Africa-Press – Liberia. Ordinary Liberians are asking the hard question about what becomes of US$1.8 million allotted in the FY2025 National Budget to renovate the Capitol in the wake of China’s reported willingness to revamp the Joint Chamber at the Capitol.
Liberians have raised concern about US$1.8 million approved in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Budget, to renovate the Joint Chamber of the Capitol Building that was gutted by fire on December 18, 2024. This followed a revelation by Senate President Pro-Temp, Nyonblee Kangar-Lawrence, when he announced that the People’s Republic of China has agreed to rehabilitate the Joint Chamber.
In an opening address at the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, October 21, when she provided update on her recent trip to China, Pro-temp Senator Kangar Lawrence announced that while on her official trip to Beijing, China, she met with H.E., Chairman Zhao Leji, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) China’s legislative body.
She disclosed that she has also met a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and falls behind President Xi Jinping and the Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, making him the third most senior leader in China.
“We had a friendly dinner, and while at the dinner, I made a request for the repair of the joint chamber that got burned and the renovation of the offices in the Capitol building. He immediately requested the presence of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and in the presence of the Liberian Ambassador to China and I. He instructed the inclusion of his request for projects approved for Liberia, “Pro-Tempore Kangar-Lawrence stated.
The doyen of the Liberian cabinet, at the same time, pointed out that she also met with Mr. CHEN Xiaodong, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the agency in charge of foreign aid, and the project requested by the legislature was also highlighted in the meeting by the two of them.
“Also, the request for scholarships and exchange programs for legislative staffers was also approved.
Today, I will turn over a report to the committee on foreign affairs to continue the processes, and a communication regarding this will be sent to the Speaker of the House. The Liberian Embassy in Beijing, China, will also send an official report on the visit to the Foreign Ministry. I want to thank my distinguished colleagues for their support always.” She concluded.
The Liberian Senate’s Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget last year proposed an initial sum of US$1.8 million in the 2025 draft budget for the renovation of the Joint Chamber, which was damaged by a fire in December 2024.
The allocation, according to the Committee, is intended to start the restoration process immediately upon the budget’s passage, with the legislature wanting to show commitment to fixing the building itself rather than relying solely on international partners.
The proposal was a subject of debate, with some questioning about the lack of a detailed assessment before the amount was proposed. Meanwhile, the Liberian Senate has not provided any updates to the public regarding the implementation of the funds since the budget’s passage.
Disappointingly, the public has yet to see any visible work on the funds, for which they are demanding answers, given the Chinese government’s commitment to renovating the Capitol.
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