Defeated Lawmakers Bid Painful Farewell To Capitol

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 marked the official closure of the 54^th National Legislature that took the mantle of authority on January 9, 2018.

Adjournment of the 54^th Legislature followed the end of the second Special Session, but the closure was marred by pains and sorrows as defeated lawmakers bided final farewell.

As observed by this writer, several lawmakers from both wings of the Legislature were seen taking away their personal belongings from their offices by their personal staffers, most of whom are being made immediately jobless.

Notably, staffers of Grand Gedeh County Senator Marshall Dennis were seen hauling their boss’ belongings from the old building of the Capitol into a four-door picket. Sen. Dennis, who contested on the ticket of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), was defeated by former warlord – leader of the defunct Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) Thomas Yaya Nimely, 

He was elected to the Liberian Legislature in 2014 in the Special Senatorial Election that year, but was booted out by his employers (Grand Gedians) in the recently held 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections. 

 Like his defeated colleagues, the Grand Gedeh County lawmaker who bided goodbye to the office he has served in for the last nine years, will have to wait for the next six years before testing the political water again, or unless there is a vacancy as result of death or incapability of a sitting lawmaker.

In a mournful tone, the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Tugbe Chie sent a massage of gratitude to his colleagues who will not be returning for the 55^th Legislature, for their public service and pray that another avenue be availed to them to contribute, noting that they still have the energy.