Transport Minister, Madam Angela Cassel Bush told the Senate Committee on Public Accounts that the US$10 million allocated for the renovation of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in the 2012/13 fiscal budget of the airport.Appearing before the Committee Monday, Min. Bush clarified that although her Ministry lacks management oversight of the RIA and is therefore not responsible for how the agency applies its funding, but records from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has provided a clear breakdown of the usage of the funds.She explained to the lawmakers that over US$5 million of the US$10 million, was used to service RIA’s debt which included, staff salary arrears, baggage claim screening machine and supervision costs.A little over 4 million dollars was expended on the procurement of navigational aid equipment and support for the rehabilitation of the runway.This expenditure, according to the Minister, was necessary to ensure compliance with International Aviation Standards at a time when the airport was at risk of flouting International regulations.The Minister and authorities of the RIA were cited by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit to give reasons for the Chief Executive’s request to ratify a US$60 million for renovation of RIA when US$10 million had earlier been allocated for that purpose.Minister Bush further informed the Committee that although the Ministry of Transport only provides policy guidelines to RIA and is not directly involved in the day-to-day running or management of the airport, the request for ratification of the loan was necessary to bring the airport to acceptable international standards, consistent with the country’s Aviation Master Plan.The Chair of the Senate Committee, Senator Henry Yallah, who presided over the hearing thanked the Minister for providing clarity on the disbursement of the US$10 million and urged her administration to present the Aviation Master Plan to the Senate for review.The Deputy General Manager and the Comptroller of RIA, who were also part of the hearings, told the Committee that disbursement of the funding was executed by the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) and not the management of the RIA.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

Senate President Pro Tempore Chie : “We want to appeal to our dear colleagues in the Lower House to understand the economic implications.”Senate President Pro Tempore Albert Chie has appealed to members of the House of Representatives not to contest in the 2020 senatorial election in order to avoid the surge of probabilities of the re-election of sitting senators.There are 13 senators who have expressed interest in seeking re-election, including Senators Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Grand Bassa), Dan Morias (Maryland), Peter Coleman (Grand Kru), Matthew Jaye (River Gee), Alphonso Gaye (Grand Gedeh), Edward Dagoseh (Grand Cape Mount), Henry Yallah (Bong), Thomas Grupee (Nimba), George Tengbeh (Lofa), Sando Johnson (Bomi), Armah Jallah (Gbarpolu), Oscar Cooper (Margibi) and Dallas Gweh (River Cess).Sinoe County’s Senatorial seat is still under contention in the Supreme Court, because of alleged election fraud during the bye-election, and Montserrado County Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff would not be participating because of prolonged illness.The Senate Pro Tempore informed his colleagues from the Lower House that the Senate is reviewing the “Bill of Ineligibility of Sitting Senators and House of Representatives Not to Contest Legislative Elections,” but pointed out that the bill has political and constitutional implications; therefore it would be used to stop sitting members of the House of Representatives not to contest in the 2020 senatorial elections.“We want to use this time to appeal to our dear colleagues in the House of Representatives, without infringing your constitutional rights, because we know they are very strong; but there is an economic implication in which this economy cannot afford,” Chie said.The Grand Kru County Senator made the remarks on Monday, January 14, at a reception of the formal opening of the 2nd Session of the 54th Legislature in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building.Also, at the Rotunda, President George Weah called on the three branches of government to work together and in the interest of the Liberian people.Weah said working together will ensure that the government meets the expectation of Liberians.He described 2019 as a “critical year” in the national objective to consolidate peace and take the people out of poverty.House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers has meanwhile asked the Liberian people to remain patient, as the government continues to seek their welfare through developmental initiatives across the country.Chambers however criticized some members of the media for the continued criticism of the government, comparing them to the Rwandan journalists now in prison for inciting that country’s genocide.The Speaker said the House recorded 57 regular sittings, 43 executive sittings, six special sittings, and 15 extraordinary sittings.According to him, 26 bills and eight resolutions were passed, including nine that originated from the House of Representatives, and five bills from the Senate.Twelve bills were passed out of the 17 bills, which originated from the Executive, and eight legislative resolutions were acted upon.During the first Session, Speaker Chambers said that the House of Representatives conducted 13 public hearings.“In line with legislative best practice, it is our hope that bills and resolutions pending in the committee room, which account for 53 in total, will be properly scrutinized for prompt plenary’s action,” the Speaker said.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more