The Daily IIJ

The Plenary of the House of Representatives Tuesday passed into law the controversial population threshold bill amid intense debate by lawmakers.

The population threshold bill, which was introduced on the floor of the House over six (6) months ago, amongst other things, seeks to reapportion constituencies in keeping with the conduct of the Population and Housing Census conducted by the Liberia Institute of Statistic and Geo Information Services (LIGIS).

The threshold bill also seeks to ensure the delimitation and harmonization of electoral boundaries by the National Elections Commission (NEC) ahead of the 2011 general and Presidential elections.

The plenary of the House voted to set the new population threshold of Liberia from 20,000 per constituency to 40,000 per constituency.

Following several hours of heated debate the lawmakers voted 30 in favor, 14 against and 3 abstentions to increase the constituency apportionment.

Article 80 (d) of the Liberian Constitution, amongst other things, mandates the National Legislature to provide or prescribe a new population threshold following the conduct of a national population census to allow for the reapportioning of constituencies across the country.

The new constituency apportioned by the House would increase the number of representatives from 64 to 86 following the conduct of the 2011 General and presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Maryland County Representatives James Banney has announced a motion for reconsideration against the passage of the population threshold bill.

In a  related development,  the Joint Committees on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Investment and Concession; Contract and Monopolies and Judiciary of the House of Representatives  is due to conduct a public hearing on a number of Forestry Management Contracts before the House for ratification today, Wednesday.

The Forestry Management Contracts due to be deliberated upon during the public hearing includes: the Alpha Logging and Wood Processing Incorporated; EJ & J Investment Corporation and Liberia Tree and Trading Company Incorporated.

According to the joint committees, several prominent individuals including National Investment Committee Chairman Richard Tolbert, Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Director John T. Woods, and the Executive Director of Green Advocates Atty. Alfred Brownell amongst others are expected to speak during the public hearing.