By Mack Rogers
Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County – A cross section of citizens of Grand Cape Mount County (GCMC) are decrying the continuous denial of their constitutional right to have a sitting senator eight months after the December 8, 2020 midterm senatorial elections in which candidate Simeon Taylor of the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) massively defeated incumbent senator Victor Watson of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Many of the GCMC citizens who spoke Tuesday with our Grand Cape Mount County correspondent wondered why the Supreme Court of Liberia, which is the final arbiter of justice in the land, would flagrantly disregard the constitutional provision that compels it to rule expeditiously and judiciously in the ongoing electoral dispute case, thereby delaying the people of Grand Cape Mount their choice of leadership.
Addressing the ongoing election district saga currently awaiting ruling at the Supreme Court, one of the prominent sons of Garwula District, Mr. Sando Wayne, has added his voice to the rancorous clamor against what it is being termed as the “unnecessary and unconstitutional” delays in giving the citizens and residents of Cape Mount their elected choice for the vacant senate seat.
According to Mr. Wayne, speaking exclusively with Punch FM/TV Online Service Tuesday, the laws of the land have been violated by the very institutions that are clothed with the authority to protect those laws.
Citing Article 83 section C of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, and Chapter 6.2 of the New Elections Law of Liberia, Mr. Wayne outlined the series of constitutional breaches that continue to deny the people of Cape Mount from having a senator eight months after elections.
“In the first place, the National Elections Commission should have completed its investigation into the complaint filed by candidate Victor Watson within thirty days upon receipt of the complaint. But it took NEC seven months to render its first confirmation after defeated candidate Watson filed a complaint to the NEC, praying for an investigation in the December 8, 2020 election result which made Simeon Taylor the winner. After much legal delays and maneuvers from the ruling CDC, obviously condoned by the Supreme Court on two occasions, and even after the NEC recent affirmation of Mr. Taylor as winner in those elections, there has been no final ruling in the ongoing Cape Mount electoral saga. This is unacceptable to the people of Cape Mount. Our patience is really tested beyond its elastic limit,” cautioned Mr. Wayne, who also participated in the December 8, 2020 special senatorial elections but lost. Wayne would immediately congratulate Mr. Simeon Taylor as winner following the official vote count by the NEC.
Wayne further noted that the Supreme Court has not helped to assuage the yearnings of the people of Grand Cape Mount County for the seating of their duly elected leader.
“Article 83C of our organic law says clearly that our electoral body shall within seven days of receipt of the notice of appeal; forward all the records in the case to the Supreme Court, which not later than seven days thereafter, shall hear and make its determination. Now look at what is happening. The Supreme Court held hearings in the case on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Seven days after that hearing, the Supreme Court by law should have a final determination. So where is justice for the citizens of Grand Cape Mount County?” Mr. Wayne wondered.
Other citizens who were interviewed by our GCMC correspondent expressed vexation over the “unnecessary delay” that is depriving them of having a seated senator.
Ms. Massa Sombai hails from Garwula District but resides in Lofa Bridge, Gola Konneh District where she trades in dried bonny fish that she purchases from Roberstport City. Massa is equally incensed over the delays that are causing tension in her county.
“Our people are confused. When will Simeon Taylor take seat after NEC ruled in his favor two times? Why is the Supreme Court wasting our time? All of these delays help to build tension in Cape Mount. Let the government allow our senator to take his seat and do what he promised us during the elections. We too need development,” Sombai lamented.
As for Bannah Sambola of Welor, Tewor District, he believes the delays are calculated attempts to perpetually keep Grand Cape Mount County in a state of underdevelopment. “By now Simeon Taylor should have been seated and helping our County in making laws that will bring more investments here. Cape Mount is rich. We just need the right leadership,” Mr. Sambolah, an educator, informed this medium.
It can be recalled that the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), in a strongly-worded June 19, 2021 press statement raised grave questions of public trust in the ability of the officials to uphold and defend the constitution of Liberia.
“The CPP urges the NEC and the Supreme Court to stop all violations as actions and consequences breeding from such deliberate violation of the Liberian constitution has never been in the best interest of peace and national security and Grand Cape Mount County will be of no exception. These two agencies will be fully responsible shall there be any actions that will undermine the peace, security and democracy of our country,” the CPP had warned, stating that, while the Constitution calls for 30 days by the NEC and 14 days with appeal to the Supreme court, a total of 44 days within which to receive and decide an election complaint, the NEC and the Supreme Court have gone more than one 120 days of hearing proceedings, contrary to Article 83 (C).
“And by the time the NEC reaffirms Senator-elect Simeon Taylor as the winner of the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial Midterm Elections, the Constitution of Liberia would have been further violated, under Article 45, which established that each Senator shall serve a nine-year term. Already, the hearing is in its six months and might continue beyond if nothing is done to stop this violation. The CPP wonder if, we are a country of laws or men?” the statement averred.
Attempts to contact the authorities at the two concerned institutions (the SC and NEC) proved futile up to publication time.
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Mack Rogers is a Liberian Journalist with 24 years of practice. A Graduate from the Jireh School of Journalism, Mack worked for the Independent Star Radio, and currently serves as the Station Manager for Radio Cape Mount in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County
