By E. Geedahgar Garsuah
MONROVIA: If Government of Liberia (GoL), through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning fail to provide US$ 4.5million, the commencement of the Biometric Voters’ Registration exercise will be delayed, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has told the full Plenary of the Senate, the Upper House of the Bicameral Liberian Legislature.
“We were informed that some four million was being processed, but up to date, there is no funding for the elections process,” NEC’s Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, disclosed.
Providing election updates on Thursday, March 9, 2023, the NEC Chairperson revealed to the Senate Plenary which is the highest decision-making body of the Upper House that there exists a financial deficit of US$3.375 million including US$1.65 million which was used for the conduct of the previous Senatorial by-Election for Lofa County.
According to her, NEC is, at this point, soliciting funding to start the Voters’ Registration exercise.
According to the NEC Chairperson, LAXTON Group, the company hired to carry-out the exercise which is slated to begin on March 20, 2023, has made it clear that it is not in the position to pre-finance the process, as previously agreed in the bid document.
As captured in the bid document, a contract which value is US$12 million, the company winning the bid must demonstrate the ability to pre-finance the process.
However, she indicated that LAXTON has, to date, failed to live up to the contract’s terms and conditions.
According to the terms of the contract payment, as stated in Section ITB 11.1(h) of the bid document, 50% should be paid to the winner of the bid after the close of the Voter Registration Process; 25% after the exhibition exercise; and the balance 25% after the October 10, 2023, Presidential and Legislative Elections.
Madam Browne-Lansanah asserted that LAXTON’s failure to pre-finance the Biometrics Voters’ Registration exercise has led to a situation wherein NEC is now seeking the intervention of central government to provide US$4.5 million to LAXTON to facilitate the transport of biometric materials in the country.
NEC had earlier submitted a proposed election budget of US$91 million, which approval, according to the election body, would have led to the timely and smooth conduct of the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
Moreover, the initial budget of US$91 million had been sliced to US$ 33 million by Central Government.
Interestingly, the Senate had voiced out its worry that the crucial and much-anticipated October 10 Presidential and Legislative elections may not be conducted in line with NEC’s announced timetable.
The worries of the Senators, it seems, are based on the noticeable slow pace of NEC in the implementation of its activities as reflected on its timetable relative to the necessary preparations in the conduct of October 10, 2023 polls.
Several Senators have expressed concern that the 2023 electioneering process in Liberia could suffer delay owing to the financial and other tedious challenges the Commission is faced with.
It was on this basis that the Board of Commissioners of the NEC was invited by members of the Upper House of the Liberian Legislature.
Reports say despite the apparent huddles that it is encountering at this moment, the NEC has released a list of Voter Registration Centers for the October elections, covering the first six counties, in keeping with the NEC new electoral guidelines.
The 1986 Elections law of Liberia, Section 3.2 (a), gives NEC the authority to make public the listing of voter’ registration centers in the period of two weeks ahead of day one of the registration exercise.
Section 3.1 of said law also cautions voters to register at the Center in their districts and vote at the center where they were registered.
According to NEC’s timetable, phase-one of the voters’ registration processes will start on March 20 and ends on April 9, 2023, commencing with Bomi, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
Accordingly, Phase-two of the VR process will commence from April 21- May 11, 2023, covering the remaining nine counties.
Howbeit, the company, LAXTON Group, according to its profile, is a global Leader in providing cost effective, high technology Election, Identity and Self Service solutions to governments and corporations.
Its flagship technologies include biometrics (fingerprint, iris, face, and voice), big data analytics and cryptography (digital signatures, encryption, and public key infrastructure). New technologies being introduced include: artificial intelligence, IoT and block chain technology.
The company, according to the profile is equipped with a full complement of highly experienced professionals in software development, engineering, manufacturing, and project management, and has a proven track record of successfully implementing large scale projects.
LAXTON Group can rapidly move from creation of concept design and prototyping, to complete manufacture and final execution all under one roof.
LAXTON was founded in South Africa in 2004, and now operates from offices around the world. Headquartered in Hong Kong, LAXTON has production and technology facilities in China, and branches in New York, and Johannesburg with regional offices in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Indonesia, and Colombia.
