As it is always said, “Where there is smoke there is fire’ seems to be coming to reality with the news of reported ‘Bad blood’ between President George Manneh Weah and his Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor which seems not to be healthy for the current peace that Liberians are now enjoying.
Over the last past months there have been some reports that the President of Liberia, George Manneh Weah was using his presidential powers to, without remorse submitted to the National Legislature to repeal two bills which created the Vice President to have oversight responsibility of the Group of 77 of the Disabled and the National Lottery.
Even though those bills are before the National Legislature awaiting its return from break in early January, 2019, observers and political analysts who spoke to the GNN over the weekend viewed this latest move by the Liberian leader as a complete strategy of strangulating his Vice President, madam Jewel Howard-Taylor; by taking from her constitutional powers provided her as Liberia’s Vice President.
Others viewed that recent action by some group of partisans led by James Biney of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) to expel the Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who was the Standard Bearer of the Party was politically motivated by some high-ups in the Government, making sure that this Vice President is powerless during her reign as Vice President.
The decision to expel the madam Taylor was a result of an extraordinary session the National Patriotic Party (NPP) faction under the leadership of embattled James Biney held last Saturday, December 1, in Bentol City Montserrado County, the Biney faction also expelled Mr. John Gray, the party’s chairman.
During this session, the delegates agreed that a communication be sent to President George Manneh Weah, telling him to “recall” the two expelled persons, from their governmental posts, meaning the current vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor be recalled respectfully.
Despite every attempt to wrestle control from her office, including an attempt in January to deny her the constitutional right as President of the Senate responsible for presiding over its deliberations without the right to vote, except in the case of a tie vote, she has persevered.
The VP apologized even after she was told that she did not seek permission to travel when she did and was forced again recently to display proof of her latest travel when the president once again sought to suggest that she did not seek his approval before travel on her current trip.
The legislature it appears have become a rubber stamp – with no balls to stand up and be counted for what is right in a nation dying for answers in rising wave of public discontent.
Article 62 of the constitution is clear: “The President and the Vice-President may be removed from office by impeachment for treason, bribery and other felonies, violation of the Constitution or gross misconduct.”
According to our source, the current vice president has not engaged in any treason, bribery, felonies. Neither has she violated the constitution or been involved in any misconduct.
Comments are closed.