THE SENATE REJECTS TIAWON GONGLOE FOR THE SECOND TIME

By Augustus Browne 

Reports reaching the People’s News desk indicate that members of the Liberian Senate for the second time have rejected the nomination of former Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe.

Cllr. Gongloe, if confirmed would had replaced Hon. Koffa Woods as the Labor Minister. Hon. Woods was recently transferred to the of Minstry of Public Works as Minister .

On Tuesday July 14, 2009, a motion seeking a reconsideration of the Senate action to deny confirmation to the post of Labor Minister was defeated. The motion which was introduced or filed by River Gee County Junior Senator, Nathanial Williams, was aimed at convincing senators to reconsider their decision on the nominee.

Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe is a former human rights advocate, has served as Solicitor General for more than three years in the Unity Party Government. With this second rejection by the senate, Cllr. Gongloe would have to wait for another appointment by the President or revert to private life.

According to sources at the Capitol Building Cllr. Gongloe was rejected because he is not competent to serve as Labor Minister, based on his experience and professional background, the senators argued. 14 Senators voted against the motion of reconsideration and eight in favor while the rest abstained during session.

The President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate Cleatus Wortoson told Capitol Building correspondents that the former Solicitor General was rejected during the July, 7, 2009 session by the Plenary of the Senate, but a motion for reconsideration was filed

Besides the reported claim of conflict-of-interest, some Senators have recounted how some of their colleagues including Senators Roland Kaine and Richard Devine of Margibi and Bomi Counties respectively, were arrested and prosecuted by Cllr. Gongloe while serving as Solicitor-General of Liberia.


They also cited the incarceration of former Acting Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA), George Koukou by Cllr. Gongloe; views advocates believe have the propensity to spark heated debates and could eventually lead to undermining the nation’s prosecutorial process.


Senator Kaine was arrested, tried along with several persons on charge of murder in connection to the death of more 15 young people, who were massacred on June 3, 2008 on a disputed land in the County involving the Senator and former LURD official Charles Bennie; but the Lawmaker was acquitted early this year by the Court on grounds that there was no substantial evidence to convict him.


Senator Devine was among some former officials of the erstwhile National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) including Chairman Charles Gyude Bryant, who were acquitted having been tried for allegedly stealing and misappropriating state funds during their regime.


For George Koukou, he was being incarcerated along with one time feared General Charles Julu and others on treason charge, but Koukou was later  granted a clemency by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leaving the others behind bars to face trial; even though they have been acquitted.


Notwithstanding the crimes they were accused of, observers opined that the prosecution of the men cannot be counted against Cllr. Gongloe as there is nobody above the law, irrespective of status or class. “Should lawmakers be exempted from prosecution if even they committed heinous crimes against humanity, or is Liberia an outlaw state now? Dangerous!” one advocate wondered yesterday.


Another slap in the face of the Labor Minister-designate was that, Nimba County Senior Senator and Legislative Caucus Chairman, Prince Y. Johnson declared in Chambers that the nominee is not the choice of the County; even though this view has come under condemnations. Also, there are mixed views in the public since the nomination of Cllr. Gongloe as Labor Minister-designate, as some say he performed poorly while serving as Solicitor-General of Liberia.


Nevertheless he has consistently dismissed the claim, views are that Government’s defeats in successive landmark cases including the treason and economic sabotage cases was the result of poor performances of state prosecution under Cllr. Gongloe’s administration.


Others described the acquittal of the officials as a welcoming development in the judicial system in the country, recalling how injustice and perpetual detentions resulted to the deaths of many people in the past. “The days of tyranny have passed and therefore we should not unjustifiably convict people because of our political reasons and different motives,” they warned.


Be as it may, Cllr. Gongloe is now a rejected person for the Labor Ministry post and may be out of the game if he is not nominated for different position in Government. Meanwhile, the Liberian Senate has rejected Police Inspector-designate Marc Amblai.