President Sirleaf Delivers Annual Message

Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Monday delivered her Annual Message to the fifth Session of the 52nd Legislature, expressing thanks and appreciation to lawmakers for the spirit of cooperation that exists between the Executive Branch and the National Legislature. The President urged the Honorable Body to pass a number of proposed legislations which have been submitted to it for enactment.

The legislations include the Investment Incentive Act of 2009; the International Convention Against Doping in Sports; three Mineral Development Agreements for operations in Rivercess, Grand Gedeh and Montserrado Counties. Other Acts before the National Legislature include the Code of Conduct for public servants; and an Act to amend Title 2, Criminal Procedure Law, as enshrined in Volume 1 of the revised Liberian Code of Law.

Enactment of the proposed legislations have significant implications for the achievement of the country’s goal of national renewal, the President said,

The President disclosed that she would be submitting to the Legislature, for enactment, several proposed Acts intended to enhance the progress and tackle the challenges under the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Acts include: an Act Amending the Public Procurement and Concession Act of 2005, which will harmonize the New Mining and Mineral Law and Petroleum Law with the PPCA; An Act to Create the National Bureau of Concessions; the Liberian Law Reform Commission Act; the National Security Reform & Intelligence Act; An Act to amend Sub-chapter C of the Domestic Relation Law of Liberia 1956 & 1976 relating to Adoption; the National Insurance Commission Act; and the Amendment to the Insurance Act of 1973.

The Liberian leader also spoke of other Concession Agreements to be concluded and submitted to the National Legislature for ratification. They are the Putu Iron Ore Mining Ltd.; BHP Billiton Iron Ore; Elenilto Minerals and Mining Ltd. for the Western Cluster; and the 2nd Amendment to the China Union (Hong Kong) Mining Co., and China Union Investment (Liberia) Bong Mines Co. Ltd.

The President also announced that she would submit to the National Legislature for its consideration and enactment, an Act to amend the Act providing for Retirement Pension for the President & Vice President, the Speaker & Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate & Members of the National Legislature, the Chief Justice & Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of Subordinate Courts of Record, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy & Assistant Ministers, Members of Autonomous Commissions, Ambassadors and other Senior Officials of Government, including Superintendents of Counties; and legislations to Repeal Moribund State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

The Liberian leader has, meanwhile, welcomed the enactment into law of several legislations, which the President described as significant to achieving the country’s development goals under the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Legislature enacted 21 of the 26 legislations submitted by the President for passage during its Fourth Session. The President recalled that 10 pieces of legislation submitted to the National Legislature during previous years were also enacted into law, for a total of 31 legislations enacted into law. They include: an Act to establish the Land Commission; the Public Finance Management Act; An Act to establish the Liberia Airport Authority; the Amendment to the Independent National Commission on Human Rights Act; and an Act Establishing the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI).

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also announced that she will be a candidate in the 2011 Presidential elections. Announcing the decision at the end of her Annual Message, the President said she was bringing to end speculations regarding her candidacy, stressing that she will be a formidable candidate. "I know from whence we came yesterday. I know where we are today; I know where we ought to be tomorrow and I know how we will get there," the President declared, amid cheers and a standing ovation by supporters and well-wishers.