-Sen. Augustine S. Chea, others confirm her victory as Liberia’s next Senate Pro Tempore
By Jerromie S. Walters
As the legislature goes to elections today, Senator Augustine S. Chea has unofficially announced Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence as the next Pro tempore of the Liberian Senate.
His comment comes following a negotiation between senators over the weekend, during a special retreat held Saturday, January 13, 2024. It was reported that the Liberian Senate, during its two-day retreat at Farmington Hotel, held talks to ensure a consensus to elect Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence as Pro-Tempore of the 55th National Legislature.
The report provided that the initial declaration of intent by Grand Bassa Senator Gbehzohngar Milton Findley was diluted to negotiations led by outgoing Protem Albert Chie in favor of Senator Nyoublee Karngar Lawrence.
However, for such negotiations to be finalized, it was made known that Senators from both blocs resulted in “Give and Take” for Leadership positions and other posts. If it works out this way, Madam Lawrence will emerge as the next Pro tempore of the Liberian Senate.
As another acknowledgment of this report, Senator Augustine Chea late Saturday wrote: “We’ve lost the race for President Pro Tempore. Our candidate didn’t make it to the finish line. Even the party’s loyal Senators who stayed the course until late Saturday afternoon when the Resolution of the Senate Retreat was signed by 17 Senators in support of the other candidate, surrendered when we realized we’ve been conquered or that with or without us, the deal was done.
Chea: “But adding insult to injury was the fact that some of the independent Senators we depended on abandoned us, probably because of our choice of candidate and/or the failure to reach out to them early. Next Monday’s Senate President Pro Tempore election will be a mere formality. Senator Karnga-Lawrence will become the next President Pro Tempore.”
Following the Senate retreat, Senator Lawrence wrote via her official Facebook page Saturday evening: “My mouth full seh! We give God the Glory.”
the Senate Pro Tempore position in the Liberian Senate is quite important. The Pro Tempore serves as the presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the Vice President, who is the constitutional presiding officer. The Pro Tempore is responsible for maintaining order and decorum during Senate sessions, ensuring that the Senate’s rules and procedures are followed.
Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru County is the current Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate. He’s not seeking reelection because the post is constitutionally intended to be held by a Senate member for six years.
Article 47 of the 1986 Constitution mandates, “The Senate shall elect every six years a President Pro Tempore who shall preside in the absence of the President of the Senate. With this, the Liberian Senate seeks to elect a new Senate Pro Tempore today, January 15, 2024.
At today’s poll, the two Senators from Grand Bassa County, Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence and Gbehzohngar Milton Findley will go head to head (democratically) for the position.
