MONROVIA, September 5 (LINA) - Bong County Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor is calling on the National Legislature to “immediately engage” the Executive on the suspension of Article 83 (a) of the Liberian Constitution.

Article 83 (a) calls for the voting for President, Vice-President, Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, to be conducted on the second Tuesday of October each election year throughout the country.

Senator Taylor, in an interview with reporters at her Capitol Building office Thursday, indicated that during emergency periods, the President may suspend certain rights, freedoms and guarantees contained in the Liberian Constitution.

According to Senator Taylor, the Article further calls on the President to exercise such and other emergency powers as may be necessary and appropriate to take care of the emergency, subject, however, to the limitations contained in the chapter.

Taylor said Liberians are in a period of medical crisis and that the constitution does not guarantee anyone under such condition to hold elections which should be the basis of every democratic government.

The Senator further said that no incumbent Senator has any intention of taking the Legislature to “be their farm”, but that the best thing to do is suspend the elections and decide a new date that would be feasible for the full participation of all citizens.

“It would be very inhumane and insensitive, if we do not conduct elections in a normal medical situation for the participation of every citizen, whether aspirant, electorates or local and international partners,” she added.
LINA WTD/TSS/PTK