By Jerromie S. Walters
President Joseph N. Boakai of Liberia has initiated business with the self-proclaimed “Majority Bloc” of the House of Representatives. The bloc has forwarded several legislative instruments to key committees for review, despite ongoing controversies surrounding its legitimacy.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court of Liberia weighed in on the legislative standoff, ruling that actions taken by the “Majority Bloc” that deviated from Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution were deemed ultra vires, or beyond their legal authority. However, just days later, on December 10, 2024, both the Executive branch and the Liberian Senate officially endorsed the Bloc, raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.
The situation escalated on November 21, 2024, when Representative Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11 was controversially elected and inducted as the “new Speaker” of the 55th Legislature. The Bloc claims that approximately 50 members supported this decision, though many later withdrew their signatures, branding Koon’s election as fraudulent.
Article 49 of the 1986 Constitution mandates that the House of Representatives elect a Speaker every six years, with provisions for removal by a two-thirds majority. Critics argue that the recent developments undermine this constitutional framework.
Aiding the violation?
Amidst the backdrop of legal challenges, President Boakai has submitted several key financial instruments to the Bloc for enactment, including: The Bank-Financial Institutions and Bank-Financial Holding Companies Act of 2024, Tax Amendment Act of December 2024, Tax Amendment Act of 2024 and An Act to amend sections of the Revenue Code 2000 regarding VAT
The President emphasized that the Bank-Financial Institutions Act aims to strengthen the legal framework for financial regulation, essential for promoting economic stability. The proposed tax amendments are designed to enhance revenue generation, improve public service delivery, and address Liberia’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
The amendments propose a revised VAT rate of 15%, down from the current 18%, as part of a broader strategy to foster compliance and bolster the national budget. These changes are expected to impact various sectors, including royalties on natural resources and excise taxes.
Calling for Democratic Integrity
Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine Dennis, a prominent member of the opposition Liberty Party (LP) and former vice-presidential candidate on the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) ticket expressed concerns regarding the ongoing impasse in the House of Representatives. Her opinion comes just after the crisis took a more tough trend Thursday, as the self-styled “Majority Bloc” removed the Speaker and subsequently appointed a new speaker.
In a live video on Thursday, November 22, 2024, Cllr. Brumskine-Dennis articulated a profound disconnect between the needs and desires of the populace and the actions of those in power, especially with the actions of members of the House of Representatives lately.
Highlighting the disconnect between the electorate’s desires and the actions of their lawmakers, she commented, “The thing I find confusing, those of us who are on ground, who are talking to people here, who are following social media and listening to the radio. There is a disjoint. A disconnect between what the people, the population claim to want and what’s happening at the Capitol. So for me, in my little understanding of democracy, we are not exercising a democracy. We are not exercising a democracy. We are exercising power and authority by a few against the will of the many.”
Cllr. Brumskine-Dennis accentuated the fundamental role of elected officials in representing the interests of their constituents. “Those who we are electing are supposed to speak our voices, our interests, and our positions. They are not elected to represent their own interest. They are elected to represent the interests of the people.
