Executive vs. HOR: Finance Minister Risks Jail Over Contempt Charge By House Of Representatives

By: William K. Howard

Capitol Hill: Members of the 55th Legislature (HOR) Thursday, June 27, 2024 voted massively for the placement of a contempt charge on Finance and Development Planning minister for numerously not appearing before them.

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boima Kamara, following the unanimous decision by plenary now faces potential incarceration (Jail) over contempt charge as the House of Representatives has summoned him to appear before them about four times.

Plenary during the 13th day sitting of the 2nd quarter of the 55th House of Representatives voted, requesting the chief clerk to have him summoned next Tuesday at the same time mandating the sergeant-at-arms summit his living body. His action according to plenary is for impeding the work of that legislative body, something they have termed as disrespectful thereby charging him with contempt.

Contempt- is an act of feeling that someone/something is without value and deserves no respect at all. During Thursday’s session, the House invoked its Contempt Power as outlined in rule four (4), citing actions that obstruct legislative function as grounds for contempt.

According to the House’s Rules and Procedures, the Finance Minister failure to appear for the fourth time triggered him punishment for contempt which can include a fine of up to LRD$5,000, Imprisonment for up to one month, or the duration of the current session of the House or pardon but the decisions made in contempt cases are not subject to appeal for the fact that he was on Tuesday requested to appear with his legal team and gave reason why he should not be held in contempt but failed to do so.

Minister Kamara, along with officials from the Liberia Revenue Authority, Internal Affairs, and Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, were invited to provide financial updates on consolidated accounts and bank balances, and validate reports from the Liberia Revenue Authority on revenue collection among others but others, appeared and the MFDP boss did not, though he sent a reply communication to the office of the chief clerk, but House speaker Fonati Koffa argued that the reason given by him was not guaranteed, nor sufficient to keep the work of the Liberian people hostage.

In recent times, speaker Koffa has been heard on numerous occasions that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is impeding the workings of the 55th legislature by not providing the body funds meant for operational purposes, though said fund is constitutional.

The MFDP boss' action in the wisdom of Knewsonline legislative reporter has put more pressure on the speaker, making him seek donor support to fund the just ended Legislative Reform Forum in Margibi.

The legislature speedily passed the 2024 national budget with the expectation that issues of salaries and benefits of civil servants and government officials can be handled but such seems to be on the contrary, as lawmakers at the house according to report have only been paid two out of six months.

While other lawmakers believe that the speaker is benefiting and not seeking their welfare, pundits also believe that the action of the minister of finance is only intended to strangulate the speaker who is from the main opposition political party.

In the midst of the struggle, some lawmakers including allies of the speaker a few weeks ago were spotted holding secret meetings, such of which was allegedly understood as a plot to remove him.

Though the recently held Legislative Reform Forum affluences the tension, there are still issues that require him to be more robust, like in the case of his previous warning to shut down the legislature if they cannot receive funding to back their functions as other branches of government and contempt charge placed on the minister.

Though this is the first contempt charge under his stewardship, we watch to see what becomes the fate of Minister Boima Kamara in the coming days, to disprove or approve the public perception that the legislature is in the pocket of the executives.