By M. Dennise Nimpson|Contributor
Days after the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) refused Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillion USD$15, 000.00 cheque, the senator has donated US$7,500 to the county health team.
On Tuesday June 15, Senator Dillion, after sustained public outcry vows to return the money to LACE to implement his Library project
But LACE sharply responded that the Montserrdo County Senator USD$15,000.00 return is not legitimate.
According to LACE, regulations and statue governing the agency operations prohibit such, noting it is not part of the Memorandum of Understanding.
The Agency release issued on Wednesday June 16, emphasized that it would carry out the project once such appropriations is made through the budget process.
The release claimed any act contrary would breach governance norms and best practices being exhibit over the years by LACE.
Meanwhile Senator Darius Dillon presented the amount of US$7,500.00 of the US$15,000 to Montserrado County health team for its operation.
Senator Dillon has been under intense pressure for receiving his portion of the $15,000 USD, contrary to his pledge that he will not receive any financial inducement.
Amid concern by Liberians, lawmakers who received the money have been confronted by their various constituents over the legitimacy of the cash and the direct benefit to the country.
The money was disbursed to the lawmakers at the time when the country is engulfed with unemployment and economic hardship under the Weah Administration.
A Liberian political activist and former student leader Martin Kollie who was forced into exile under the Weah Administration at the peril of his life, in a strongly worded Facebook post Tuesday, blasted lawmakers over the receipt the naked cash.
“Greed and institutionalized corruption are killing Liberia and Liberians. That country is in TROUBLE. It has a Legislature of indigenous vampires,” he adds.
The basic monthly salary of a Liberian Senator is $10,300, while a Representative is $7,800, excluding thousands of additional dollars in benefits.
Some citizens, who have taken their frustration to social media on the direction of the country and hardship they are experiencing, are calling on lawmakers to return the money.
In the wake of public concerns Liberia Public Radio has learnt that disbursement of US$15,000 to each lawmaker is part of a ‘legislative syndicate’ to award a proposed oil bloc to a new company unknown.
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