-Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine Speaks On House Impass
By Jerromie S. Walters
Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine, a prominent member of the opposition Liberty Party (LP) and former vice-presidential candidate on the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) ticket has 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, Cllr. Brumskine 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. Some 47 members of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature on Thursday, October 17, 2024, read a resolution to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa from his position at the grounds of the Legislature. In the resolution, the legislators cited multiple allegations of misconduct, conflicts of interest, and administrative incompetence. Since then, the impasse has gotten more intricate by the day.
But highlighting the disconnect between the electorate’s desires and the actions of their lawmakers, Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine 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 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.” This assertion mirrors a growing frustration among citizens who feel disillusioned by the current political dynamics.
Moreover, she made it explicit that her intention is not to take sides but to address the pressing issues facing Liberia. “I’m not here to take side, I’m here to talk to you about Liberia. When we see things like this happening, we say but what’s happening? How did we get here? The reason Liberia is where we are at this point in our democracy is because of intentional actions like the one that’s happening now. Intend is not just an affirmative action. Intend can also be neglect. A failure to do something. A failure to call our representatives to account for not reflecting the views of the people,” she asserted.
Like a lot of other Liberians have said, Cllr. Brumskine believes that the implications of the impasse extend beyond the legislative branch, and raise concerns about the potential for broader governance issues. “We see it happening at Capitol Hill, what will happen in two years? What will happen in six months? Will this spill over from Capitol Hill to the Temple of Justice? With the Judiciary? The virus that we see happening now will it hit the Judiciary? Will it also hit the Executive Mansion [God forbid]? Nothing is in isolation,” she said.
The female politician and legal practitioner further noted: “When we began to see intentional actions to float, to destroy, to disregard and to diminish the rule of law, the virus that begins, if we don’t take the anti-virus medication and stand up against what’s happening, the virus will spread faster than any Ebola or any Covid that we have ever experienced.”
Koon’s Controversial Ascendency
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11 was elected and inducted as the “new Speaker” of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia. This decision was made by approximately 50 members of the Majority Bloc, who convened to endorse a resolution that removed Koffa from his position and declared the speakership vacant.
Koon’s election took place on a white ballot on Thursday, November 21, 2024, just minutes after the resolution was passed. In his inaugural statement, Koon pledged to prioritize the interests of all Liberians and foster a collaborative environment among his colleagues. He also expressed his commitment to advancing President Joseph Nyima Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
“This movement is not just about me. It represents a collective dream. I hope that as I take on the mantle of authority, that I will be able, through your help, to fulfill the dreams and the requirements to this particular office. However, I want to encourage you to remain steadfast and hopeful,” he said.
Representative Richard Koon was defeated by Speaker Koffa on January 15, 2024, during the House of Representatives’ speakership election. He was supported by the ruling Unity Party. Many have argued that Koon and the Executive’s greed for the speakership influenced the strives for the removal of Speaker Koffa.
In a counter-response to his election and subsequent induction, several lawmakers from Koffa’s faction, who initially supported the resolution for his removal but later retracted their signatures, condemned the Majority Bloc’s actions as illegal. During a press conference today, these lawmakers threatened legal action against the Majority Bloc, revealing that they have already consulted with their lawyers regarding the matter.
The Removal Attempt
The Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives on Thursday, November 21, 2024, officially voted to remove Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa from his position as Speaker of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia. The resolution was supported by 50 representatives, according to the Bloc.
The resolution was read aloud during a session on Thursday by Acting Chief Clerk Comic Chea, following a motion introduced by Representative James Kolleh of Bong County. The Bloc’s decision comes in the wake of a specialized committee’s report, which recommended that Koffa’s position be declared vacant due to his failure to respond to serious allegations raised by six lawmakers within the bloc.
According to the committee’s findings, Speaker Koffa was invited on three separate occasions to address these allegations but chose not to appear before the committee. This lack of engagement has been a critical factor in the Majority Bloc’s decision to pursue his removal.
During the session, 41 lawmakers were present, and some members from Koffa’s own political faction were listed as signatories to the resolution. Among them were Representatives Thomas Goshua, Matthew Joe, Priscilla Cooper, Rufie Barry, Alex Sonnyboy Noah, and Bintu Massally.
