Center for Public Interest and Accountability Liberia CEPIA

Friday for everybody!!!!!!!

Romel Blamo Son
Amb Darwin Brilliant Quiah
Levi T Tarquio
Viola B. Snoh
Missionary Alfred M. Glay
First AG Church Buchanan Street,Liberia
Romell Abundant Blessings Tamba

THE LIBERIAN SENATE Capitol Building. Capitol Hill

Monrovia, Liberia 26th Day Sitting, 3rd Session 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Agenda/Order of Business

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. DEVOTION

3. ROLL CALL

4. READING AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a. "Motion to reconsider." proffered by Senator Dabah M. Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount County (For Debate).

6. REPORT FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

a. Briefing from the Standing Committee on Banking and Currency on the printing of additional Liberian Dollar Banknotes.

b. Briefing from the Joint Committee comprising the Committees on Maritime; Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims & Petitions and Foreign Affairs on the following:

➤ "International Convention on Liability and compensation for damage in connection with the carriage of Hazardous and Noxious substances by sea 2010 (2020 JIN Convention)"

➤ "United Nations Convention on the International Effect of Judicial sales of ship"

➤ "Resolution A 1152 (32)-Amendment to the convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO), adopted 8, December 2021" and

➤ "The Liberia Maritime Law Title 21 of the Liberian Code of Law Revised, as Amended and Restated"

c. Report from the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims & Petitions on the confirmation hearings of the following:

➤ Hon. Cllr. Tarlo Wehyee - Labor Court Judge/Nimba County

➤ Hon. Emmanuel T. Nyenkan - Marshal/Supreme Court of Liberia.

➤ Hon. Blessing J. Morris - Deputy Marshal/Montserrado County.

➤ Hon. Jerry T. Mcintosh Deputy Marshal, 2nd Judicial Circuit/Grand Bassa County.

➤ Hon. Peter M. Weagba - Deputy Marshal, 3rd Judicial Circuit/Sinoe County.

➤ Hon. Advester Collor, Jr. Deputy Marshal, 4th Judicial Circuit/Maryland County.

➤ Hon. Momodu Massaquoi - Deputy Marshal, 5th Judicial Circuit/Grand Cape Mount County.

Hon. Bill Alonzo Gartor Deputy Marshal, 7th Judicial Circuit/Grand Gedeh County.

Hon. Nathan P. Suah Deputy Marshal, 8th Judicial Circuit/Nimba County.

Hon. Abraham O. Kollie Deputy Marshal, 9th Judicial Circuit/Bong County.

Hon. John F. Powoe Deputy Marshal, 10th Judicial Circuit/Lofa County.

Hon. Nimely Weah-Deputy Marshal, 11th Judicial Circuit/Bomi County.

➤ Hon. Robert B. Toe-Deputy Marshal, 12th Judicial Circuit/Grand Kru County.

➤ Hon. Henry K. Eric - Deputy Marshal, 13th Judicial Circuit/Margibi County.

➤ Hon. Jefferson S. Saydee Deputy Marshal, 14th Judicial Circuit/River Cess County.

➤ Hon, Toweah Geegbeh Deputy Marshal, 15th Judicial Circuit/River Gee County.

➤ Hon. Saymon P. Fahnbulleh Deputy Marshal, 16th Judicial Circuit/Gbarpolu County.

7. BUSINESS ON PRESIDENT'S DESK:

a. Communication from the President of Liberia on nominations made in Government.

b. Communication from Senator Amara M. Konneh of Gbarpolu County, requesting the urgent invitation to Health Authorities regarding EBOLA VIRUS preparedness.

c. Communication from Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh II, of River Gee County, submitting a bill for "An Act to Amend and Restate the Liberia Investment Act of 2010, to be known as the Liberia Investment (Amendment and Restatement) Act of 2026."

d. Communication from Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa of Grand Kru County, requesting the need for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in our Social Service Delivery Sectors.

e. Communication from Senator Nathaniel F. McGill of Margibi County, requesting leave of absence.

f. Communication from the Acting Minister of Education.

b. Appearance of the following before the Senate

➤ Hon. Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, Minister of Health on the status of the drugs revolving funds coupled with full listing of volunteer health workers per county and those placed on payroll.

8. AOB

9. ADJOURNMENT

Personal Reflection

I have been up the mountain.

I have been on dry land.

I know this battlefield of life.

I have been segregated, rejected and abandoned in my life.

I know whom I served,

I know who I believe in.

I have seen many doors closed against me.

I have felt and seen true resistance in my life.

I have seen young and old friends, families and church members speak evil against me.

I have seen the devil use many to shut down every opportunity for me.

I know life is a battlefield.

I have the scars on my body.

I know how painful it can be, but through it all I learned to trust in Jesus because he never forgets his own

No one will clap for you when you are going up in life, they're just pretending.

Sometimes when people leave you, maybe it's because you have outgrown them.

Instead of feeling rejected and abandoned, give all thanks to God almighty.

Regards

Attention!!!
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Titles will come and go, but how you treat someone will never be forgotten.

Tomorrow da holiday ooh

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘄 (𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟲) 𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟰

The Plenary of the House of Representatives of Liberia has voted to amend certain sections of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended in 2014, following a report from its Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration.

The decision was reached during the 9th day sitting of the ongoing Special Session, as part of efforts to strengthen Liberia’s electoral framework and enhance the credibility, transparency, and efficiency of the democratic process.

Presenting the report, the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration highlighted the need to review and update specific provisions of the law to address evolving electoral challenges and align with current democratic standards. The Committee emphasized that the amendments are intended to close existing gaps, improve electoral administration, and ensure greater public confidence in the electoral system.

Plenary, after deliberations, unanimously endorsed the Committee’s recommendations, leading to the passage of the amended provisions.

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘄:

The New Elections Law of 1986, as amended in 2014, serves as the principal legal framework governing elections in Liberia. It outlines the rules, procedures, and institutions responsible for conducting democratic elections across the country.

(2) By re-instating a name previously struck off by orders of the Commission
Is hereby amended, as follows:
In addition to the powers of alteration conferred under this title, Registration Rolls may be altered by a
(1) By correcting any obvious mistake or omission, but not to the extent of wholly removing
(2) By re-instating a name previously struck off by orders of the Commission
Section 4.1(2) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
(2) The number of registered voters in every precinct shall be approximately equal, and unless the Commission in any particular case so determines, the number of registered voters in any precinct shall not exceed three thousand (3000).

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
The number of registered voters in every precinct shall be approximately equal to the number of registered voters in other precincts; and unless the Commission in any particular case so determines, the number of registered voters in any precinct shall not exceed four thousand (4000).
Section 4.10(1) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
(1) No one other than the elections officers, the party representatives appointed under
paragraph 2, section 4.9, or elections observers, police officers or other persons accredited or authorized by the NEC, and voters voting or about to vote shall be permitted to enter or remain in a polling place during the polling.
Is hereby annulled and deleted

The two remaining subsections of Section 4.10, numbered as 4.10(2) and 4.10(3) are hereby renumbered as 4.10(1) and 4.10 (2) respectively.
Section 4.5(1)(b) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
(b) A political party or coalition in its submission to the Commission, of its list of candidates for an election should endeavor to ensure that the governing body and its list of candidates has no less than 30% of its members from each gender.
Is hereby amended, as follows:
(b) A political party or coalition participating in an election shall submit to the Commission its structure and the list of members of its governing body, which shall have no less than 30% from each gender.
Section 4.5(1)(c) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
(c) A list election should endeavor to have no less than 30% of the candidates on the list from each gender.

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
A list of candidates submitted by a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties to the
Commission for legislative elections shall have no less than thirty percent (30%) of the candidates from each gender, unless good cause can be shown to the satisfaction of the Commission that a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties, notwithstanding its best efforts, was unable to obtain the minimum thirty percent (30%) of its candidates from each gender. Determination of the exercise of best efforts by a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties shall be left to the sound discretion of the Commission.

