Indeed, You Owe It to the People

The second session of the 53rd Legislature opened with a weighty challenge from Vice President Joseph Boakai to members of that national assembly: the VP began by sounding off to his law-making colleagues, on the need to build on the trust and respect the Liberian people have reposed in them, especially in the discharge of their duties.

The Vice President did not mince his words when he said that “Pragmatism, instead of dogmatism, must serve as the vehicle that drives our deliberations. We must resist any and every tendency that augurs (promises, predicts only for bluster (rant, complain loudly) in partisanship or self-serving pursuit.”

Buttressing the Vice President’s challenge to lawmakers, heads of both Houses further tasked their colleagues to deliver. Senate Pro-tempore Gbehzohngar Findley and Speaker Alex Tyler charged their colleagues to be vigorous in their oversight responsibility to ensure that those things they want for the people -- those things they have appropriated for the people -- are realized. 

We couldn’t agree more with Vice President Boakai and both heads on this. Indeed, each Legislator owes it to his or her constituents to work diligently in pursuit of national, not self-interest. They must work across party lines in the discharge of their duties for a better life today and a more secure future for all Liberians. It is imperative (crucial, urgent) that they focus their energies on those thoughts that would move Liberia forward, rather than those ideas that remain deeply-rooted in division and distraction.

The scrupulous (thorough, careful) execution of the 2012/2013 National Budget and how those appropriations affect the overall development of the country and the lives of Liberians---especially the ordinary people---and a critical look at reforms in the education sector have been listed as top priorities on the Senate’s development agenda. 

It should do no harm to remind Legislators of unresolved matters still pending before that body for enactment. Among them is the controversial Code of Conduct bill which has suffered repeated, vehement (intense, heated) rejections by both Houses. The excuse for keeping the bill from going nowhere has always been that the bill is inconsistent with the due process of law and that it attempts to deny an aggrieved party his or her fundamental rights to seek legal redress when accused. 

We think it high time that Legislators put aside their selfish, self-centered interests and take charge of moving the country forward by addressing these unresolved matters and pass the Code of Conduct bill for the good of the country.

Also, reforming the Petroleum Law of Liberia was left undone by the Legislature. It is our hope that this be added to their list of priorities, especially now that Liberia is drilling for oil.

To get the job done, legislators have been challenged to be robust in their activities at the Capitol Building by going the extra mile to heighten their sensitivity, sharpen their focus and remain motivated and fueled by their love and devotion to Liberia. Liberians expect nothing less than the above from their lawmakers.

Every Legislator has a duty to take the suggestions put forward by the Vice President seriously, remembering as he cautioned, that you owe it to your constituents---and you are under obligation to live up to their expectations!