DIFFERENT DIMENSION – Majority Bloc Elects New Speaker By: Feona Benson Kollie

Following a month-long crisis over the removal of Speaker Fonati Koffa, the crisis in the House of Representatives has taken a different dimension, with the majority bloc on Thursday, November 21st, electing a new speaker through a white ballot vote. The decision was taken following the reading of a seven-count resolution that supposedly indicts Speaker Fonati Koffa who accordingly has been unable to conduct session due to his inability to get the numbers. Thursday’s session marked the 11- day sitting of the majority bloc which has been presided over by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah who finally came to a conclusion to elect and induct a new speaker and declaring every statutory acting committee chair as proper and constitutional as regards the rules. As per their decisions, the majority bloc overwhelmingly voted Montserrado County District #11 Lawmaker, Richard Koon as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives on a white ballot vote. Speaking after his election and induction, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives Richard Koon commended his colleagues for the confidence in him.  He also promised to have a good working relationship with his colleagues and workers in the House of Representatives.  Rep. Koon also told the gathering that the Speakership is just a title, but intoned that his relationship with his colleagues and workers will remain the same, stating it was with their efforts he was elected to become Speaker.  He further maintained that with the collaborative efforts of his colleagues, they will move the government forward through development; “This moment is not just about me; it represents a collective dream, a hopeful vision for a brighter future for opportunities that will see the House of Representatives in particular and the Liberian Legislature in general arising anew and together. We have taken a monumental step toward the change we seek in legislative governance and democratic pluralism within legislative politics . . . a change rooted in our shared values, aspirations, and commitment to doing the work of the Republic of Liberia in a people-centered manner.” Rep. Koon lamented. He furthered that as the country looks today,  current governance systems and institutions are faced with multiplicity of quagmires; the issues of inequities, dire commitments to political cleavages and sectarian politics that divide Liberians, inefficiencies and inadequacies that discourage us, and the critical logjams that dampen our collective potentials for growth and progress.   He however,  encouraged his colleagues and co-workers to remain steadfast and hopeful, stating as he has becomes Speaker of the honorable House of Representatives of the 55th National Legislature, barely eleven months into the tenure of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, he committed to working in the interest of all, as to achieve the shared hopes and dreams.  Rep. Koon said he is sternly dedicated to facing these challenges head-on with honesty, integrity, and relentless determination with the wholeness of his being.  The newly elected Speaker said his promises to his fellow Lawmakers is simple yet significant, it is as well a promise keenly anchored on and deeply rooted in what has now become a part of the challenges that have dawned on him today. “I will lead with a spirit of reform, will work together to transform our policies and practices, to ensure that they serve everyone, not just a privileged few” Rep. Koon narrated.  Moreover, he stressed about creating an inclusive legislative culture that encompasses every voice, embraces every honorable member and mobilizes the support of every district or constituency represented within the hallowed chamber(s) of the House of Representatives, stating that together, they will undertake the hard but necessary work of reforming our systems, with transparency and accountability at the core of the Houses’ interventions. He also assured that under his leadership, he will invest in the happiness of every member and every staff who serves the House of Representatives in the onerous execution of the triangulated functions required of them, the business of representation, lawmaking and oversight, at the same time multitasking and creating innovative ways of doing the people’s work. The Montserrado County District #11 Lawmaker told the gathering as today’s world being the world of technology, his leadership will equally invest critically but strategically in the modernization of the legislature; I mean modernization in its truest meaning and all its ramifications. Speaking on working and building relationship with other branches of government, the newly elected Speaker said, “I will take full cognizance in the fact that our three branches of government are separate and therefore promise to uphold that spirit, thereby allowing no interferences whatsoever.  He said, the legislature will be the legislature under our watch, together, we will shift our own paradigms, determine our priorities, set and pursue our strategic goals and objectives in the best interest of the people who are the custodians of the authorities we exercise today. He further revealed that as he assumes the mantle of authority as the leader of the Legislative Branch of Government, he will coordinate very closely but meticulously with the other two branches, to ensure that the legislative proposals or instruments of the government are expeditiously enacted; “we are aware of the emergencies surrounding us; the country’s roads and infrastructures are in ruins, the healthcare delivery system is crying out for rescue, the education sector continues to suffer paralysis and the economy is seriously yearning for innovative ways of revival. This means that unless we act as a matter of urgency, we cannot imagine what will happen in the near future. All of these critical issues and many other aspects of concerns to our people, partners and friendly governments, need our urgent interventions.” Stressing further, he said in the spirit of coordination, we will work with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to ensure that these fundamental issues are addressed as expeditiously as they would be necessary and possible for the betterment of the country.