“BLACKMAIL, SLANDER” -REP. ADOLPH LAWRENCE REJECTS CRIMINAL ALLEGATION The Chairman on the House’s Committee of Lands and Natural Resources, Rep. Adolph Lawrence, has gravely slammed and rubbished allegation on violation of Liberia’s procurement law, and expressed sadness on the so-called negative wide media publication without his side of the story. The Montserrado County’s lawmaker said that the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission (LACC) through its chairman, Cllr. James Verdier has chosen the Commission as a political tool instead of professional and integrity entity. Rep. Lawrence told newsmen on Friday, October 24, that the House of Representatives have decided to contract the services of three (3) consultants, two of which were Liberians and third a Ghanaian consultant to advice and draft two (2) legislations prior to their concurrence. They were the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) Act 2013 and Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 2013. He stated that since the policy of the Liberian Government are rendered before payment, but that provisions in the contracts required 50% upon signature and due to expediency and as well as knowing the importance of the Consultants’ impact, he requested Speaker Alex Tyler to advance the amounts required as initial payment, which was subsequently provided and disbursed. Rep. Lawrence said after the completion the draft laws by the Consultants, the Committee requested to NOCAL for the full service’s for a reimbursement of Speaker Tyler funds because the consultants were already told that the initial payment of 50% was provided not by the Liberian Government. “He (the consultant) thereafter gave me US$10,000 which was the agreed balance after taxes and the balance US$12,500 was taken by him. At this point, agents of LACC arrived on the scene and informed me that LACC was investigating the just-encash check and that they needed my presence at their offices to a statement,” the Chairman on the House’s Committee of Lands and Natural Resources said. He added: “At LACC, I was advised by its Chairman to turn over the money to them and to return the next day to make a statement, a demand which I complied with in view of my peaceful, non-confrontational and law-abiding nature.” However, the Montserrado County’s District No. 15 Representative has sued the LACC for Action of Damages for Wrong in the Civil Law Court. Meanwhile, it can be recalled that the LACC boss on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at the regular press conference of the Information Minister accused Speaker Tyler and Rep. Lawrence on the inflation of the three consultants’ charges. The LACC boss noted that the Commission is now questioning all actors involved in the deal, including NOCAL to establish whether there was a bidding process for the contract noting that the money for the three contractors is far beyond the threshold of the PPCC.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:27:14 +0000
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