The Senate Committee on Native Authorities, Peace and Reconciliation has carried out what critics known as a stage-managed listening to for the affirmation of the Deputy Minister-Designate for City Affairs Madam Fatima Bintu Sirleaf, who lied underneath oath throughout her first look earlier than the committee.
By Obediah Johnson
Madam Sirleaf was lately appointed to the Ministry of Inner Affairs and forwarded to the Senate for affirmation by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
She was extensively criticized for mendacity underneath oath on her educational credentials when she appeared earlier than the committee affirmation on October 22.
She initially advised senators that she holds a Grasp’s Diploma in Social Work with emphasis in Psychological Well being and Substance Abuse and a Minor in City Improvement—a declare that has since stirred public debate and scrutiny over its accuracy.
Senator J. Gblehbo Brown, Co-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Native Authorities, questioned whether or not her educational background aligned with the duties of Deputy Minister for City Affairs, given her sturdy basis in social work and psychological well being.
“In line with your CV, you might have a robust background in social work and psychological well being, contemplating the issues we’ve in Liberia immediately—medication killing our younger folks, folks going loopy and mad. Together with your experience, do you suppose you’re higher positioned or misplaced serving as Deputy Minister for City Affairs?” Senator Brown requested.
In response, Madam Sirleaf stated her “minor in city growth” ready her to handle challenges related to city development and rehabilitation.
“I consider that with city growth as my minor, it helped me change lives. I used to be in a position to assist rich folks in the USA who suffered habit. With the best way Liberia is rising, with overpopulation in cities together with Monrovia, I can educate folks about constructing rehab facilities in our cities,” she said.
However a FrontPage Africa’s investigation uncovered inconsistencies in Madam Sirleaf’s educational claims.
The FPA inquiry came upon that Kean College, the U.S.-based establishment the place Madam Sirleaf reportedly obtained her Grasp’s Diploma, doesn’t supply any course or program titled “City Improvement” inside its Social Work curriculum.
The embarrassing scenario, which quantities to perjury underneath the Liberian regulation, prompted the Senate Committee on Inner Affairs, Peace, Reconciliation and Native Authorities, to delay the submission of its report from the affirmation listening to to the Plenary for motion.
Plenary is the best determination making physique of the Liberian Senate.
Unprecedented listening to
Nonetheless, the committee, headed by Senator Johnny Kpehe of Bong county, has been underneath intense stress from some members of the manager and shut buddies of Madam Sirleaf, together with present and former authorities officers, to think about and advocate her to the Plenary for affirmation.
Consequently, the committee on Monday, November 17, carried out an unprecedented affirmation listening to, which lasted for lower than an hour on the Capitol Constructing, for Madam Sirleaf to beg for pardon for mendacity underneath oath
Biting Tongue
The holding of separate hearings for presidential nominees to make clear statements made throughout their affirmation or for mendacity underneath oath shouldn’t be a standard routine on the Liberian Senate.
However Madam Sirleaf was given the chance by members of the committee to confess to mendacity underneath oath and begged to be confirmed by the Senate.
“I’ll to begin with make clear that I maintain a Grasp’s Diploma in Social Work with specialised research in psychological well being and substance abuse and concrete growth. I apologize for an earlier misstatement which I discussed as a minor in city growth. My financial coaching is powerful and aligns with the calls for of this position significantly in group growth, social techniques and concrete resilience,” she said.
Madam Sirleaf has been accused of utilizing her social media platform to settle scores with these she thought of as critics and political opponents, primarily the Political Chief of the Various Nationwide Congress (ANC) Alexander B. Cummings and different officers.
She once more prolonged apologies for disrespect proven to anybody.
Many senators — together with Committee Chairman Johnny Kpehe and Senators Dabah Varpilah and Joseph Jallah — waived their proper to query the nominee through the listening to.
Grand Kru County Senator Numene Bartekwa known as on his colleagues to forgo points they could have with the nominee for the sake of her easy affirmation.
“This woman (Fatima) was speculated to be confirmed for a very long time. All of you-I don’t know no matter considerations allow them to put it on the desk,” Senator Bartekwa said, opting not to quiz the nomination.
However his assertions prompted his colleagues to right away name him to order.
Senator Nya Twayen of Nimba brazenly pledged to vote for the affirmation of the nomination and inspired his colleagues to do the identical.
Making request to nominee
Although she has not been confirmed by the Senate, Madam Sirleaf has already acquired a request from a member of the committee accountable for her affirmation.
“Congratulation as a result of I do know-even in my sleep, my vote is for you. However however, I gave you a communication that you need to see to behave when you’re confirmed,” Senator Gbotoe Kanneh said.
Nonetheless, just a few Senators together with Thomas Yaya Nimely, Gbleh-bo Brown and Edwin Melvin Snowe raised pertinent points with Madam Sirleaf through the listening to.
Senator Nimely raised concern over the choice taken by Madam Sirleaf to submit an outdated resume to the committee.
She said on her resume that she is a resident of the United States-something, which prompted her to once more apologize and pledged to replace her curriculum vitae.
“You don’t stay in Liberia since you gave me your resume that has an American tackle and phone numbers. You don’t stay right here, so how can I make you my Deputy Minister?” Senator Nimely said.
“I’ll replace that; I’m sorry for that Sir,” Madam Sirleaf responded.
Senator Nimely inspired Madam Sirleaf to all the time learn via her resume earlier than submitting for a job interview.
For his half, Senator Brown expressed concern over inquiry on the conduct of Madam Sirleaf.
“To your brief time in Liberia, have you ever offended anyone,” Senator Brown said.
He made particular reference to utterances made towards the ANC Political Chief Cummings, one thing which prompted one of many social gathering’s officers to request Madam Sirleaf to retract her assertion.
Madam Sirleaf, nonetheless, took accountability for feedback made on social media that might have offended anybody.
She admitted to receiving a grievance via e-mail from an unidentified official of the ANC requesting an apology and her failure to answer to the priority raised, claiming that, “I believed it was a junk e-mail anyway.”
Senator Snowe admonished the nominee and others towards making derogatory feedback towards opposition politicians in Liberia. He famous that opposition leaders are protected underneath the Liberian Structure to train their rights to multi-party democracy, and as such, they shouldn’t be scolded for opposing.
“We can’t create the ambiance that after you’re perceived as an opposition and also you specific your view as an opposition, you’re insulted-be it on which platform. I’ve nothing private towards you and I’m blissful that you’ve accomplished the correction in your resume,” he stated.
Political analysts consider that the second listening to carried out by members of the Senate Committee on Native Authorities, Peace and Reconciliation, was supposed to save lots of face in pleasing the manager and different closed associates whereas discharging their constitutional mandate.
It’s imminent that the “unprecedented and stage-managed” listening to would pave the best way for the affirmation of Madam Sirleaf who lied underneath oath.
In Liberia, the upholding of ethical rules and standings stay unusual amongst appointed and elected officers.
The affirmation of presidential nominees by members of the Liberian Senate based mostly on political patronage, affect, household or social ties, ethnic and tribal backgrounds stays an aged-old drawback on the Nationwide Legislature.
Analysts say this apply continues to allow the affirmation of incompetent or unqualified public officers, finally burdening the citizenry with the implications of poor management and underperformance by these permitted by the Senate.
