A conciliatory meeting has taken place between the leadership of the Legislative Press Pool and House Speaker Alex Tyler to end the on-going media block-out of the House of Representatives.

The meeting held on Monday-June 13 at the Capitol Hill offices of Speaker Tyler, was under the auspices of the Press Union of Liberia which has been mediating in the dispute.

A PUL statement says, during the meeting Speaker Tyler expressed regrets over the situation, describing it as unfortunate and human tendency to err.

The Speaker said he did not have any intention to prevent journalists from doing their work, but thought the matter was blown out of proportion.  PUL President Peter Quaqua earlier told the Speaker that his declaration for the seizure of the journalists’ cameras was wrong.

He said Representative Matthew Darblo needed to be told that regardless of his personal dislikes of a journalist, he cannot transfer his anger into his job as a public official.

“No public official, let alone a Lawmaker, performing public function should demand a journalist to delete his photo,” Mr. Quaqua added.

While acknowledging the Speaker’s right to maintain order in the Chambers of the House, the PUL President said, he can do so without necessarily ordering the seizure of the journalists’ cameras. The Union at the same time reminded journalists covering the legislature to remain steadfast in the performance of their jobs, but should observe rules. 

Meanwhile, PUL is urging Legislative Reporters to relax the media block-out in the spirit of informing the Liberian people about the work of their Representatives. The Legislative reporters on May 31st instituted a media block-out on the House in protest to an order by Speaker Tyler for the cameras of two of their colleagues to be seized.

Monday’s meeting was attended by the Managing Publisher of the Inquirer Newspaper Phillip Wesseh, Lawmaker Kettehkumuehn Murray and Julius Kanubah of the Legislative Press Pool.  Also in attendance were Solomon Ware of LEGISPOL, House Deputy Press Director Nelson Garh, Messrs. Edwin Clarke and Julius Matadi of the Speaker’s Office.