Monrovia – The leadership of the Liberian Senate has announced it will suspend the submission of legislative tools to the House of Representatives until ongoing court proceedings are concluded. This decision comes amid rising political tension within the House of Representatives.
The Senate’s move was finalized during a leadership meeting before the start of its recent session. This action follows public reports suggesting that the Senate had resumed legislative activities in collaboration with the House majority.
In a statement, the Senate clarified that it has not taken sides in the ongoing division within the House. It emphasized that it has been adhering to the House Check as mandated by law, ensuring that all legislative instruments are processed through the Chief Clerk’s office and communicated with the majority. The most recent legislative instruments submitted include the Seaport Decentralization Act and updates to the Maritime Law, among others.
A Supreme Court ruling has complicated the situation in the House of Representatives. The Court ordered members, particularly those aligned with the “Anti-Speaker Bloc,” to suspend all legislative activities and revert to their prior operational state. This follows a petition challenging the legality of specific legislative actions and procedures.
The writ, signed by Cllr. Sam Mamulu, Clerk of the Supreme Court, instructed the Minister of Justice and the lawmakers involved to appear before the Full Bench on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, to file their respective returns. The writ, served by Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., Marshall of the Supreme Court, calls for suspending all proceedings until the Court issues its final ruling.
The Senate’s decision to halt the submission of legislative tools emphasizes the ongoing uncertainty in Liberia’s legislative process, with all eyes now on the Court’s upcoming verdict.
