By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr.
MONROVIA: Margibi County Senator Nathaniel F. McGill has described as wrong, action the decision by the Boakai led government to allegedly dismiss trained personnel of the Executive Protection Service (EPS).
Senator McGill addressing Legislative Reporters at his Capitol Building office on Thursday, April 25, 2024, said the action of the Executive Branch of government has posed serious security threat to the country.
The Margibi County indicated that it is unsafe for any government to wrongfully dismiss individuals who have been trained to carry arms, particularly people who took oath to protect highest seat of the country.
According to him, as professional as the Executive Protection Service is as an institution, no government should treat its personnel with disdain, adding that if there is any issue of trust with some personnel around the president, they should be assigned far from the Chief Executive.
The former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs is therefore calling on the Director of the Executive Protection Service, Sam Gaye to review his action and reconsider the decision.
Speaking further, the Liberian Senate committee Chair on education called on the Boakai led administration to depoliticize the issues of citizens’ welfare, stressing employment as key among.
The Senator averred that with alleged political dismissal of security personnel in Liberia could lead to several persons being trained and lingering without job, “If Boakai government will dismiss EPS Officers because they were recruited by CDC government and when other government comes and do the same we will have thousands trained and out job which is a security threat”.
Meanwhile, Senator, Nathaniel McGill is requesting an additional US$1 million budgetary allocation for the C. H. Rennie Hospital in the 2024 draft national budget. Senator McGill called on the plenary of the Liberian Senate to consider his plea ahead of debate on the legislative instrument, which is currently before the House of Representatives.
The Coalition for Democratic Change lawmaker recounted that the public health facility was gutted by fire in 2021and some cash was allocated for its relocation in the county.
He intimated that in 2023, former President George Weah made available some funds in the tune of 800,000 USD for reconstruction of the hospital but it did not take effect, noting that unfortunately, he said that reconstruction fund is not captured in the 2024 draft budget.
Senator McGill, who formally wrote the plenary on the matter, stated that following his engagement with House Speaker Fonati Koffa and Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, both have assured him that the reconstruction project of the hospital will be captured in the budget.
He emphasized that his voting on the record for the passage of the current draft budget will be clear if those major health priorities preferred are considered, adding that anything on the contrary, he will vote against the passage of the instrument.
In another development, the former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs has condemned the report of the Liberia National Police on the Kinjor protest which resulted into the death some Liberians in Grand Cape Mount County.
The opposition Lawmaker has reiterated his call for an independent investigate team to be set to investigate the situation. He believes that it is inappropriate for the Liberia National Police who is a party to protest to conduct investigation and render itself right in the matter.
At the same time, Senator Nathaniel McGill who has been one of the lead campaigners for the War and Economic Crimes Court establishment for Liberia urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to act on the WECC Resolution before him.
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