-Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah reveals.
By: Jerromie S. Walters
With less than 26 days to Liberia’s October 10, 2023, general elections, the National Elections Commission (NEC) through its Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah has disclosed that they are yet to receive $USD3.2 million, that’s intended to ensure a smooth conduct of the pending elections.
During a radio appearance on state radio (ELBC) on Thursday, September 14, 2023, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah said the Commission has received $USD49.7million, out of the $USD53million that was allocated for the conduct of the October 10, 2023, general elections.
“With respect to how well situated we are when it comes to funding, we say that we have received most of the $USD53 million United States dollars that was budgeted for the elections. Something closed to $USD49.7million has been received, we anticipate that working with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, we will be able to receive the balance $USD3.2million for these elections which of course include a possible runoff.”
The National Elections Commission (NEC) Boss is curious about receiving the remaining money, to address other issues of the pending elections, and to ensure early preparation for the conduct of a runoff election, if the need arises.
“Forty-nine point seven plus million which come to us in Liberian and United States dollars, what we are saying, is that will there be a possible runoff?, we need to have this money so that we prepare all of our procurement processes prior to the date of the possible run up.”
Amid the gap, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah said the Commission is prepared logistically, to conduct the pending elections across the country.
“We are prepared logistically, despite the challenges that we see in the terrain, in terms of how we deploy our materials and staff to the field, but we also know that there are challenges in some of these areas so what we have done, we have procured vehicles through the our budgetary appropriation, we also have a process where we hired vehicles to convey our materials.”
The NEC Boss said if there are any other challenges that would perhaps prevent or slow their deployment down, they are in the position to take care of it.
At the same time, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah admonished candidates and political parties to avoid acts of violence, and abide by the Farmington River Declaration which they all signed and pledged to commit themselves to.
She maintained that the Farmington River Declaration does not provide punishment for candidates or parties that might be caught in violation, but it is expected of them to confine in the most peaceful ways possible, and abstain from acts that have the propensity to undermine the peacefulness of the elections.
“Because it is a commitment, it doesn’t really carry punishment, what it does is that if you make a commitment, it is expected that you live up to that.”
She added, All Liberians have the responsibility to ensure a nonviolent process in these elections.”
However, she said as it is embedded within the Farmington River Declaration, aggrieved parties or candidates have the right to take legal actions against other candidates that might trouble their constitutional and fundamental rights.
Liberia will conduct her third general elections since the end of the country’s brutal civil war, and first general election since the end of the United Nations peace keeping mission in the country.
Ahead of the elections, the European Union Elections Observation Mission in Liberia has vowed to impartially and independently monitor the October 10, 2023, elections, as they believe that the elections mark a significant milestone in consolidation of the Liberian democracy.
European Union Election Observation Mission to Liberia which is charged with mandate to observe all aspects of the electoral process and assess the extent to which the elections comply with international and regional commitments for elections, as well as with the laws of Liberia, on Saturday, September 9, 2023, deployed a team of twenty Long-Term Observers across the fifteen political sub-divisions of Liberia.
