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

Martin McGuinnessFINE Gael deputy Joe McHugh has launched a scathing attack on Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness over the HGV levy on Donegal truckers.Deputy McHugh said the northern administration hadn’t done enough to help southern HGV drivers.“In response to a Parliamentary Question I submitted in relation to the UK HGV Levy to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD, the Minister confirmed that the urgent matter was discussed at the recent North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and he has established a working group to examine the feasibility of introducing a similar pay-as-you-go road tax scheme for HGVs in Ireland,” said deputy McHugh. “Similar to the Eurovignette system which is in place in Europe, a common road charging regime would be established where only one charge is applied to a number of different countries’ roads.“This legislation has been in place since 1 April 2014 and is causing daily concern for hauliers driving on Northern roads and who have received no clarity from the Northern Assembly around how the Levy will be enforced or regulated as the secondary legislation has yet to be agreed.“This is why I have been calling on Martin McGuinness and Sinn Fein in Government to leave aside other motives they may have and focus on what is best for people trying to run their businesses. I commend the Minister on raising the same point this morning in the Chamber.“We need to address this issue head on and drive a solution forward as currently there is very little movement and it is the hard working hauliers and businesses that are being affected. I am calling on Sinn Fein in Government as a party to work with their colleagues in the Assembly, as well as in the South and in Westminster, in pushing forward a viable policy. “It has been recognised that this legislation, which is a UK Levy, is within their rights to introduce under EU law, however concessions could be considered around either a derogation of certain key roads in the North, or a common road charge between Britain and Ireland which would allow hauliers North and South of the border to travel without charges.“Before the secondary legislation is introduced in the North, I would urge all sides involved to engage genuinely and constructively so we can come up with a resolution which won’t have a negative impact on the Hauliers industry. And not to ignore the urgency of the matter as the legislation has taken effect and drivers are now left in a constant state of uncertainty.” McHUGH ATTACKS MARTIN McGUINNESS OVER HGV CHARGES IN THE NORTH was last modified: May 15th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:deputy joe mchughHGV driversmartin mcguinnessTD read more