SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba – Nimba Superintendent Fong G. Zuagele revealed that his county’s lawmakers have refused to attend a two-day dialogue and the consultative meeting being staged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the Zuagele’s media coordinator, Paul K. Karnue, the meeting aimed to settle grievances between members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, in addition to discussing the government’s decentralization agenda, with a focus on the election of local government officials at the county level.

Karnue said the 11 caucus members were extended invitations to the meeting. However, the only lawmaker in attendance was Rep. Larry P. Younquoi of Nimba’s eighth district and the chairman of the Committee on Good Governance at the House of Representatives.

Karnue made the disclosure early Monday morning in an interview with Voice of Gompa in Ganta.

“Actually, the dialogue in Sanniquellie was very much interesting, in that it was intended to bring the lawmakers and those they are representing at the National Legislature together to talk about some issues that are affecting them, most especially, as it relates to the implementation of the County and Social Development Funds,” Karnue said.

The Nimba County administration has had similar problems with absent caucus members in the past. “Hon. Larry P. Younquoi is the only one who has always made it his business to appear in most of our important meetings when we call upon the caucus,” Karnue said.

During the meeting, district commissioners stressed the need to be represented at the County Council Sitting as delegates, instead of as observers.

The County Council Sitting is the highest decision-making forum of the county, where county leaders decide what their County and Social Development funds should be used for.

Karnue said the commissioners argued that when it comes to decision-making for the district and the county as a whole, they should be given the first priority because they as commissioners understand the condition of the people.

Another issue highlighted during the meeting, Karnue said, was the fact that the current version of the Local Governance Act does not take into consideration several factors that would bring about negative emotions or tribal sentiments.

“One thing this document did not take into consideration is the issue of ethnicity,” Karnue said, expressing the need to limit the effects of voting based on ethnicity.

“This was a very serious issue that was raised on the floor and became a very tough issue,” he said.

Karnue also believes that if officials are elected by simple majority, as the bill currently stipulates, it may cause trouble for the country in the future.

“If we are looking at this issue of a simple majority that is in the Local Governance Act, then, of course, it has the propensity to create chaos for Liberia,” he said.

Karnue said the absent legislators have not given any reason for missing the meeting.

Featured photo by Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs