The sponsor and co-sponsor of the Bill Pro Tempore of the Senate Gbehzohngar Findley and Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor drafted their proposed legislation under the title, “An Act of the Legislature prescribing a code of conduct for all public officials and employees of the three branches of government of Liberia and para-status bodies.”
They recalled the devastation caused by the 14 years of civil conflict which they said destroyed “every fabric of our national existence, and thereby reversing and delaying our forward march in growth and modern technology.”
In order to achieve this dream, the committee urged that “we have to double our collective energy and utilize every available day and time to secure the full implementation of this nationalistic endeavor.”
“In consideration of the above…we hereby submit on behalf of the committee on Autonomous Commission and Agencies the draft Bill for your perusal and subsequent passage into law,” committee concluded.
Members of the Autonomous Commission and Agencies include: Senators Jewel Howard Taylor, chair; J. Alphonso Gaye, co-chair; Lahai G. Lansanah, member; Sumo G. Kupee and Joseph N. Nagbe.
The Bill for the Code of Conduct made its first appearance at the 52nd Legislature in 2007, but was placed on the back burner, thus becoming the longest evaded Bill hunting the Legislature, especially the House of Representatives who are yet to beckon its passage.
Prior to the appearance of the draft Code of Conduct at the plenary of the Senate yesterday, Pro Tempore Findley had repeatedly reminded his colleagues of the importance of the proposed legislation.
“It is time for us now to look at the Code of Conduct. It’s an Executive Order out from that branch of the Government, and I think we need to as a legislature take up this matter seriously,” Pro Tempore Findley repeatedly urged.
The plenary meanwhile yesterday voted and sent the Bill to the committee on Judiciary and mandated that it reports to the plenary within a reasonable time.
