By Dorcas T. Gboerreh-Boe
MONROVIA, Oct. 29 (LINA) – The President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie, has encouraged employees of the legislature to remain calm as the leadership is working to ensure they receive their salary arrears and benefits.
Pro-Temp Chie statement comes days after the staffers of the first branch of government threatened to stage a “non-stop” protest action beginning October 25, until their salaries and benefits for August and September are settled.
Speaking when he met with employees of the Liberian Senate on Monday, Chie explained that the government is indebted to the Legislators also, and blamed the lack of pay on the country’s current economic downturn, indicating that the harmonization of salaries by government is the major contributing factor to the delay.
« The government is so constrained, and the money is just not there, so we are appealing to you to remain peaceful, this situation will be solved shortly, even the salary and benefits of Senators are cut. So we took the bullets for you as leaders,” Chie said.
The Grand Kru County Senator also stated that even though employees are disenchanted over the fact that government has not paid their salaries, but employees of the Senate should equally be appreciative that the salary slash did not affect them.
« We the Senators took the bullets for you by cutting our salaries. You need to give us credit for that, » he pointed out.
He stated that it is no secret that the current economic downturn is a result of the deadly Ebola outbreak in 2014, adding that the situation has become worse due to the drop in revenue, as well as lack of donor support to the budget.
« There are hopes, because we are doing everything possible to get into the IMF program, we have done everything with respect to the benchmark of the IMF, » he said.
Additionally, the Pro-temp said, as it stands, government needs additional US$42 million besides the internal revenue collection to solve the current salary issue, stating that the staffers of the Senate will shortly receive their salaries for August and September as the cheques are almost done by the Finance Ministry.
According to Senator Chie, government has done everything possible to attract foreign aid and loans, and that there is hope in calming the economic storm.
On the issue of impending protest by employees of the Legislature, Senator Chie averred that the growing waves of protests is harming the country, noting: « The more our citizens protest, the more investors stay away, because no one wants to invest in a country that is unstable.”
He commended the employees for being calm and not engaging in the planned protest.
On the issue of other internal problems facing employees, the Pro-tempore admitted that he as leader takes the blame and assured that he will be more involved in addressing the plight of the staffer.
« I take the blame, because there has been a serious gap in information sharing on our activities. I assure you that things will improve onward, » Chie added.
LINA DTG/PTK
