By Ramsey N Singbeh Jr
Email: director@news.throngtalk.com
Contact: +231772641146 / 880147358
Despite the burning of the William R. Tolbert Joint Chamber where the president’s state of the nation address is supposed to be delivered, the 55th Legislature has named the Grounds of Capitol Building as the venue for this year’s annual message.
The arson attack occurred on December 18, 2024 during the morning hours leaving everyone in shock.
President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) is expected to be delivered on Monday January 27, 2025.
According to the Liberian Legislature through a joint press release issued on January 18, 2025 from both houses, the decision for the event to be held at the Grounds of Capitol Building was necessitated by the December 18 “arson attack” on the William R. Tolbert Joint Chamber which is originally the venue for the annual message.
The state of nation address is in keeping with Article 58 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution which requires the president to on the fourth working Monday in January of each year present the administration’s Legislative programs for the ensuing session, and to once a year report to the legislature on the state of the Republic.
It also states that in presenting the economic condition of the republic, the report shall cover expenditure as well as income
The release further states that due to heightened security arrangements, access to the Capitol Building premises will be strictly regulated by state securities prior to and during the day of the annual message.
It also urges those without official invitations or access passes including staffers of the Legislature to avoid the premises of the Capitol on the day of the SONA.
The release assures the public that the president’s annual message will be live on various media platforms, mainly radios, televisions, as well as social media to allow citizens to see and listen to the message while at home or various places of work.
The joint legislative release at the same time cautioned that only media institutions duly approved and issued access passes will be allowed to provide coverage for the upcoming national event.
It says that the legislature remains committed and is fully prepared to receive President Boakai on Monday January 27, 2025 for the sole purpose to deliver his 2nd annual message.
How be it, the burning of the National Legislature is a very serious set back to Liberia, evidenced by the embarrassment of not having the joint chamber, where the SONA should normally be presented.
This misfortune occurred in the midst of power struggle by the House of Representatives over the speakership position.
The decision to engage into arson against the Capitol, by anyone involved was very devilish, anti-developmental and retrogressive to the country.
Because of the burning, an amount of one million, eight hundred thousand United States Dollars (1,800,000 USD) just for the renovation of the burnt part of the Capitol has been suggested, this money, many Liberians are of the opinion that it could be used to put drugs into government health facilities across the country which are seriously challenged with the issue of medication.
Development partners, foreign guests and well-meaning Liberians will have to now face the reality of not being seated in the joint chamber for the president’s SONA.
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