Members of the House of Representatives are considering to Repeal and Amend certain provisions of the Local Government Act of 2018 that will give the county Legislative Caucus oversight responsibility of the county budget and development approval process.
The Bill titled โAn Act To Repeal Section 2.2 Sub-Sectionฬ (e&f) of the Local Government of 2018; was introduced in the House by Hon. Jeremiah Sokan Sr., during the 10th day sitting of the 2nd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature of Liberia.
According to the Electoral District 1 Grand Gedeh County lawmaker, the exclusion of the county Legislative Caucus involvement in exercising its oversight responsibility undermines the principles of checks and balances as well as hindering effective local governance; something Hon. Sokan believes could lead to the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the county resources.
The proposed law seeks to Repeal and replace Sub-Section 2.2 (e) โApprove the annual county budget โ and sub-section 2.2(f) โApprove a county development plan and its implementationโ.
Following the reading of the Bill, Plenary instructed the Committees on Good Governance, Ways Means and Finance, Internal affairs and Judiciary to review and advise the body within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Plenary of the Honorable House of Representatives has also mandated its relevant committees to review the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
The Protocol Agreement was submitted to the House of Representatives for ratification by Pres. Joseph Nyumah Boakai on Tuesday, 17 June during the 10th day sitting of the 2nd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature.
The WTO Agreement on Fishery Subsides bans subsides for harmful fishing activities that threaten ocean sustainability.
It also requires members of the World Trade Organization to prohibit subsidies vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks, and Unregulated high seas fishing.
When Ratified by the Legislature, Liberia will benefit by enhancing the sustainability of its marine fisheries, supporting 33,000 small-scale fishersโ livelihoods as well as allows Liberia to seek assistance from the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism for technical
Support and capacity building.
After reading the instrument and deliberations on the floor, the House Plenary mandate to Committee on Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and Judiciary to review and advise the body within two weeks.
