IPNEWS-Monrovia: Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe, who is a close ally of President George Weah has called for the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) indicted acting Director General of the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), Mr. Lawrence George to be booted out of the entity.
Senator Snowe speaking on SPOON TALK online platform on Thursday, November 17, 2022 said it is unthinkable for Mr. George to be heading the LISGIS at this time in point when he has been indicted by the LACC, and he needs to be cleared of all accusations before he can serve in that position if need be.
In June 2022, the LACC through its Executive Chairperson Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin called for the prosecution of several government officials due to corruption following investigation by the anti-graft institution.
Cllr Martin had released several investigative reports to the public in which he called for the prosecution of several government officials for corruption.
Cllr. Martin told a news briefing that officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, and the Planned Parenthood Association acted against the laws in the discharge of their duties.
Flashback: LISGIS officials being inducted prior to the corruption saga the swamped the institution
At the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, the Executive Chairperson Cllr Martin informed the Liberian people that Director General Francis Wreh, his deputies Wilmot Smith, and Lawrence George violated several laws in the purchase of second-handed generators, and the procurement of tablets for the 2022 National Census.
On November 14, 2022, President George Weah sacked with immediate effect the acting Director General of LISGIS, Wilmot Smith, and the Deputy Director General for Statistics and Data Processing, Alex M. Williams. The decision, the Liberian Leader said, is based on administrative reasons. Both men were then ordered to turn over all properties belonging to the institution in their possession.
Meanwhile, President Weah had then designated the LISGIS Deputy Director General for Administration, Lawrence George, to act as Director General while Prof. Francis Wreh is on a leave of absence. The President then urged all those holding positions of public trust to act with diligence and seriousness in the discharge of their duties.
LACC -indicted Acting LISGIS Director Lawrence George
However, in the wake of President Weah appointing the LACC-indicted Lawrence George to act, the Bomi County Senator, Edwin Snowe has asked that Mr. George be booted out of LISGIS because of the LACC indictment that hangs over him, and at the same time the LACC has called for him and those who were indicted to be prosecuted to clear their names or be convicted once all pieces of evidence are produced.
Senator Snowe then disclosed that in the spirit of coordination, it is his belief when the Senate resumes section next Tuesday, they will work along with the Executive branch of government to resolve the census impasse that has come to trouble Liberia.
Senator Snowe also called on the leadership of the country to always heed pieces of advice that come from experts for the good of Liberia no matter their political, religious or tribal affiliation, because Liberia is for every Liberian and every Liberian is under obligation to contribution to the development and growth of the country.
Of late, Liberia has been embroiled in census noise with enumerators demanding their training allowances, as well as noise over deployment of enumerators. Up to date, it is unclear what is being done by LISGIS to remedy the situation but it is a glaring fact that the National Census is heading for failure if nothing tangible is done.
