass the bill. The Act is currently before President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to be signed into law.

In its Tuesday, August 17, 2010 publication captioned: "To Pass Maritime Act, Pres. Sirleaf, Comm. Kesselly Dishes Out US$1.5m," the paper alleged that the Maritime Act is the "fastest Act that has been passed by the 52nd Legislature and some diplomatic missions have raised concerns and are calling on President Sirleaf to send the Act back to the Legislature for further deliberation."

The New Broom further alleged that Representative Edwin Snowe of District #5 of Montserrado County headed the deal and served as "maritime envoy" to cross the deal. The New Broom Newspaper also accused members of the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate of receiving the money to hastily pass the Maritime Act.

The Lawmakers said similar story was broadcast on "Radio Veritas" alleging that they (Lawmakers) received US$15.000 to pass the Maritime Act.

When the issue was brought to the attention of Plenary by Representative Snowe, many of the lawmakers said the plenary should not give the publication any relevance as it has the tendency of making the publisher of the New Broom Newspaper popular at the expense of the House of Representatives.

Following minutes of debate on the matter, the House voted to complain the two media institutions to the Press Union of Liberia.

This is not the first time the First Branch of Government has been accused of taking bribe to carry on its work. It can be recalled that some members of the House of Representatives alleged that they were given US$5,000 to remove their former Speaker, Representative Edwin Snowe, who is at the center of the allegation.

The passage of the Maritime Act has sparked of mountains of concerns in the public. Many Liberians have called on the President not to pass the Act into law, because it gives too much power to commissioners of the authority and exempts them from prosecution.

It is unclear whether President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will sign the Act into law.

-August 18, 2010 by Roland Perry

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Source: allafrica.com/stories/201008190454.html  (accessed on 20.08.10)