Barely a day after the U.S. Department of State designated three officials of the Weah administration for visa restriction, the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Professor Albert Chie, has categorically denied and refuted the allegation of the United States government, describing the allegation as false and misleading, untrue and unfounded.
The Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Professor Albert Chie, Senator of Margibi County, J. Emmanuel Nuquay, and Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel Tweah, were on Monday, December 11, 2023 placed on visa restrictions by the U.S. government for soliciting money or other instruments of value from the public and private sectors and offered them to senators and/or representatives to pass laws and other legislative instruments. The action was instituted by the United States to further promote accountability for corrupt actors in Liberia.
However, Pro-Temp Chie has swiftly reacted to the US visa restriction, and argued that since his stewardship as administrative head of the Senate he has not taken a dime from any source and offered it to any of his colleagues of the legislative chambers or to any of their staff to manipulate legislative process, as stated by the US State Department.
“We categorically deny and refute these allegations. They are false and misleading, untrue and unfounded. Since my stewardship as administrative head of the Senate never have I taken a dime from any source and offered it to any of my colleagues in any of the legislative chambers or to any of our staff to manipulate legislative process. Clearly, Washington has been misinformed and misguided by detractors,” Pro-Temp Chie stated.
He vowed, in pursuance of justice and to remove his name and those of his targeted family members from the visa restriction list of the US State Department, to take advantage of the legal process available through the US legal system.
“To the highest decision makers in the Government of the United States of America, if your embassy in Liberia or the desk officers and other low-ranking officers in the State Department have not told you, let me inform you of just two (2) things: The Liberian Senate under my watch has instituted many procedural reforms which have improved legislative processes, such as the elimination of yea and nay votes for crucial legislative instruments and the abolishment of Executive or closed-door sessions to erase any doubt of secrecy; and everyone, including the US Embassy in Monrovia and other low-key officials in the State Department know that the process for the election for the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate for the 55th Legislature has started,” Pro-Tempore Chie observed.
According to him, the timing of the action taken on two key senators, Chie and Nuquay, is of concern. “We always hear that the United States believes in a free and fair electoral process; so, we are taken aback by the US visa restriction just a few weeks from the Senate leadership elections,” he noted.
“Distinguished colleagues, let me let you know (and I know you are already aware) that the allegations that Chie, Tweah and Nuquay have solicited bribes from public and private sources and given them to you to influence the legislative process impugn on your integrity as well, and you will take the appropriate action individually, severally and collectively as your wisdom dictates. No matter from which angle you look at it, that attack is on all legislators, whether from ruling position, from opposition or from no position,” the Pro-Temp added.
He made the observation Tuesday, December 12, 2023 on Capitol Hill in response to the US State Department’s visa restriction.
