By: Jerromie S. Walters
In a bid to step up the country’s transport game, the Honorable House of Representatives is reviewing a bill seeking to establish a ferry transport service to be operated by the National Transit Authority (NTA) across the country.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2023, the Ferry Bill was approved by the Senate and forwarded to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Following the reading of the Senate’s bill on Thursday, May 16, 2023, a motion was proffered by Rep. Ivar Jones, and through a unanimous vote, the House’s Plenary mandated the Joint Committee on Transport and Judiciary to review and advise the plenary one week after its resumption on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
As disclosed by the lawmakers, the bill, when enacted into law by the Legislature, will expand the scope of operation of the NTA to provide marine or waterway transportation using ferry boats as an alternative to buses, which cannot reach many parts of the country.
Additionally, it has been made known that the NTA shall not only acquire, equip, or manage the ferry or ferries but also build passenger or cargo terminals in each county, as well as maintenance facilities.
At the same time, Montserrado County Electoral District #13 Representative, Edward P. Flomo, has proposed several legislations for enactment into law by members of the House of Representatives. The proposed legislation includes “An Act Setting Criterion for the Possession of Firearms in the Republic of Liberia” and “An Act to Create a Special Education Fund for Support and Sustainability of West Africa Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) Fees Payment for Sixth, Ninth, and Twelfth Graders in Liberia”.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Rep. Flomo said these proposed legislations are in the best interest of the people and government of Liberia in that the Setting Criterion for the Possession of Firearms Act in Liberia will go a long way to curtail the wrongful handling or bearing of firearms in Liberia and that the Special Education Fund Act will ensure that parents of sixth, ninth, and twelfth-grade students who cannot afford the payment of fees for the West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE) will be given the opportunity to acquire the same.
The lawmaker’s communications have been forwarded to the Committees on Education, Ways and Means, Judiciary, and Defense and Security to report to the Plenary.
