Africa-Press – Liberia. Hearings into the controversial Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LMTI) Concession Agreement was made to pulse for several minutes due to an altercation between aggrieved employees of the Ministry of Transport and Montserrado County District #17 Representative Bernard Blue Benson Jr.
The verbal clash, which led to one of the aggrieved workers’ spokesman being thrown out of the hearing, was triggered by what appears to be a mockery of Liberians by the Montserrado County lawmaker.
According to our legislative reporter at the House Wing of the Legislature, while the House Joint Committee on Concession and Transport was laying out the procedures for the hearing to kick off, Rep. Bensen suddenly marched into the open gathering and condemned the aggrieved employees for their actions against the company.
In an irritating jab at the aggrieved employees, the Montserrado County District #17 lawmaker stated that they (aggrieved employees) are wasting their time, contending that the agreement is already a done deal no matter what.
The aggrieved employees’ spokesman being escorted out of the hearing
He publicly declared that the Transport Ministry employees’ continued protest action against the company has the propensity to drive away potential investors from coming to the country.
“We need to protect investors in this country; we need to respect our investors. All the things you people are doing are not called for – we need to change in this country,” Rep. Benson voiced out.
But the lawmaker’s assertion caused serious pandemonium as the aggrieved employees in discontentment, replied to him in a manner that sounded disrespectful to the lawmakers.
Noise then overtook the entire hearing, hence, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Bong County District #7 Representative Foday Edward Fahnbulleh ordered the Sergeant-At-Arms to throw a man identified as a spokesman of the group out of the hearing so as to cool the tension.
And following more than 30 minutes of exchanges, Presiding Officer Fahnbulleh called the meeting to order with the oath administered on witnesses from both Ministry of Transport including Minister Sirleaf Ralph Tyler and the management of LMTI.
Accordingly, the hearing itself was prematurely adjourned and scheduled to a later date due to the unpreparedness of the LMTI head, Mohammed Abou Darwick.
The hearing got stalled when the LMTI representative claimed ignorance of the summons and requested to speak through legal counsel, saying, “I am not aware that I am supposed to be here today. I want to speak through my lawyer because I am finding it hard to understand the ascent.”
But the appeal was not granted by the lawmakers on grounds that lawyers are not permitted to make representation at legislative proceedings such as the hearing.
Furthermore, Chairman Fahnbulleh, emphasizing the importance of transparency, revealed that the committee discovered two concession documents for the same contract.
He said the matter needs to be investigated and reviewed so as to do due diligence to the Liberian people.
Observing the witnesses’ lack of preparation, Rep. Ernest Manseah of Nimba County District #4 moved for the session to be rescheduled. The motion was then unanimously voted upon with some amendments made.
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