As the National Legislature resumes its 5th session, Vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor, has urged the Liberian Senate to take deeper look at the 2022 National Budget.
“Implore your good office to take a deeper look at the budget proposal sent for concurrence, keeping in mind that this is our government’s last pre-electoral budget, which should take into consideration its direct effect on youth unemployment, accelerated digital platforms for our educational systems, increasing agricultural access, support, financing and provision of agro-processing facilities of farmers,” VP Taylor asserted.
Speaking at the opening of the 5th session, VP Taylor asked her colleagues to make provision for financial support to all county capital cities and educational system, financing for supplies, drugs and equipment for all county hospitals with necessary diagnostic equipment, ensuring the inclusion on the payroll of all volunteer teachers, local government personnel and healthcare workers, providing support for the improvement and revitalization of other key sectors such as tourism and economic empowerment to strengthen vulnerable groups.
She averred that there is a critical need to fully fund the National Elections Commission (NEC) so they are enabled to perform all their electoral activities in a timely manner, provide funds for a long-delayed census process, adequate funding for security sector improvement and operations and funding for the improvement of the Judiciary.
Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, during the opening of the 5th Session of the 54th Legislature, stated that there is a need to begin a new conversation around a new proposal for Constitutional amendment, which is a compelling necessity, considering the need for a new democratic paradigm for Liberia which, “if completed and passed into law, will be a true legacy for our nation credited to the members of the 54th Legislature”.
Also speaking at the opening of the 5th session, President Pro-Tempore, Albert T. Chie, noted that the Liberian Senate will continuously look at the issues of security and electricity, especially its distribution, and the perennial problems in the educational and health sectors.
“As legislative and presidential elections will be held next year, the Senate will propose amendments to the elections law and prepare to submit for referendum during the 2023 elections,” Pro-Temp Chie stated.
However, Pro-Temp Chie intimated that from the special session, which ran from October 18 to December 18, 2021, “we brought over the 3rd amendment to the AcelorMittal mineral development agreement, the Bao CHICO mineral development agreement and the 2022 National Budget”.