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PRESS
FREEDOM DAY
County News
VOL 8 NO.588
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014
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CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of
the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials
banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
MONDAY, APRIL28, 2014 L$87.00/US$1 L$87.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$87.00/US$1 L$88.00/US$1
L$88.00/US$1 L$87.00/US$1
SATURDAY, MAY3, 2014
MONDAY, MAY5, 2014

News Extra pg.13
A HIGH DEGREE OF
INTOLERANCE
GRAND BASSA
LAND SAGA:
POLITICAL INTERFERENCE
HINDERS POLICE OPERATIONS


BOLD REVELATION
Col. Mulbah said: As you may know the LNP is non- political, we are
there to serve the government and the people but sometimes we get a lot
of political interference from lawmakers and every quarter of government
which sometimes influence our decision, so we have to step forward to
meet some of these challenges Col. William Mulbah
AFFECTED CITIZENS
DISRUPT EPOS
EXPANSION MOVE AGAIN
PUL President Describes Governments
Actions towards Free Press
LACK OF
EVIDENCE?
DEFIANT WEEKS
Defense Counsel Requests Acquittal Of
Defendants In Mercenary Case
Public Minister ignores Civil service
Agency Advise on wrongful dismissal
News & Extra Law & Order
Page 2 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monrovia:
P
olitics in general is dynamic so is Liberian politics but
one thing that is now becoming glaring is the change
of political gear by Liberias main opposition Congress
for Democratic Change, forming friendly ties with
individuals and breaking up within a twinkle of an eye.
Whether it is all intended to protect the presidential ambition
of the party political leader, George Weah or just an
inconsistent political play by a political party remains the big
question lingering on the minds of many Liberians.
Following a good show of political strength during the 2005
elections where Weah and the CDC won the frst round of
voting with 275,265 votes representing 28.3% only to be
constrained to a runoff by the nearest rival, the Unity Party
which managed just 192,326 votes representing 19.8%, the
CDC has remained a major player in Liberias body politics.
In the 2005 runoff Weah and the CDC obtained 327,046
votes or 40% while eventual winner, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
obtained 478,526 votes or 59.4%.
Although Weah and his party protested the results of the
runoff in vain, but Weah became a hot cake for Liberian
politicians who quest for the Presidency has been dashed
over the past years, as many politicians felt that forming a
political partnership with Weah could be the surest way of
ascending to state power.
So too Weah and the CDC grabbed the opportunity to play
the politics of business and political gimmicks, shifting tune
, forming alliances and breaking up.
Weah, Brumskine Collaboration Foiled
In 2009, talk of a Weah, Brumskine alliance to form a
common political front in ousting incumbent Sirleaf spread
like wildfre as meetings and discussions were held but
according to inside party sources, the agreement of who runs
frst and who second could not settle the deadlock.
Still there were others who felt the CDC and Weah had
monetary demands which were not met by Brumskine and his
Liberty Party even though those talk of money were defused
by the CDC.
Aging Cllr. Brumskine saw 2011 as his fnal chance to taste
the presidency, hoping to convince young Weah to play a
second role to him where he could later return the favor to
Weah in 2017 to allow the later stand as president.
As good as many Liberians viewed the Weah and Brumskine
collaboration, somewhere down the line things did not go
as planned as Weah and the CDC opted for Cllr. Winston
Tubman who did not have an established political party
as Cllr. Brumskine. Cllr. Tubman had only contested the
2001 presidency on the ticket of the former ruling National
democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) a party he quickly
abandoned to join a smaller party which he later used to form
a merger with the CDC, paving the way for the fulfllment of
his presidential ambition in 2011.
Unlike Cllr. Tubman, Cllr. Brumskine was already a
household name in Liberian politics as his newly formed
Liberty Party made all the headways until the emergence of
the CDC and Weah.
In 2011, CDC partisans and other political observers saw
Cllr. Tubman as a political excess baggage to the CDC as the
Liberia National Union (LINU) party he used to convince
the CDC and Weah in supporting him as standard bearer for
the CDC was not amongst top political parties in Liberia. In
2005, LINUs coalition with two other political parties to
form the United Democratic Alliance still exposed the partys
limited popularity as the candidate for the three-party United
Democratic Alliance (UDA) coalition, John S. Morlu only
managed 11 spot out of 22 contestants, winning just 12,068
votes or 1.2%.
There were speculations that money changed hands in
making the CDC and Weah to shift attention from Brumskine
to Tubman and consequently sealing a deal but the CDC and
Tubman all rubbished the reports of under the table envelope
fast tracking the political deal.
Tubman told FrontPageAfrica in 2010 in Kakata, Margibi
County I dont think I should even give this kind of street
talk any form of credence. Ambassador Weah and I have
everything it takes to make Liberia a better place for our
people. We have a lot in common, that is why we have
decided to come together in the interest of our beloved
country. Therefore we will not waste precious time on these
kinds of empty talks.
Acarous Gray, now a CDC lawmaker at the time also said, I
think that the rumors are being circulated by the incumbent
leadership, because they are afraid of the ticket, or let me
say they are paranoid. This ticket brings both international
and local support to the table, which no Presidential ticket
has got in recent years. Because of this, they have elected to
themselves to sell such falsehood.
Weah had earlier said he is popular and could not run as vice
to wither Brumskine or Tubman "Politics is about number
and the Liberian people have given me their blessing to
direct leadership and guidance for them, and why should I
go as vice running mate to counselors Brumskine or Winston
Tubman?" Ambassador Weah stated before later shifting to
go second to Tubman.
After what was dubbed the biggest political deal in recent
time saw Weah settling as a vice presidential candidate to
Tubman, the 2011 performance of the CDC is now history as
the party could not repeat the feat it enjoyed in 2005, winning
the frst round of voting before surrendering to Unity Party
in the runoff.
This time around in 2011 CDC trailed the UP in the frst
round by more than 10% margin. The Unity party obtained
530,020 votes or 43.9% while the CDC obtained 394,370
votes or 32.7% before the CDC boycotted the runoff election
claiming election related irregularities.
Urey next victim?
The CDC and Weah popularity has undoubtedly made the
party a hot cake for many politicians who are now becoming
prey to the CDC political game.
Liberian businessman Benoni Urey was one man who in a
country where the regime of the day takes politics to business,
giving out business deals mainly to cronies and sympathizers
risks his business establishments and openly joined the CDC
and campaigned with the party.
After Urey joined the CDC, it was reported that he was
contemplating using his stay in the CDC to acquaint himself
with partisans and later play the political card to become
standard bearer for the party, pushing his way through the
party hierarchy with the help of his fnancial strength.
The Urey, CDC relationship has been on course until recently
when the party issued a warning to Urey to stop forming small
groupings insisting that such is against the code of conduct
of the party.
Stated the CDC letter to Urey By directive of the National
Executive Committee (NEC) of the Mighty Congress for
Democratic Change (CDC); I am pleased to write you this
communication, driven by your liable political behavior,
which tends to promote a strange ideology, & may be a
subtle devise to engender selfsh political discord through
Organized factional activity as you desperately move to
idolize what is now known as Friends of Urey. Please be
informed that these demonstrated violations of party policies
are also a repugnant breach of PART II BY-LAWS, Chapter I
Codes of Conduct, Rule 7e of the constitution of the Congress
for Democratic Change. Thus, it is in your best interest to
be cautioned that the fagrant missteps characterizing said
defcits may aggravate far-reaching consequences that could
be averted only were you to halt any further actions on that
path of errancy.

The CDC warning leaves many unanswered questions as
in several districts in Liberia lawmakers from the CDC
formed such groupings including Friends of Thomas Fallah,
Friends of Munah Pelham, and several others but many are
wondering why the CDC will frown on its partisan forming
a support group.
Sources have confded in FrontPageAfrica that fear is
gripping offcials of the party due to Ureys declared intention
to contest the presidency, whilst nearly all senior offcials of
the party are in support of Weah contesting the Presidency.
Even before primaries are held, the Party Chairman, Vice
Chairman for Operations have been pledging their supports
for Weah senatorial bid in 2014 and his presidential bid in
2017.
The Chairman of the CDC has already expressed his support
for one partisan of the Party, Weah saying- The political
leader of the CDC will be participating in primary, I will vote
for him I will call all members of the executive committee
that I know to my home and ask them to vote for Ambassador
Weah. I am the National chairman and I have a strategy to
ensure that my political leader wins.
Solo also said:If you want to be a member of the CDC
it is your constitutional right but if you want to contest in
Montserrado on the CDC, I will not support you. If you want
to become standard bearer for the CDC come 2017 I will not
support you. I will not vote for anyone wanting to be senator
for Montserrado County and standard bearer for the CDC.
Mulbah Morlu, Vice Chairman for Operations and
Mobilization of the CDC also expressed similar support for
Weah, when he declared that Weah will win two presidential
terms.
Weah cannot be bought with money, he is above purchase,
George Weah is a property of the Liberian people, you cannot
buy that kind of man. Ambassador Weah wants me to tell you
that the only thing that can stop him from running is death
and God will be gracious to us to let him live to serve to
senator to be president to serve two terms. So that information
is false, it is misleading, it is unfounded, it is gibberish, it has
no iota of truth said Mulbah Morlu.
The strongly-worded CDC letter to Urey has been viewed
by many as attempt to throw Urey out of the party to avoid
a contender to Weah for the standard bearership of the party
come 2017. With the fnancial strength of Urey, CDC party
offcials are fearing that Weah could have a though test during
primary which they are now moving to avoid.
Of concern to many is how a CDC letter to one of its partisan
leaked out to the media, with some suggesting that the party
wants to make public its dislike for the growing popularity
of Urey.
Even on the card is how the CDC quickly forms friendly ties
with top politicians, giving hope based on the youthful and
huge support base of the party, later changing political gear.
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 3
Martin K. N. Kollie <martinkerkula1989@yahoo.com>
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT SIRLEAF: WHY
ARE YOU SILENT ABOUT ISSUES THAT MATTER?
FrontPage
v
Commentary
EDITORIAL
FOR SEVERAL YEARS now, Liberians far and wide have been lamenting
the sad state of the justice system in post-war Liberia.
VERDICT AFTER VERDICT in the lower courts have been greeted with
condemnation with many turning to the Supreme Court, the fnal arbiter of
justice to salvage the injustice meted at the lower courts.
THE ISSUE of land ownership is one area that remains a torn in the side of
many Liberians. Bonafde owners of land are being run off their properties
by squatters who have successfully taken over properties they never owned
by working the system, the courts and archives and anyone who would take
an envelope or small cash to change ownership overnight.
THE END RESULTS has led to complications for landowners with huge
parcels of land being sold more than ones to several parties.
THOSE WHO fed the country as a result of the civil war have lost properties
they legally owned to those who stayed behind and had access to a corrupt
system which allowed them to stake ownership to lands.
LAST YEAR, it was the case of Grace Minor vs the people of Gio Town in
the Congo Town area. While in court people threatened Minor after the court
had ordered their eviction.
LAST WEEK, a verdict in another case involving former Agriculture
Minister Dr. J. Chris Toe and residents of a Congo town community.
IDA MORGAN, THE ACTUAL LAND OWNER, in her 90s expressed her
desire to face Dr. Toe and confront him about his outrageous claims which
convinced a judge in the lower court that the land belongs to Toe.
MORGAN, DISPLAYING a deed singed by Liberias frst President Joseph
Jenkins Roberts transferring ownership of a parcel of land located in Congo
Town to one Lewis Minor, her parents, said she has documents dating back
from 1820 that were issued to her parents and later transferred to her through
a letter of administration for what has now turned a disputed land lying in
Congo Town.
THE CASE involving Dr. Toe and the residential Congo Town Community
could be the clearest case yet where a judge blatantly ignored the facts and
supporting documents to rule against the rightful party.
IN AN Action of Ejectment flled by Mrs. Kadi Porte and Lawrence Sneh,
during the September Term of Court, AD 2007, the plaintiffs pray the
Supreme Court for a judgment ousting, ejecting and evicting the defendant
from the subject property in bulk, and an Order of the Court placing plaintiffs
in possession and to grant unto Plaintiffs all other relief that the court shall
deem just, legal and equitable.
THE PLAINTIFFS LAWYERS argued that despite attending several
conferences at the Ministry of Justice, at the instance of the Defendant,
concerning title and ownership to the property during which the defendant
miserably failed to establish his claim but has instead continued his illegal
operations on the Plaintiffs property. All these plaintiff stands ready to
prove, the Action of Ejectment against J. Chris Toe stated.
MORE IMPORTATNLY, the plaintiffs argument makes a strong case that
Judge Peter Gbeneweleh assigned Circuit Judge of 6th Judicial Circuit
Court; the latest judge to handle this nagging issue, taking over from Judge
Emery S. Paye dismissed the case prompting an appeal by the plaintiff to the
Supreme Court of Liberia.
EVEN MORE TROUBING is the fact that deeds were tampered with in
pursuit of deceiving the justice system here as submitted by the plaintiff
that two deeds, the frst of which was not signed and later secretly submitted
another which was signed. Stated the Plaintiff complaint Mr. Chief Justice,
in this light, we are fling a formal complaint against Judge Gbeneweleh, and
all the lawyers involved, to show (a) where this new probated deed came
from (b) why the surveyors ignored the deed attached to case flled, and (
C) establish whether the conduct herein mention, coupled with the refusal
of Judge Gbeneweleh to conduct an investigation after being notifed, of
fraud, renders the entire survey exercise a ft subject for investigation by the
Judicial Service Commission.
THE JUDICIARY BRANCH no doubt has its work cut out in terms of
weeding out judges routinely bringing the integrity of the justice system
under scrutiny.
MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL reports have made it clear that there are
some serious problems with Liberias justice system. The usual reasons have
been issues of jury tampering, judges on the take and those with access to
money getting the best seat at the justice table.
THIS IS WHY it is important for the high court to step up the pressure on
judges and make it diffcult for them to come down with poor decisions and
verdicts by exposing, shaming and naming those continuing to bring shame
to the judicial branch.
IF ANY JUDGE is found to have ignored facts in a particular case at any
given time, that judge should be brought to book and made to pay the price
of tainting the integrity of the justice system in Liberia.
COMMENTARY
NAME & SHAME
CORRUPT JUDGES
MEMO TO SUPREME COURT
Dear Madam Sirleaf:

M
y disappointment increases everyday when other African
Presidents are taking vigorous steps to prevent the virus of
gayism and lesbianism from penetrating their countries, while
you sit comfortably without taking a defnite position against
such horrible disease that has the ability to revert our moral gains and unleash
perpetual indignity on our motherland. Two months ago, two progressive
friends of mine who work with public institutions shockingly told me how
some government offcials are misusing their authority to exploit our young
boys and girls. They wont give you a job or promotion unless you satisfy their
immoral demands. Due to endless adversities in our society, these young people
become choiceless and trade their self-esteem and human dignity for peanut.
Some of them are now gays and lesbians just to achieve social prominence and
economic eminence.

It is visible nowadays in some quarters of our society that before one obtains
certain status; he/she must be a member of the butt brother association, even
though he/she has all necessary qualifcations and competence to occupy such
post. This is indeed an abomination and we must begin to raise our voices
against this devilish tendency that is gradually creeping into all sectors of our
nation. A network of gays and lesbians is germinating very fast and almost
everyone is reluctant to raise alarm. The House of Senate needs a hand of
applause for voting unanimously to enact legislation to prohibit and criminalize
same-sex marriages on July 20, 2012. Madam President, this was a welcoming
development for all Liberians, but later in July, an online petition was launched
by the Mr. Gay World Organization to revoke your Nobel Peace Prize if you
ever sign this legislation. Up to date, you have not affxed your signature to
that document probably for fear of losing your prize. Madam President, we
encourage you to jumpstart the fght against this evil practice by introducing
sturdy measures in the anti-gay bill submitted by our Senators to criminalize
gay activities with severe penalties for would be violators. Already, Liberian
gays have built a website in order to poison our gullible society with this absurd
lifestyle, but we are ever ready to resist any attempt leading to gay legitimization
in this land of our ancestor. We will defend the legacy of our forebears and
preserve the unique moral heritage of our dear country. Even if, you and other
leaders who we have given public authority to decide to ignore our preference
(heterosexually), we shall still fght back with our body, soul, and spirit in order
to save Africas frst Republic from this abnormal predicament!

Madam President, I am really concern about the future of this generation
and cannot afford to remain silent about sensitive issues that are critical to
national growth and development. We hope victory over homosexuality and
all forms of anti-social crimes will be won under your stewardship. I know
how diffcult it is for you to reject proposals from the West even if they are
evil, but I still wonder sometimes, whose interest are you serving? Are you
serving our interest or the interest of Americans and British? It is time to stop
fertilizing your relationship with westerners at the expense of your own people.
Madam President, I refuse to agree that without aids and grants from the West,
our government will shut down! Liberia is a country with abundant resources
and we can fourish with or without any external assistance from our foreign
friends, if only we begin to preach patriotism from our hearts and not our lips.
We can become a great nation and economically prosper without marketing
our human dignity and sovereignty. The economy of Ghana, Nigeria, and
Uganda is far better than ours, even though they have outlaw (criminalize) gay
activities. Dont compromise our future for aids and grants. We are greater than
threats and intimidations from abroad. I know you are afraid to go against what
President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron are asking African leaders to do,
but what good it is to compromise the future of your own people by bowing to
an insane social throne (homosexuality)!