Section 4.5(1) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, is hereby amended by adding Subsection (d), as follows:
A political party, coalition or alliance of political parties whose list of candidates for legislative elections does not satisfy the required quota for gender participation as provided for in Subsection

(c) above, shall not participate in the ensuring legislative elections for which it submitted a list of candidates. Provided however if a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties is rejected by the Commission for its failure to subscribe to the minimum thirty percent (30%) standard for gender participation in legislative elections, such rejected political party, coalition or alliance of political parties may re-submit a new list of candidates within the time for submission of list of candidates, which new list complies with the requirements of Subsection (c) above.
Section 4.8(2) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
The Poll shall be opened from eight o' clock in the morning until six o'clock in the evening",

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
The Poll shall be opened from eight o'clock in the morning until four o'clock in the afternoon.
Section 5.10 of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
A complaint must be submitted no later than seven (7) days after the time the offence or violation was witnessed, in writing signed by the witness, accompanied by any evidence the complainant has, and shall be submitted by delivery:
(a) To the Commission at its head office in Monrovia, or
(b) To the office of the Magistrate in the county where the offence or violation is alleged to have occurred, or

(c) On election day, to the presiding officer of the polling place where it is alleged to have occurred.

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
Any complaint other than those prescribed under Article 83 of the Liberian Constitution must be submitted no later than forty-eight (48) hours after the time the offense or violation was witnessed, in writing signed by the complainant, accompanied by the evidence the complainant has, and shall be submitted by delivery:
(a) To the Commission at its head office in Monrovia, or
(b) To the office of the Magistrate in the county where the offence or violation is alleged to have occurred, or
(c) On election day or any other day of election, to the presiding officer of the polling place where it is alleged to have occurred.

Section 5.12(3) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
The Commission may appoint hearing officers to assess, investigate and assist Magistrates to determine complaints, and a chief hearing officer to make an initial determination on complaints to the Commission.

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
3(a) For every election, on the request of the Commission to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as many Stipendiary Magistrates, as needed, shall be seconded to the Commission to serve as hearing officers and to conduct initial investigations into election complaints or challenges. In the case of a complaint against the result of a presidential election, three Stipendiary Magistrates
(a.k.a. Board of Hearing Officers) shall be seconded to conduct the hearing/investigation into the complaint/challenge. A ruling by two (2) or all three (3) Stipendiary Magistrates (Board of Hearing Officers) on the complaint/challenge of a presidential election shall be the first disposition of the complaint/challenge; which ruling may be appealed to the Board of Commissioners for review. A ruling of a Stipendiary Magistrate (Hearing Officer) on an election complaint/challenge against any other election shall be the first disposition of the complaint/challenge of that election, which ruling may be appealed to the Board of Commissioners for review. All rulings shall be in writing, which summarizes the facts of the matters, the issues and applies the law controlling.
3(b) Investigations into election complaints/challenges shall be fact-finding proceedings,
conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act; and the technical rules of producing evidence, except hearsay evidence, which are required by the Civil Procedure Law, shall not be applicable. The Hearing Officer(s) shall use their sound judgment in allowing or disallowing any line of questioning or other submission of evidence with the view of ascertaining the facts of the matter in dispute.

3(c) Standard of Proof for Election Complaint. The standard of proof for election complaint is preponderance of the evidence. That is, the greater weight of evidence, evidence that has the most convincing force, evidence that has superior weight and is sufficient to incline a fair and impartial mind to one side of the issue rather than the other side of the issue. The burden of proof shall be in that election shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after service of the brief for the appellant(s), shall file their respective response briefs in the same form as the appellant's brief. The appeal of the Board of Commissioners shall thereupon be completed.
process
(5) Failure of a party or parties against whom a decision/ruling is rendered by either the Board of Hearing Officers or by a Hearing Officer to file bill of exceptions and brief within the time(s) provided herein shall subject the appeal to summary dismissal by the Board of Commissioner and the Board of Commissioners shall thereupon confirm the decision/ruling of the Board of Hearing Officers or the Hearing officer, whichever is applicable, without delving into the merits thereof.
Section 5.12(6) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads:
A decision of the Commission on an appeal from the decision of a Magistrate or Chief Hearing Officer may be appealed to the Supreme Court within forty-eight (48) hours after the posting of the decision.

