SENATOR CHIE WANTS CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW TO REDUCE TENURE FOR PRESIDENT AND OTHERS

By Laymah Kollie

 Monrovia: Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie has written Plenary requesting a review and amendment of certain portions of the 1986 Constitution. The Communication by Senator Chie on Tuesday January 28,2025, proposed an amendment of eight (constitutional provision for National Referendum.

His Communication is a re-submission of a Bill submitted for National Referendum on December 8, 2020, but was not approved by the electorates. Although all the proposed amendments received majority votes of Liberians who participated in the national referendum, they however fell short of the required two-thirds of the total votes as mandated

in Article 91 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia and consequently could not take effect.

Proposed Amendments: 1: Article 28 of the Constitution to provide for the inalienability of the citizenship of natural born citizens of Liberia (Dual Citizenship); 2: Article 45 of the Constitution to provide for the reduction of the term of Senators from nine (9) years to seven (7) years; 3: Article 47 of the Constitution to provide for election of a President Pro-tempore and other officers of the Senate for a term of five (5) years,

4: Article 48 of the Constitution provides for the reduction in the term of Members of the House of Representatives from six (6) years to five (5) years; 5: Article 49 of the Constitution to provide for election of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other officers of the House of fc Representatives for a term of five (5) years. 6: Article 50 of the Constitution to provide for the reduction in the term of the President from six (6) years to five (5) years.

 7: Article 83 (a) of the Constitution to change the date for General Elections from Second Tuesday of October to Second Tuesday of November in each election year; and 8: Article 83 (c) of the Constitution to reduce the time frame for resolution of complaints emanating from General Elections from thirty (30) days to fifteen (15) days. ”Madam President Pro-tempore and Distinguished Colleagues:

“I request that Plenary review the proposed amendments indicated above, make the relevant adjustments, including reduction and addition, and begin the process, in line with Article 91 of the Constitution, towards a national referendum” Senator Chie craved Plenary indulgence to ensure an adequate and well- funded preparatory process for in-depth voters education as a way of creating more awareness about the Bill in the Public.

”It is also my prayer to Plenary to ensure that an adequate and well-funded preparatory process is put in place, such as extensive and in-depth voters education, prior to the resulting national referendum” Meanwhile, Plenary has made a decision to review these constitutional provisions and its expected to make a decision on it soon.

In a related development, Liberian Senate has passed a Bill to amend title 30 of the Public Authorities Law, Liberian Codes of Law Revised to establish the Liberia National Tourism Authority as an independent body. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on September 3,2024 and when approved by the President, the entity will be removed from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism and become a stand along ministry. Currently, Tourism operates under the angle of the Ministry of Information.