Madam President, why must over 50% of our national budget depend on
international fnancial aids and grants, when our country is rich in iron ore,
diamond, gold, timbers, rubber, and other resources? With the recent discovery
of thirteen oil blocks offshore, are we not capable of achieving our economic
agenda without selling our birthright? Madam President, you were once seen as
a champion of hope by many Liberians, including myself, but today, we have lost
total confdence in your ability to ensure permanent change by putting smiles
on our faces. When Liberians converged at various polling centers around the
country in 2005 and 2011 respectively to elect you, they were signing a contract
with you. They abandoned their busy schedules and stood in long queues under
the sun and rain for hours just to guarantee your ascendancy to the presidency.
They did so with a frm conviction that you were the best political material
who could resurrect them from the pit of poverty, disease, ignorance, illiteracy,
injustice, inequality, economic slavery, and social defciency! Unfortunately,
you have left them alone to roam and ramble in a wilderness of untold hardship
and suffering. Is it not your responsibility to ensure Liberians live a decent
life? In Liberia today, the defnition of poverty can be seen on the foreheads
of the oppressed majority, while a few group of ill-transparent public servants
continue to drink from the putrid belly of corruption.

Madam President, you were once a vocal advocate against social injustices and
inequalities in society, but why are you silent now, especially on issues that
matter? You have given us enough reasons to believe that your advocacy was
only intended to quench your own political and economic thirst. I can quite
remember some years back, especially during the regimes of Tolbert, Doe,
and Taylor; you were very fast to point out corruption, nepotism, injustices,
inequalities, egocentrism, patronage, and all forms of economic, political and
social complexities in public service. Liberians sat attentively beside their
receivers (TVs and Radios) on January 16, 2006 to listen to your frst inaugural
address. There was complete silence at that moment not only in Liberia, but
Africa and the rest of the world, because the frst female African Head of State
was about to send a new message! A message of hope and economic revival.
A message of a new beginning where smiles will once more return to the faces
of the masses. A message of employment opportunities for all regardless of
political affliation and status. A message of quality education and better health
care. A message of youth empowerment. The people were anxious to receive
an address of change after crossing the red sea of senseless civil crisis and
dictatorial reigns. Our people rejoiced with happy lips as you were seen as a
political liberator, who came to rescue them from the oppressive, autocratic,
and insensitive leadership of their pharaohs.

As you read each paragraph of your well-written speech, they became convinced
that at long last, they have fnally taken control of the promise land and their
own destiny. More interestingly, they began predicting a positive future for
their children and grand children when you said CORRUPTION WOULD
BE PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE in your government. We stood up for
minutes applauding you for affrming your commitment to wage war against
this menace (corruption) that has kept our development hostage. International
guests, including Heads of States joined us to pay homage to our new president.
There were endless cheers and jubilations when you went further by promising
to provide electricity for residents of Monrovia within six (6) months. Though
few citizens expressed doubts in your ability to translate those words into result-
driven actions, but majority of us were very optimistic of a new and prosperous
future. A future that will cultivate merit system. A future that will not witch-hunt
citizens who disagree with governments policies and platforms. A future that
will not coerce any citizen to join secret societies before becoming infuential
and economically potent! A future that will guarantee quality education for all.

As a way of obeying constitutional formality, you fnally took a solemn
oath to protect and defend our constitution. The tone of your voice became
so sweet in our ears until Chief Justice Henry Reed Cooper offcially gave
you the gavel of authority as Liberias 22nd President. It was all over the
moment you sat on the highest seat in this nation. Chairman Gyude Bryant
of the Liberia National Transitional Government (LNTG) was glad to turn
state power over to you, even though his tenure was corrupt and exploitative.
When it was time to appoint government Ministers, Ambassadors, Managing
Directors, and other top offcials of government, you brought your confdants
and campaign fnanciers from abroad, who you thought could better deliver
because of their western education, but this was not the case. There was no
sign of electricity within six months, even after one year of your frst term.
There were public debates surrounding this issue and many were fast to term
your inaugural address as POLITICAL RHETORIC and ROMANTIC
FALLACY due to your failure to provide Monrovians electricity within six
months! However, our people did not give up on you, until they saw some of
your ministers and managing directors diving in the pool of massive corruption.
They took advantage of their long-standing relationship with you to enhance
personal gains at the expense of the suffering masses. They sucked our nations
wealth like vultures and vampires, but you refused to prosecute them because
they are your buddies. Some of these same economic migrants are still in your
government living luxurious life and buying fashy cars with our taxes we pay!
Have you forgotten Madam President that these big shots (your friends) are
not above the law, as such, they must be held responsible for treading the path
of ethical transgression? Are you not aware their wrongdoings have torn your
image into pieces? Oh yes, of course!

Madam President, over eight years now, your economic plan for this country
has not made suffcient impact evident by plethora of dissatisfaction and
discomfort from majority of Liberians. We thought you could have turned the
tide as a trained product of Harvard University, but it has been proven contrary
that not all graduates from Harvard can make big difference. I agree with US
Ambassador to Liberia, Madam Deborah Malac when she said few months ago
that corruption remains a serious problem under your leadership. She went
further by saying it increases the cost of products and services that are diffcult
for many Liberians to afford. Madam President, I think such a message from
a high-ranking US offcial signifes mistrust and distrust in your verbal fght
against corruption. Making unfruitful public declaration to stamp out and
make corruption public enemy is not enough. It is time to go beyond rhetoric,
and engender an impartial courage and political will to prosecute economic
pillagers.

Madam President, I cannot ignore the fact that you have done some good things
such as investing in a new army that is numerically impotent to defend Liberia,
reconditioning our roads with short life span, establishing community colleges
without adequate logistics and human capacity, building substandard secondary
schools that cannot be qualitatively compared to Tubman High, Botswan Junior
High, D. Twe High, and Boker T. Washington Institute. I still appreciate the
little you have done Madam, because I know for sure you could not have done
more than your best! Few months ago, you described our educational system
as a mess. It did not take long when one of your confdants (Dr. Brownell),
sent a wrong signal to the world that 20,000 applicants miserably failed in
the University of Liberia entrance examination. This pronouncement was
only meant to confrm your previous statement and discourage thousands of
native children from attending the State premier powerhouse of learning. It
was also a smart tactic from members of the old order to downgrade and create
a dark cloud over our educational system. Madam President, if your assertion
was truly sincere, what have you done so far to right the wrong? It is good to
identify the problems, but better to fnd solutions.

Today, over 30,000 students at the University of Liberia do not have access to an
equipped computer lab to upgrade their skills in technology as we currently exist
in the ICT age. No university graduate can survive in our highly competitive
job market without profcient skills in computer. Effective computer literacy at
UL is an imperative! These students cannot even boast of a drug store, clinic,
or ambulance on their campuses! The issue of transportation continues to
hinder the academic progress of thousands of students. Madam President, what
are you doing to mitigate some of these critical bottlenecks? Almost all our
public high schools do not have modern libraries, laboratories, and research
centers. The issue of promoting intellectual contest amongst students in order
to cultivate academic excellence is something of the past. Senior high students
have lost appetite to venture into useful debates, quizzing games, and other
activities because of low motivation and morale. When scholarships from
foreign institutions come for deserving students, they are given to unqualifed
and incompetent students who are unable to balance a simple mathematical
equation and write a sentence without grammatical errors! While the gap of
poverty and inequality continue to expand under your stewardship, Liberians
are getting desperate every moment for economic change. It is your primary
responsibility Madam President to serve the ultimate interest of your people
and listen whenever they speak. Please act now to ensure economic, social, and
political revival.

Above all interest, Liberia is Supreme!
Martin K. N. Kollie
<martinkerkula1989@yahoo.com>
Page 4 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
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E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
LAWMAKERS MUST SAVE
LIBERIA FROM MONSTROSITY
(DECENT WORK BILL)!
FREE THE KIDS, REVOKE
EARLY MARRIAGE LAW
ONE STEP TO GLOBAL
ADVOCACY
The Reader's Page
WEAH KARPEH NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL
INFORMATION OFFICER AT UNITED NATIONS MISSION
IN LIBERIA (UNMIL)
Great thoughts, Wade. They fairly present the problems the media
and their practitioners face hoping your projecting would lead to
solving them.
MUSTERPHA FOFANA TOP COMMENTER OWNER
AND CEO AT SELF EMPLOYED AND LOVING IT!
you know i think this sister is Excited, overjoyed, and gone of
track. i can'tf say exactly the reason why but if I can take a guess,
is probably because this could her frst visit to the UN and maybe
her fst time in New York City as well. No don't judge me yet..
I have not read her entire released and i don't have the courage to,
because I think her statement is what I will call glittering generality
propaganda. From the introduction statement she gave one can tell
what the body and supporting statement would be like. Is obvious
that she will not say anything good about the freedom journalists in
Liberia enjoy, but rather she will probably go into something about
how her boss or some members of her entity have been targeted.
My dear, please don't think that you are trying to speak for all the
journalist in Liberia. We urge you not to contradict the very good
report which you spoke about as being a herald in the transition
process. Remember that other good journalists have worked hard
toward that transition process to make it a success. And I like to ask
what's your own story that you will like the world to read? Please
do something that the Liberian people can be proud of you madam.
Please do us the favor.
PATRICK EMERSON PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
While journalists may be watchdogs of society, they are not and
should never be above the law. Individual rights and governance
can only be protected from unscrupulous and sometimes untrained
journalists through judicial recourse. To seek presidential
intervention in judicial matters only because journalists feel
aggrieved, is tantamount to constitutional violation of the
separation of the three branches of government. The statements
made at the UN by Wade Williams were unintellectual, partisan
and unpatriotic.
CHRISTOPHER HARRY LUKE ST. PETER CLAVER'S
HIGH SCHOOL
Emerson, tell me which journalists has claimed to be above the
law in Liberia and I will tell you how many Government offcials,
including the President, and the whole judiciary system that are
above the law in Liberia. As for seeking presidential intervention in
judicial matters, frst of all, we all know that is not right, and neither
is it healthy for a functioning democracy or governance. But, the
whole judiciary system in Liberia is corrupt. If the judiciary was
not corrupt as in the case of the FPA saga, there would have been no
imprisonment of Rodney. Did you see the whole confict of interest
in that case......judges....government offcials? It is due to those
unscrupulous behavior, hence the intervention of the President
are sometimes necessary, in order to save face to the International
community due to her incompetent... offcials and corrupt judges.
Where in the world have you been to even mention "Constitutional
violation of the separation of the three branches of Government in
Liberia"? We all know that there's no genuine separation of power
in Liberia among the three branches of Government. It is only on
papers my brother but when it comes to governance implementation
and enforcement, they all overlap, do the same functions or don't
know what the heck they are supposed to do.
I do not see any statement made by Wade Williams at the UN that
was partisan, neither was it unintellectual or unpatriotic. You and I
know what's going on in Liberia.....I means the daily intimidation
of journalist in Liberia. Did you want Wade to defend the UP
government for the wrongs they are doing to Liberians? Did you
want her not to speak the truth due to blind patriotism as a lot of
gravy seekers are doing? If anything, we should applaud her for
speaking the truth. When EJS was in the diaspora saying all kinds
of things against Doe and Taylor as a Liberian, was that being
unpatriotic?
JOHN WILLIAMS TOP COMMENTER EASTERN
UNIVERSITY, ST. DAVIDS, PA
Wade and FPA have taken the battle to the turf of the oppressors
and have won acceptance and sympathy. The myth/propaganda
that certain people enjoy exclusive privileged access to important
people/organizations has been shattered! The playing feld is
becoming level! Congratulations!
The Editor,
Should Liberian lawmakers FORCE you (the employer) to pay
minimum wage to a low-skilled worker? I say, HELL NO!... Why?
Because the government has no fsh to fry in a MUTUALLY agreeable
labor relationship between you (job owner) and a who-want-work
(job hunter)! It's none of their damn business if you offer, and a who-
want-work ACCEPTS to do a job for U$1 a day! The last time I
checked, Liberia was a free country!!!
By the way, countries with minimum wage laws almost invariably
have higher rate of unemployment than countries without minimum
wage laws! Did you know that?
Switzerland, for example, is one of the few countries with NO
minimum wage law. In 2012, the unemployment rate was 2.9 percent!
Another example is Hong Kong. When Hong Kong was a British
colony, it had NO minimum wage law. In 1991, it's unemployment
rate was under 2 percent!!
Professor Peter Bauer of the London School of Economics pointed
out that "a striking feature of many under-developed countries is that
money wages are maintained at high levels" while "large numbers are
seeking but unable to fnd work"
But yet Rep. Acarous "weed man" Gray says that it is "scare tactic
saying that if the (minimum) wage is maintained for non-professional
at US$4 and professional at US$7 per day, that could decrease the
work force..." (Re "...Lawmakers Battle Over Minimum Wage")
Wait a minute: Didn't Rep. Gray learn (in economics 101) that people
tend to buy more of something when the price is lower and less when
the price is higher (law of demand)? The law of demand is one of the
simplest and most fundamental economic principles! Even my twelve
year daughter understands the law of supply and demand!
Oh, wait---I forgot: Gray skipped his econs class to go smoke grass
(weed)! He's an economically illiterate lawmaker!
But let's hope that the other lawmakers will vote to save the masses
from this monstrosity (Decent Work Bill)!
The best way to raise wages is to have a FREE and OPEN market
economy where MANY businesses, regardless of race or national
origin, can COMPETE to hire Liberian workers!
Martin Scott
Atlanta, Georgia
The Editor,
As a newly appointed Global Youth Ambassador for A World at School,
I want to call attention to the57 million children around the world are
currently being denied their human right to an education.
I am joined in this call to action by 500 other young advocates for global
education. Together, we make up the Global Youth Ambassadors group
launchedon April 1, by the United Nations Secretary-General Bank
Ki Moon and the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education
Gordon Brown.
Looking at the educational barriers in Liberia including the lack of class
rooms and learning facilities which place children at the underline of
achieving quality education. I believe that my story is an exceptional
story and this story got me briefng today.
At 16 years I was promise a scholarship after presenting on the situation
affecting children in 2012 at the First Extraordinary Session of the Mano
River Youth Parliament-Liberia Chapter in Voinjama, Lofa County. I saw
this as an opportunity to advance myself and also stand in the gap for my
colleagues. But the story turns out to be disappointing. After getting all the
assurance that my school fees would be paid and I will have to take care
of myself I left for Monrovia and at the end I have to fnd it very diffcult
to go to school and make the require marks. Many of my friends play
fool out of me but I stood for a cause and that cause is to make sure that
children have easy access to quality education and to complete secondary
education no matter the condition I am faced with. I stand to say,passing
through secondary education was an extra favour from God and also from
the Institution (J.J Roberts United Methodist School). I walk many days
to school and even have to stay on campus to prepare for the next day all
because I never had the resources to take transport buses to school. My
story is a great inspiration to me and my work as an advocate. Let people
live up to their promises especially when it comes to education.
I refuse to share my story except when I fnally met my mentor Chernor
Bah who gives me the courage to stand for education and be the voice of
the voiceless.
This story, and that of so many other of the youth advocates I have joined
forces with, inspires me to stand up for the millions of children that are
kept out of school because of disappointment from people who promise
scholarships to students.
As frm believers that education is the answer to the greatest challenges
we face as a society, weask for your help in urging leaders to raise budgets,
build schools, train teachers and improve learning for all children.
It has been shown that we could lift over 170 million people out of
poverty simply by teaching every child in low-income countries basic
reading skills.
So why are we not making this a reality?
Unless we revert current trends, we will not even achieve universal
primary education before 2086.
So Join A World at School in our campaign to get every child into school
learning. Support our calls to action and get all the latest news on global
education online(www.aworldatschool.org) on twitter (@aworldatschool)
and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AWorldAtSchool).
Amb. Beyan F. Pewee
Country: Liberia
The Editor,
Ohh my God, as day shows itself, we I face with immense distractions
from lawless people of society.
It is sadly to hear that the children that are missing in Nigeria have not
returned to their parents and the enforcement of early child marriage
law is still on its good roadin Iran.
Yesterday was Iran and today is Nigeria what are we doing? Action is
what we need than words.
The ability to put stop to these acts around is the ability to secure a
brighter future for those children that includes educating them.
This is a warning to every one; if we do not take action now this might
lead to an extension in other parts of the world and our aim of getting
every child in school will not be achieved. The time is now and the
day is now, we must speak louder than ever.
I WANT TO FACE HIM:
COURT VERDICT IN LAND
CASE DRAWS IRE ON DR. TOE
( The time is now and the day is now, we
must speak louder than ever)
Amb.BeyanFlomo Pewee Appointed as A
World At School Global Youth Ambassador
I believe it is time for us as Global Youth Ambassador to unite and join
forces and go beyond some actions we have already taken from the
day this issue was alarmed. This act is not just a violation of human
rights but also the failure to respect education and its component.
We will not stop until those kids are free and early marriage law is
revoked.
Thanks to the Global Youth Ambassadors in Nigeria and other young
people who has seen this as a cause they can support. We count on you
to do more by insuring that every child is in school learning by 2015.
Amb. Beyan F. Pewee
Country: Liberia
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 5
REVITALIZING RUBBER INDUSTRY
DOWNED UNMIL
CHOPPER PROBE
Russian-registered RA-22426/Mi8 Crash Investigation Commissioned
F
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NEWS EXTRA
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AGRICULTURE




