By Capitol Hill, Liberia- Senate staffers demand the two months’ worth of unpaid arrears from the Liberian Senate by staging a large-scale protest up Capitol Hill, which ends the confirmation hearings for both Cllr. Frank Musa Dean and Dr. Samora Wolokolie.
Staff members of the Liberian Senate obstructed the regular parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, stating that they were not paid for the two additional sessions.
The the protest lasted for the entire day there by halting the confirmation hearings for Cllr. Musa Dean, a nominee for Associate Justice, and Dr. Samora Wolokolie, a nominee for Commissioner-General at the Liberia Revenue Authority.
Speaking from the protest site, Legislative Staffers Association President Charles Brown revealed that Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie had misled them into believing that the body had called for the extra sessions rather than President George Weah.
He continued by saying that the Pro-temp also informed the employees that the sittings come with no additional benefits.
However, Mr. Brown insisted that the Grand Kru County Senator had been spreading misinformation, emphasizing that the President always benefits from extra sitting and that, as a result, staff members need to be compensated.
He promised to carry out the protests through next Tuesday, when the 54th Legislature comes to a close.
Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie refuted the protestors’ accusations and made it clear that the senators had never received money from the Ministry of Finance and had never skimmed it.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
