The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) will next Tuesday hold a consultative forum to discuss the Consultant’s Working Paper for the development of a comprehensive PPCC Act Regulations and Manual.

The forum is expected to take place on the campus of the Baptist Theological Seminary on the Robertsfield highway and will bring together key stakeholders and representatives from procurement entities of the Liberian government.

The interactive forum will also afford stakeholders the opportunity to make their inputs on the Consultant’s Working Paper for inclusion in the regulation and manual, for the smooth implementation of the PPCC Act.

Key entities of the Liberian government, the business community and civil society are expected to participate in the one-day interactive forum.

It can be recalled that on July 8, 2008, the PPCC, after a rigorous bidding process, signed a contract with the General Law Consul to develop comprehensive regulations and manual for the smooth implementation of the PPCC Act of Liberia.

NACCSOL Hails House’s Decision

The National Coalition of Civil Society Organization of Liberia (NACCSOL) has commended the House of Representatives for adopting a resolution calling for a National Referendum to amend certain provisions of the 1986 Liberian Constitution.

 The provisions to be amended, according to NACCSOL, include squashing the absolute majority clause, reducing the term of senators, changing elections and inauguration dates, curtailing the power of the President to dismiss elected chiefs from office, etc.

A press release issued recently in Monrovia by the organization and signed by the Executive Secretary of NACCSOL, Mr. Benjamin Tarnue, indicated that it was in full support of the initiative and is urging the Senate to concur.

However, the NACCSOL said it would like to see more consultations on the issue of constitutional review before the referendum is finally held, with legislators engaging and consulting their constituencies, civil organizations and other stakeholders, in order to solicit their views.

It added that this was necessary so as not to have the initiative viewed as one deriving from the personal interests of the lawmakers.

“There is a need for a comprehensive review of the constitutional to make it more progressives,” the press release noted.

It furthered that there may be a need to include new provisions to deal with the functions of  the Armed Forces, the Police, Intelligence and state security services, as well as review the power of the President to dismiss certain officials of government at will.

The review of the qualifications of members of the National Legislature and the mode of exercising legislative power, including the effectuation of constitutional changes within newly created commissions, are also areas that NACCSOL seeks amendments.

The organization pointed out that it will sponsor a forum to generate recommendations from the public, civil society and other stakeholders regarding the outlined areas, as well as other issues within the Constitution.

NACCSOL press release concluded by expressing expectation that the National Legislature and the Executive Branch of government will host a national forum to similarly generate recommendations on the issues, before concluding on what should be included in the referendum.