By John H. T. Stewart
Out of a five-day work week they work only two days, Tuesday and Thursday. The remaining days, according to them is for Constituency visits and Consultations.
But do they actually consult their Constituents? Do they ever inform their constituencies about allocations; in the budget for development in their respective Constituencies or Districts or better still how such funds are being spent?
They never do. Most Legislators according to Capitol Building insider sources especially members and heads of certain committees. During budget hearings, according to insider sources members of the Ways and Means Committees of both Houses”, the practice is to invite the head of a Ministry or government to the Capitol.
At the Capitol the heads of Agencies/Ministries/ SOEs will meet with the joint Committee of both Houses.
They will come outright in the open and demand kick-backs in return for Increase in the respective entity’s budget. For example if an entity seeks an increase in its budget from 20m to 30m, the Legislators will up the amount to 60m so when the budget is passed the entity will receive the US30m and reaming US30m will go to the Legislators.
For Heaven’s sake if this is not racketeering and highway daylight robbery then what is it? Things have gone so bad to the point where administrative functions of the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate have been usurped by Heads of Committees.
Mundane functions such as the issuance of gas slips, etc. are being handled not by the appropriate administrative officers but by Legislators themselves.
Lest I forget they pass into law all kinds of lopsided Concession Agreements detrimental to the National interest.
Whenever the public hears Legislators talking about having the President recall them from their unjustifiably long agricultural break, it means they are expecting to be paid sitting fees.
That is in addition to their unjustifiably high salaries and benefits while most Liberians have to survive on less than a dollar a day. The insensitivity of our Legislators to the plight of the ordinary Liberians is troubling. Their greed appear to have no limits.
I can bet my last dime that the offices of the Minister of Finance and that of the head of LRA have become their farm roads. I would implore and urge both heads Augustine Ngafuan and Dorbor Jallah to erect obstacles on their farm roads and make the fulfillment of their roguish ambition just a Pipe Dream.
Going forward we shall begin to examine their Voting records so the public can know and understand that they are being betrayed by those in whom they have placed their trust. We shall name and shame all those Racketeers and Thieves of State.
Of noteworthy mention, there are a few good ones who are making the difference and we applaud them. But more to that we entreat them to join the fight against Thieves of State.
Racketeers or Legislators we ask!