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
A ruling/decision of the Board of Commissioners on an appeal from the Board of Hearing Officers or a Hearing Officer may be appealed to the Supreme Court upon rendition of the ruling/decision by the Board of Commissioners by (i) orally announcing an exception to the ruling/decision of the Board of Commissioner at the time said ruling/decision is rendered; (ii) orally giving notice of appeal to the Supreme Court at the time said ruling/decision is rendered; and (iii) filing of a bill of exceptions, with copies of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the other part(ies), within forty- eight (48) hours after the rendition of the ruling/decisions. The ruling/decision of the Board of Commissioners shall be final and binding in the event that any of the aforesaid three (3) steps are not taken in the manner and within the time provided herein.

Section 5.13 of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads as follows:
In hearing an appeal on a complaint, the Commission may do any of more of the following:
(a) Dismiss the complaint;
(b) Order that a ballot box be opened and recounted;
(c) Order a re-vote at a polling place or polling station;
(d) Refer a complain to the Minister of Justice for prosecution if it believes that there is credible evidence of a crime; or
(e) Order a punishment within the authority of the Commission under this law.

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
Within not more than seventy-two (72) hours after the completion of the appeal process to the Board of Commissioners, the Board of Commissioners shall convene and entertain oral arguments. Final ruling/decision of the Board of Commissioners on the appeal shall be rendered within seventy-two (72) hours after oral arguments have rested, exception where the multiplicity of appeals before the Board of Commissioners necessitates additional time for the disposition of appeals. In any such circumstances the Board of Commissioners shall exercise it best efforts to dispose of an appeal within the shortest possible time after the expiration of the time limit or seventy-two (72) hours. Appeal from a ruling of the Board of Hearing Officers on a complaint against or challenge to a presidential election shall be given priority by the Board of
Commissioners.
(2) The final ruling/decision of the Board of Commissioners on an appeal may be one or more of the following:
(a) Dismissal of the appeal and confirmation of the decision/ruling from which the appeal was taken;
(b) An order that a ballot box or ballot boxes be opened and recounted;
(c) An order that a re-vote at a polling place/station or polling places/stations be conducted;
(d) A referral of a complaint to the Minister of Justice for criminal investigation where the
Commission finds that there is credible evidence that a crime has be committed; or
(e) An order which sanctions/punishes a party to the matter where such sanction/punishment is within the authority of the Commission under this law.
(3) The final decision/ruling of the Board of Commissioners on an appeal may consist of any other, instruction, referral and/or decision, which the Board of Commissioners deemed appropriate for a free, fair, transparent and credible election.

Section 5.13A of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014 is hereby added to read as follows:
Where in its final ruling/decision on an appeal the Board of Commissioners orders that (i) a ballot box or ballot boxes be opened and recounted, and/or (ii) a re-vote at a polling place/station or polling places/stations be conducted, the result of the election for which the complaint was filed shall be suspended pending the outcome of full and complete compliance with the order(s) of the Board of Commissioners and a rendition of a final decision/ruling of the Board of Commissioners on the matter/controversy.

Section 5.14 of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads as follows:
A determination by a Magistrate, a Presiding Officer or the Commission that a person has committed an offense or violation and the imposition of sanction does not bar a prosecution of that person for a crime based on the same facts.
Is hereby amended, as follows:
A determination by the Commission that a person allegedly committed an offense or violation during an electoral process shall be sanctioned by the Commission or the person may be referred to the Ministry of Justice for criminal investigation and prosecution. A sanction by the Commission or a referral by the Commission of a person to the Ministry of Justice for committing a criminal offense during the course of an electoral process, which does not affect the overall outcome of an election, shall not affect the aforesaid outcome thereof.

