Liberians Hold Constitutional Review Conference

A National Constitutional Review Conference opened on Monday in the central Liberian city of Gbarnga.

A committee charged with reviewing the country’s 1986 constitution has been soliciting suggestions from the public for possible amendments.

They include the terms of office for the President, Vice President, legislators and jus­tices, as well as superinten­dents of the country’s 15 politi­cal subdivisions.

Under the current constitu­tion, the president and vice president serve six-year terms, senators serve for nine years, and members of the House of Representatives six years.

Counselor Gloria Musu-Scott, chairperson of the Con­stitution Review Committee, said many Liberians want changes in the terms of office of their elected officials.

“One of the proposals to be considered is where the people had said nine years are too long for a senator to be in office. So, it should be reduced to six years, the senators from nine to six [years], members of the House of Representatives from six to four [years] and the presi­dent and the vice president from six to four years. That is almost a national consensus,” she said.

Scott said Liberians also want their local government officials, including county su­perintendents, district com­missioners, and mayors to be elected and accountable to the people they serve.

Under the current constitu­tion, much of the power to ap­point resides in the hands of the president.

She said Liberians also want traditional leaders, or chiefs, elected according to the tradi­tion

Ebola survivor Finda Fallah sits in front of her new room in West Point, Monrovia.