Monrovia -
C
ivil Aviation
Director General,
Hon. Richelieu
A. Williams, has
offcially commissioned
investigation into the crash of a
Russian-registered RA-22426
Mi8-UN 161, which took place
on April 22, 2014 in Thinkers
Village, 6 nautical miles North
James Spriggs Payne Airport;
one mile north of Classic Lodge
on the Robertsfeld highway
following take-off at 10:49am
enroute to Fish Town, River Gee
County, Southeastern Liberia
after the pilot lost contact with
Roberts Control Tower. There
were no casualties.
Although the Director General
assumes the lead role as Chief
Investigator in the investigation
given that Liberia is the State of
accident occurrence, he named
veteran Russian-born Interstate
Aviation Committee specialist,
Mr. Georgy A. Yaahmenev as
Co-Investigator and has been
put in charge of direct oversight
of the investigation. The
Liberia CAA and their Russian
counterparts in 2009 signed an
MOU aimed at fostering closer
cooperation in the area of crash
investigation.
The Interstate Aviation
Committee ace investigator has
spearheaded more than hundred
crash investigations in his 39-
year old professional career as
Air Crash Investigator.
Accepting his preferment,
Investigator Georgy Yaahmenev
speaking thru an interpreter,
thanked the Director General for
the confdence reposed in him
and said it was an honor to be
back in Liberia to work with Mr.
Williams and team that he had
worked with before.
Mr. Yaahmenev stressed team
work and the essence of accident
investigation is not to apportion
blame but advance appropriate
recommendations that will
deter future reoccurrences. Mr.
Yaahmenev assured that the
team will do its best to perform
the duty as conferred on t by the
Director General.
The joint team of Liberian and
Russian Investigators include:
Mr. Georgy A. Yaahmenev;
Senior Investigator Interstate
Aviation Committee-Russia,
Sekletor Roman; Electronic
Expert Delta Recorder,
Krouchuk Valerii; Regional
Representative and Kulikor
Pauel; Manufacturers
Representative. Others include
Mr. William J. Adams; Manager
Flight Safety Standards
(A & P Engineer), Capt.
Moses K. Weefur; Assistant
Manager Flight Ops, Capt.
Raynold Mitchell; CEO
Liberty Aviation, Mr. Marcus
Enders; Manager Air Traffc
Inspectorate, Augustine,
Mr. Augustine F. Tamba;
Communications, Surveillance
& Navigation, Mr. Jonathan
C. Enders; Manager Aviation
Security, Mr. Hamilton Rogers;
Senior Supervisor Flight safety
Standards (A & P Engineer), Mr.
Ekena Wesley; Technical Writer.
Meanwhile, the LCAA boss has
also announced that all Russian-
registered Mi8 feet of aircraft
serving the United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),
will be inspected shortly in
line with Liberia Civil Aviation
Regulations and ICAO Standards
and Recommended Practices.
Monrovia -
P
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf has pledged
governments support
to the revitalization of
the rubber industry following
the sharp fall in its production
in recent years.
The Liberian President, in
a meeting with the Rubber
Farmers Association, shared
the concern of the Association
that unless concerted efforts
are made by all sides, the
commodity will continue to
experience further decrease in
production.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, President
Sirleaf was responding to a
briefng by rubber farmers on
the current state of affairs of
rubber production in Liberia.
She met with members of the
Association at her temporary
offce at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs recently.
She expressed concern that
her proposal to create a rubber
development fund was moving
too slow which she suggested
if created would serve as
a stabilization fund for the
industry in case of any future
eventuality.
While government is working
to address the situation, the
Liberian leader suggested
that rubber companies save
some of their fnancial assets
in the economy to serve as
an intervention during such
situations and at the same time
helping the local economy.
President Sirleaf described
the rubber sector as a major
President Sirleaf Meets with Rubber Farmers Association;
Urges them to Create a Rubber Development Fund
economic activity that should
not be left alone without
governments intervention in
its diffcult period of the rubber
industry.
She believes that the fund, if
created as was proposed long
ago, would have served as a
fallback position for addressing
situations arising like the
current one. She, however,
challenged the sectors actors
and relevant government
agencies to collaborate in
creating such fund.
The Liberian leader further
proposed to the farmers to
consider intercropping the
rubber sector with other
agricultural products including
rice, sugar cane and/or oil palm
which she said would fll in the
fnancial gap created by the
drop in rubber production.
She thanked the farmers
for working together in
maintaining the rubber industry
as Liberias traditional cash
crop commodity. She believes
that government should stand
by the farmers in stabilizing
the situation.
Speaking earlier, the head
of the interim management
team of the COCOPA Rubber
Company in Nimba County,
Mr. Harrison S. Karnwea,
said the current situation
facing rubber farmers has led
to his inability to service his
payroll that cost him at least
US$150,000 monthly.
Mr. Karnwea suggested that
there is a need for governments
quick intervention proposing a
loan of US$10 million stimulus
package for struggling farmers
for the resuscitation of their
production. He said rubber
farmers like other sectors are
fnding it diffcult to acquire
loans which have even made
the situation complex.
A private rubber farmer,
Mr. Daniel Chea, said illicit
tapping is a major factor for the
decrease in production.
He suggested that exporting
companies like Firestone-
Liberia and the Liberia
Agricultural Company
(LAC) involve surrounding
communities aimed at curbing
rubber theft.
According to him, he was
successful in reducing rubber
theft while serving as security
consultant at LAC using the
same method that he said paid
off very well for the beneft
of both the company and the
community.
As regards Firestone-Liberia,
the drop in production in
2013 has cost them US$122
million and if measures are
not put into place, they are
expected to record more loses.
They expressed willingness to
work with other competitors
and government in whatever
way in solving the problems
identifed.
During the meeting, Firestone-
Liberia, LAC, Salala Rubber
Corporation, Lee Group,
Morris-America Rubber
Company (MARCO), and
individual farmers agreed
to collectively fght rubber
theft through collaboration
and information sharing on
establishing the origin of
rubber latex or lumps and
where it is destined for sale.
Individual farmers at
the meeting included
Margibi County District
#2 Representative, Ballah
Zayzay; Grand Bassa County
Senator, Gbehzongar Findley;
and former defense minister,
Daniel Chea.
Governments representatives
at the meeting included
Central Bank of Liberia
Deputy Governor, Boima
Kamara; National Investment
Commission Chairman,
Michael Wortoson; Agriculture
Minister, Dr. Florence
Chenoweth; Commerce and
Industry Minister, Axel Addy;
and Legal Advisor to the
President, Cllr. Seward Cooper.
The meeting by the rubber
farmers with President Sirleaf
came shortly after she issued
Executive Order No. 60
extending a moratorium on
the exportation of unprocessed
natural rubber.
Executive Order No. 60,
signed by the Liberian leader
on April 28, it is intended to
curb the decline in the Liberian
rubber sector until policies
and frameworks appropriate
to the situation are instituted,
and to ensure redevelopment,
new development, increased
production, increased job
opportunities and increased
revenue to Government.
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014

F
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GOVERNMENT NEWS
F
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AGRICULTURE
NO ECONOMY WITHOUT
AGRICULTURE
T
odd Janzen grew
up on a cattle farm
in Kansas, earned
his law degree in
Indianapolis, hooked up with
a law frm focused on the
environment and carved out his
own niche in agriculture law.
He grew up knowing farming
is hard work. And he learned
the rule of law is good for all
parties.
But it wasnt until he and others
many of them Hoosiers
took a trip to the impoverished
nation of Liberia this year that
he realized he had been taking
for granted aspects of for-proft
farming, the law and American
life in general.
(The trip) did really teach me
the value of the rule of law,
Janzen said. And I came away
with a newfound appreciation
for the things that we just
expect as a given in our life,
like running water.
Janzen quickly learned that
Liberia lacked the following:
A transportation system that
allows crops and livestock
to be refrigerated, stored and
shipped, making it possible to
earn a living as a farmer.
Enforceable contracts and
laws to protect buyers and
sellers, also essential to
farming for a proft.
Simple things such as reliable
electricity, indoor plumbing
and paved roads, which, from
an Americans perspective, are
everyday needs.
Janzen, 41, an Indianapolis
attorney, spent about a week in
Europe and then another week
in Liberia in late February
and early March as part of the
Indiana Agriculture Institutes
leadership program. The group
included Indiana Farm Bureau
and Purdue Extension Service
members, farmers and bankers.
Their time in Liberia was
spent in Ganta, an inland city
of about 25,000 people, which
is an eight-hour bus ride from
Monrovia, the capital.
Ganta also is home to Liberian
International Christian College,
where the Indiana contingent
taught classes. The city also
is where Travis and Gina
Sheets, with Frankfort-based
Hope in the Harvest Missions
International, are working to
improve agricultural practices
and opportunities.
To say the trip was an eye-
opener is an understatement,
Janzen said.
Liberia lacks basic
infrastructure, at least partly
the result of years of civil war
and subsequent instability, he
said. The nation is trying to
build fundamental governance
at the same time its struggling
to create roads, schools,
electrical service and water and
sewer systems.
Many of the people are farmers,
Janzen said, but they grow only
enough food and crops for their
families to eat not to sell and
make a living.
The West African countrys
tropical climate is suitable for
growing rice, but many paddies
have been destroyed by the
years of violence. The land
also produces coconuts, cocoa,
pineapples and cassava roots,
but Liberia lacks the systems
to transport them within
the country, much less send
them to potential customers
overseas, Janzen said.
Land ownership is murky,
documents can be sketchy,
and rules and laws are still
being developed, Janzen said.
He taught some agricultural
fnance sessions at the college,
and although that may be
valuable information some day
for the students, the country has
a way to go before they can use
that kind of knowledge. Legal
contracts arent enforceable
because of a lack of laws.
Amy Cornell, policy adviser
and counsel for the Indiana
Farm Bureau, also was on the
Liberia trip and had hoped
that a shipment of about 2,000

canning jars would allow the
trips participants to show
Liberian recipients how to
preserve food they grow.
Although the jars didnt arrive
until after the Indiana group
had left, each jar contained a
canning kit with instructions
and supplies.
Liberians appreciate the
sacrifces of time that visitors
make, especially long-term
visitors, as well as other
assistance, Gina Sheets wrote
in an email. She and her
husband are spending fve
years in the country, working
with the people on agricultural
development but with a
spiritual underpinning.
In Liberia, you can see the
land of agriculture opportunity
ripe for nurturing, planting,
tending, harvesting and
consumption, she wrote. Yet,
here you see an economy that
is eight times poorer than Haiti,
and one of the fourth-poorest
countries in the world.
There is no economy without
agriculture. Yet in the USA, we
have lost sight that our food
does not come from a grocery
store and water does not fow
abundantly from the tap. We
have lost the appreciation of
the value agriculture is to the
economy.
Hoosiers relearn agriculture values on visit to Liberia
President Sirleaf Hands over Chairmanship to Guinean President, Professor Alpha Conte; Agree on
Several Measures Especially Border Security, Infrastructure Development, Among Others
Conakry
T
he 23rd Ordinary
Summit of the Mano
River Union (MRU)
has ended in the
Guinean capital, Conakry,
with the Heads of State and
Government agreeing on several
measures aimed at improving
the lives of the people of
Member States most especially
border security, infrastructural
development, youth employment
and economic integration.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, in a
Communiqu at the end of the
Summit, the MRU Heads of State
and Government recognized and
agreed to implement a cross-
border security strategy with a
commitment to operationalize the
Peace and Security Unit within
the MRU Secretariat. Besides,
they agreed to immediately
create the Gbalamuya-Pamelap
Joint Border Post between Sierra
Leone and Guinea as part of the
Border Security Strategy.
The Communiqu commended
the Government of Cte dIvoire
that is expected to host a donor
conference to aim at mobilizing
resources for the cross-border
project. They have requested
the MRU Secretariat to engage
ECOWAS and the UN Offce
in West Africa (UNOWA) as
regards the execution of the
conference.
As regards infrastructural
development, the MRU leaders
agreed to encourage private
sector collaboration in pursuit
of fnancing capital intensive
projects including roads, energy
and information technology,
among others. They also agreed
to develop projects directed at
renewable energy resources.
The Summit further reviewed
and approved a plan to engage
the African Development Bank
group through a formal letter of
request to help fnance key road
connectivity linked to the Trans-
West Africa Highway.
On youth employment efforts,
all the four countries expressed
serious concern about the future
of the young people in the
Member States.
In addressing the unemployment,
the MRU Heads of State
and Government announced
the creation of the Center of
Excellence in Yamoussoukro,
Cte dIvoire in support of its
Regional Youth Employment
Program. At the Center, youth
will gain knowledge in a variety
of disciplines that will prepare
them for multi-tasking in future
job markets.
In the area of sub-regional
economic reintegration, the
MRU Heads of State instructed
the Secretariat to constructively
engage the China Exim Bank for
possible fnancing of the Makona
Economic Free Zone. The
Makona River divides Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone and
forms a convergence of three
of the four countries within the
Union.
Besides, the Summit encouraged
the reactivation of the Air
Mano project and requested
the Ministers of Transport of
Member States to continue the
fnalization of the feasibility
study in order to speed up the
launching of the airline.
Food security was also a priority
issue for the 23rd Ordinary
Summit with a commendation
of progress made so far during
the implementation of the Food
Security Project in each Member
States. They encouraged
Governments to maintain the
dynamic trend for the attainment
of food self-suffciency in the
Mano River Union basin.
At the end of the 23rd Summit,
the MRU leaders announced
an approved budget of
US$5.9 million, authorizing
the Secretariat to execute it
23RD MRU SUMMIT END
IN CONAKRY, GUINEA
accordingly.
During the Summit, the Heads
of State and Government agreed
to fnance the construction of the
headquarters of the MRU upon
the submission of the completed
architectural design and costing.
The MRU leaders expressed
grave concern about the
prevailing situation in the Central
African Republic and called on
national leaders, Africa and the
international community to take
urgent action towards restoring
unity and preserving the integrity
of the Republic.
In attendance were host, Guinean
President, Dr. Alpha Conde;
Liberias President, Madam
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and Sierra
Leones President, Dr. Ernest Bai
Koroma; and Ivoirian Minister
of State/Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Charles Kof Diby,
represented Ivoirian President,
Dr. Alassane Ouattara.
Meanwhile, President Sirleaf
has offcially turned over the
chairmanship of the Union to her
Guinean counterpart, President
Alpha Conde, after fve years at
the helm.
In her statement in Conakry,
on Sunday, May 4, President
Sirleaf told her colleagues that
the period she served as Chair of
the MRU was a daunting task but
was made easier by the strong
support of fellow Heads of States
and Government and the MRU
Secretariat.
At a colorful program during
the Summit, President Sirleaf
recounted the MRU achievements
under her chairmanship. She
named fnalizing the strategic
plan to guide the work of the
MRU, implementing the HIV/
AIDS/STD pilot program,
the establishment of the Joint
Border Security/Confdence
Building Unit and the ongoing
implementation of the Cte
dIvoire/Liberia/Sierra Leone/
Guinea West Africa Power Pool
Project.
According to President Sirleaf,
all of these projects would not
have been achieved without
the support of her colleagues
and the MRU Secretariat. The
Government and people of
Liberia are honored to steer
the affairs of the MRU and the
progress made is attributed
to all of us as Heads of State,
Secretariat and the peoples of
our countries, President Sirleaf
said. She thanked the Unions
development partners for their
unwavering and strong support
to have achieved the MRU
development goals.
I like to, in this manner,
offcially handover the gavel
of authority of the MRU
chairmanship to my brother,
Professor Alpha Conde, who will
now chair our great organization,
President Sirleaf said, amidst
cheers.
In his acceptance speech,
President Conde said it is
a diffcult task to take over
from President Sirleaf who he
described as a woman with vast
leadership experience. He hoped
that Liberian leader will always
have time to advise him as he
steers the affairs of the MRU.
How can I do better stepping
into the shoes of this great frst
female elected President of
Africa without knocking at her
door for pieces of advice from
her, the new MRU chairman
noted.
The MRU Secretary-General,
Hadja Dr. Saran Daraba Kaba,
thanked President Sirleaf for her
support to the Secretariat under
her stewardship. She, however,
expressed renewed commitment
to the new chairman of the MRU
in moving the Union forward in
achieving its goals.
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 7


