The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Edwin Melvin Snowe was this afternoon by a majority votes removed as Speaker of that august body.
But a local Human Rights advocate and defender, J. Melvin Page has lashed out furiously against a group of lawmakers for violating the Liberian constitution in their attempt to unseat the Speaker of the House, Mr. Edwin Snowe.
In an interview he granted a local radio reporter, Mr. Page said the constitution of Liberia requires the House to meet in session under the leadership of its speaker except otherwise provided by law.
He said the move by some lawmakers to meet outside of the legal venue of the legislature and under the leadership of someone else while the current speaker still holds the gavel, is equivalent to a crime and should be met with harsh punishment for those involved.
The Human Rights advocate said he does not oppose the remover of Snowe as speaker but wanted to see that it is done constitutionally and legally.
46 members of Liberia's House of Representatives signed a resolution to remove Edwin Snowe as Speaker of the House, citing numerous charges.
The lawmakers said "the image of the House of Representatives has been severely damaged by the notoriety of Hon. Snowe’s pariah status as manifested by the continuous UN travel ban and asset freeze placed on him…[we] do hereby affirm and reaffirm our resolve to remove [him] as Speaker, and by this Resolution he is hereby removed".
They also want the speaker removed because of "his alleged lack of leadership ability, which left the House of Representatives without published rules and orders for more than 12 months.
The Speaker's office has reportedly received the resolution and said it will entertain debate on the issue.
Members of the house however, appear to be devided over the venue of sessions that will lead to a debate of the issue. A handful of representatives opted to hold sessions outside the capital but could not successfully do so because of the lack of quorum.
46 members of Liberia's House of Representatives signed a resolution to remove Edwin Snowe as Speaker of the House, citing numerous charges.
The lawmakers said "the image of the House of Representatives has been severely damaged by the notoriety of Hon. Snowe’s pariah status as manifested by the continuous UN travel ban and asset freeze placed on him…[we] do hereby affirm and reaffirm our resolve to remove [him] as Speaker, and by this Resolution he is hereby removed".
They also want the speaker removed because of "his alleged lack of leadership ability, which left the House of Representatives without published rules and orders for more than 12 months.
The Speaker's office has reportedly received the resolution and said it will entertain debate on the issue.
Members of the house however, appear to be devided over the venue of sessions that will lead to a debate of the issue. A handful of representatives opted to hold sessions outside the capital but could not successfully do so because of the lack of quorum.
Others broke away, questioning the legitimacy of sessions held outside of the Capitol Building and without Snowe residing.
It is not yet known what will happen in the next few days but there are increasing signs that Speaker Edwin Snowe could be removed from office in weeks.
It is not yet known what will happen in the next few days but there are increasing signs that Speaker Edwin Snowe could be removed from office in weeks.
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