Senator Snowe takes Gov’t to Task …blames Defeat of Lawmakers On Patronage Behavior

As Deputy Minister Samora Z. Wollokllie remained under oath before the Plenary of the Liberian Senate for failing to convince Senators on the status of the County Social Development Fund CSDF, Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe has taken the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)- led Government to task.

Last Thursday's session was a scene of claims and counter claims between members of the Liberian Senate and Deputy Minister of Finance and Development Planning   Samora Wolokollie for what has been described as his ill-preparedness to appear before that body. 

During his appearance before the Senate, Deputy Minister of Finance and Development Planning Wolokollie said each county has received the disbursement of US$100,0000 or 50 percent of the CDF.

 The clarification of the Deputy Minister came following reports that the counties are yet to receive the US$200,000 in Social Development Funds. 

But Minister Wolokollie bragged that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has paid 50% of the Social Development Funds despite of the speculation. 

When asked about the documentary evidence by one of the Senators, Minister Wolokollie  told the Senators that the documents will be sent at a  later date, something which was objected to by Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillion, Senator Snowe of Bomi  and Wellington Geevon Smith of River Cess Counties.

When he took the stand following presentation by Fiscal Affairs Minister, Sen. Snowe blamed the  CDC- led Government for reneging to remit into the counties respective accounts, funding approved in the national budget for development purposes. 
 
 Sen. Snowe, a pro-CDC Senator, alarmed that this act of the CDC-led Government has kept development activities down in the counties at different levels including health and education. 

The Bomi County Senator attributed the defeats of lawmakers in both chambers of the bicameral legislature at the just ended October 10 polls to their patronage behavior of supporting the wrongful acts of the central government over the years. 

“Because we come here and accommodate a lot of things at our detriment and so today, over 50 of our colleagues will not be returning. Fortunately for some of us, we have six more years. Some of you who are coming back will have nine more years. And I think that one or two things need to be corrected,” said Sen. Snowe. 

“Pro-Temp, we cannot come and pass a budget and a small amount of 200,000  that supposed to go our people they cannot get it and we just there drilling each other,” he stated 

He alarmed that the Bomi County Community College is still at a standstill as government has been unable to provide subsidies for the school’s operations. 

“When Mr. Wookollie entered here I sent a message to the County’s health administrator, to ask if they have paid the County Health Team and the Liberia Government Hospital and he said no. Amehn!!! Protemp, how far will our patronage take us. How far Protemp? If you have elections here today, the likes of Senator Dillon, and maybe Sen. Johnson as usual, and Boye Charles will still be elected here. But those of us, who say let’s work together; lets break bread together, are punished.”

“I hope that the remaining years. The information that 100,000 was given is not true. Let the Minister say the truth or bring documentation. Patronage has really hurt us in this legislature. Over 50 of our colleagues are going home and those 50 are people who most of them or all of them, were working in similar directions.” 

Accordingly, Senator Dillon also blasted that Minister Wolokollie for lying to Plenary despite being under oath. 

Senator Dillon referenced the debt portfolio documents that were promised to have been given to the Senate by the Deputy Finance Minister, but to no avail. 

Also speaking, Rivergee County Senator, Jonathan Sorgbe revealed that his county has not received a cent in CDF. 

The appearance of the Deputy Finance Minister could be seen as a challenge to the lawmakers due to his argumentative posture that was displaced while under oath. 
                     
The appearance of the MFDP official as triggered by a communication from Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Varney Sherman, in which he requested status update about the US$200,000 in the CDF for the 2023 fiscal year. 

And as he failed to provide documentary evidence, the Liberian Senate voted to keep him under oath to reappear before that body tomorrow, October 31 with documentations backing his claims that each of the 15 counties received US$100k as County Development Fund.