The Chairman of the Ways, Means Finance and budget Committee of the Liberian Senate, Senator Prince K. Moye of Bong County says, the Senate under the leadership of President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence will continue to tread on the path of transparency and accountability.
Providing clarification on the actual amount used for the Senate’s Buchanan Retreat, Senator Moye vowed that the institution will do everything to maintain transparency and accountability, and will remain open to provide information to the public at all time.
Addressing reporters during a Press Conference at the Capitol Building on Wednesday, 19 June 2024, Senator. Moye asserted that as opposed to US$700,000.00 allegedly claimed by some media outlets and political pundits in the public space, the total budget of the retreat was US$50,000.00.
According to Senator Moye, the US$50,000.00 represents a recast budget, which was derived from previous line items (Constituency Visit and Committee Hearings), in order to facilitate all expenditures covering the retreat.
The Bong County Senator also clarified that out of the US$50,000.00 requested, US$47,000.00 was disbursed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, of which US$42,840.00 covering feeding, accommodation, DSA, Staff Compensation, and Security operations was expended, with an outstanding amount of US$4,160.00 (unexpended) on hand up to date to be deposited in the Senate account.
According to a release from the Senate Press and Public Affairs Department, the Chairman on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget cautioned media outlets to desist from making what he calls unfounded allegations, unbacked by evidence and challenge anyone to come forth with anything contrary to what he has provided to the media.
The Bong County lawmaker emphasized that the Senate will continue to walk the path of transparency and accountability in the interest of the Liberian People, under the ARREST agenda