MONROVIA, Montserrado – Albert Chie, the Senate pro tempore, has said the Senate will begin discussing the Dual Citizenship Bill today.

Chie told journalists that the bills to be discussed this Thursday include the Local Governance Act, the proposed Land Rights Act, and proposed constitutional amendments. Other items mentioned include the proposal on Dual Citizenship and a review of Standing Rules of the Liberian Senate. The pro tempore said deliberations on all the items mentioned would be open to the public except for the item on the standing rules.

Moreover, Chie said individual senators were gathering the relevant paperwork to declare their assets, as required by Liberia’s laws, through the office of the secretary of the Senate.

According to Chie, this is expected to be done by July of this year.

Meanwhile, the pro tempore has clarified that the US$535 million loan being obtained by the government is intended to pave the existing road from Buchanan to Maryland and not to build the coastal highway as has been speculated by some citizens.

“We are informed that the Executive Branch is presently engaging in talks with financial institutions for loans to construct that road segment, as well as other tons of roads leading to Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount counties at cost of US$535 million,” Chie said.

“It is our understanding that no loan has been signed. If there’s any loan to be signed, it will never be hidden; it will be sent for ratification and we will involve the public for discourse over the matter.”

Chie added, “We want to ensure the public that every loan that will be signed will be in the confines of good governance and will be used for the intended purpose.”

Featured photo by Brittany Danisch