Montserrado County District Two Representative Jimmy Smith says he strongly support the establishment of the War Crimes Court Liberia.
Representative Smith said the establishment of the court is not to target anyone but to serve as deterrent for would be perpetrators.
According to Representative Smith, the court is for insurgent who violated the rights of unarmed civilians and see no reason why people think they are been targeted by the establishment court.
Representative Smith told Liberia Public Radio Friday July 2, 2021 that his decision to signed onto the resolution calling for the establishment of war crimes court is meant to ensure that those who committed attorcicties during the Liberian civic war are brought to Justice.
About 250,000 people were killed during the 14-year crisis which eventually led to the involvement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and of the United Nations (UN).
Over the last few months there has been mounting calls for the Weah administration to ensure that Justice is serve by establishing the court, but the government her supporters’ despite been a strong advocate during their days in opposition have argue that the timing is not right due to insecurity.
But Representative Smith who comes from the governing CDC believes that even though those of the concerns raised are genuine, the issue of security cannot be the reason why people cannot pay for their wrong doing.
The Montserrado County District Two Lawmaker asserted that he does not see any indication that there will be insecurity if a legitimate prosecution of those believe to have committed crimes against Liberian takes place.
SURE OF SECODN TERM
Speaking on his engagement with is constituent, Representative Smith noted that he is very confident that the people of district will bless him with a second term in 2023.
Representative Smith mentioned that he has earned himself a reputation as the “heavyweight lifter” due to his many developmental initiatives across the district and see no reason why the people will not stand by him when he seeks his second 2 years from now.
He indicated that despite the many challenges facing the country and people, he continues to invest the little he has in the district due to his passion to serve his people.
“I invested close to a million United States Dollars in this district before and after I begin Representative, and I will keep doing so because of my people whom I committed myself to helping whenever called upon” the district two lawmaker noted.
Representative Smith who is currently undertaken the construction of a bridge in the Christian community in the district two said the bridge which is worth over US$30,000 will help residents of the community commute to other parts of the district especially during the rainy.
Col. Smith as he is affectional called named the provision of over 300 scholarships worth over US$30,000, the construction of roads and Market buildings as well as the provision of financial aid to marketers as others developments he has undertaken in the district.
The firebrand lawmaker noted amidst of these contribution to the district, his relationship with the people district Two remains in tight and warned those believing they can undermine his effort to think differently.
He mentioned that the people of district will not give away their vote so cheaply in 2023 noting that the vote of the people district two must bring dividend to them.
Representative Smith called on Liberian to begin voting people who have already made themselves and have the ability to contribute to the growth of the country without been a liability to the country.
He explained that 80% of the resources he spent on development in his district does not come from his salary at the legislature, but from what he earned during his youth days noting that more of his kind is need in the legislature.
Fifteen thousand is a peanut
Speaking on the US$15,000 received by lawmakers for Legislative engagement, Representative Smith mentioned those criticizing lawmakers for taking the money are doing so out of jealousy.
Representative Smith described the US$15,000 as peanut that cannot match what lawmaker including him have invested in their district.
“How much is fifteen thousand United States Dollars tell me, what kind of project that amount can really undertake, but I think what our critics need to be concern about his how do we account for this money” he asserted.
The CDC lawmaker indicated he did no wrong taking the money, describing it as legal. Representative Smith noted that he will accept any money of such, but indicted that he will vote to remove such line items in the budget if Liberians don’t want it to be there.
THE NEED FOR CONTIUE INFORMATION TO COMBAT COVID-19.
Representative Smith spent over one Million Liberian Dollars during the first wave of the COVID-19 in Liberia, and with the second wave now spreading faster the imagine, the Montserrado Lawmaker thinks that more education and awareness is needed to combat the virus.
Representative Jimmy Smith mentioned unless the people are consistently informed about the preventive measures and those measures are enforced, it will be difficult to win the battle against pandemic.
The District Two Representative noted that his office will soon embark on the distribution of COVID-19 preventive materials including buckets sanitizers among others to residents of the district.
He cautioned resident of his district and Liberians to abide all health protocols instituted by health authorities.
