The Acting Minister for Presidential Affairs Samuel A. Stevquoah has written the Chief Clerk of the House of Representative Mildred Siryon informing her that due to prevailing circumstances, President Joseph N. Boakai is actively seeking extensive expert advice to ensure a thorough and compliant understanding of the Supreme Court’s ruling and its implications.
Acting Minister Stevquoah said the President therefore wants him inform the Chief Clerk that the draft National Budget for FY 2025 will not be presented on the date as previously requested pending the conclusion of the various consultations.
“In the intervening period, the President has been made aware that a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition was filed before the Supreme Court of Liberia by the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives, requesting the intervention of the high court in resolution of an impasse at the House of Representatives,” he said.
According to him, President Boakai has received a communication from the Speaker indicating that the majority of members in the House of Representatives had requested certain officials from the Executive Branch to begin appearing for hearings in the Joint Chambers of the House, rather than before the Honorable Speaker.
“In his letter, the Honorable Speaker requested that the President instruct his officials not to appear before the majority members, stating that doing so would “undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for our governance,” he said.
He said the Executive Branch also takes due note of the fact that the Justice in Chambers on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, declined to issue the Writ of Prohibition as prayed for by the Speaker.
The Acting Minister for Presidential Affair said the President regards the evolving situation with the utmost urgency and is wavering about upholding the sanctity of the ‘three separate but coordinated branches’ of government.
He said it’s the president’s prayer that the honorable members of the House of Representatives, will in the interest of Liberians, resolve the quagmire in the shortest possible time.
