Grand Bassa District #2 Representative Clarence Banks has strongly refuted claims made by Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, regarding the submission of names for local government appointments.
During a press engagement at her residence on September 7, 2024, Senator Karnga-Lawrence said that Representative Banks had sent three names for appointments but encountered disagreements over the appointment of the Statutory District Superintendent. But Representative Banks said Senator Karnga-Lawrence misled the public about the appointment process for his district.
“I reviewed the Senator’s comments about my district, Grand Bassa District #2, and found her claims misleading,” Banks said. “I submitted my full list of local appointments to the Executive Mansion through the proper channels and I’m awaiting the appointment of the Statutory Superintendent to complete the process.”
Banks said he had provided a list of eleven names to the Executive Mansion and had not sent any list directly to Senator Karnga-Lawrence. He said in April 2024, he visited Cornelius Davis at the Executive Mansion, where he was asked to narrow down his list to five names, which were then forwarded to Senator Karnga-Lawrence by Davis, not by Banks himself.
“The fact that a senator would distort such minor issues is shocking and damaging to our nation,” Banks said.
He challenged Senator Karnga-Lawrence to a public debate on the matter, offering to cover the costs for a two-hour discussion. “If she refuses, I will address this issue publicly upon my return to the county.”
“We have a democratic government. Senator Karnga-Lawrence lost in my district and does not have the authority to decide who works for me. She is not a queen in our nation,” the lawmaker said. Source: 𝑨𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆–𝑱𝒂𝒚
