The Superintendent of Bomi County, Samuel Brown, told the Liberia News Agency that the Caucus failed to attend the meeting because he refused to order the closure of the Chinese Company Chico, which is operating in the county.

Superintendent Brown said on the scheduled date of the meeting, he received information that the Caucus will not attend the meeting due to his refusal to close down the company.

He told delegates at the meeting that the Legislative Caucus instructed him to close down the company in January, but that he refused to do so because the instruction did not come from his boss, the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Besides, he added, the instruction from the Caucus was not implemented because the company has met all requirements and has the legitimate right to operate in the county, adding that closing the company’s operations should be done through the legal process.

Superintendent Brown made the disclosure on Wednesday in Dewein District, Bomi County. He told the delegates that the meeting was intended to outline development projects to be undertaken in the county in 2014.

Superintendent Brown said the meeting could not be held because under the Budget Law, the Chairman of the County Legislative Caucus should preside over the County Sitting Meeting, with all the members of the Caucus present.

However, a member of the Legislative Caucus, House Speaker Alex Tyler, who arrived after the meeting was adjourned, clarified that the absence of the caucus members was not due to the refusal of the Superintendent to stop the company.

Speaker Tyler said it was due to the engagement of the legislators on national issues. He asked the superintendent to reschedule the meeting for another date, at which time, he assured, all the members of the legislative caucus would be present.

The Speaker said the development of the county should be of major concern to all citizens of the county, the legislative caucus being no exception.

Over 100 persons, including the delegates from the four districts in the county, were present at the venue of the meeting in Dewein District.
LINA DPS/TSS/PTK