IPNews-Monrovia: The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), says December 8, 2020, Referendum conducted by the National Elections Commission was a ‘total Waste of Taxpayers Resources’.

The Council of Churches through its President, Bishop Kortu K. Brown, also termed as a waste of taxpayers’ and donors’ monies the outcome of the recent national referendum conducted in Liberia.

Founded in 1982, the LCC is an embodiment of churches and religious institutions in Liberia.

It can be recalled that eligible Liberian voters went to the polls on December 8, 2020 to cast their votes for the candidates in the senatorial election across the country, two separate by-elections in Sinoe and Montserrado Counties, and for eight (8) propositions proffered for the national referendum.

Paramount amount the propositions proffered for the referendum by the National Elections Commission (NEC) were: reductions of the term of the President from six to five years; Senator from nine to seven years, Representative from six to five years, and dual citizenship.

Others were: Shorten time for NEC to hear complaints, reduction in the term of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, reduction of the term of office of President Pro-Tempore, change in the date of elections.

The propositions sought to affect Articles 45, 46, 47, 48 and 50 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa recently, Bishop Brown pointed out that the lack the National Elections Commission “miserably and woefully failed” due to its inability to listen and put in place “preparatory processes” that could lead to the conduct of a successful referendum.

He added that the entire process was also a waste of the precious time of both international and local observers as well as citizens who stood under the rain and sun in long queues to cast their ballots during the conduct of the national referendum.

“We were advising the government about two months ago to suspend the holding of the referendum because; citizens were not ready for the referendum. The Council did all it could to encourage the government to suspend the holding of the referendum until we have done our ground work; but the government didn’t listen”.

“It was a waste of tax payers, donors’ monies and the waste of everything. The referendum results are unthinkable and laughable that we can have for the first time in our country’s history-invalid votes more than the valid votes. You ever saw that before in Liberia? This is happening during George Weah’s time. They should learn from this miserable mistake”.

Bishop Brown pointed out that it is “shameful” and demeaning for an electoral process to be conducted in Liberia where the invalid votes are more than the total number of valid votes cast.

He made specific reference to Bong County where over 403, 000 invalid votes were announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC), following the conduct of the referendum.

“This speaks to the way we take our national issues in this country. We take it as ordinary shopping things. Too many shadow talks of the processes. It is regrettable; if the government or the NEC had listened to the Council of Churches. What this speaks to is that, the people were not prepared for the national referendum.”

According to him, the flop in the conduct of the national referendum signifies that not much seriousness is being attached to critical issues by those responsible in Liberia, adding that, “things are most often taken for granted in Liberia”.

Take responsibility

Bishop Brown further called on the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government of President George Manneh Weah to take full responsibility of the poor outcome of the national referendum.

He, however, challenged authorities of the NEC to muster the courage to officially announce the total number of invalid and valid votes accumulated from the national referendum.

Stop digging pit

Meanwhile, the LCC President has called on Liberians to reflect on the building of their country, and desist from seeking the downfall of one another.

“I want to appeal to all Liberians to have pure hearts and willing minds. Let’s come together and reflect on how we can move our country forward and stop digging pits for one another because, the pit you dig for your friend you will fall in it. I don’t care where you are; in the government, media or church”.

Bishop Brown, however, called on government officials to give listening ears to suggestions and recommendations being proffered by stakeholders and citizens who want their country to move forward.

It may be recalled, prior to the holding of the Referendum, Former Chairperson of the Constitution Review Committee, Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott, is cautioning the National Elections Commission to go ahead to vigorously institute thorough education to the citizens of Liberia on various proposition of the Referendum.

The former Liberian Chief Justice wonders whether the National Elections Commission have sufficient Time to go out and educate voters on the new format of the referendum with the constitution prescribing not less than twelve months.

Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott warns that the credibility of the outcome will be undermined if it go ahead with the pending December 8, 2020, Referendum.

The former Chief Justice of Liberia, Cllr Gloria Musu Scott, cautioned the National Elections Commission (NEC) to be bold to advise the government that if the referendum proceeds in the way it is currently being handled, it will undermine the credibility of the outcome.

“I expect NEC to be bold enough to say that if we proceed this way, it will undermine the credibility of the outcome of this process, and accordingly advise the government- it will be in the best interest of NEC, the President and the republic; as an old country, we need to do things rightly,” Cllr. Scott said.

The former Chief Justice’s statement came days after the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that it is unconstitutional to place eight resolutions prepared for a national referendum into five portions. Article 92 of the Constitution stipulates that each proposed amendment to the Constitution must be accompanied by a statement which states the reason for the amendment and must be published in the Government’s official gazette.

It may further be recalled, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel MgGill, called for citizens to vote for all propositions for amendment. Amid the call, Cllr. Scott wondered why the Minister and other functionaries will drag the presidency to this level, saying it looks like a manipulation of the presidency, which is even a disservice to that office.

Cllr. Scott, who is also the former Chairperson of the Constitution Review Committee, emphasized that the Constitution stipulates that the amendment should not be voted on earlier than twelve months. She recalled that during the nationwide tour of the CRC, citizens agreed that the tenure of the presidency be reduced from six to four years; senators from nine to six; representatives from six to four.

“So, now that the Legislature has passed the resolution that is contained in the gazette changing the mandate of the citizens with respect to the CRC Report, it is incumbent upon those who have the responsibility, as per the Constitution, to go back to the people and explain to them reasons for the change and implications. But without doing that, you want to denigrate the work of the CRC and use it as a cloak…”? Former Chief Justice Scott emphasized the need to thoroughly educate the citizens on what it means if they say yes or no; “That is the responsibility of those functionaries who are assigned to perform such functions, and they should not hide under the work that we did. Do you know what it means to stand up as Minister of Presidential Affairs and say vote yes; you are speaking for the Presidency. Is that what we want, without explaining to the people why they should vote yes? That is abusing the decision of those who repose their confidence in the presidency. If you really love the President and want him to go down in history and have a legacy, do it right — that’s the best you can do for him, and this republic which is finding a direction.”

She maintained that the country is still in transition and has continued to suffer from misrule since the 1820s when the first group of those she described as the “colonialists” landed here and declared independence. “We need to govern this country in a different fashion; we have got to bend the corner and begin to govern this country with some level of integrity, compassion for people, fairness and equality. It can’t be the same way always that you people will create the situation, especially for whoever is now in leadership, to salute him, ‘hail Caesar, hail Caesar’; it is not in the best interest of the person that is in power but those who are hailing and manipulating,” she noted.

The legal luminary lamented that people have not learned that, “When we accumulate all of this, if that thing that defines us as Liberians, if that common denominator is not stable, rooted in the rule of law, enforcement of law, equality, justice, fairness, we lose it all — we have seen it in our lifetime; so we have got to stop it.”

Former Chief Justice who claims to be press-shy, however, asserted that the situation is so grave that she has to speak out. (Courtesy of FPA & IPNews)