Thursday, 13th December 2007
Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has convened a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Acting President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as members of the Ways & Means Standing Committees of the House and Senate. The meeting, also attended by Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh and National Investment Chairman Richard Tolbert, came at the invitation of the President to exchange views on pending legislation now before the lawmakers.
According to an Executive Mansion release, legislation now before the lawmakers include bills covering the country’s Investment and Tax Codes; an Anti Corruption Commission Bill, and Budgetary Transfer. The President informed the legislators that much progress has been made towards debt relief, but stressed that the pending legislation are critical in meeting performance targets for full debt relief.
Members of the legislature welcomed the consultation with the President and promised to review the legislation upon their return from recess. They spoke of the need for more information on benchmark requirements, to enable them to hold due consultations with their constituencies and the public.
House Speaker, Representative Alex Tyler, and Grand Kru County Senator Cletus Wortorson, who is acting as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, assured the Liberian Executive of the lawmakers’ cooperation to ensure that the pending legislation are reviewed and acted upon. The process requires explanations and justifications for proposed legislation before they are passed into law.
Other issues discussed at Thursday’s meeting included the need to decentralize check cashing centers throughout the country; salaries for replacee and voluntary teachers; commodity prices, and travel ordinances, among others.
The President, House Speaker and Acting President Pro Tempore of the Senate expressed satisfaction over the meeting and noted that such informal interactions were useful to ensure proper coordination between the Executive and the Legislative branches of government.