The Legislative Women’s Caucus of Liberia has inducted Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence as its Chair and Gbarpolu County Senator Botoe Kanneh as Vice Chair. Sen. Lawrence is known as the face of Liberian women in Politic or sometime refered to as the female gladiator.
Sen. Nyonblee- Lawrence has stand tall as the only Woman in the Liberian Senate, for a couple of years, before recently her legislative caucus principle deputy Senator Botoe Kanneh of Gbarpolu County was elected lately in 2021 to join the hands of Women in the Liberian Parliament as Women continue their push for 50% percent role at the upper house.
The renowned women’s rights campaigner and social justice activist, Senator Nyonblee-Kangar Lawrence who is also refered to be known as the lioness of the Liberian Senate, was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and reelected during the 2020 midterm elections. Throughout her first term, she remained the only female in a senate that were comprised of 29 men.
“I would like to start by thanking past Chair Rep. Rosana Schaack and others for their great leadership. I also want to extend my deepest appreciation to the women in the Legislature for their confidence and support,” Senator Lawrence said. “My top priority as Chair of the Women’s Caucus is to work collectively to lift up and maximize opportunities for all women and to ensure the needs of our most vulnerable and disenfranchised women are at the forefront of the discussion.
I also want to ensure our collective work increases the number of women in positions of power across all fields.”
“I will ensured that more Women are able to stand up and compete with the men, my quest is to see more women in the Liberian Senate, said Sen. Nyonblee Lawrence.
Sen. Lawrence further outlined major plan to advocate for Women Rights and particularly stressed that they will ensure the protection of all Female Representatives’ Incumbency by working harder for their re-election in 2023.
She confirmed that the assembly was beyond partisanship, and said the women celebrated in oneness and promised to stand together, putting their political differences aside and focus on the women for the sake of Liberia as part of efforts intended to Unify the Women Agenda unanimously and supervise under the relevant umbrella with no discrimination and unfaltering determination for success.
In the rotunda of the Capitol Building on Thursday, June 9, doing the Liberian Women Legislative Caucus Induction Ceremony, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor commended the leadership of the female legislative caucus and cautioned them to continue the hard work and dedicated services as she encourage them to always, get involves in participation.
VP Taylor, urged the Women’s Caucus to continue their push to ensured that more women representation are in the Liberian Senate, something she said will Women of Liberia voice out freely their opinions and get involved in decision- making.
The Vice President also emphasized the guarantee of Women participation into decision making, thus encouraging increased inclusion of women in relations to Leadership at the local and national levels.
VP Taylor also encouraged the Women Caucus Leadership to begin reaching out in the communities as part of strategies to keep engaging the Women and Girls of Liberia to understand their real needs and swiftly work along with them to ensure transformation far ahead of 2023; adding the Nyonblee’ Team must exemplify the Change that they desire for the Nation.
Also speaking Gender- Minister Williametta E Saydee-Tarr, reaffirmed the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, commitment to working with the Women’s Legislative Caucus in the interest of the women of Liberia, the children and the men who cares.
Min. Tarr said the Ministry of gender Children and Social Protection and the leadership of the Women Legislative Caucus will continue working together for the greater foundational good; having one voice; promoting denominational agendas; avoiding baseless castigation; fighting sexual and gender-based violence; promoting women participation in governance in all three branches of Government; and pushing for the 30% gender quota.
“If we stand together in unity we will be victorious always. Women are a force for change – and in solidarity we can do so much! So we encourage all to never underestimate the strength of us women working together toward a common good.” Minister Saydee-Tarr averred.
For his part, House Speaker Bhofar Chambers, stressed the need for building women’s capacity and also pledged his support to the female Legislators.
Meanwhile, others sworned in as leaders of the Liberian Women’s Legislative Caucus are: Bong County District # 6 Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah as Vice- chair for International Affairs, Montserrado County District #4 Representative Rustunlyn Dennis as Secretary- General, while Lofa County District #2 Representative Julie Fatorma Wiah as Financial Secretary.
Others are Margibi County District # 3 Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh as Treasurer, and Grand Bassa County District # Representative Mary Karwor as Chaplain, while Vice President H.E. Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor will preside on the advisory board.
Vice- Chair Gbarpolu Senator Botoe Kanneh, express joy of being elected as Vice- Chair of the Women Legislative Caucus “I’m honored to be elected Vice Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, and I look forward to collaborating with Sen. Nyonblee and all of our women legislators to champion key issues for women and families and to lift women into leadership roles in the state,” said Senator Kanneh.
The newly installed leadership of the Women’s Legislative Caucus will run the affairs of Women legislators for the next three years.
Accordingly, the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia was given Birth to through the innovation of Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott in 2005/2006 following the election of 5 female Senators and nine female Representatives; a period in which former Chief Justice Scott was also a Senator.
While inducting the current Leaders of WLC in their respective offices, Cllr. Scott challenges Legislators to begin viewing themselves as the representation of the citizens and the Nation, stating they must strive to place the State on a progressive and transformed trajectory amidst their political diversities.