The man in the surveillance footage released by PPD, left, allegedly robbed
an elderly woman of $8,000 on March 31. Vickson Korlewala, right, is
charged with the crime and is currently in jail, as is his wife.-
F
RONT
PAGE
DIASPORA
A
Liberian immigrant couple charged with extorting
money from an elderly woman in March will be in
court Thursday for a bail hearing, but supporters say
its a case of mistaken identity.
Friends of Vickson and Lorpu Korlewala intend to fll the
courtroom at the hearing to show their support, and some will
wear shirts printed with photos of Vickson Korlewala next to the
surveillance photo of the suspect.
The picture they presented is not consistent with what Mr.
Korlewala looks like, said Voffee Jabateh, CEO of the African
Cultural Alliance of North America in Southwest Philadelphia
and a friend of Korlewalas, of a police photo released of the
suspect. What other evidence does the D.A. have that can prove
Mr. Korlewala is the culprit here?
At Thursdays bail hearing for the husband and wife, defense
lawyer Kevin Mincey said he will seek to have their $1 million
bail reduced.
A million dollars combined for two people whove never been
arrested before, and when you look at the photos its clearly not
the same person its excessive, Mincey said. As far as the
allegations, I can deal with that. But we just want to get them
out of jail.
The Korlewalas are charged with robbery and simple assault for
the March 31 incident in which they allegedly forced an 80-year-
old woman to withdraw $8,000 from her bank account.
They also face a second set of charges of theft and conspiracy,
which may be for a Feb. 1 incident in which a 92-year-old
woman was forced to withdraw $1,200 that police had linked to
Korlewala, the Daily News reported.
Bail was set at $250,000 for each charge, totaling $1 million,
Mincey said.
Vickson, 57, who friends say is diabetic, and Lorpu, 51, have
been in prison since April 2.
They have four children, one of whom is an Army veteran
who served in Afghanistan, friends say. Vickson is the CEO
of Ecopower Liberia, according to his LinkedIn page, and a
chemist who works on environmental technology, friends said.
Mr. Korlewala has not lived a life of crime. None of us know
him to be a criminal, Jabateh said.
We dont want to jump to conclusions and tell the DA, You
wrong. What we want to know is, What evidence you got
that this your man? And if the DA can begin to put out that
information, the tension will come down, Jabateh said. We all
want a safe community. If this is not the right person, then we are
giving the right person a chance to escape.
The DAs offce did not respond to a request for comment.
More than 30 supporters and friends of the family plan to
attend the hearing, many of them will be carrying signs that
said Mistaken Identity with a picture of Vickson Korlewala
a chemist who has never previously been arrested next to
a picture of the suspect in this crime (above). They also wore
T-shirts with the same image printed on it.
Supporters say the pictures show two different men.
Vickson, 57, and Lorpu, 51, are charged with robbery and simple
assault for allegedly forcing an 80-year-old woman to go to a
Citizens Bank branch and withdraw $8,000 on March 31.
Vickson is a chemist who develops environmental technology,
and Lorfu owns a hair braiding salon. Both are active members
of the Liberian immigrant community.
The reduced bail is reportedly due to prosecutors dropping
charges of a second, Feb. 1 robbery against the Korlewalas.
Prosecutors have also dropped plans to hold an investigatory
grand jury, and instead will schedule a preliminary hearing at
which a judge which will decide whether suffcient evidence
exists to hold charges against the Korlewalas for trial.
Monrovia:
L
iberias Public Works Minister, Antoinette who upon
taking over the ministry was embroiled in series of
controversies ranging from bitter spat with other
senior offcials and the transfer of several high ranking
employees including the procurement manager, head of human
resources amongst others is once again in the spotlight.
According to communications in the possession of FrontPageAfrica,
Minister Weeks has ignored an advise from the Civil Service
Agency (CSA) which is responsible for dealing with Human
Resources related issues emanating from agencies and ministries
of Government to reinstated a dismissed employee.
The CSA is responsible for improving the human resources, service
delivery, effectives and effciency of the service and investigating
issues arising between civil servants and heads of ministries and
other agencies of Government.
Following an investigation between one of the affected employees
of the Public Works Ministry, Vincent B. Smith, former Director
of Human Resources and Training and Minister Weeks who heads
the Ministry, the CSA concluded that the action was wrongful
dismissal and ordered Minister Weeks to reinstate Smith.
In a letter dated March 21, 2014, George K. Werner, Director
General of the CSA advised Minister Weeks to reinstate Smith.
Stated the CSA communication With compliments, we wish to
inform you that the case: Mr. Vincent B. Smith versus the Ministry
of Public Works for wrongful dismissal, was heard and investigated
by Examining Committee of the Civil Service Board of Appeal, on
Tuesday, March 4, 2014.
The unanimous decision of the Examining Committee of the Civil
Service Board of Appeal is that Mr. Vincent Smith was wrongfully
dismissed. The decision is based on the fact that Mr. Smith was not
accorded the opportunity to exculpate himself through an internal
investigation in keeping with Section 4.2.1 of the Civil Service
Standing Orders, prior to his dismissal.
The CSA in the letter advised Minister Weeks to reinstate Smith,
Against this background, we advise that Mr. Smith be reinstated
to the position which he was transferred, that is as Director of
Warehouse.
Since the March 21 communication from the CSA advising
Minister Weeks to reinstate Smith, the CSAs advise is yet to be
implemented as Smith told FrontPageAfrica that he is yet to be
reinstated.
It remains to be seen the next role the CSA will play in protecting
an employee who was wrongfully dismissed after it was proven
through investigation that the Minister of Public Works acted
wrongfully.
Minister Weeks is one of the strong members of President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf kitchen cabinet whose actions go unchecked and
upon taking over at Public Works has ensured that her will is done.
President Sirleaf is said to have dismissed and replaced nearly four
offcials of the Ministry including Deputy Minister Victor Smith
after according to inside sources Minister Weeks declared that she
could not work with these offcials.
Deputy Minister Smith was dismissed and ordered not to leave
the country after he and Minister Weeks were involved in a heated
argument in early 2014 that drew onlookers. It was unclear what
triggered the argument which eyewitnesses spurred a shouting
match between the pair as both senior offcials at the time traded
nasty insults which included cursing each others parents.
Weeks relative, Angeline Weeks who heads the Liberia
telecommunications Authority recently committed the LTA to a 1.5
million lease agreement which ignored the Public Procurement and
Concession Commission Law of Liberia.
Although President Sirleaf took the decision to freeze the account
of the LTA but today the entity is using the building in question and
still operating smoothly, an indication that the Presidents action
was just a public charade.
Following several suspensions at the Ministry of Public Works,
the CSA placed a stay order on the transfers but yet still Minister
Weeks effected her action.
Smith could just be another Liberian facing the wrath of an elite
friendship club that is now running the affairs of the Liberian
nation.
Similar situation occurred at the General Auditing Commission
of Liberia where over 40 employees were redundant by former
Auditor General Robert Kilby. The Liberian senate investigated and
found that the employees were redundantly wrongfully mandating
the GAC to reinstate the affected employees. Update that is yet to
be done.
F
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PAGE
NEWS EXTRA
DEFIANT
WEEKS
PUBLIC MINISTER IGNORES CIVIL SERVICE
AGENCY ADVISE ON WRONGFUL DISMISSAL
Liberian Couple Claiming
Misidentifcation in Robbery Case to be
Released After Bail is Reduced
MISTAKEN
IDENTIY?
Page 8 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Ms Robtel Neajai PAILEY
BA (Howard) BA (Howard) MSc (Oxford)
PERSPECTIVE

~ Perspective ~
THE AUTHOR: Sarr Abdulai VANDI is University Professor of International Affairs, ITU senior expert, and IBB professor and director emeritus (2000-2010). He initiated
the ongoing Liberia telecommunications and ICTs/ICT4D reform process (1999-2004), which culminated into the establishment of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority
(LTA). He was frst chairman and chief executive of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) 2004-2007. He is former Howard University assistant professor, School of
Communications (1977-1981), and senior fellow, African Studies and Research Centre (1994-1998), and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, RL. He was briefy Provost
and VPAA, Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC) 2010-2011. Dr. VANDI is principal co-author with the Kenyan academic, Prof. MOHIDDIN of the good governance
framework document (UNDESA, 2000), which gave birth to the Good Governance Commission (GC). He is presently in exile in the United States.
RECKLESS AND CONTROVERSIAL PUBLIC SERVANT SALARY RGIME
LEGALIZES BRIBERY AND NORMALIZES CORRUPTION IN LIBERIA
Sarr Abdulai VANDI | sarr.vandi@gmail.com
T
here is a huge compensation of salary to imported indigene
Liberians in the Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF administration.
Paying a monthly salary in excess of US$5K, US$10K,
US$15K, US$20K, US$25K and US$30K per month to
a public servant in any category is in insane and a reckless pattern
of governance that makes public service a path to personal wealth,
which is totally out of step with democracies around the world. And
especially when such extravagant and massive monthly salaries
are being paid to corrupt, unqualifed, incompetent, and sometimes
misplaced and recycled folks who were in the recent past unemployed,
and/or holding menial jobs and occupying marginal positions in the
United States, the European Union and the diaspora. I challenged any
of these so-called expert civil servants to make public their pay stubs
and employment certifcates indicating comparable salary rgimes in
their previous and/or recent past employments in the diaspora.
The USAID Sensitive But Unclassifed (SBU) report fndings
confrmed that the Government of Liberia (GoL) payroll is dominated
by syndicates of corruption at all levels of public administration and
the public sector. Ironically, a bogus GoL recruitment incentive
programs, the Senior Executive Service (SES) and the UN Transfer
of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN), has been
receiving USAID funding since 2006 to increase the pool of so-called
competent civil service managers and employees, which, would have
laid the foundation for civil service reforms.
Partisan public servants and preferential ministers in some cabinet
ministries, the Legislature, the Judiciary, and a host of other
government institutions, including the Central Bank of Liberia
(CBL), Liberia Bank for Development and Industry (LBDI), the
Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA),the Liberia Maritime
Authority (LMA), the National Port Authority (NPA).Others are
the National Oil Corporation of Liberia (NOCAL), the new Liberia
Telecommunications Corporation (LIBTELCO), and the National
Social Security and welfare Corporation (NASSCORP).
There is also the Civil Service Administration (CSA), the Governance
Commission (GC), National Elections Commission (NEC), Liberia
Petroleum &Refning Corporation (LPRC), Liberia Airport Authority
(LAA), the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Liberia Revenue
Authorities (LRA), et-al; are commanding these unprecedented and
astronomical monetary gains and rewards. Only for being favored and
chosen by the tyrant and plutocrat, Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF!
Many of these benefciaries are simply masquerading as technocrats
and experts. Their qualifcations continue to be questioned and their
credentials and professional certifcations remain in the shadows.
Several of their curriculum vitaes (CVs) are doctored, and majority
of them told outright lies about themselves. Many persons in her
inner circle claim degrees they did not earn, and attended online, and
inferior and open colleges and universities, and other defcient and
low quality polytechnic institutes.
Yet, the crooked plutocrat and imperial president continue to defend,
appoint,re-nominate, reappoint and recyclecronies and sycophants. It
is particularly unsustainable, irresponsible, and bad governance for
an impoverished post-confict country like Liberia to pay its public
servants such colossal sums of monies mostly obtained from donor
funding and international goodwill. It is estimated that between 2003
and the present, the Government of Liberia has benefted from more
than $10 Billion dollars in direct donor subsidy and over $20 Billion
dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) according to governments
own sources and records. The Republics foreign debt of $4.6bn
(3.1bn) has been waived, and our national cash-based budget has
increased from $80m to nearly $600m. Yet the country wallows in
poverty and remains at the bottom of the UN human development
index.
These indigenous Liberian importees, and one-time US underclass
welfare and perpetual food stamps recipients, and ghetto dwellers are
using their newly ill-gained wealth and undeserved huge salaries to
buy luxury homes and brands named SUVs (sport utility vehicles)
abroad, and provide fnancial support to their overseas dependent
families, concubines and associates.
There is indiscreet and alarming capital fight since July 2006, six
months into the initial sitting of the Unity Party administration.
Authoritative sources at the Central Bank of Liberia and money
transfer centers indicate that ffty($50M) million United States Dollars
is transferred monthly from Liberia to the United States, Ghana, and
South Africa and in the European Union and other Western countries
by indigenes and residents in the Government of Liberia employment,
particularly, the Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF administration(s).
Still others charter special luxury ambulance fights and purchase
deluxe premium class and royal business class tickets to airlift parents,
siblings and friends; for overseas medical treatment and healthcare
services, pleasure retreats, offshore marriages and weddings, and
birthday anniversaries, and shopping sprees. Whilst the rest of
us sink in abject poverty, and deteriorate in health, suffer nervous
breakdowns and become insane or die from poor and lack of safe and
proper medical care.
Yet, notable others like the late Gabriel Baccus
MATHEWS(2007),Jenkins Kolubah SCOTT(2010), and not long
ago, the late former President Moses BLAH(2013), who fell sick,
went hungry and zany; and eventually died in abject poverty as a result
of selective political neglect and fagrant vengeance administered by
the Republics cruel, wicked and snobbish president. Both Gabriel
Baccus a former minister of foreign affairs and doyen of the cabinet
and Jenkins Kolubah former minister of justice and attorney-general,
died from depression, and from other ailments associated with
loneliness and poverty.
Quite recently, on Wednesday 16 April 2014, Charles Gyude
BRYANT, former head of state and Chairman of the National
Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), was reported dead.
The National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) was
inaugurated on October 14, 2003 and dismantled on 16 January 2006
to usher in a constitutionally elected president and national legislature.
The NTGL took over a deeply troubled and dangerous nation-state
and government, and a bitterly divided society and wounded people.
According to the terms of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Accord
(ACPA,) each of the factions GoL (Government of Liberia Forces),
LURD (Liberians United for Reconstruction and Democracy), and
MODEL (Movement for Democracy in Liberia) were allocated
a share of the leadership positions in Ministries, Agencies, State
Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and the National Transitional Legislative
Assembly. Civil Society was also allocated a small number of positions.
This power-sharing arrangement insured broad representation of all
factions across the government.
Reports indicated that the former transitional leader died at the poorly
administered, and unequipped and inferior John F. KENNEDY
Medical Center in Monrovia after a sudden, massive heart attack.
FrontPageAfrica also reports that interviews with family members,
lawyers and close friends on Thursday, 17 April 2014 suggest that
Bryants last few months on earth was marred by frustration and
what the former head of state believes was an unjust treatment by the
Government of Liberia and the Unity Party administration of Ellen
Johnson-SIRLEAF and company.
The family has declined any governments posthumous assistance
and/or intervention in the funeral arrangements of the former chief of
state. Other former Liberian heads of states that were neglected and
endured hardships before their deaths include Wilton SANKAWULO
(2009), and David KPORMKPOR (2010). The deceased former
offcials of government were perceived political opponents and
nemesis of the President and some of her operatives.
Deep psychological damage and torture, and physical injuries and
abuse remain in the land afteran aborted military invasion (1985) and
three ruinous consecutive wars, which ran from 1985 2003, leaving
approximately 350,000 million people dead. Liberias Truth and
Reconciliation Commission (TRC) found the incumbent president
and several present offcials and others culpable for the wars and
annihilating consequences. Numerous rebel factions raped, maimed
and killed, some making use of drugged and vitiated child soldiers,
and intractable and cantankerous ethnic rivalries and bitterness
remain across this West African nation of now more than four million
inhabitants.
A former president is serving a ffty-year prison term in Scotland,
United Kingdom for crimes against humanity in a neighboring Sierra
Leone. Madame President, a war criminal and confessed product and
victim of dysfunctional family is incapable, or more correctly, lacks
the moral rectitude and fortitude to neither unite and reconcile, nor
build a cohesive, transformational, and prosperous nation, society and
peoples.
The ghettos, the streets, the lanes, the graveyards and the undergrounds,
in Monrovia and other urban centers, have become the nations
dilapidate sub-cities. These subterranean enclaves comprise more
vagrant kids and the girl child, callow and nave prostitutes, including
gays and lesbians; and cracked, and rickety people than at any time
in the history of this Glorious Land of Liberty. The number has
increased fvefold, and progressing since 2006 when Ellen Johnson-
SIRLEAF was frst inaugurated president of the Republic. The gender
candidate prided herself as a mother, grandmother and former spouse
with loving, caring, and nurturing and gentle female instincts and
qualities.
The fght against corruption is simply political rhetoric and KumBa
Yah politics. No serious effort has been made to curb, minimize and/
or illuminate this national menace. The late indigene Kiss journalist
and political activist Saar Thomas KAMARA in one of his legendary
editorial commentaries and columns denouncing the corruption craft
entitled: The Era of Omert, published in the Tuesday 8 February
2011 edition of the New Democrat, essentially exposed President
Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAFs duplicity and countenance in the war
against corruption.
Frankly, Madame President is disgustingly a recidivist on corruption,
favoritism, nepotism, and proper vetting and appointments in
government, who is being led astray by grasping chums and
subordinates. Put simply, the Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF administration
is the notorious cabal rgime of the corrupt, the incompetent, and the
banditti.
There was an overwhelming expectation that the frst regular post-
war government in the Republic might have been representation of
the best and the brightest of a new generation of elites - professional,
technocratic, internationally experienced, and democratic in
orientation. Instead, the two incumbent administrations are a re-
incarnation of Liberias pre-1980 Americo-Liberian oligarchy, in
combination with a disguised continuation of rule by selected warring
party elites and miseducated and assimilated indigenes and apologists,
and the undertakers.
After almost a decade of the Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF administration(s),
and billions of US dollars in direct budgetary funding for capacity
and infrastructure development, and foreign direct investments, the
Republic continuous grinding in poverty. Eighty to eight-fve (80-
85%) percent of Liberias work force is formally unemployed, while
literacy is estimated to be 15-20 percent. Liberia is one of the poorest
countries in the world, with a per capita gross domestic product of
$185.
There is huge youth convexity and massive unemployment among the
youth, with only 15 percent of general work force formally employed.
Education is a messy sector, and the authorities are clueless. The
University of Liberia has a zero acceptance rate. Last year in July
2013, 25,000 school-leavers and aspiring college and university
students failed the test for admission in the state public University
of Liberia. One analyst said, That is everyone, between. It is pretty
incredible statistics.
Of the estimated 20 percent literacy rate out of a population of nearly
4 Million, a meager 5 percent is truly literate, and the imaginary 15
percent functionally illiterate meaning the fabulous 15 percent can
poorly speak and neither barely read, nor properly write.
National peace and stability remain fragile and there is defcient and
lack of reliable and effective security forces, poorly and unjustly
functioning justice system, and a reticent legislature and a bribery-
ridden judiciary, whose escapades is documented and abound.

