Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
MONROVIA, Liberia – The leadership of assigned journalists at the Legislature, under the banner LEGISLATIVE PRESS POOL (LEGISPOOL), has alarmed that House Speaker Bhofal Chambers is ‘muzzling the press’, accusing the Speaker of unilaterally ordering the revocation of accreditation of dozens of reporters assigned at the House of Representatives.
At a press conference at the Capitol Thursday, LEGISPOOL’s leadership said it has come to its attention that upon direct order from Speaker Chambers, the office of the House Press Bureau has revoked the accreditation of several members of the press pool, including LEGISPOOL’s president Musa Kenneh.
“We have been informed that Speaker Chambers has instructed the press bureau and door-men of the Chambers to reduce the number of reporters in the chamber of the House,” LEGISPOOL secretary-general Titus Dassie told the press conference.
LEGISPOOL notes that as provided for by what it calls the doctrine of administration, Speaker Chambers and his office do not have such power as to revoke the accreditation of reporters assigned at the Legislature by various media institutions.
The LEGISLATIVE PRESS POLL further accused Speaker Chambers of ordering the revocation of the18 reporters on the ground that their reportage is repetitive, with LEGISPOOL describing the Speaker’s action as being ultra-administrative and a one that the group says taints the tenets of best practices.
“Let the office of the Speaker be informed that reporter’s accreditations are not done by his office; under the doctrine of devolution of power as provided for by the Constitution of Liberia under Article 3, and simple public administration, provide for separation of work and coordination in work environments,” LEGISPOOL stressed.
LEGISPOOL wonders how Speaker Chambers can revoke accreditation of reporters by the strength of his communication when in fact, he and his office do not have such power, stating, “LEGISPOOL is surprised and thinks the Speaker is being advised wrongly or perhaps, is consumed by the Speakership.”
By his decision to order the revocation of reporters’ accreditation, LEGISPOOL further said, Speaker Chambers, has undermined his statement during the recent reopening session of the Legislature, when he promised that his leadership intends to rebrand the Legislature, concomitantly working with the press.
The group expressed dismay over Speaker Chambers’ action, and wonders whether
the Speaker is the same one who during his days as an opposition lawmaker relied on the media to propagate his political agenda.
LEGISPOOL reminded Speaker Chambers that no democracy works void of free press, indicating that the Speaker’s decision denied 18 out of 27 duly assigned reporters from entering the House’s Chamber, even in the wake of President George Weah’s recent submission of the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Bill seeking Press freedom for which Speaker Chambers and his colleagues voted into law.
“Now, therefore, LEGISPOL condemns the Speaker’s action on the revocation of reporters’ accreditation and sees it as threat to the doctrine of free speech as provided for by Articles 15, 17 of the Constitution,” LEGISPOOL stated.
The Speaker’s action, according to LEGISPOOL, is also tantamount to denying the public information and workings of their employees, the 73 Representatives.
LEGISPOOL, which gives Speaker Chambers up until Tuesday of next week to reinstate the accreditation of the 18 reporters, declared that it will not condone the Speaker’s action to clampdown on free press that has set him atop the political pedestal.
“LEGISPOL therefore, calls on Speaker Chambers to with immediate effect reinstate the accreditation of Reporter Musa Kenneh and others,” said the group which noted that failure on the part of Speaker Chambers to reinstate it’s president and the 17 other journalists, it will take series of appropriate actions to compel the Speaker to comply.
Meanwhile, as at the time of this report, Speaker Chambers was indisposed, and all efforts to have him respond to the LEGISPOOL’s assertions proved futile.
