By Archie Boan
Tension erupted on Capitol Hill on Thursday when a heated debate in the Plenary of the Liberian House of Representatives escalated into a physical confrontation between two lawmakers during discussions surrounding the government’s Yellow Machines program.
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The incident was triggered by a communication submitted by Alex S. Noah, Representative of Electoral District #3 in Sinoe County, who requested that Plenary invite the Minister of State without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility, to provide clarity on the status and whereabouts of the first batch of Yellow Machines brought into Liberia by the government.
Representative Noah’s communication sought accountability regarding the equipment, noting that the machines were imported under a government initiative but have reportedly been deployed without any formal report submitted to the Legislature.
Under normal parliamentary procedure, the lawmaker who files a communication is usually given at least a minute to elaborate on the issue before Plenary deliberates and decides on the next course of action. However, the situation took a different turn when the Speaker of the House, Richard Nagbe Koon, intervened and informed members that the matter would instead be handled by the leadership.
The Speaker’s decision reportedly did not sit well with several lawmakers, sparking murmurs and rising tension across the chamber. What began as procedural disagreement quickly escalated into a heated exchange among members.
During the commotion, Prince Toles, Representative of District #8 in Montserrado County, allegedly directed personal remarks toward Luther Collins, Representative of Gbarpolu County, reportedly referencing Collins’ wife, who previously served as Liberia’s Minister of Public Works.
The alleged personal jab intensified the confrontation, leading to a brief but chaotic fist fight between Representatives Toles and Collins on the floor of the Legislature.
Other lawmakers and security personnel quickly intervened to separate the two men and restore order in the chamber.
The incident momentarily disrupted legislative proceedings and has raised fresh concerns about decorum and discipline within the country’s highest lawmaking body.
As of press time, it remains unclear whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the lawmakers involved, while the issue surrounding the Yellow Machines program and the request to invite Minister Mamaka Bility for clarification remains unresolved.
