Legislators Accuse Executive Of Butchering Their Laws

New Democrat (Monrovia)

18 May 2011

Legislators are claiming that laws they passed have resurfaced from the Executive altered in their final forms, thus changing their meanings and diluting their strengths.

Rep. Bhofal Chambers (UP) of Maryland County, in an interview with this paper Tuesday, cited the Legislature’s Joint Resolution on the Referendum, in which voters are to vote on several constitutional amendments. He said according to the Joint Resolution, voters are to choose life-time service for Supreme Court Chief Justice and Associate Justices. But he said the version on which voters are to vote has been altered, specifying an age limit of 75. He said he has no idea who changed it because he was co-chair of the Committee that drafted the proposition.

Proposition 2 of the Joint Resolution 001 (2010) states that: “…To amend Article 72(b) so that the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court shall serve for life, except for Judges of the subordinate courts of records who may be retired at age seventy…”

Another instance frequently mentioned is the Act creating the Anti-Corruption Commission. In its original form, the Act stipulated that the President ‘shall’ consult civil society in appointing the Commission’s chair. In its final form, the version tempered with, it stipulates that the President ‘may’ consult, making consultation optional.

Lofa County Senator Sumo Kupee, called a radio talk show on the subject to register his disapproval of what he was the practice of altering laws the Legislature has passed.

Contacted, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Executive Mansion denied any role in altering laws.

Since it is now obvious to the legislators that the Executive usually changes laws passed by them, a situation that displeases them, what many wish to know is whether the lawmakers will do anything about it, or whether they will let the Executive continuously have its way.

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