At long last, the plenary of the Liberian Senate has finally voted to confirm President George M. Weah’s nominee, Edwina Collins for the post of Deputy Commissioner at the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA).
However, 16 Senators voted for the confirmation of the nominee, while four Senators which include Abraham Darius Dillon, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Prince K. Moye and Jonathan Sogbie voted against the confirmation with three Senators abstaining from the process.
The plenary decision was triggered following a report from its committee on Maritime thus calling for the confirmation of Mrs. Collins on grounds that she met all requirements/qualifications needed to serve in the above mentioned post.
It can be recalled in 2022; the Senate Plenary initially denied Madam Collins over questionable credentials but was recently renominated by President George Weah to a similar portfolio thus calling on that body to confirm her.
She had earlier struggled to defend her profile, having claimed to be a trained economist and development specialist with many years of hands-on experience within the private and NGO sectors both locally and internationally, though she could not name a single place where she had worked to gain such an experience.
President Weah in his recent renomination of Madam Edwina Collins to the senate mentioned that the nominee will now present credentials and documents unavailable to the Liberian senate.
But the committee in its report read in plenary Thursday, March 16, 2023 by the Senate Secretary, among other things further its decision was also based on the fact madam Collins during the hearing proved to have applied additional efforts to improve her skills in both the maritime sector and other capacity to handle issues of trending global concerns.
The committee report added that madam Collins was also during the confirmation hearing able to provide substantive evidence backing her academic credential and qualification for the post at the LiMA.
“Mr. Pro-temp and colleagues, having thoroughly scrutinized the nominee, we are pleased to recommend the confirmation of the Presidential nominee to the Post of Deputy Commissioner for International Vessel Registration at the LiMA,” he report asserted.
Meanwhile, a motion for reconsideration was then filed by Sinoe County Senator, Milton Tweajay thus halting the confirmation of Mrs. Collins. However, it is expected to be tried in 72 hours.