GANTA, Nimba – Rep. Larry P. Younquoi of Nimba’s ninth electoral district called in to the Voice of Gompa radio station Wednesday morning to inform listeners that the final public hearing to determine the propositions for the constitutional referendum was underway at the Capitol Building in Monrovia.

Younquoi, who headed the Constitution Review Committee at the Legislature, said that “the process that we have been engaged in is actually coming to an end.”

“So, we have decided to hold a major and final hearing today, February 24^th, so that we can close the chapter on information from the public,” he noted.

Younquoi said the legislature was expecting to hear from several personalities including Dr. Henry Topka, the former president of the Cuttington University, who would speak on the government’s decentralization agenda.

Younquoi said Tokpa would be providing information on one of the proposals that calls for the elections of city mayors, superintendents, district commissioners, as well as paramount chiefs. Tokpa would also speak on the formation of a County Legislative Assembly that would supersede the County Council Sitting.

Younquoi said legislators considered incorporating the decentralization plan into the proposals as one of the most important issues. While the original list of proposals from the Constitution Review Conference in Gbarnga called for electing local officials, it did not provide much details about the mechanics, as is provided in the draft Local Governance Act. Younquoi said “that proposition needs to be expanded upon more and more; so that legislators can see whether it can be included in the referendum.”

Younquoi also mentioned the expected presence of the Land Commission at the forum. According to him, the commission would be providing in-depth information on the Land Rights Act that is currently at the National Legislature for review.

Naming a host of institutions to be present at the forum, he said groups representing women, the disabled community, and the youth would be present. He said each group would be arguing their cases for better representation to a session of joint legislative members.

Younquoi said one of the already dismissed propositions that had brought about serious debate between Muslims and Christians was the issue of Christianizing Liberia.

He said at the forum today, leaders from the Christian community, represented by the Liberia Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council of Liberia would be in full attendance to state their cases.

Younquoi said after today’s hearing, the members of the joint legislative committee would meet and have a final debate to lay matters to rest.

“This we will have to do not later than Tuesday or Wednesday and present it to the President for her endorsement,” he said. “If this is done, the referendum should take place within the next 12 months before we go to elections.”

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah