Senate Confirms Collins as Deputy Maritime Boss after Rejecting her Previous Nomination

MONROVIA – Members of the Liberian Senate have voted to confirm President George Weah’s nominee for the post of Deputy Commissioner at the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) Edwina Collins.

The decision to confirm Madam Collins by that august body was due to recommendations from its committee on Maritime headed by Grand Bassa County Senator Jonathan Kaipay.

It can be recalled that in 2022, the Senate Plenary initially denied Madam Collins over questionable credentials but was recently re-nominated by President George Weah to a similar portfolio thus, calling on that body to confirm her.

During her previous confirmation hearing, Collins struggled to convince the Senator that she was the right person for the job. She claimed to be a trained economist and development specialist with many years of experience in the private sector, including working with NGOs locally and internationally.

But the Senators rejected her claims after she failed to name some of the places and institutions she claimed to have worked and she was denied.

However, in his recent re-nomination of Madam Edwina Collins to the post of Deputy Maritime Commissioner, President Weah assured the Senate that the nominee will now present credentials and documents.

While the majority of the senators voted to confirm her, Grand Bassa County Senator, Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence, ignoring her female solidarity posture, joined her colleagues Senators Darius Dillon, Prince Moye, and Jonathan Sogbie in voting against the decision.

I’m voting against Edwina Collins because she lied under oath,” Senator Lawrence said.

By: Emmanuel Toe