MONROVIA, October 22 (LINA) – The Liberian Senate has cited the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Walter Gwenigale, to appear on Tuesday, October 28, with a medical report confirming the illness that prompted non-appearance before that body on Tuesday, October 21.
The Senate had earlier cited the Health Minister to appear with his legal counsel on Tuesday, October 21, to give reasons why he should not be held in contempt for saying that “the Liberian Senate was supportive of ongoing strike actions in the country.”
However, Dr. Gwenigale failed to appear, claiming that he was ill with hypertension (referred to locally as ‘high blood pressure’) and a mild headache.
The decision on the medical report was taken after the reading of Gwenigale’s letter and a subsequent motion by Sinoe County Senator Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan requesting the plenary to accept the Minister’s communication and reschedule his appearance.
“After my appearance at the Senate last Thursday, my blood Pressure went up, and is still up, with mild headache,” the minister said in his letter.
He added: “Appearing before you again on Tuesday (October 21), will further increase my pressure, so I kindly request that my appearance be rescheduled to a time my illness is stabilized.”
During the discussions, Senators Geraldine Doe Sheriff of Montserrado, Dallas Gueh of River Cess, among other Senators, indicated that the issues surrounding the Minister’s appearance be dismissed, because, he might just want to use his current posture as continued excuse for not adhering to the body’s citation.
LINA WTD/GDJ/TSS/PTK/JKW