Monrovia, Liberia – A one-day national reconciliation retreat organized by the Liberty Party has ended with the adoption of a 12-count resolution paving a road-map for unifying and resolving the internal wrangling within the party over the last three years. According to the resolution, the protracted internal struggle between the two breakaway factions has been settled via reconciliation and agreement between the parties within 309 to 60 days of the agreement being signed.
The resolution also stated that the Liberty Party’s joint reconciliation committee will review the party’s constitution and draft a new one for delegates to adopt at a special national convention to conclude the reconciliation process, according to Jacob Smith, chairman of the committee.
According to count three of the resolution, delegates will alter and accept the new constitution and validate the leadership until the national convention, which will take place during the weekend of December 13–15, 2024, in Gumpa, Nimba County.
In order to address the tenure of the current political leader, the national executive committee, the restructuring of county leaderships, and the creation of county advisory councils, delegates at the retreat also decided to include a mutually “agreed transition clause” in the current constitution.
The resolution required both parties to choose three notable individuals, including women and religious leaders, to form the national convention committee. They also planned to choose a chairperson from among themselves.
According to the resolution’s count six, the parties will sign a joint resolution that establishes the framework for the Liberty Party’s reunion at the Reconciliation Retreat on November 2, 2024.
Following that, a leadership slate comprising members from both parties was presented and signed as a crucial component of the resolution. The slate was based on proportional representation.
The resolution states that all posts on the NAC will be replaced by a 50:50 proportionate, single slate that will be provided by both parties, and that the current National Advisory Council will be abolished at the Special National Convention.
The delegates decided that every other position on the EC would be divided 50/50, with the chairperson being part of Party A, except for the chairperson position, which would be reserved and automatically filled by an ascendancy clause from a member of Party A.
In their nominations, both parties must take gender and religious inclusion into account. During the retreat, it was decided that Party A and Party B would decide who would lead the National Youth and Women Congresses, while 50:50 proportional representation would be used to fill all other positions on the Executive Leaderships of the two societies.
Parties A and B will nominate the leaders of the Youth Congress and Women Congress, respectively. The leaders of both congresses will be regarded as predetermined members of the nominees of Party A and Party B.
On November 10, 2024, the signed resolution will be delivered to Liberty Party partisans in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County, according to Mr. Smith.
By endorsing the Special National Convention, the delegates decided that the current Political Leader would continue to hold the position until the LP National Convention, which will take place one (1) year before the 2029 General Elections. At that point, a Standard Bearer will be chosen, ending the Political Leader’s term.
According to the terms of the transition clause, the resolution required that all present county chairpersons hold their current posts until the restructure was completed.
According to the resolution’s count ten, the Six-Man Convention Committee would dissolve and declare all EC positions vacant at the Special National Convention. The proposed proportional leadership slate would then be approved by the delegates to form the new LP leadership structure, and the current political leader would be approved to continue until the next convention.
The delegates further decided that any outstanding legal issues between the parties in any Liberian court would be deemed withdrawn upon the signature of this resolution. The designated parties agreed that neither would pursue any legal case that each party had already filed in a Liberian or foreign court.
The resolution concluded by stating that only the Political Leader and National Chairperson may speak publicly about matters pertaining to this resolution once it has been signed, or with the Secretary General’s permission.
Representative Ruggie Barry, the National Chairperson of the Liberty Party, stated immediately after the resolution was read that neither side has any rights or wrongs that have transpired within the party over the years.
She claimed that her main goal as chairperson is to bring the party together, make amends with its members, and lead it to a calm national convention.
Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence, the Senate Pro Tempore and political leader of the Liberty Party, stated that the internal strife over the past three years has strengthened the commitment and strength of each Liberty Party member.
The national reconciliation retreat of the Liberty Party brought together county leaderships current and former lawmakers, officials of government and many others
“Liberty party is a party of integrity, a political party of high standards, a part that has respect for the rule of law and a voice of the people,” she said; adding: “this event should re-awaken our minds and restore what whatever the locus has eaten and restore the respect that has characterized the founding fathers of the Liberty Party.”
