Senate Divided Over TRC Report Execution

At their 10th Day Extraordinary Session held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia on Tuesday, members of the Liberian Senate could not easily arrive at a decision on whether the body should deliberate on recommendations contained in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report.

The argument was sparked off by the submission of a Progress Report by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the more than 200 recommendations contained in the TRC final report which was forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.

But the report which was placed on the Senate’s agenda for discussion ignited mixed reactions and views with many Senators suggesting that due to the voluminous and sensitive nature of the document the Senate should forward the report to an ad-hoc committee which will set the stage for its discussion in subsequent time.

Maryland County Senator J. Gbleh-Bo Brown suggested that the report itself is bulky but rather than indefinitely defer it, a special ad-hoc committee comprising not more than seven members should be constituted to review the TRC report in line with the Accra Peace Accord and the act establishing the TRC and advise plenary on how to proceed with the discussion.

Senator Brown’s suggestion was supported by Gbarpolu County Senator Daniel Naatheen, Grand Bassa Senator, Jonathan Kaipaty as well as Senator Conmany Wesseh of River Gee County, but Maryland Senator Dan Morais suggested that the people of Liberia deserve to know the truth, and therefore the Senate should begin deliberation immediately following a report from the ad-hoc committee.

For his part, Grand Gedeh County Senator Alphosno Gaye argued that the Senate should not delay the deliberation since the document is already before the august body. He suggested that the Senate should begin deliberation immediately. His view was shared by Sinoe County Senator Milton Teahjay.

In the final analysis, the Senate voted to set up an ad-hoc committee which will advise the body on how to proceed with deliberations on the TRC recommendations. The decision was reached following a motion filed by Sinoe County Senator Joseph Nagbe.