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UP, LAP, LUP Merger to Shift Power at the Capitol
Speaker Tyler Could see the Door; While Senate Ratifies Two Agreements,
The Liberiaobserver
April 3, 2009

New alliances are being formed on Capitol Hill as a result of the latest merger of the Liberia Action Party (LAP), the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) and the ruling Unity Party (UP). At least three other political parties, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the largest in the Lower House, Liberty Party (LP) and the former ruling party of indicted former President Charles Taylor, the National Patriotic Party (NPP) have not only forged a common front but opted for a balance of power that would see Speaker Alex Tyler of the LAP, now a part of the ruling coalition, out.
As for the Liberian Senate nothing much was seen this week except with the holding of its leadership elections and the ratification of two major agreement signed by the government of Liberia and two companies.
The Liberian Senate
The Liberian Senate on Wednesday April 1, 2009 finally ratified the China Union US$2.6 billion Agreement, which now clears the way for the operation by the Chinese in Bong Range, Lower Bong. The 30 Senators also ratified the agreement between the Government of Liberia and Buchanan Renewable Energy (BRE) as well.

The Senate decision follows the House of Representatives decision in which they ratified the same agreements, thus sending them to the Senate for concurrence.

The two agreements ratified by both Houses of the National Legislature are expected to provide several job opportunities for Liberians in the mining and energy sectors.

The 2.6 billion dollars China Union agreement is the biggest investment so far in the history of Liberia and it would provide and build one million ton-a-year capacity refining factory at the Bong iron mines, about 150 km north of the nation's capital Monrovia.

The building of the one million-ton refining factory is expected to be completed within 12 months, from the commencement of its work.

The China Union investment would also create over 3,000 jobs for Liberians within three years and jobs created indirectly in the long run could be as high as 70,000.

It may be recalled that before Liberia's 1989-2003 civil war, the Bong mines were run by a German company, the Bong Mining Company (BMC). But it was criticized for not carrying out development projects in the region.

As for the BRE agreement, it is expected to provide electricity to the surroundings of Monrovia before 2010, according to the agreement.

BRE is to embark on a 35-mega watt power plant for Monrovia, to be fuelled by Liberia rubber wood chips. The plant, according to the agreement, will be run by the company for about 25 years, following which it will be sold to the Liberian government for one Lib. dollar.

The construction of the plant project is valued at US$100M. The plant is intended to provide inexpensive electricity to individuals and businesses using biomass, which is far less expensive than those using fuel and gasoline.

Meanwhile the company is expected to bring in its final equipment in October this year. They are expected also to build a station in Paynesville and later move throughout Montserrado County.
Last year, about US$7 worth of equipment were brought into the country and later this year US$ 8.7M worth of heavy duty equipment was brought into the country aimed at ensuring that the company lives up to the conditions of the contracts.

Since the arrival of the company in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, it has spent US$2.1M for the rehabilitation of the highway connecting Monrovia and Buchanan. According to BRE, fuel will directly come from rehabilitating Liberian rubber plantations, by non-productive rubber trees, and or replanting or supporting plantation owners to replant their property.

The rubber trees are chipped and sold into the export market for energy, commercial and industrial applications.

The company is headed by its chief executive officer, Jim Steele, who has disclosed that his company is making every effort to ensure that power is provided to Monrovia and its surroundings before 2010.

Meanwhile, Liberians have welcomed the two agreements ratified by the national Legislature, saying that they are expected to create more job opportunities for Liberians.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday March 31, 2009 the Liberian Senate held its leadership elections with Gbarpolu County Junior Senator Daniel Nathan being elected as chairperson on Executive. Among those elected were Grand Cape Mount County Senior Senator Abel Massaley as chairman on Foreign Relations, Senator Joseph Nagbe of Sinoe County, Chairperson on Judiciary, Human Rights Claims and Petition; Senator George Mulbah, Chairman on Rules, Orders and Administration, replacing Margibi County Senior Senator Clarice Jah.

