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Written by Abraham Morris- 231886294820- abrahammorrisabrahammorris@gmail.com
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Friday, 18 January 2013 05:55 |
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The Speaker of the 53rd National Legislature, Alex Tyler, has noted that access to information is essential to empowering the central effective interventions in the area of democratic governance and poverty reduction which are vital to strengthening accountability, transparency, participation and the rule of law.
Speaker Tyler spoke yesterday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism in Monrovia.
According to him, the promotion to and protection of both accesses to information between government, the private sector the media and the citizenry are of equal importance of which the 53rd Legislature is very pleased and supportive of.
He said forty nine of the old legislators elected in 2011 decided to host a legislative retreat to expose some of their colleagues to some legislative skills and techniques, which was held in Bong County in March 2012.
Speaker Tyler said in the same year, they took their colleagues again to Careysburg, Montserrado County, for a budget retreat which was intended to sharpen their skills in budget vetting as well as learning other legislative approaches in performing their oversight in representing and lawmaking, which according to him, was intended to acknowledge their colleagues of the three cardinal reasons they were elected.
Speaker Tyler also indicated that during 2012, both Houses were able to pass twenty five bills while fifty are still in committees’ rooms which include the Decent Work bill, Code of Conduct, Tax Reform Law, among others.
The Bomi County lawmaker also indicated that during the past year, both Houses decided to take a review of the oil sector because of some discrepancy within the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), contrary to its mandate which it was setup for.
He said the company is the one making policy, regulating as well as managing proceeds, which according to him, does not conform to international best practices.
“There will be no violation if legislation is passed and there is no discovery of oil, so it is better to make good laws on the book so that when there is a discovery, there will be a strong law to protect the sector,” Speaker Tyler noted.
Meanwhile, the Bomi County lawmaker has again indicated that they (Legislators) will ensure that the mandate of the legislature will not be compromised.
Speaker Tyler also said they will ensure that ministries and agencies submit their quarterly reports to the legislature so as to enable them (legislators) make informed decisions in order to meet the needs and aspirations of the citizenry. |