Page 16 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 8a
Announcement
In keeping with the vehicle and Traffc Law; Title 38,
approved May 9, 1972, and published in 1978, the
Government of Liberia is pleased to announce the approved
rates for Third Party Compulsory Motor Insurance Policy
in Liberia. These rates take effect January 2, 1996.
Approved Rates Sticker Price
No. Category of Vehicles Price
1 Taxi US$300.00 $ 15.00
2 Transport Pick-Up
S/Size-1/2 Ton 400.00 15.00
M/Size- 1 Ton 425.00 15.00
B/Size 1 Ton 450.00 15.00
3 Transport Buses
S/S-Max 18 Persons 550.00 15.00
M/S-30 Persons 600.00 15.00
B/S-30 Over Persons 650.00 15.00
4. Transport Truck
10 Tons (10 Tires) 720.00 15.00
12 Tons (12 Tires) 750.00 15.00
14-18 Tons (18 Tires) 800.00 15.00
Trailer-22 Tires 1,000.00 15.00
5 Private Car (PC + Personal Plate
Sedan 150.00 15.00
Jeep 225.00 15.00
6 Business Car (BC)
Sudan 175.00 15.00
Jeep 225.00 15.00
7 Pick Up
PP 250.00 15.00
BP 300.00 15.00
8 Business Truck (BT)
10-Tons (10 Tires) 575.00 15.00
12-Tons (10 Tires) 600.00 15.00
14-18 Tons (18 Tires) 640.00 15.00
Trailer (22 Tires) 800.00 15.00
9 Business Bus (BB)
S/S-Min 6-8 Persons 250.00 15.00
S/S-Max 18 Persons 440.00 15.00
M/S- 30 Persons 480.00 15.00
B/S-30 Over Persons 520.00 15.00
10 Private Bus (PB)
S/S-Max 18 Persons 335.00 15.00
M/S-30 Persons 385.00 15.00
B/S-30 Over Persons 420.00 15.00
11 Private Truck (PT) 575.00 15.00
12 Private Motorbike 150.00 15.00
13 Business Motorbike 125.00 15.00
Please ask Pearl 0886 578 981/ Lucinda 0886 514 623
/ 0777 514 623 / AB 0886 529 776
American Underwriters Group
INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
JG Bull BLDG, Randall Street, Adjancent DITCO Store
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 17 8b
F
RONT
PAGE
County News
F
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PAGE
RELIGION
Buchanan, Grand Bassa
County:
T
he Equatorial
Palm Oil (EPO)
has again face stiff
resistance from
some affected communities
when residents disrupted an
EPO mapping process on
last Saturday. Eyewitnesses
told FrontPageAfrica that
the aggrieved residents,
performing traditional rituals,
paraded the traditional Country
Devil and demanded that the
EPO mapping process stops.
The EPO mapping process
was activated following the
47th meeting of the ongoing
scramble over land ownership
involving the palm company
and aggrieved residents of
District Four which was
organized by the Ministries of
Internal Affairs and Agriculture
(MIA and MOA). The meeting
was held on May 1.
During the meeting, 12 of
the affected towns reportedly
consented that the company
carries out a mapping process
which is intended to determine
the space required for existing
towns to carry out their
activities and the land space
the company would potentially
use to carry out its expansion
activities.
But the outcome of the meeting
was never realized when
residents of six affected towns
on Saturday stormed parts of
the plantation close to one of
the affected towns, Kwa-gbo-
yelay Town in Kporgbar Clan.
The residents are demanding
that EPO remains where they
are despite governments
determination to ensure
that the company extension
plan works. The affected
communities insist that the
company must carry out
suffcient social development
before any further expansion
goes on.
GRAND BASSA LAND SAGA
AFFECTED CITIZENS DISRUPT EPOS EXPANSION MOVE AGAIN
As of now, the six affected
towns which include; Blayah,
Zimmie, Tarlor, Nnonh,
Thomas Geezay and Debbah
Towns all of Joegbah Clan,
District Four are poised to
oppose the expansion of EPO.
The situation on Saturday has
casted serious doubts over the
possibility of any advances by
EPO in their quest to expand
their palm plantation.
They are only saying that
indeed Palm Bay shouldnt
expand; if palm bay will not
expand then there will be
no problem but if Palm Bay
expands then they (EPO)
will still continue to be in
problem and we only want the
intervention of the government
to go there because the
government has the power
to stop anybody or to say let
there be no company, for us
now we shifting blame on the
government, said Matthew
Juah-loh, Vice President of
District Four Youths.
According to eyewitnesses,
the latest tension intensifed
on Saturday but the company
has so far kept quiet. Evidence
was emphatic when the County
administration through its
Information Offcer revealed
to FPA that it has not received
any formal report about the
incident from EPO.
Currently, EPO claims it only
occupies a little over 9,000
acres with palms out of the
32,140 acres given it into
concession by the Government
of Liberia.
When FPA requested further
explanations from the EPO
management over the recent
situation, the Companys
Government Liaison Offcer,
Wesseh Weah Bestman said it
has been suspected that six of
the affected towns are against
the companys expansion
operations.
Mr. Bestman noted that the
mapping process was also
intended to determine the
amount of crops owned by
locals that could be affected due
to the companys operations as
well as determine the existing
Towns land space that will be
reserved when the company
begins growing more palms.
We have a team that will work
with the villages. The frst
step is demarcating the towns,
knowing exactly how many
piece of land that is going to
be earmarked for the use by the
towns residents, Mr. Bestman
said.
Currently, there are mix
reactions amongst the affected
towns considering the recent
tension. EPO and the county
offcial claim that the recent
meeting held in Compound
four - the districts provisional
capital - assured all parties that
most of the affected towns had
given the company the green
light to progress.
Bestman told FPA that the
company along with the
government still intends to
dialogue with the remaining
six towns because they are
determined to bring all the
towns on board.
What the government also
intends in the words of the
Minister of Agriculture for
Operations, he assured us that
with the remaining towns still
fnding it diffcult to reach
a compromise they will not
relent but will continue to
dialogue to make sure that they
can get all the towns on board,
Mr. Bestman revealed.
Despite the Liberian
Government approaches to
ensure that the EPO land crisis
with the District Four locals
is resolved, some observers
in the county are critical
of the government and the
company. They pointed out
that strategic meeting such as
the April 30th meeting should
had involved more of the
county stakeholders and all the
affected communities.
In March this year, President
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf held
two separate meetings with
the affected communities but
residents following the on-
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, BUCHANAN
going situation are suggesting
that the presidents move to see
the situation resolved is still
fruitless.
President Sirleafs special
envoy at the meeting, Deputy
Minister of Agriculture,
Varney Sirleaf, Grand Bassa
County Superintendent,
Etweeda Cooper and District
Fours direct Representative
at the National Legislature,
Robertson Siaway during the
discussion fnalized that EPO
begins its extension by May 1.
The meeting brought together
12 towns: Gbinee, Taykpeleh,
Wisseh, Paye, Morse,
Karpardeh, Sammie Tah, Joe-
Wah, Joe Pue and Goldmine
Towns all of which are either
within Joegbah Clan or New
Cess. But the resistance from
the remaining six towns is
now a grave impediment to the
process considering the trend
of events over last weekend.
Although the mapping exercise
has been seriously threatened
as a result of the resistance
from the locals, sources say
EPO is still determined to carry
it out something that has the
propensity of escalating the
situation.
Last year there was a weeklong
tension between the company
and the affected community
causing a team of surveyors
hired by the company to
forcibly abandon their
responsibility.
On Monday, the situation
claimed the attention of the
countys traditional Authority
prompting the Grand Zoe,
Edward Garmai to plan a
visit to the area. The Grand
Zoe is expected to ascertain
the impact of last Saturdays
incident and recommend to the
county authority, sources told
FPA.

ODE TO ST. JOSEPH
Liberia: Patronal feast of St Joseph's parish celebrated
Monrovia -
S
unday May 4 was
a moment of grace,
celebration and
thanksgiving for the
parishioners of St Josephs
Parish, Monrovia as they
celebrated the Patronal Feast in
honor of St Joseph, the worker.
The annual feast of St.Joseph
was celebrated with great
enthusiasm.
This year the celebrations were
held in the auditorium of Don
Bosco Technical High School,
Monrovia as the new church of St
Joseph is under construction. The
parishioners prepared specially
for this annual celebration were
extremely happy to be inspired
by the days events.
Fr Francis Lyall, the rector
of St Pauls Major Seminary,
Gbarnga Liberia celebrated the
solemn high mass with other
concelebrants. In his homily
he highlighted the role played
by Saint Joseph in the history
of salvation. St. Joseph was
attuned to the Word of God
and was committed to it. A
humble carpenter, he assumed
this great responsibility with
deep faith and love. Despite the
many obstacles he faced in this
Fatherhood that God placed on
him, he was always faithful to
his responsibility.
"St Joseph is an inspiration
and his life should continue to
challenge us day by day in our
commitment to God and ones
neighbor," he said.
The second part of the days
programme was a cultural lunch.
St Joseph's parish has members
from almost all the continents
and this is because of the United
Nations presence in Liberia.
There was a sumptuous spread.
The Filipinos came with a
special speciality; last year it
was pork. The Liberians with
their palm butter, the Nigerians
with fun fun and egusi soup, the
Indian Community with chicken
biryani, the Togolese with their
French a la carte. Those of
Ghana brought Moi Moi and
Sierra Leone- jole of rice with
potato leaves sauce.
For the children they had a lighter menu with
soft drinks, chocolates, biscuits, pop corn and
ice cream, this was followed by indoor and
outdoor games and quizzes.
While the festivities were in progress, St
Joseph's was blessed with some heavy
showers. The days programme ended
with distribution of prizes for the games
conducted.
Fr Sony Pottenplackal rector and principal
of Don Bosco Technical School Monrovia,
Fr. Lionel Xavier, Parish Priest, Fr Daniel
Libby Salesian Brother Cornelius, Senator
Cletus Wotorson, Senator John Ballout,
Neto Liegh, Deputy Minister for Labour,
Chris Wallace, Deputy Minister for Planning
& Economic Affairs Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu,
chairperson for Law Reforms Commisison
of Liberia, Ambrose Nmah, director general
of Liberia Broadcasting System, Abla
Gadegbeku Williams, executive director
of the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and
Resettlement Commission (LRRRC),
Diplomatic Ambassadors, Govt Offcials and
many others from different nationalities were
present on the occasion

Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 9
Musa BILITY in center with his attorneys at the
Temple of Justice
Professor Amos Claudius SAWYER (R) was
appointed to the APR Panel of Eminent Persons at
the 12th Summit of the APR Forum held in Addis
Ababa in January 2010.
~ Perspective ~


T
he Liberian political analyst and Mo Ibrahim Foundation
PhD scholar in the University of London School of
Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Robtel Neajai
PAILEY is correct in her recent narratives marking
the 10th Liberia Anniversary of the Accra Peace Accord, in the
Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/
poverty-matters/2013/aug/16/liberia-anniversary-accra-ccord-
positive-peace
She was bold and blunt in suggesting that the Republic must
mark the 10th anniversary of the Accra Peace Accord by pursuing
positive peace, and that the administration must build lasting
peace by tackling poverty, inequality and graft.
She eloquently tells us of our national calamity and loses ten
years ago. Approximately 250,000 people died. Hundreds of
thousands of Liberians fed to other West African countries, while
others escaped across the Atlantic. Our roads had holes the size of
bomb craters, and our electrical grid was destroyed. Children of
school age missed a basic education. Economic activity waned,
and Western Union became a household name.
Nonetheless, she said we Liberians may not agree on many things,
but we are unanimous about why we do not intend to shun peace.
The costs are too numerous to contemplate.
Unfortunately, we lamented that a decade on, we are reminded
of how far we have left to go. A raised voice, threats of riot and
protest, and overall disillusionment remind us that peace is the
mask we wear to hide our fears of violence.
Robtel further reminded us that although the guns have fallen
silent, Liberia is experiencing what the social theorist Johan
GALTUNG called negative peace that is, peace derived from
the absence of physical violence.
She rightly cautions that over the next decade and beyond, Liberia
must strive for positive peace: the absence of indirect, structural
violence manifested in poverty, inequality, and impunity.
In addition, that when Liberians publicly rebuke corruption, they
are calling for positive peace. When Liberians lament that a third
of their land is being leased to concession companies without
local consultation, they are calling for positive peace.
Moreover, when Liberians scorn the pay disparities between those
who come from abroad and those who remained in the country
during the war, they are calling for positive peace. When Liberians
call for a war crimes tribunal and full implementation of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations, they
are calling for positive peace.
Neajai PAILEY suggests that positive peace requires a movement
away from exclusion, marginalisation and economic deprivation,
major key causes of Liberia's uncivil wars. It requires local
ownership, agenda setting, and above all a commitment to
transformation for everyone. In the decade ahead, Liberia should
eschew lofty goals, such as achieving middle-income status by
2030, and avoid lengthy roadmaps and ad-hoc committees.
Instead, Ms PAILEY demands that the government should form
a pact with its people similar to the Accra Peace Agreement,
this time focusing on a positive peace agenda. By identifying
fve structural reforms that it intends to pursue (1) decreasing
aid dependency by 10%, (2) ensuring quality education through
university, (3) instituting a living wage system, (4) renegotiating
unfair concessions, (5) and making concrete and tangible inroads
on public and private sector corruption Liberia should focus on
achieving these goals in a systematic fashion.
Liberians, friends and partners of the Republic, and those
committed to Liberia's development, must yield and comply with
this clarion and propitious call to focus on setting and achieving
benchmarks for positive peace. Merely moving towards peace is
simply not enough.
Scandal at APRM, Infractions of Amos SAWYER, and a National
Tragedy
The Liberian corrupt machine has surfaced at the Secretariate of
the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), in the Ethiopian
Capital of Addis Ababa. Having legalized bribery and normalizes
corruption in Liberia, the fantastic and spectacular architects and
troika - the President, the co-President and the super Minister
(Granny, Moose and Amara), have exported their rgime of
the corrupt and the incompetent in the African Union (AU)
Secretariate. Ironically, Dr. SAWYER was recently honored and
knighted by President SIRLEAF with Liberia's highest honors for
distinguished leadership service and good governance qualities.
He was admitted into the Most Venerable Order of the Knighthood
of the Pioneers with the grade of Grand Cordon.

Who Audits the Auditors: Scandal at the Heart of the

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM),is a bold
and blunt narrative of corruption and scandal in the
APRM agency. It isa well-researched and written article
of mismanagement and misappropriation of funds, revealed in
Think Africa Press, by the Burkinabe Deutsche Welleinvestigative
journalist Ramata SORE, on 9 April 2014.Ramata SORE exposes
corruption and abuse of authority in the leadership of the African
Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the marque governance agency
of the African Union (AU) and, the New Partnership for Africas
Development (NEPAD), respectively.
An initiative of the African Union, the African Peer Review
Mechanism (APRM) was established in March 2003 by the
Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee
(HSGIC) of the New Partnership for Africas Development
(NEPAD). It is a self-monitoring instrument for assessing
performance in governance among the member states. To date,
thirty-four (34) Member States have voluntarily acceded to the
Mechanism. Seventeen (17) Member States have completed their
self-assessment exercise and they have been peer-reviewed by the
Forum of Heads of State and Government.
President Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF of Liberia is currently the
president of the APRM's Forum of Heads of State, and Amara
Mohammed KONNEH, president of the APRM's Committee of
Focal Points, consistent with his portfolio in the Government of
Liberia (GoL). Amos Claudius SAWYER, a former Liberian
interim president was the Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent
Persons from January 2012 to May 2013, period in which inside
fgures allege that the APRM is fraught with corruption and
mismanagement and that its integrity and independence have been
undermined. He was appointed, not elected to the APRM Panel
of Eminent Persons at the 12th Summit of the APR Forum held in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2010.
Dr. Amos Claudius SAWYER is at the centre of the corruption
scandal, and President Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF and her blue chip
cabinet minister Amara Mohammed KONNEH, were accused of
intimidation and cohesion, and the arrogance of power and abuse
of authority, to shield and protect Dr. SAWYER. According to
the article, "Johnson SIRLEAF seeks to protect SHIFA to prevent
the audit of the Trust Fund which may expose Amos SAWYER,"
says the insider. SAWYER, the former Liberian president, was
the Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons from January
2012 to May 2013, and just before he stepped down personally
urged that Shifa's tenure be extended. Some suggest that Sawyer
is concerned that if Shifa were to be replaced, certain transactions
might be exposed.
The report alleges that from documents Think Africa Press has
seen, there is a record of SAWYER misapplying for APRM
funding support. On 21 May, 2011, for example, Sawyer received
a letter from the APRM's Finance Department asking him to
reimburse the organisation R58,837 ($5,500). The letter states that
Sawyer claimed expenses for a journey from Monrovia to Maputo
which, being for APRM business, would be eligible to be paid
for by the organisation but which frst went via Indianapolis in
the US. SAWYER was a research scholar at Indiana University. A
more direct journey from Monrovia to Maputo would have been
much cheaper, and the APRM requested that SAWYER pay back
the difference.
According to the report, an APRM insider also claims that Sawyer
took advantage in more ways that have not been uncovered.
For instance, our source claims Sawyer used APRM funds to
pay private healthcare bills and received $9,000 for secretarial
expenses, the need for which was never justifed with supporting
documents.
An Interim President of a National Unity Government
arrangement, Amos Claudius SAWYER is a signifcant fgure.
A fne and competent academic, he is the godfather and mentor
of much of Liberias progressive political class. However, and
although he is respected in some circles for impartiality, others
see him as irrevocably tainted by his actions in the presidency.
Principal among these was urging that ECOMOG forces not seek
the NPFLs military defeat. Others hold that SAWYER engages
in inappropriate business and fnancial dealings. The Economic
Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)
was a West African multilateral armed force established by the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Professor SAWYERs domestic political infractions and intrigues
have been tragic and disappointing. Unclassifed documents in the
research archives of Siahyonkron NYANSOER, a Movement for
Justice in Africa (MOJA) operative and Liberia Peoples Party
(LPP) activist, suggest that the Professor in the past exploited
the daily rhythms of our society and nudged the popular political
wave to reshape and redefne him even as it amplifed his faws.
There are indications and suggestions that Amos SAWYER has
been a lightning rod and has polarized the Liberian Peoples
Party (LPP) that he once chaired in a way unimaginable. And that
during and after his interim years as President of IGNU (Interim
Government of National Unity of Liberia 2 September 1990 7
March 1994), he left a trail of disappointed friends and former
allies, some of whom feel betrayed, and others who barely speak
to him over his deception and his alleged shameless fnancial
dealings in the interim period.
The late Sumowuoi PEWU (2001),a former protg and associate
described Amos SAWYER as a spent force and a tragic political
fgure, a man diminished by his self-inficted political missteps and
defated in his relative importance by his own foreordained faws.
He compares Professor SAWYER in Shakespearean folklores,
as a comic fgure, who endures all manners of political slips and
humiliations to remain alive only to come seeking rehabilitation
and redemption from those he betrayed earlier in his journey.
According to him, SAWYER has proven to be a formidable
opponent to the building of democratic precepts in Liberia,
perhaps, owing to his petroleum deal that rendered him and his
business partner Musa BILITY beholden to President Charles
TAYLOR (Republic of Liberia, 1997-2003). There are and remain
mounting speculations about SAWYERs numerous shoddy
business and fnancial deals while he served as Interim President.
Musa BILITY is alleged to be a crooked businessman and a
presidential confdant. He is embroiled in a series of scandalous
corruption entanglements, and is currently on trial for tax invasion.
P
EWU admits that while many admire Professor
SAWYERs intellectual brilliance and political
abilities, notwithstanding, others are equally
troubled by his liaisons and apparent opportunistic
relationships he occasionally fostered with new and
individual Liberian rgimes, at the expense of democratic
forces endeavoring to engender a culture of social justice,
peace and reconciliation, democracy and good governance.
He recalls that until the Professor and his preferred protg,
Conmany WESSEH, were brutally assaulted by President
TAYLORs vigilantes and both fed into exile for the
second time in late 1999, Professor SAWYER was the chief
spokesperson and an enthusiastic defender of the Charles
TAYLORs rgime and often provided the intellectual muscle
needed to rationalize the former Presidents indefensible
undertakings. He is said to have gone to Washington DC
many times at the Presidents behest to lobby Congress and
State Department offcials. Conmany WESSEH is co-founder
and an executive director of the Center for Democratic
Empowerment (CEDE), with Professor SAWYER.
Moreover, PEWU indicates that Dr. SAWYER is also on record
in Abuja, Nigeria, for vehemently asserting in the presence
of U.S. Department of State offcials, that democracy mean
different thing to different people. Translation, TAYLORs
democracy and governance might be more applicable in
Liberia than that of a western style democracy. Furthermore,
the disingenuous professor had argued that the United States
and its western allies are being substantially unfair to hold
President TAYLOR to higher standards on human rights than
they would otherwise in similar cases and circumstances.
Some of the aggrieved Professors loyalists, protgs, and
LPP cadrs mentioned in one of the publications include,
Anthony KESSELLY, John JOSIAH, Steve KONAH, Yanqui
ZAZA, and the late Sumowuoi PEWU, among others.
The Liberia Project is a Nightmare and a Colossal Failure
There is imminent state failure, because according to Daron
ACEMOGLU and James A. ROBINSON, in their classic
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and
Poverty (2012), they contend that what separates successful
states from failed ones is whether their governing institutions
are inclusive or extractive. Extractive states are controlled
by ruling elites whose objective is to extract as much wealth
as they can from the rest of society. Inclusive states give
everyone access to economic opportunity; often, greater
inclusiveness creates more prosperity, which creates an
incentive for ever greater inclusiveness.
Perspective Continue on page 10
Page 10 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF:
THE LIBERIAN NIGHTMARE
THE 2010 NATIONAL DEBT WAIVER:
A GYUDE BRYANTS LEGACY