Members of the Senate leadership also includes Lofa County Senior Senator Sumo Kupee, Chairman of Ways, Means and Finances, replacing Bomi County Junior Senator Richard Devine.
Others include Maryland County Senior Senator John Ballout, Chairman on Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, and Margibi County Senior Senator Clarice Jah, Chairperson on Gender, Women, Health and Social Welfare

The Senate leadership came as a result of a vote of no confidence in Senator Isaac Nyenabo and the entire Senate Leadership few weeks ago, thus leading members of the Liberian Senate to elect a new Senate Pro- Tempore and other co- Officials to run the affairs of the Liberian Senate.
The House of Representatives
As for the House of Representatives, the merging of three Political parties in Liberia has created confusion in the National Legislature between opposition Political Parties on the independence of the House in carrying out its duties.

The ruling Unity Party, the Liberia Action Party and the Liberia Unification Party on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 signed an Article of Merger, thus making the three parties one.

But it appears as though the action taken by the Unity Party has in one way affected the sitting House Speaker Alex Tyler on grounds that he hails from the Liberia Action Party (LAP). On yesterday April 2, 2009, officials of three opposition political parties held a press conference in which they contended that the independence of the House of Representatives is at stake. For this reason, they threatened to launch a removal campaign if, from hence forth, they noticed any unfair and unjust practices on the part of Speaker Tyler.

The three political parties are the National Patriotic Party of Liberia (NPP), Liberty Party (LP) and the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

The three political Parties were represented at the press conference by Grand Bassa County District #4 Representative Gabriel Smith; Montserrado County District #2 Representative Rufus Neufville; and Bong county Representative George Mulbah.

Speaking during the press conference, the three lawmakers said Speaker Tyler had failed and betrayed the integrity of the House because, according to them, the transformation of the multiparty Legislature into a one-party body was the one of the driving forces behind the merging of the three parties.

They noted that during the campaign that led to his ascendency as Speaker, Tyler vowed to protect the independence of the House; and that he not allow himself to be dragged into compliance nor influenced by the Executive branch of Government.

The Lawmakers, in their separate statement, said with the present developments unfolding, it is highly possible that speaker Tyler presiding when issues against the interest of his party, UP, were being discussed, would attempt to use executive branch funds and authority to rule in UP's favor.

When asked as to how soon they would be launching their removal campaign, the three lawmakers would not say when; but noted that any attempt on the part of the Speaker to turn his gavel in his party's favor would leave them no alternative but to proceed with his removal.
“Gone are the days of the one-Party system,” the three lawmakers declared. “We are now in a new political era, and not in a country dominated by one man or one party. To whom can we run in a country where the Vice President is from LAP, the House Speaker from LAP and President Pro-Tempore is from LAP?” the three lawmakers asked.

They also used the opportunity to call on other political parties to see reason in making sure that a one-party system does not exist in the House of Representatives.
But the question that arises are, can these three political parties succeed in removing Speaker Tyler, looking at the Constitution and the present contacts he has in the House and the number of lawmakers on his side?

The Constitution states that the Speaker may be removed for cause.
Latest merging of the three political parties suggest that he now has the support of members of the Liberia Unification Party (LUP), Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Ruling Unity Party (UP).
At the present CDC has about 16 Representatives, Liberty Party, eight, and the NPP, two representatives.

That means the three opposition parties issuing threats to remove Speaker Tyler have a combined aggregate of 26 Representatives, out of a total of 64 in the House. If the Speaker is able to garner the support of the independent Members of the House and that of other minor opposition parties, such as the Alliance for Peace and Democracy (APD), National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), the New Deal Movement and the Alliance for Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP), the National Reformation Party, he would be able effectively to withstand any attempt to remove him from office.

On the other hand, if the three opposition parties, CDC, NPP and LP, are able to bring to their side all other parties and independent Members, the three opposition parties could mount a formidable challenge to the Speaker, which he would not be able to resist a removal drive.