Sinoe County Senator Cllr. Augustine Chea has criticized the House of Representatives’ recent decision to issue a stay order against Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI), describing the move as “illegal and un-legislative.”
In a statement released Friday, August 1, 2025, via his official Facebook page, Senator Chea, a seasoned lawyer and legislator, emphasized that the Liberian Legislature lacks both constitutional and statutory authority to issue such orders—powers that he says are exclusively reserved for the judiciary and legally established quasi-judicial bodies.
“A stay order is a legal tool used to temporarily halt an action to prevent possible harm while an issue is being reviewed. Such instruments can only be issued by courts or regulatory bodies with the mandate to do so—not by lawmakers,” he clarified.
Chea explained that while the Legislature has oversight responsibilities over concession agreements such as the LTMI deal, its role is strictly limited to reviewing, ratifying, or rejecting contracts, as well as conducting investigations and making recommendations to the Executive Branch. He warned that legislators stepping outside their legal bounds poses a threat to constitutional order.
“The Legislature cannot lawfully suspend or halt an existing concession agreement that has been approved and remains in force. It has no authority to issue a ‘stay order’ or take unilateral action. Our Constitution, under Article 25, demands respect for the sanctity of contracts,” Chea added.
The House’s decision to order LTMI to suspend operations came in response to public outrage over the company’s enforcement methods and concerns surrounding the terms of its agreement with the government. This action followed an investigative report from the House’s Joint Committee on the matter.
While acknowledging public dissatisfaction with LTMI’s operations, Senator Chea insisted that the correct response should follow the legal path. He recommended that, based on its findings, the House could pass a resolution either independently or in collaboration with the Senate advising the Executive to suspend, renegotiate, or terminate the agreement if deemed necessary.
“That’s the legislative way to do it. We are a country of law!” he stated firmly.
Chea cautioned that actions taken outside the law, especially against private investors, could harm Liberia’s reputation as a stable and lawful destination for investment. He urged lawmakers to prioritize due process and constitutional order in their decision-making.
“The Legislature must always operate within the law. Any arbitrary move against investors can scare away much-needed investment and weaken trust in our governance systems,” Chea warned.
As national discourse over the LTMI concession continues, civil society organizations and concerned citizens have intensified calls for reform and transparency in Liberia’s traffic enforcement framework. The next steps from the Executive Branch remain to be seen as pressure mounts from all sides.