New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, is hereby amended to add a new Chapter 5A - Location of Headquarters of a Political Party, Coalition or Alliance of Political Parties, to read, as follows:
(1) Given the congestion of the City of Monrovia, a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties may have its headquarters within the City of Monrovia or within the immediate environs of the City of Monrovia, such political party, coalition or alliance of political parties should obtain the prior approval of the National Elections Commission for situating its headquarters within the immediate environs of the City of Monrovia. Where the headquarters of a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties is outside of the City of Monrovia and intended to be within the immediate environs of the City of Monrovia, such political party, coalition or alliance of political parties should obtain the prior approval of the National Elections Commission for situating its headquarters within the immediate environs of the City of Monrovia.

(2) The National Elections Commission shall not unreasonably withhold its approval for a political party, coalition or alliance of political parties situate its headquarters within the immediate environs of the City of Monrovia and shall give its disapproval and the reason therefor in writing so that the political party, coalition or alliance of political party affected by such disapproval may seek redress at the Supreme Court for review.

Chapter 11, Appropriations for the NEC, of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, is hereby amended by adding a new subsection (5) thereto to read, as follows:
Section 11.5. Procurement of Elections Materials. The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission shall expeditiously process procurement requests and other requests regarding election materials and services for election-related activities to ensure the timely conduct of general elections, runoff elections, by-elections and any other election provided for by law, even where such other election was not envisaged by the annual procurement plan of the Commission; provided that such approval process by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission shall Procurement Concessions Commission be completed within three (3) days after the Commission's submission of the request to the Public Section 7.3(2) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads as follows:
Application and Registration fees of aspirants and candidates shall amount to Liberian dollar equivalent of the following:
a) For the President, two thousand five hundred United States dollars (US$2,500.00);
b) For the office of the Vice President, one thousand five hundred United States dollars
(US$1,500.00);
c) For the office of Senator, seven hundred fifty United States dollars (US$750.00);
d) For the office of member of the House of Representatives, five hundred United States dollars (US$500.00);
e) For any other elective public office, the amount shall be determined by the Commission and shall not exceed the Liberian dollar equivalent of fifty United States dollars (US$50.00).
All application and registration fees shall be paid to the National Elections Commission, and shall form an integral part of its budget.

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
Application and Registration fees of aspirants and candidates shall amount to Liberian dollar equivalent of the following:
(a) For the office of President, five thousand United States dollars (US$5,000.00)
(b) For the office of Vice President, three thousand United States dollars (US$3,000.00)
(c) For the office of Senator, one thousand five hundred United States dollars (US$1,500.00)
(d) For the office of Member of the House of Representatives, one thousand United States dollars (US$1000.00)
(e) For any other elective public office, the amount shall be determined by the Commission and shall neither be less than the Liberian dollar equivalent of one hundred United states Dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred United States dollars (US$500.00)
All application and registration fees shall be paid to the National Elections Commission, and shall form an integral part of support to its budget.

Section 11.2(2) of the New Elections Law (1986), as amended through 2014, which reads as Follows
(2) The Minister of Finance shall, on or before July 1 and January 1 in each fiscal year, cause the amounts approved for the following half year for the general administration of the Commission and operated by the Commission and for preparing for and conducting elections or referenda, to be paid into an account established

𝗜𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:
(2) The Minister of Finance shall, on or before January 1 and July 1 in each fiscal year, cause the amounts approved for the following half year for the general administration of the Commission and for preparing for and conducting elections or referenda, to be paid into an account established operational and electoral activities and operated by the Commission, based on an internal budget prepared by the Commission for

Liberia must move from managing poverty to eliminating it for good.

We have all the resources to make our lives better.

Regards
Stanford A Joe II
Executive Coordinator
Center for Public Interest and Accountability in Liberia

We're looking for a sponsor to support our Youth Mentorship Program. This is an emergency!!

Foundation for Youth Tranquility is available to work with any group to redirect the minds of our youth.

If you want to help please contact us at [email protected]

Regards

James Koryor
Benedict Tokpa Danuweli

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