~ Perspective ~
C
orruption poses risks to political legitimacy and stability
in fragile and weak administrations, including bad and
poor governance countries. There is an urgent need for the
international community, donor partners and foreign aid
agencies to prioritize corrective action on corruption in fragile nation-
states and instable administrations. The powerful and prevalent citizen
uprisings in the Maghreb region and the North African nations of
Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in recent times are a strong and compelling
reminder that failure to curb and halt reckless corruption, and desist
from imperious rule and autocratic governance can directly affect the
legitimacy and stability of suspect political rgimes.
Liberias political trajectory continuous and remains to be
characterized by a system of patronage that is apparent in society,
politics, and the economy. The country is emerging from internal
confict and still grappling with pockets at the sub-national levels.
Patronage networks in the Africa region are linked to economic
crimes, electoral fraud, democratic disenfranchisement, prejudice and
exclusion, political terrorism and violence; and rampant corruption,
extreme favoritism and fagrant nepotism.
The secrete Liberia Governance Stakeholders Survey (LGSS) report
suggests that, even though both formal and informal institutions
play a role in Liberias modern political economy, it is the informal
institutions that play critical and infuential roles. Those enticing
and irresistible informal institutions were identifed as corruption,
cronyism, and ethnicity, tribalism and religion, of recent gender,
patronage and family ties, and sycophancy.
According to the report, powerful and strong formal institutions
or think tanks play decisive and vital roles, which enable negative
and tempting informal institutions to strive. These principal formal
institutions include an imperial presidency and dominant executive,
enabled by lack of checks and balances of the legislature and
judiciary, weak enforcement and regulatory bodies, ineffective rule of
law institutions, poor systems of accountability, an incomplete legal
framework, and unimplemented laws.
The LGSS report characterizes the strengths and weaknesses of
internal and external agents in Liberia. An agent is one who works
for the accomplishment of the goals or objectives of the organisation,
confict resolution, increased understanding, and more leadership. The
report suggests that agents are important actors who directly infuence
the political economy of Liberia. They can be either individuals or
categories of individuals, and are characterized into internal and
external agents.
Internal agents include political leaders and political parties, and
tribal and secret society leaders, who are particularly important vs.
professional and business organizations, civil society organizations
(CSOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs), which are not
as important or infuential.
According to the report, there are four highly powerful and infuential
external agents in the Liberia body politics and political economy.
They are (i) bilateral donors, (ii) multilateral development banks,
(iii) international organizations (IGOs), and (iv) Multinational
Corporations, including concessionaires. Other external agents, such
as regional organizations of the African Union(AU), the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Mano
River Union (MRU), have less impact in the four contentious and
problematic sectors of the Republics political economy: payroll,
land, concessions, and auditing/accounting, which remain the source
of confict.
The report refers to the above factors in totality as fomenting or
impeding change in Liberia and as drivers of change in country-level
analysis. Understandingly, the LGSS report identifes the Republics
principal and signifcant drivers of change to include urban elites,
international donors, the domineering President and her close
advisors, government offcials who act with impunity, the belligerent
and stubborn remnants of war, and traditional leaders.
Different forms of corruption pose risks to political legitimacy and
stability in fragile situations, and what this means for prioritising
action on corruption. It focuses in particular on potential types of
engagement and support by the international donor community. It also
considers how anti-corruption initiatives affect political legitimacy
and stability in fragile situations.
Political leaders, lawmakers, government offcials, intellectuals, and
others infuence decision making at both national and sub-national
levels. These actors wield a disproportionate amount of political and
economic power in fragile states.They are political elites, whose
views of the state infuence state stability.
Public perceptions are critical because citizens, often together with
elite, may marshal public sentiment to justify or orchestrate popular
uprisings. Moreover, a states legitimacy is determined by a dynamic
between citizens expectations and the states ability to meet those
expectations. If citizens or elites perceive that, the state is failing
to meet citizens expectations, instability often results and rgime
imminent.
There is a rebranding of Liberia political and economic patronage on
the horizon. It is brutal, pervasive and unprecedented. It comprises
an elite cartel and broad-based network of crooked politicians, petite
party leaders, unprofessional bureaucrats, fake intelligentsias and
functional illiterates, and shadow business people, who share the
spoils and benefts among each other. The network binds together and
resists pressure from political and economic competitors. Critics are
bought off and/or paid off. They are marginalized and often times
blackmailed into silence, perpetual dependence, irrelevance and/or
rendered inconsequential.
Reconciliation is elusive, and national cohesion is in decline and
negligible. The Republic is disintegrating at a fast pace, and the
population is disenchanted and restless. The Republics social network
is a bubbling volcano ripe for dangerous and catastrophic explosion.
Major public services are poor, nonexistent and inaccessible, or
beyond the reach of majority of the citizens.
Essential elements of brand ELLEN in 2005, and 2011, respectively,
were trustworthiness, competence, international contacts and
connections, private sector footprint and global reach; virtues the
candidate used to contrast herself with other candidates and her
predecessors. She promised honesty in foreign policy, effciency and
transparency in economic and fscal affairs, and the effective and
equitable management of the Republics resources. She even pledged
devolution of governance and precision in governing. We now know
that all of the above were empty exaggerations and symptomatic
narcissisms.
Furthermore, the Presidents Agenda for Prosperity (AfP) and the
Agenda for Transformation (AfT), designed at creating a middle-
income society by 2030 are Sangoma delusions and Voodoo economics.
Both of these policies and strategies are colossal distortions and
massive deceptions. The incompetent and inexperienced golden-boy
minister, and navet minister of fnance and economic development,
and the Machiavellian Professor and surreptitious chairman of the
Governance Commission (GC) are her collaborators in the above
scandalous scheme.
The Professor turned Politician is a bankrupt intellectual and a
visionless interim leader who jeopardized the state and ceded the
Republic. He abandoned the University of Liberia, which severely
deteriorated and broke down during his chequered tenure as President
of IGNU (the Interim Government of National Unity). The university
was his stronghold, where he commanded huge and almost fanatic
following and massive support, and impeccable loyalty among rural
and impoverished students, and colleagues. Today, he enjoys co-
presidential status alongside his compatriot and co-founder of the
Association for Constitutional Democracy in Liberia (ACDL).
The ACDL is ancestor to the National Patriotic Front of Liberia
(NPFL). Elements of the ACDL founded the NPFL and fnanced the
military wing of the movement, after the failed and lethal Tuesday,
12 November 1985 military invasion by Brigadier General Thomas
QUIWONKPA, and his Patriotic Forces, the forerunner of NPFL.
Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF has been at the center of the past 35 years
(April 1979 April 2014) of Liberias chequered history, sowing the
seeds of confict and disunity, agitating and fnancing rebellions and
wars, commandeering poor governance and economic thievery. The
woman has shown herself to be an outright fraud and hypocrite of the
vilest sort. This writer is completely and thoroughly disgusted with
her and anyone who defends her. The lame duck President ought to
be forced into retirement at once, without delay, and the constitutional
succession mechanism invoked, effective immediately.
Besides, the Omert type collaborating deals been struck between
the President and the Legislature as in September 2012 over the
passage of the corruption triggered 2012-2013, and now comparable
2013-2014 national budgets, publicly admitted by the president
in a forum organized by the US Foreign Relations Council in New
York; legalizes bribery and normalizes corruption in the Republic.
Incidentally, both budgets indicate shortfalls; contain astronomical
and selected extravagant salary rgimes, and lack transparency and
accountability.
The post-confict country and Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAFs
administrations continue to beneft from the most generous
international reconstruction support and supplementary budget
fnancing of any recent post-confict nation. Liberias development
partners and member states of the International Contact Group
on Liberia (ICGL), in particular, have been most proactive and
supportive in the Republics rebuilding initiatives and reconstruction
undertakings.
Notwithstanding the 2010 national debt waiver by the international
lenders that fagrantly increased and recklessly mushroomed to
a staggering US$4.9 Billion in the brief tenure and under the
signature of then Finance Minister Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF in the
William Richard TOLBERT Jr. administration. As of April 2014,
our national debt has been reinvented and now stands at a whopping
US$1.5Billion, under very peculiar and suspicious circumstances.
Perhaps the advancing octogenarian plutocrat is up to her old games
and tricks, and is determined to mortgage the Republic before she exits
into forced retirement. The new and imminent national debt burden
is bound to choke the next generation of politicians and state actors,
civil society organizations, the public and national stakeholders.
I
ncidentally, it was the NTGLs adoption and successful
implementation of the Governance and Economic Management
Assistance Program (GEMAP) that qualifed Liberia as a
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative client,
which precipitated the waiver of the national debt. GEMAP is an
effort, started September 2005, by the Liberian government and
the international community, via the International Contact Group
on Liberia (ICGL) to reshape the fundamentally broken system of
governance that contributed to 23 years of confict in Liberia. GEMAP
and subsequently HIPC were Chairman Charles Gyude BRYANTs
signature programs and achievements.
The Governance and Economic management Assistance
(GEMAP) signed in Accra, Ghana on September 9, 2005
empowered foreign expatriates to co-manage all of Liberia entities,
including those Ministries and Agencies that are responsible for
preparing and concluding concessionary agreements. GEMAP
was a partnership between the Government of Liberia and the
international community to promote accountability, responsibility
and transparency in fscal and fnancial management.
Featured in a series of world development reports, this ground
breaking, multi-donor, multi-million dollar program is emerging as
a model for improving governance in post-confict environments.
The majority of GEMAP was funded by USAID and implemented
by IBI. Initially, the program was vigorously opposed by the
Madame, the Professor, and company.
Because of the positive Liberia project and experience, it has been
suggested that GEMAP is now under serious consideration by
both academics and policy makers as a tool for other post-confict
states. With greater awareness by donors that they function as
'investors' in developing, it is likely that additional GEMAP-
like programs will be created in the future in order to provide
the 'investors' some measure of reassurance that their 'partners'
are in fact spending their money, as well as the donors' money,
responsibly and with accountability.
Actionable Legislation and curbing reckless hiring and extravagant
compensation
There must be legislation to limit the incentives and salaries
of public offcials to enable government keep vital programs
revived, funded and active. Correspondingly, rigid requirements
must be legislated and competitive vetting criteria introduced
and implemented to recruit qualifed, competent, experienced,
and independent professional public and civil servants, in senior
executive service (SES) positions, and not left to the whims and
caprices of the cruel plutocrat and wicked witch to recruit and
appoint her cronies to positions of wealth and power.
Unless we forget what candidate Ellen Johnson-SIRLEAF said
in a 16 July 1997 Special Presidential Elections Address to the
Nation, that:
As a political philosophy, I would like to see the creation of a
free and open society, in which the government is democratically
elected, and where respect for the rule of law applies as much to
those who govern as to those who are governed.
I will set the example by restricting myself to those appointments
that are expressly reserved for the president under the Constitution,
i.e., ministers, their deputies and assistants, and ambassadors.
Government is a sacred trust and those in positions of trust must
be competent. They must be qualifed. Nothing is more destructive
to a good government than having unqualifed people making
powerful decisions.
But competence alone is not enough. People in positions of trust
must also understand and demonstrate by their behavior that
they acknowledge the limits of power. My government will be
committed to bringing in the best and the brightest.
There is a need for political renewal. Our history is full of examples
of government offcials who have not governed themselves by the
very laws they created. Effciency, honesty and the rule of law
shall be the bedrock of a Sirleaf administration. It will apply to
those who govern as well as those who are governed.
In concert with the people, our government will seek constitutional
reforms to remove the historical impediments to good governance.
Accordingly, we will discourage an imperial presidency; promote
the political autonomy of local governments within the framework
of decentralization. We will advocate leadership rotation and
demand accountability at all levels.
What a political charade and arrogance of power!
I approve and confrm the above quote. I was there and I am
principal coauthor of that speech along with Eugene PEABODY,
on 16 July 1997.The Special Elections were held on 19 July 1997.
Charles Gyude BRYANT, NTGL Chairman and Head of
State, 2002-2006
The Author
Sarr Abdulai VANDI is University Professor of International
Affairs, ITU senior expert, and IBB professor and director
emeritus (2000-2010). He initiated the ongoing Liberia
telecommunications and ICTs/ICT4D reform process (1999-
2004), which culminated into the establishment of the Liberia
Telecommunications Authority (LTA). He was frst chairman and
chief executive of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA)
2004-2007. He is former Howard University assistant professor,
School of Communications (1977-1981), and senior fellow,
African Studies and Research Centre (1994-1998), and Minister
of Posts and Telecommunications, RL. He was briefy Provost
and VPAA, Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC) 2010-2011.
Dr. VANDI is principal co-author with the Kenyan academic,
Prof. MOHIDDIN of the good governance framework document
(UNDESA, 2000), which gave birth to the Good Governance
Commission (GC). He is presently in exile in the United States.
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 11
F
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OBITUARY
A Life Well Lived:
Our Dearest and Humble Father
Hon. John Nimley Trarso Wulu, Sr.
Sunrise: November 28, 1935 Sunset: April 6, 2014
J
ohn Nimley Trarso Wulu, Sr., affectionately called Papa Wulu, was born around November 28, 1935 in Say-
you-o Town in Towarbo Chiefdom of the Konobo Statutory District, Grand Gedeh County, Republic of Liberia,
to the union of Karr-dar Waylee (mother) and Kayor Nei (father). He was the oldest of four siblings (all brothers)-
-David Q. Nimley (preceded), Piere Nimley Nei Taley (preceded) and Quaye John. Papa Wulu was blessed with
several relatives ranging with the family names of: Nimley, Taley (Tere), Monla, Waylee-Kon, Quaye, Doeley, Fineboy,
Collins, Nyanou, Tarwoson, Gaye, Cooper, and so on.
On Sunday, April 6, 2014 Papa Wulu passed away at his home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States of America,
following a period of brief illness; and he was preceded by his wife in death (Minnie) of 59 years. He is survived by
all his ten children (Elizabeth Wulu-Brown, Ruth Wulu-Bondurant, Emmanuel Wulu, John Wulu Jr., Francois Caesar
Wulu-Demonique, Solomon Wulu, Kaller Wulu-McKay, Dominique Alexander Wulu Wilson, Johnnette Wulu-Eggert,
and Aaron Wulu); ffty-one grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
When his mother passed away while he was a child, Papa Wulu went to live with his Uncle Tarway Taley who at the
time worked for the Firestone Rubber Plantation in Maryland County, Liberia. Uncle Taley introduced him to Uncle
Charlie Waylee who taught him how to tap rubber trees to get white latex out of the bark. Without any formal education,
he served as a water boy for the Zwedru to Sinoe road construction crew project. Concern about improving himself, he
moved back to his birth hometown to serve as a porter and/or laborer on the compound of the District Commissioner
for no pay. He was not pleased with such working arrangements, as that was his second time being a laborer; thus, he
planned to seek other alternatives.
A turning point in his life began when he was making a 6-day walk, which was a laborers journey back from Sinoe
County to Zwedru, Tchien District in the Eastern Province of Liberia (now called Grand Gedeh County) to get petroleum
(or benzene) for the District Commissioners trade exchange to the local radio station. He began to seriously consider
getting an education. Also, the thought came to him to learn how to become the Paramount Chiefs Clerk (to avoid
being a laborer, rubber tapper or porter) for his home town, as he lodged at the home of the messenger to the District
Commissioner.
While in the messengers home, and in a conversation with his childhood friend, Jack Waylee, Papa Wulu raised the
thought of living at the Assembly of God mission (on the Christian missionarys compound) in Zwedru; and he asked
Jack to accompany him to the gated and completely fenced compound with big white houses. They both went there
together and the missionaries, Rev. and Mrs. Jensen (sitting in front of one of the houses) asked them of what was the
purpose of their visit. Papa Wulu spoke up and said, I want to live here and attend school. The missionaries then asked
Papa Wulu two additional questions: Where are you from? and Can you understand English? Papa Wulu answered,
I am from the Towarbo Chiefdom and I can understand and speak a little bit of English. The missionaries then
decided right away to grant Papa Wulu his request to take him in as one of the mission boys; and that he would serve
as an interpreter for the missionaries when they go to his village and elsewhere to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Papa Wulu moved into the Tchien District Assembly of God (AG) mission on March 18, 1945 to start schooling with
his primary aim of learning to become a Paramount Chiefs Clerk. Papa Wulu went on several preaching trips with the
missionaries to his hometown and other areas in Liberia; and he served as an interpreter for the missionaries.
Papa Wulu was baptized at the Newarken AG mission in Barrobo Chiefdom of Maryland County, Liberia. He was in
the third grade on the Tchien AG mission when he got the news from a childhood friend that his father had passed away.
With a plan to go back to the United States, Rev. and Mrs. Jensen asked Papa Wulu if they could take him to Monrovia
(the Capitol City of Liberia) to live with other missionaries. In March 1949, Papa Wulu accompanied the missionaries
to Monrovia; and he began residing with missionaries (Rev. & Mrs. John Hurston). Papa Wulu then enrolled in the J. B.
McCrithy Afternoon School as a ffth grader in April 1949, where he completed his elementary education.
Papa Wulu received his secondary education from the Laboratory High School (1950-1951), College of West Africa
(1952-1955), and Martha Tubman Memorial Academy (1956) in Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia.
While residing near Camp Johnson Road in Monrovia, Papa Wulu met Minnie Kyne Wilson in 1954. The marriage
union of John and Minnie Wulu began over 59 years ago; and it was gracefully blessed at the Assembly of God Church
in Monrovia, Liberia.
With regards to college education, Papa Wulu graduated with two degrees (an Associate of Arts in Accounting and a
Bachelor of Business Administration) from the University of Liberia. Additionally, Papa Wulu was a published author,
who wrote the book that signifes his autobiography: The Miracles and Riches of God (2008). This is a must-read book
on Amazon.com.
Given his interest of being actively involved in the education of Liberias children, Papa Wulu took on various career
positions for 19 years at the Monrovia Port Management Company, Freeport of Monrovia, ranging from clerk typist to
book-keeper to cashier to accountant and to chief accounts cashier supervisor.
Papa Wulu served as a teacher at the Assembly of God Mission School in Monrovia, Liberia; and also, as a Sunday
School Superintendent of the Assembly of God Church in the 1950s and 1960s.
Hon. John N. Wulu, Sr. (Papa Wulu), as a Liberian Government offcial, also worked as the Executive Director of the
Unity Conference Center, a part of the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, Liberia, from June 1981 to December 1989
(for about 9 years).
Over the years, Papa Wulu home-schooled his wife in preparation for establishing a school in the Bassa community
and War-wein areas; which was primarily intended for his children and few children in the neighborhood. The school
evolved and mushroomed into the John N. Wulu Elementary School in Monrovia, Liberia, with him as the founder. The
John N. Wulu Elementary School was registered and accredited by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Liberia, in
1964.
Papa Wulu and Minnie renamed their elementary school as the Richard M. Nixon Institute (RMNI) in 1969 in honor
of President Richard M. Nixon of United States, purposefully in consideration of the determination and perseverance
shown by Mr. Nixon over the years of public service and persistence for achieving his goal of the presidency of
the United States. The RMNI expanded into Elementary/Junior High School (War Wein) and Senior High School
(Capital Bye-Pass) in 1970s. The RMNI became a component of the Liberian government operated or public Monrovia
Consolidated School System in the 1970s; and Papa Wulu served his established schools as a teacher and principal in
the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s, Papa Wulu and his wife founded the Minnie K. Wulu Junior High School at St.
Paul Bridge, Bushrod Island. All his three founded schools were fully operational and accredited by the Ministry of
Education, Republic of Liberia, as of the 1990s. Since the inception of the three schoolsnow known as the John and
Minnie Wulu School System in Liberia--over 38,000 students have attended and graduated from the schools.
With passion and ambition to help the children and youth of Liberia, especially from his native land, Papa Wulu decided
to engage into Liberian politics. In 1976, he ran for public offce to become a Liberian Senator representing Grand
Gedeh County. He was not successful in getting into the Liberian Senate; however, Papa Wulu was more than ever
determined to continue playing active roles in the educational arena of Liberia.
Papa Wulu lived in Cleveland, Ohio until his transition to eternity. His legacy will be long-lasting and memorialize in
the lives and productivity of all of his former students and forever in the hearts of their children and families. He lived a
wonderful life and had touched many lives with his love, humility, and understanding that Education is a Treasure.

