Liberia: Senate Resumes 6th Session as 2024 Draft National Budget, Drug Law Top Agenda
President Pro-Tempore Albert Chie
A highly depleted Senate on Tuesday, October 17, resumed its last and final segment of the 6th Session of the 54th Legislature in the Senate Chambers, with Senate President Pro-tempore, Albert Chie outlining agenda items to be considered by his colleagues.
Top on the agenda announced by Chie at the opening session in the Senate’s chambers is the discussion of the draft 2024 National Budget, which was recently sent by President George Weah to that august body.
Chie also highlighted the issue of the monitoring and the implementation of the recently passed drug law, reviewing of programs for the rehabilitation of drugs affected-persons and the discussion of the Public Health Law formed part of the Agenda for the Session.
According to a Senate Press Release, also forming part of the Agenda for the last Segment of the 6th Session of the 54th Legislature are the ratification of few incentives Agreements as well as the convening of the first Session of the 55 Legislature, amongst others.
The resumption of the final Sitting of the 6th Session of the 54th Legislature follows the end of the Second Constituency break on Friday, October 13, 2023.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s session was virtually empty as many of the senators have been out of Monrovia campaigning to retain their respective seats while some, who are not seeking reelection have been campaigning for their presidential candidates.
Of the number of 15 Senators seeking reelection in the ensuing Presidential and Legislative Elections, there are indicators that only two are poised to return and form part of the 55th Legislature.
The two notable returnees who were overwhelmingly voted by their respective counties are President Pro-tempore Chie of Grand Kru County and Nimba County Senator, Prince Y. Johnson.
Prior to the adjournment recently for its Second Constituency break, the Liberian Senate ended a two week Special Session acting on key Legislative Instruments, including the Amendments to the Bea Mountain Mineral Concession Agreement and the confirmation of nominees of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, amongst others.
Meanwhile, Senate Pro-tempore Chie on Tuesday joined Liberians and members of the international Community to stress the need for transparent, free, fair and violent-free elections.
He also reiterated his confidence in the National Elections Commission thereby expressing his opinion that the electoral body is handling the process very well despite some challenges faced by the August body.