GBARNGA, August 27 (LINA) -Two rights groups have rejected their share of the money provided to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in Bong County to help fight the Ebola virus.
The Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) and the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) said they refused the money because the process of getting it was a “violation of the budget law governing the use of county resources.”
With the approval of the Bong Legislative Caucus, the county administration recently gave US$1,000 out of US$50,000 to CSOs as support to their engagement in the fight against the Ebola disease.
Speaking to the Liberia News Agency on Monday in Gbarnga, JPC Regional Coordinator Jesse B. Cole noted that the lawmakers violated the budget law by allotting the money in the absence of a county development sitting which is the highest decision-making body for the allocation and use of the fund.
“Both FIND and JPC have always helped citizens to understand the law and we can’t be the same group joining lawmakers, the county leadership and other organizations to violate constitutional provisions,” Cole noted.
He maintained that had the decision to use the Social Development Fund been reached at the county development sitting, FIND and JPC would have signed for their share, but they cannot because of the violation, and warned against a repeat.
Following the approval of US$50,000.00 by the Legislative Caucus, Superintendent Selena Polson Mappy on Tuesday, August 19, announced the availability of the money to enhance the fight against the Ebola disease.
Under the distribution, US$11,000 went to health workers, US$800 to each of the 13 districts, CSOs got US$1,000 and US$12,000 to the Ebola Treatment Center, among others.
Meanwhile, Senatorial candidate Attorney James K. Saybay has criticized the two rights organizations for rejecting the money.
According to him, they should have received the money and used it to buy materials and in return donate them to the County Health Team.
The money was, however, accepted by the Executive Committee of CSOs in the county.
LINA BK/TSS/PTK