MONROVIA, March 3 (LINA) - The Liberian Senate voted Tuesday to reject a motion calling for reconsideration of its decision to cite Youth and Sports Minister Eugene Nagbe.
With 13 against, two in favor and four abstentions, the senators quashed the motion of reconsideration filed by Bong County Senator Jewel Taylor.
The body maintained that the minister should appear on March 5 to give reasons why he should not held in contempt for obstructing the Senate’s functions.
The decision was taken during the body’s regular sitting following the reading of Senator Taylor’s communication dated March 2.
On February 26, the Senate decided to invite Minister Nagbe after he refused to appear before its ad-hoc committee on sports to clarify information surrounding the holding of the National County Meet in Grand Bassa County in March.
The Senate observed that the minister did not just refuse to appear, but wrote to ask the body to desist from proceeding with hearings into an activity it did not budget for, but should rather re-direct its energy towards preparing appropriation for the 2015/2016 budget for the county meet.
Senator Taylor argued that Rule 43.1 of the body’s standing rule mandates it to work and operate through its committees for normal business and as such, the senate should exercise caution and allow the committee to re-invite the minister for another appearance.
But the Senate maintained that issues that border on national reconciliation and development such as the county meet must be treated as immediate priority, and some ministers should not be allowed to find excuses in executing them.
LINA