Liberian Legislature Discusses SOE

-Health Workers Insurance, Media Stimulus Packages Top Deliberation

By Mark Mengonfia
Members of the House of Representatives have entered second day into discussion in the State of Emergency (SOE) plan placed before them by President George M. Weah, with health workers insurance and media stimulus packages topping the deliberation.
President George Manneh Weah in keeping with Articles 85, 86, 87, and 88 of the Liberian Constitution, declared a State of Emergency, to exist in and throughout the Republic of Liberia, for a period of three (3) weeks, renewable until the threat to Liberia from the Covid-19 virus no longer exists.
The President communication to the Lawmakers that as a first step under the powers hereby granted him under the State of Emergency, members of that legislative body are to endorse the State of Emergency by Joint Resolution, in accordance with Article 88 of the Liberian Constitution.
President Weah also presented a stimulus package to be approved by members of that body to affect Liberians
It is in keeping with this, that members of that body have returned and started discussion on the State of Emergency and all the issues that have to do with the Constitutionality.
During deliberation, members of that body said the proposal from the President was welcoming,but majority of them were concern about the full implementation of the stimulus package as lay down in the president communication to them.
Part of the modification majority members of that body repeatedly mentioned during their deliberations were the reintroduction of three days free calls, payment of civil servants salaries, praying of package to health workers, the media as well as proper distribution of the food provisions to ordinary citizens.
Among other things, members of that body stressed the need to concur with the president on the State of Emergency, but said they need to take time to investigate the the stimulus package component of the president’s communication.
For two days, members of that body discussed the president’s proposal with each Lawmaker given 5 minutes to make their points.
They are expected to conclude discussion on the matter Friday April 17, 2020 if majority members of that body agree.