LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR

The INQUIRER's Legislator of the year award for this year goes to Senator Franklin Obed Siakor, junior Senator of Bong County and Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Representative of Maryland County.Sen. Franklin Obed Siakor Sen. Franklin O. Siakor is the junior Senator of Bong County. He is just not one of the Senators, but he is a different kind of Senator. He is development oriented and people centered and his argument during budget debate and other debates are usually pro-poor.

Our lawmaker of the year is fearless when it comes to standing along on some issues. His colleagues jokingly referred to him as the “Great Motion Maker.” Citizens, including journalists sometimes praise the Senator's exemplary leadership style which continues to win the admiration of his colleagues and the people of Bong County. Sen. Siakor is the only lawmaker to have his office in his county fully staffed and opened from Monday to Saturday every week. He travels to Monrovia on Mondays to attend committee meetings and sessions and returns to Gbarnga on Thursday evening. Since his ascendancy, Sen. Siakor has been working with several communities in Bong County implementing several self-help development projects. In his native Bong County, Sen. Siakor has provided inspiration among his people in tackling the problems of roads, poor schools and other social services while maintaining his credibility. He has remained true to his values and principles.

Senator Siakor commands respect in the corridor of the National Legislature and truly istinguished himself as a man of character, integrity, and honesty and also separated him from the corruption menace that is plaguing the nation. Senator Siakor was the only Senator who declined a donated truck from ArcelorMittal which was part of a consignment of trucks offered to individual members of the Senate and the House of Representatives; a manifestation of his principled leadership. He refused to be corrupted by power and has remained true to his ideas and values, and to his mission to give the best of himself to his people and county.