By S Winston Blyden, Sr.
The 54th Speaker of the House of Representatives Chambers, Thursday February 28, 2019 allowed twenty seven (27) assigned reporters that were purportedly disallowed by his directive for the last
two sessions.
The House of Representatives’ decision follows a communication addressed to House Speaker
Bhofal Chambers dated February 27, 2019 from members of Legislative Press Pool (LEGISPOL)
in which the Reporters outlined the constitutional violation by the decision to revoke and sounded threatened to seek legal redress and as well issue blackout if the Speaker insists to rescind his decision by allowing all assigned reporters into the Chamber of the House of the House of Representatives.
It may be recalled, last session, the sitting chairs for over 30 assigned reporters were reduced by nine,barring scores of independent media institutions from covering the plenary session of the House of Representatives under the gavel of Speaker Chambers.
The leadership of the Lower House took said decision two days after the Press Bureau of the
House of Representative supervised by Director Isaac G. Redd revoked the accreditations of four assigned Reporters including the President of the Legislative Press Pool, Musa Kenneh on account of being Redundant and Repetitive in a letter addressed to RCI Truth FM.
The decision by Speaker Chamber’ Leadership has been condemned by scores of media organizations including, Legislative Press Pool, Reporters Association of Liberia, Reporters Without Borders and other international media entities describing such action as violation of the Press Freedom law recently passed by the Legislature as well as Article 15 of the Liberian constitution which protects free speech and free press.
As it is now, members of LEGISPOL is still demanding Speaker Chambers and the House Leadership to ensure that reporters assigned at the Legislature freely and without hindrance inform the people of Liberia.
This paper spoke with Mr. Kenneh on the latest decision taken by Dr. Chambers to allow
Reporters disallowed last session Thursday following consultations behind camera AS WELL AS CAVEAT to issue blackout- He’s what he has to say, “ This is first victory for independent reporting in the House of Representatives and we will continue to constructively engage until my accreditation is restored,” he said..
Musa Kenneh said his work as a leader was to ensure that his members’ rights to cover the plenary of the House of Representatives are restored.
“We should not allow this creeping act of suppression of the press and the attempt by the Speaker to ensure that independent journalists report at his will and pleasure” Kenneh said.
