Liberian lawmakers oust parliament speaker

By Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh

MONROVIA, Liberia (AA) – Liberia’s embattled speaker of parliament was removed on Tuesday, ending months of deadlock.

Alex Tyler’s removal follows a drawn-out standoff at the legislature prompted by a Global Witness Report released in June this year.

This had accused him of allegedly taking bribes to the tune of $900,000 from a British firm called Sable Mining in order to grant access to mineral reserves in the Wologisi Mountain region, contravening concession laws and procedures.

On Sept. 5, majority members of the house voted for the speaker to recuse himself from presiding over the plenary until an investigation was completed.

Since his recusal, the speaker requested six weeks of sick leave, although a criminal court only granted nine days.

Tyler has since been in Ghana for medical treatment.

Forty-nine representatives out of 72 lawmakers eventually signed the resolution to have Tyler removed.

However, one lawmaker, Bhofal Chambers, criticized the final decision to remove the speaker in his absence. After Chambers’ criticism, he was prevented from speaking until the decision was finally made.