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LDI releases Report Card…Rivercess performs poorly |
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Written by Moses Wenyou
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Friday, 23 April 2010 |
A Legislative Report Card released by the Liberia Democratic Institute has rated Rivercess County as having the poorest record of attendance in plenary sessions.
According to the LDI first quarterly Report Card for this year, Rivercess County obtained an average attendance record of “F” in both Houses of the Legislature.
The Report Card also named Grand Cape Mount, Maryland, River Gee and Sinoe Counties as having very poor attendance record in the House of Representatives.
The LDI Report Card, recorded a total of twenty-two sessions over the three Month period.
The Report Card shows two Senators, Theodore Momo of Gbarpolu and Frederick Cherue of River Gee attended all 22 sessions and therefore obtained 100%.
On the other hand, the Report Card shows Sen. Joyce Sumo of Montserrado County got the least attendance score, having attended nine out of the twenty-two sessions.
In the House of Representatives, Thomas Fallah and Moses Tandanpollie of Montserrado got 100% for attending all sessions.
The LDI Report Card shows Representatives Richard Holder of Montserrado attended three sessions, David Saydee of Maryland four sessions, James Biney of Maryland six sessions and Jerry Masseh of Rivercess six sessions.
The Report also recorded only two bills were passed by the House and the Senate with nearly thirty bills still lingering in Committees' rooms.
The LDI Report Card was released Friday under the theme: Beyond the Legislative veil, See Your Lawmakers at work.
‘Secret sessions need to be reviewed’
Meanwhile, the head of the LDI, Dan saryee has called on the National Legislature to review its standing rules on secret sessions.
Mr. Saryee said the “secret session syndrome” at the Legislature is undermining the transparency and accountability commitment of that body.
He observed secret sessions are more prevalent in the Senate where lawmakers take behind closed-doors critical national decision-making issues.
Mr. Saryee said the reasons behind the closed-door sessions could be an attempt to evade public monitoring of how decisions are derived and who the proponents are.
The LDI boss said most of the secret sessions held by the Legislature especially the Senate lack State security justifications, consistent with best Legislative practices.
He said while the LDI does not support the abolition of secret sessions, the Legislature should have more opened deliberations to enhance transparency and participation.
Mr. Saryee spoke Friday when he released the LDI’s first quarterly Legislative Report Card.
The LDI boss also recommended that membership in the Legislature be a full time job, which would obligate lawmakers to their legislative responsibilities.
Mr. Saryee observed many lawmakers of diverse professional backgrounds use their absences from plenary to attend to private businesses.
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