In summary, Hon. John Nimley Trarso Wulu, Sr. was the former Executive Director of the OAU Unity Conference
Center; former Chief Accounts Supervisor, National Port Authority; former Sunday School Superintendent, Assembly
of God Church; founder of the Richard M. Nixon Institute, Monrovia, Liberia; founder of the John &Minnie Wulu
School System, Monrovia, Liberia; alumnus of the University of Liberia; and author, The Miracles and Riches of God.
Also, he was a proud native son of Grand Gedeh County, Liberia
Papa, as he is tenderly called by family and friends, is now resting in perfect peace with our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. We will miss his presence so dearly on Earth, but we believe strongly that Heaven has gain a
Visionary cloud of witness to watch over us all. Thank You, Papa!

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Psalm 33: 1
I
t is with deepest regrets and profound sadness that the Wulu Family announces the passing
of our dearest and beloved father, the patriarch of our family, Hon. John Nimley Trarso
Wulu, Sr., on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at his home in Cleveland, Ohio. He was preceded in
death by his wife of 59 years, Mrs. Minnie K. W. Wulu. He is survived by all of his ten
children; ffty-one grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and
friends.
Hon. Wulu was the former Executive Director of the OAU Unity Conference Center; former
Chief Accounts Supervisor, National Port Authority; former Sunday School Superintendent,
Assembly of God Church; founder of the Richard M. Nixon Institute, Monrovia, Liberia; founder
of the John and Minnie Wulu School System, Monrovia, Liberia; alumnus of the University of
Liberia; and author, The Miracles and Riches of God. Also, he was a proud native son of Grand
Gedeh County, Liberia
Candlelight Vigil and Commemoration of Grounds for dedication of the Hon. John N. T. Wulu,
Srs Statue is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2014 from 6 - 8pm at the at the Richard M. Nixon
Institute (John & Minnie Wulu School System) on Capitol Bye-Pass, Monrovia. Visitation/
viewing will be on Wednesday, May 8, 2014 from 2-4p.m. at the Samuel Stryker Funeral
Home, Sinkor, Monrovia. Wake-Keeping will be on Thursday, May 8, 2014 from 6-10p.m. at
the Richard M. Nixon Institute. His home-going celebration service will be on Friday, May 9,
2013 from 10a.m. -1p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church on Buchanan and Carey Streets.
Interment follows at the Paynesvile Cemetery. Repast follows immediately on the Richard M.
Nixon Institute campus.
In lieu of fowers, individuals may send contributions to the John & Minnie Wulu Educational
Fund, 16781 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 230, Shaker Heights, OH 44120. Kindly keep the Wulu family
in your prayers. Online condolences at: http://johnwulusr.wordpress.com
DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT
Page 12 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Kennedy L. Yangiankennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
Stephen D. Kollie, stephenkollie13@gmail.com 0776329124
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Law & Order
F
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PRESS FREEDOM DAY
PUL President Describes Governments Actions towards Free Press
Defense Counsels Request Acquittal Of Defendants In Mercenary Case
Monrovia:
A
day after state
lawyers announced
that they have rested
with the production
of evidence in the mercenary
case defense counsels
objecting the conviction of
the 18 defendants have fled
a motion for judgment of
acquittal for several defendants
The defense counsels have
identifed the defendants to be
acquitted as Timothy Barlee,
Sam Tarley, Prince Youtay,
Christopher Lakpayee, Fred
Chelly, Junior Gelor and
Emmanuel Pewee.
The defense counsels motion
stated that during the entire
case presented by the state
none of the states eleventh
witnesses ever testify against
the named defendants.
Defense Counsels claimed
that there was no evidence
produced by the state to show
that any of the defendant
named was arrested at the
border returning from the Ivory
Coast or with arms and that the
evidence produced at the trial
is insuffcient to sustain the
named defendants conviction.
Amidst the documentary
evidence coupled with the
testimonies of the eleventh
witnesses provided by the state,
the defense counsels stated
LACK OF EVIDENCE?
A HIGH DEGREE OF INTOLERANCE
that the Criminal Procedure
Law provides that the court on
motion of a defendant or its own
motion shall order the entry of
judgment of acquittal of one or
more offenses charged in the
indictment after the evidence
on either side is closed if the
evidence is insuffcient to
sustain a conviction of such
offense or offenses.
That respondent, the Republic
of Liberia has failed miserably
to establish a prima facie case
against the movants, hence
the evidence is insuffcient
to sustain a conviction in
this case stated the defense
counsels motion.
The defense counsel furthered
that the information relied
upon by the police to arrest
the defendants singularly came
from Thomas Gladior a state
witness which information the
police shared with the United
Nations Panel of Experts and
their counterparts from the
Ivory Coast and therefore
claimed that the defendants
continuous detention on the
basis of an uncorroborated
information is a clear violation
of the rights of the defendants
to freedom.
According to the defense
counsels with regards to several
Supreme Court opinions, where
the prosecution witnesses
testimonies contradict one
another, the doubt created there
from operates in favor of the
defendant and therefore it is a
ground for acquittal.
The defense counsel again
stated that the two state
witnesses from the Ivory
Coast one of them stated that
the citizens informed him
of the attack in Para while
the other witness the Deputy
Commissioner of the Ivory
Police said he set up a team to
carry on investigation and his
testimony was based on what
the police told him therefore
these statements of the Ivorian
witnesses were hearsay
evidence which cannot be used
against the defendants.
Wherefore and in view of the
foregoing, the movants pray
this honorable court to grant
movants motion discharge
them from further answering to
the charge of mercenarism and
grant unto them such further
relief as this court may consider
just and legal said the defense
counsels motion signed by
three counsels Cllrs. Tiawan
Gongloe, Dempster Brown and
Atty. Arthur Johnson
Meanwhile hearing into the
motion will take place today at
10: am at the Criminal Court
D at the Temple of Justice
where the case is ongoing.
The 18 defendants been on trial
since May 2013 were charged
with mercenarism in connection
with the cross-border attack
along the Liberia-Ivory Coast
border in the Southeast but the
defendants pleaded not guilty
to the charges.

Bopolu, Gbarpolu County-
I
n the midst of celebrations
marking the observance
of World Press Freedom
Day in Liberia, the
President of the Press Union
of Liberia has termed as a high
degree of intolerance that does
not seem to be in agreement
with the government's
professed commitment to
working for a free media an
attempt by government to
suddenly subject operating
permits of media houses to
expiration and revocation.
Addressing a group of
journalists in Bopolu City,
Gbarpolu County where
the offcial celebration by
the PUL took place, Mr.
Abdullai Kamara noted that
the Government statements
in the run up to the World
Press Freedom Day have
been appalling, and indicate a
discomfort with the freedom of
information regime that they
themselves (government) point
at.
Said Kamara: Public offcials
need to have a structured
approach to responding to
issues that impact freedom of
expression. The statements
either indicate a hypocritical
response to press freedom or an
ignorance of the issues which
underpin a free press.
The PUL President further
stated The approach of
threatening seizure, closure
or ejection being projected
by high ranking government
offcials is in sync with the
disturbing trend of exclusion
that is running in our country
today. This is just bad, and
represents an adverse response
to the concept of reconciliation
and unifcation that almost all
ordinary Liberians think our
country should be headed.
When a post country nation
begins to pursue any agenda,
political, development or
economic - or the precept of
excluding any one party or
another, we are playing the
wrong game, and indicating
that we are just not ready yet."
Kamara pointed out that it
cannot not be agreed any
further that there are some
journalists, whose works bring
their credibility to question
but saaid notwithstanding,
there are Liberian journalists
who are daily recognized for
the effort and professionalism
they put in their work and that
addressing the shortcomings
should not be in shutting down.
He continued: We look
forward to strengthening our
self regulation mechanism, to
continuously name and shame
bad journalists. We also call on
other members of the society,
including the government and
private sector not to collude
with journalists to blackmail
others.
When the Press Union names
a journalist as a conscientious
defaulter, others must take heed
and work with them cautiously.
You cannot support someone
to be unprofessional, and you
expect us to bar another person
of the same category, simply
because they are keen on their
right to disagree
Journalists must realize that
their work is hinged on the
truth, respect for the rights of
others and an obligation to
work towards the collective
good of the society. Anything
other than that takes away from
your journalism.
Meanwhile, Gbarpolu County
Senator Armah Jallah called on
the Press Union of Liberia to
aid in ensuring the building
and enhancement of good
governance in Liberia adding
that when journalists are at
liberty good governance exists.
He challenged the PUL to
continuously brainstorm and
dialogue on ways and means
whereby individual members
can collectively engender
economic emancipation for the
independence and much more
relevance of the union.
As we dwell on Press Freedom,
let me remind us that whenever
we discuss press freedom,
which I am attempting to look
at from two dimensions, the
other side of press freedom
goes with responsibility. Let
us keep abreast of the fact that
whenever we misuse and abuse
free press, we are responsible
for its miss-carriage thereof.
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 13
Monrovia:
T
he Brigham Young
Management Society
(BYUMS) an affliate
of the Brigham Young
University in the United States
Liberia Chapter has opened
its membership drive in the
country under the auspices
of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints to teach
Liberia professionals of moral
and ethical leadership.
Mrs. Quita B. Kialain President
of Brigham Young Management
Society (BYUMS) Liberia
Chapter said at the launch of the
membership drive Friday at the
church compound of the Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints on
Horton Street on the Capitol
By-Pass that the society is all
about building professionalism,
connection and networking
around the world.
She stated that the vision of the
organization is to build a moral
and ethical leadership around
the world and that establishing
the organization in the country
will help the country because
all over the world ethics is
lacking adding that the program
is needed in the country
because it will make Liberians
work together and build the
management sector.
The whole idea in this thing
is to help ourselves become
professionals because the Bible
says in the book of Proverbs
that where there is no vision
the people perish said Madam
Kialain.
Madam Kialain furthered that
membership to the society
which is L$200.00 is opened
to everyone and not only to
members of the Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saint while
the organization will also
be involved with education,
research, outreach and
friendship.
She indicated that the
organization will look forward
to raising its own funds,
organizing events such as
community services, interacting
with several institutions
including banks and hospitals
among others.
According to Madam Kialain
BYUMS operates in 27
countries with 10,000 active
memberships while there are
22,629 members worldwide.
Roger L. Kirkham, President
of Liberia Mission of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints who made a fre-
point presentation during the
launching ceremony indicated
that the greatest leadership
needs in Liberia are concepts
of customer, quality and
accountability and one has to
be accountable for what their
customers need.
Richmond Anderson, Lawmaker
of Montserrado County
Representative (District# 12)
called on the head of the society
to ensure that the program
reaches the length and breadth
of the country.
Also Dr. Edward Liberty
Director of the Liberia
Institute of Statistics and Geo
Information Services (LISGIS)
stated that some Liberians are
not strong and friendly in the
course of doing business adding
that no one will come from
anywhere to build the country
but Liberians themselves
indicating that if Liberians do
not recognize their own value
the country will remain at the
stage of underdevelopment
where it is now and that there
will not be any progress.
Atty. Jallah G. Zumo Vice
President elect of BYUMS
says activities of BYUMS are
being conducted at the offce
of the church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints behind the old
Budget Bureau on the Capitol
Hill and called on anyone
interested in the program to
contact its offce daily.
During the offcial launch of the
Brigham Young Management
Society membership drive
several cash donations were
made including lawmaker
Anderson, LISGIS Director
Liberty while a cash pledge of
US$1,500 was made by a proxy
on behalf of the Chief Launcher
Liberty Party Chairman Fonati
Koffa who was reportedly
absence from the program due
to busy schedule.

REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
Kennedy L. Yangiankennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
F
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PAGE
News Extra
FRONT
PAGE
Business
BOLD REVELATION
Col. Mulbah said: As you may know the LNP is non- political, we are there to serve the government and the people
but sometimes we get a lot of political interference from lawmakers and every quarter of government which sometimes
infuence our decision, so we have to step forward to meet some of these challenges Col. William Mulbah
Brigham Young Management Society Launches Membership Drive In Liberia
POLITICAL INTERFERENCE HINDERS POLICE OPERATIONS
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -
A
frican Media Agency (AMA)/- Retail expansion is
key to DHL Express' Africa business strategy. This is
according to Sumesh Rahavendra, Head of Marketing
for DHL Express, Sub Saharan Africa. The recently
released A.T Kearney African Retail Development Index further
validated the company's plans as it ranked the top 10 countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa for retail expansion and highlighted Rwanda,
Nigeria, Namibia, Tanzania and Gabon as Africa's most attractive
markets for retailers looking to expand.
According to Deloitte, Africa's middle class has tripled over the
last 30 years, and the current trajectory suggests that the African
middle class will grow to 1.1 billion in 2060, making it the world's
fastest growing continent. This growth, coupled with the forecasted
GDP growth of over 6% which the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) is predicting, drives the potential for retail growth on the
continent signifcantly through increased purchasing power and
consumer demand.
The growth of ecommerce and access to technology has further
upended the traditional
shopping experience for consumers, and retailers are increasingly
beginning to maximize
the opportunities arising from the growing number of digitally-
empowered consumers, who are opting to purchase goods via
ecommerce channels "We are now in a position to directly relate
growth in our retail footprint to growth in our earnings so we
know the potential is huge." says Rahavendra.
According to the index, African retailers such as South Africa's
Shoprite, which operates in more than 16 African countries, and
Nakumatt, which is based in Kenya and has stores in neighbouring
Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, have done most of the expansion,
but global retailers are moving in. In 2011, Wal-Mart acquired
South Africa's Massmart, and it plans to open 90 supermarkets
across Africa over the next three years.
DHL Express, who has a retail presence in over 2400 outlets
across Africa, will continue its aggressive expansion strategy
in Africa in 2014. "We have made great progress in making the
global market and world at large more accessible and connected
by increasing the number of points where customers can access
DHL and our global network. This allows anyone - from a student
to a small business - to access over 220 countries and destinations
that we serve."
Key retail markets for DHL currently are Nigeria, South Africa,
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Senegal, Cte d'Ivoire, DRC,
Zambia and Zimbabwe. Commenting on the general retail
landscape across Africa, Rahavendra adds, "Supply chains in
Africa are more challenging than many other markets in the world.
The key to success is understanding these challenges in order to
offset the risks versus
the opportunity which the continent offers. This knowledge will
allow retailers to service markets with a supply chain that is agile
enough to respond quickly to sudden or unexpected changes,
fexible enough to customize products and effcient enough to
protect margins. We have been active on the continent for over
36 years, and being the only international express company to
operate our own airline and
extensive infrastructure throughout Africa, we are well positioned
to connect Africa with the world."
Monrovia:
A
senior law
enforcement offcer
has hit the nail on the
coffn, making a bold
revelation that the operations
of police offcers in Liberia are
hindered by political inference.
Col. William Mulbah,
Deputy Police Director for
Administration designate for
the Liberian National police
(LNP) has mentioned political
interference as a major challenge
faced by offcers of the Liberia
National Police in the discharge
of their functions.
In an interview with reporters
at the Capitol Building where
he had gone for confrmation
hearings, Col. Mulbah said,
normally offcers of the LNP are
faced with the diffcult challenge
of implementing or overlooking
certain issues because of
infuence from offcials of
the National Legislature
and executive branches of
government.
Col. Mulbah said: As you
may know the LNP is non-
political, we are there to serve
the government and the people
but sometimes we get a lot
of political interference from
lawmakers and every quarter of
government which sometimes
infuence our decision, so we
have to step forward to meet
some of these challenges.
The police Deputy Director
designate promised to ensure
that assets of the Liberian
RETAIL INDUSTRY IN
AFRICA OFFERS HUGE
POTENTIAL, SAYS DHL
EXTENDING HAND


National Police are in proper
order if confrmed by the senate
noting that will be one of my
major targets if confrmed.
He committed himself to put
in place policies that will
make individual police offcers
pay for equipment and assets
willfully damaged through
salaries deduction nothing that
normally offcers of the LNP
damage government assets and
the responsibility to repair is left
with National government.
The LNP deputy director for
Administration designate also
promised to ensure that the issue
of attendance of offcers is taken
seriously.
Improved police image
The public perception about
the LNP is bad so upon my
confrmation, improving the
image of the LNP will be part
of my target. I will also ensure
that we have a sound fnancial
management practice and
accountability, he added.
He promised to use his offce
to weed out those he referred to
as the bad apples in the police
warning offcers of the police
force against taking bribes.
He told the Senate Defense
committee that he is the right
man for the job boasting of
his over 30 years record in the
police service. Col. Mulbah said,
during all his days at the LNP he
had no demerit in his fle and has
never being accused or punished
for acts that are contrary to the
LNP guidelines.
If confrmed by the Liberian
senate he will fll the void left
behind by his predecessor Rose
Stryker who was recently relief
off the post by President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf.
Stryker during her service
at the LNP was accused of
awarding contracts that did not
meet the public procurement
and concession Commission
guidelines.
Page 14 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
IN BRIEF
DENNIS RODMAN CLAIMS KIM JONG
UN DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE UNCLE
EXECUTED AND FED TO DOGS
KERRY URGES STEPS TO
ENSURE DEMOCRACY
IN AFRICA
CHINA PREMIER
ARRIVES IN AFRICA
EYEING BETTER TIES

F
ormer basketball star
Dennis Rodman says
North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un did not
execute his uncle Jang Song
Thaek.
In fact, Rodman says he saw
Thaek on one of his famous trips
to North Korea.
North Korean state media
confrmed in December 2013
Thaek was purged on allegations
of corruption, drug use and a
long list of other "anti-state"
acts. Reports from North Korean
state media claimed he was
executed.
But Rodman said that's not the
case in an interview with DuJour
magazine:
[Dennis Rodman]: You could
say anything here about North
Korea and people would believe
it. The last time I went there,
when they said they killed his
girlfriend, they killed his uncle,
they just fed him to the dogs...
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)
A
merica's top diplomat
said Saturday the
U.S. is ready to help
increase its ties with
Africa, but nations across the
continent need to take stronger
steps to ensure security and
democracy for its people.
In an Africa policy address to
members of the Addis Ababa
diplomatic corps and the Young
Africa leader network, U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry
highlighted crises in Nigeria,
South Sudan, Somalia and the
Central African Republic and
urged Africans to demand stability
and fnancial development.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia(AP)
C
hina's prime minister
arrived Sunday in
Ethiopia for a four-
country tour of Africa,
calling for deeper ties with his
country and seeking to recast a
relationship that has admittedly
faced diffculties.
Li Keqiang, who before leaving
China acknowledged "growing
pains" in China-Africa ties,
met with Ethiopian Premier
Hailemariam Desalegn and signed
a number of trade agreements.
"China and Africa's destiny is
closely linked. We supported
each other during the struggle for
independence. And in the course
of national development, we
have always treated each other
as equals," Li said in the capital,
Addis Ababa.



F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT ADMITS
HE HAS NO IDEA WHERE THE
KIDNAPPED SCHOOLGIRLS ARE
I
t took three weeks,
but Nigeria's president
Goodluck Jonathan has
fnally spoken out about
the abducted schoolgirls.
While he's determined that they
will be rescued, he said offcials
don't know where they are
currently being held and aren't
negotiating for their release.
Jonathan's statement comes
after a weekend of worldwide
protests for the girls, both in
person and over social media:
On April 14, 276 schoolgirls
were kidnapped, most likely
by militant group Boko Haram.
Many escaped, but 223 are
still believed to be missing.
According to the recent reports,
they are being sold into slavery,
but again, there's still so much
we don't know.
"Wherever these girls are, we'll
get them out," Jonathan said.
He then criticized the girls'
parents for not cooperating with
investigations by providing
offcials with a "clear identity"
of the girls who are missing.
Jonathan himself has been
criticized for not speaking out
about the kidnapping until
now, and his government for
not doing enough to fnd them.
He disputed this, saying the
air force and army have been
searching for the girls.
Amid reports that Nigerian
authorities were negotiating
with Boko Haram for the girls'
release, Jonathan said: "You
don't negotiate with somebody
you don't know. The issue of
negotiation has not come up."
Also this weekend, Secretary
of State John Kerry called the
abduction an "unconscionable
crime," and said the United
States was "working to
strengthen Nigeria's institutions
and its military to combat Boko
Haram's campaign of terror and
violence." The United Kingdom
has also offered its assistance.
OSCAR PISTORIUS 'BROKEN' AFTER
SHOOTING REEVA STEENKAMP
S
outh African athlete
Oscar Pistorius "was
broken" after shooting
his girlfriend, his
neighbour has said, as the
murder trial resumed after a
two-week break.
Johan Stander was the frst
person the athlete called after
shooting Reeva Steenkamp on
Valentine's Day last year.
The South African Olympic
sprinter denies intentionally
killing her.
He says he shot through a toilet
door while in a state of panic,
fearing there was an intruder in
his house.
The trial resumed after an
Easter break.
Mr Stander implied that he
thought Mr Pistorius' reactions
showed that the shooting had
been a mistake.
"I saw the truth that morning
and I feel it," he told the court.
"He was desperate to save her
[and] prayed to God."
Recent break-ins
The BBC's Pumza Fihlani who
was at court in the capital,
Pretoria, says the athlete wore
a black suit, black tie and crisp
white shirt, black glasses and
his hair had been cut.
The Paralympic athlete, 27, had
a pen in his hand and listened
intently to his neighbour, she
says.
Mr Stander, who lives about
350m (380 yards) from Mr
Pistorius said he received a call
at 03.18 on 14 February 2013.
He said the athlete told him:
"I shot Reeva. I thought she
was an intruder, please come
quick."
Mr Stander said that when he
and his family arrived at the
house, they saw Mr Pistorius
coming downstairs with Ms
Steenkamp in his arms.
"I could see she had a head-
wound," Mr Stander said.
"He was broken. He was
screaming, he was crying, he
was praying," he said, his voice
breaking with emotion.
"It's not something I would like
to experience again," he said.
"He asked us to assist him to
take her to hospital."
Mr Stander also said there had
been several recent break-ins
in the private estate where he
and Mr Pistorius live.
However, under cross-
examination, he accepted that
it was a safe place to live.
Carice Viljoen, Mr Stander's
daughter who arrived with him
at Mr Pistorius' home, broke
down in court as she described
seeing the accused carry Ms
Steenkamp down the staircase.
The athlete was begging Ms
Steenkamp to stay alive, she
told the court. "Stay with me,
my love," she quoted him as
saying.
Ms Viljoen followed the athlete
inside his home when he went
to get identifcation documents
because she thought he was
going to shoot himself, she
added.
Frontpage
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Page 15
Sports
SPORT BRIEF
CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORES A
CLUTCH, ZLATANESQUE BACKHEEL
EQUALIZER AGAINST VALENCIA
J
ust when you think you've
seen it all from Cristiano
Ronaldo, he breaks out
something new to put
everyone's jaws right
back on the foor. In stoppage
time of Real Madrid's match
against Valencia, down 2-1,
Ronaldo pulled off a backheel a
bit reminiscent of what Zlatan
Ibrahimovic did against Bastia
earlier this season to salvage a
much needed point.
That goal keeps Real Madrid in
contention for the league title as
they now sit fve points back of
Atletico Madrid with a game in
hand and three matches left to play.
It also makes Ronaldo the frst
player in the history of Spanish
football to score 50 or more goals
in four consecutive seasons. That's
just madness.
BRITAIN'S BALTACHA
DIES AGED 30
London (AFP) -
F
ormer British number one
Elena Baltacha has died
of liver cancer at the age
of 30, it was announced
on Sunday.
Born in Ukraine and brought up
in Scotland, Baltacha revealed she
had the illness in March.
Baltacha, who was British number
one for nearly three years, only
retired from professional tennis in
2013.
"We are heartbroken beyond
words at the loss of our beautiful,
talented and determined Bally,"
said her husband Nino Severino in
a statement published by the BBC.
CLIPPERS PLAYERS WERE
DISTRACTED, ANGERED BY
STERLING'S COMMENTS
L
os Angeles Clippers
players were angered
and distracted by
team owner Donald
Sterlings racist comments,
coach Doc Rivers told ESPN.
In our frst meeting after
the tapes came out, we had a
meeting before practice, and
when I walked in that room and
looked at [the players] faces,
it was bothering them, Rivers
said in a Sunday Conversation
interview with Michael Wilbon.
They were angry. They wanted
to do something.
Audio recordings featuring
Sterlings comments that he
didnt want his assistant, V.
Stiviano, bringing black people
to the teams games or posting
photos with them online
appeared online April 25, during
the teams playoff series with the
Golden State Warriors.
BOB ARUM: STAMPEDE AFTER MAYWEATHER-
MAIDANA WAS 'AN ACCIDENT READY TO HAPPEN'
LAS VEGAS
B
oxing promoter
Bob Arum says
the main exit from
the MGM Grand
Garden Arena was "an accident
ready to happen" in the
aftermath of a crowd stampede
that injured approximately
60 fans followingSaturday's
championship bout between
Floyd Mayweather and Marcos

Maidana.
Arum, who has promoted
many high-profle fghts at the
venue, spoke out in the wake
of what witnesses described
as a "terrifying" situation that
left many fearing for their lives
and 24 being sent to hospital
including a six-year-old boy
and several elderly women.
"When you jam thousands of
people into a building and have,
in effect, one real exit which is
relatively narrow space you are
looking for trouble," Arum said
in a telephone interview with
Yahoo Sports.
"While nothing really
happened over the years it was
inevitable to me that something
would happen. Not to be nave
but the egress from that arena
was always an accident ready
to happen."
Boxing fans and members
of the media have long been
frustrated by the packed and
slow-moving conditions in
the section that leads from the
MGM Grand Garden Arena's
upper concourse, past its media
center and out into the Garden
Walk section of the casino.
Arum described the scene
after fghts as "oppressive"
and said the area could quickly
turn hostile. The 82-year-
old claimed he was caught
in a "very dicey situation"
following the controversy
surrounding Manny Pacquiao's
defeat to Timothy Bradley
in June 2012, as supporters
reacted angrily to the judging
L
iverpool squandered
a three-goal lead in
the fnal 11 minutes
at Crystal Palace to
see their Premier League title
hopes suffer a severe blow -
and leave Luis Suarez in tears
at the fnal whistle.
Brendan Rodgers's side looked to
be maintaining the pressure on title
favourites Manchester City, and
reducing a gap in goal difference that
remains at nine.
Joe Allen's frst goal for the Reds
and strikes from Daniel Sturridge
and Suarez put the Reds in complete
command as the visiting fans urged
their side forward in search of more
goals, with City in their sights.
Instead, their fragile defence
collapsed completely at the frst sign
of serious pressure as Palace sent
Selhurst Park wild with goals from
Damien Delaney and a double from
substitute Dwight Gayle.
Liverpool's point put them back
on top of the table, but the sight of
players on their haunches and an
emotional Suarez - his face covered
by his shirt as he was ushered
towards the tunnel by captain Steven
Gerrard and substitute Kolo Toure -
told the tale.
Manchester City are now in pole
position to win the title, with home
games against Aston Villa and West
Ham United to come.
Rodgers will be at a loss to explain
how his team crumbled so badly to
squander the chance to move closer
to their frst title in 24 years.
Palace have proved their quality
against illustrious opposition before
this season, but here they made a
tame start and allowed the visitors to
take the early initiative.
Liverpool had a clear penalty appeal
rejected early on when Yannick
Bolasie missed his kick completely
in the area and only connected with
Glen Johnson.
Liverpool implode
This was only the second time
Liverpool have thrown away a
three-goal lead to be held 3-3 in
the Premier League - the previous
occasion being against Southampton
on 26 August 2000
Referee Mark Clattenburg only
awarded a corner, and Liverpool
were frustrated once more when
Mamadou Sakho headed Gerrard's
REDS DEALT TITLE BLOW
throws away three goals lead
kick off target when completely
unmarked.
Johnson was causing problems
down Palace's left fank, and he
should have put Liverpool ahead
when he found himself clear on the
end of Allen's raking long pass, but
his header beat home keeper Julian
Speroni and the bar.
Liverpool's threat was growing and
it was no surprise when they fnally
went ahead after 18 minutes. Allen
pulled away from marker Joe Ledley
to meet Gerrard's corner with space
and time to head past Speroni.
Palace fnally showed more ambition
as half-time approached, and
Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet
was called into action to save from
Jason Puncheon and Mile Jedinak.
Any hope of a recovery seemed to be
swept away by Liverpool's dazzling
start to the second half that, at that
stage, looked to have put the game
out of Palace's reach and ate into
City's superior goal difference.
Sturridge saw his curling shot
superbly turned on to the post by
Speroni, only for Suarez to blaze
the rebound wildly off target with
the keeper still trying to recover his
position.
Speroni had no such luck moments
later when Sturridge's low shot from
the edge of the area took a crucial
defection and trickled out of his
reach.
Liverpool, sensing there were more
goals to be had, surged forward and
Suarez made it three with his 31st
Premier League goal of the season
when he beat Speroni easily after a
neat exchange with Raheem Sterling.
Palace had shown little but were
revived 11 minutes from time when
Delaney's 25-yard shot was defected
high beyond Mignolet.
Liverpool suddenly seemed gripped
by panic and Palace exposed them
ruthlessly two minutes later as
Bolasie squared for Gayle to score
with a precise fnish.
And then, with two minutes left,
the visitors' misery was complete
as substitute Glenn Murray chested
a long ball into Gayle's path for
another comprehensive fnish.
As Palace players celebrated,
Liverpool's reacted in a manner
which suggested they believe their
title challenge is fnally over.
decision.
On Saturday, fre department
chiefs reported that a loud bang
caused by a temporary wall
falling over led to panic, with
many believing the noise to
be gunfre. The crowd shifted
suddenly in response, causing
a number of fans to be pushed
over and trampled underfoot.
The MGM Grand released a
full statement on Sunday and a
spokesperson said management
was still conducting an
investigation into the matter.
"Following Saturday's boxing
event at the MGM Grand
Garden, guests exiting the
arena were apparently startled
by a loud noise, sending many
rushing to clear the area,"
read the statement. "The
source of the noise remains
undetermined. Investigators
have found no evidence of
gunfre, as reported by some
media outlets.
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
FrontPage
PRICE L$40 VOL 8 NO.588 TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014
REDS DEALT TITLE BLOW
throws away three goals lead