Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian Senate plenary agreed with the House of Representatives to approve President Joseph Boakai’s US$41.3 million request for the government’s operations in February, with two senators abstaining and four senators, including Dillon and Mcgill, voting against.
Our legislative correspondent said that this decision was made after reading a letter from the House of Representatives requesting the Senate’s approval to adopt the budget. Senator Nathaniel Mcgill of Margibi County voted against accepting the instrument at Thursday’s plenary session, citing a lack of details regarding the US$5.7 million intended for domestic debts.
Senator Numene Bartekwa of Grand Kru County voted against the instrument in agreement with the points made by his colleagues, while Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County, like Senator Gbleh-bo Brown of Maryland County, voted “NO” that the budget be approved until a list containing the domestic debts is provided and reviewed.
Senators Albert Chie of Grand Kru County and Simeon Taylor of Grand Cape Mount County simultaneously refrained from voting in favor of or against the concurrence.
However, the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget, chaired by Bong County Senator Prince Moye, claimed that since due diligence had been done, the Senate should join with the House of Representatives in endorsing the report. Twenty duly seated senators voted in favor of the House after Grand Bassa County Senator Gbehzohngar Findley moved for the body to concur with the House of Representatives.
Report by: Amb Blamo N-Toe
