Liberia’s Nightmare Is Over!

…President Sirleaf Tells ECOWAS; Says the Country Is On The Move




The President of Liberia, madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, says Liberia is on the move after decades of economic mismanagement and fourteen years of brutal civil war. The President also declared that the country’s national nightmare is over.

Madam Sirleaf spoke recently when she addressed an ECOWAS conference in Monrovia. She said the country has been at peace since 2003. Two rounds of free and fair elections in 2005 led to the inauguration of a new government in January 2006.

The economy, she observed, is expanding rapidly with growth accelerating to over 9 percent in 2007. Roads and buildings are being rebuilt, health clinics and schools are re-opening and agricultural production is increasing.

The Government is introducing a broad set of policies to foster peace, accelerate reconstruction and development, and build strong systems of governance. There is a long way to go, but Liberia has launched its recovery and is poised for rapid, inclusive and sustainable development in the years to come, the President indicated.

She told the African leaders that on this course, “we have embarked on the four pillars Poverty Reduction Strategy which addresses peace & security, Economic Revitalization, Strengthening Governance and Rule of Law, Rehabilitating Infrastructure and delivering basic Social Services.”

“We are grateful for the all round support from our West African, American, European, and Asian nations; the United Nations and the entire international community. I now have the honor and pleasure to declare the conference open and wish you all fruitful and rewarding deliberations,’ she added. Below is the full text:

Before proceeding, I ask that we stand and observe a moment of silence in memory of the peacekeepers, partners of Liberia, and the thousands of Liberians who perished during the bloody civil war in this country. Thank you.

I wish to welcome all of you who are visiting Liberia for this Conference. I particularly welcome home to Liberia those who labored so tirelessly for peace in this Country. I wish you a most pleasant stay as you deliberate on the achievements and challenges of two decades of peace processes in our nation, and as you chart a course for an even more profound peace in the future.

By an Act of the Legislature, August 24 is set aside each year as national holiday, in commemoration of the national insignia of Liberia, its flag. It was on this day, in 1847, when the Lone Star was hoisted over the first independent African Republic in sub-Saharan Africa. But on August 24, 1990, there was addendum to our history. The Lone Star had difficulty unfurling because a bloody civil war was being waged. The country was partitioned into spheres of control among three warring factions. Fortunately, up the Atlantic Ocean came a ship laden with peacekeepers, from neighboring countries in West Africa, to intervene in ending the era of violence in Liberia.

The Peacekeepers raised a white flag to signify peace, friendship and neutrality. However, their friendly gesture was greeted with hostility, for upon landing on Liberian soil, they were greeted by a firestorm of mortar shelling. Although they sustained casualties, they were brave and courageous, and determined to execute their mission of separating the warring factions, ensuring a ceasefire and, eventually, holding a democratic election.

At the height of the war, there was a popular slogan, which we still passionately believe and acclaim: “Thank God for ECOMOG”. So again, on behalf of the grateful people of Liberia, I salute the men and women of valor - the compatriots of spine and courage who made daring sacrifices for peace to reign in Liberia. I pay special homage to the men and women who paid so dearly for the peace and stability we enjoy today. We thank the succeeding Chairmen of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government represented by you in this room, the Force and Field Commanders of ECOMOG; the gallant soldiers in the field and the diplomats who endured sleepless nights in the pursuit of peace in Liberia, the Executive Secretaries of ECOWAS.

I must single out those leaders of West Africa at the time in 1990 who took the critical decision that helped save our Country: President Dawda Kariba Jawara during whose Chairmanship of the Authority of ECOWAS the decision to constitute and deploy ECOMOG was reached; General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who, as Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provided the largest force and bore the logistical brunt of the intervention; President Jerry John Rawlings, who commissioned one of his best soldiers to serve as head of the ECOMOG Force; President Lansana Conte, and President Joseph Momo who demonstrated good neighborliness and spite of their difficulties deployed their troops to Liberia. Let me also acknowledge Dr. Abbas Bundu, under whose stewardship as Executive Secretary of ECOWAS a decision guaranteeing peace in Liberia was made, and also General Arnold Quainoo who led the first contingent of 4, 000 peace keepers to Liberia to begin an epic military operation that would prove to be enviable, exemplary and worthy. Liberians continue to have fund memories of the heroism and military leadership of Generals Joshua Dongayaro and Adetunji Olurin. To all of these patriots for peace---and to the countless others I say a big thank you.

You have left indelible footprints on the Liberian landscape. Indeed, you have written your names on the tablets of our hearts.

The record is clear that the root causes of civil conflicts in Africa are bad governance, lack of respect for human rights socio-economic and political inequity and grinding poverty. Liberia is no different. The origins of our conflict can be traced to two broad factors. First, significant portions of our society were systematically excluded and marginalized from institutions of political governance and access to key economic assets. The over concentration of power bred corruption, restricted access to the decision-making process, and limited the space for civil society participation in governance processes. Second, economic collapse helped to propel the crisis.

We descended into war. The tragic consequence of violence was not confined to Liberia alone. Like a cancerous virus, it soon spread widely, slowing the process of democratization that was progressing in West Africa.

When the request for assistance to end the crisis was made--first by Liberia, and then by ECOWAS--to our influential partners, they refused to intervene on grounds that it was an African crisis requiring African solution, meaning that Africans should handle the situation. It was Nigeria which led the bold step to encourage intervention to halt the slaughter and genocide being perpetrated in Liberia.

Excellencies: Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

The establishment and deployment of ECOMOG represented the first credible attempt at a regional security initiative since the erstwhile OAU attempted with an international African force to intervene in Chad in 1981. The West African operation was generally successful because ECOWAS member States were united in removing armed violence from politics. They wanted peace, security and stability. They recognized that a state of insecurity was completely counterproductive to socio-economic advancement, the main purpose for the establishment of ECOWAS.

Today as it was in Liberia twenty years ago, we call for robust international support for the efforts of ECOWAS to accelerate the political processes in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Niger. We are confident that this conference will produce the desired result and that at the end of this exercise, West Africa and the people of the region will be even more proud of the success of ECOWAS and that the ECOMOG model will be a trademark for West African progress.

Liberia is on the move. After decades of economic mismanagement and fourteen years of brutal civil war, Liberia’s national nightmare is over. The country has been at peace since 2003. Two rounds of free and fair elections in 2005 led to the inauguration of a new government in January 2006. The economy is expanding rapidly with growth accelerating to over 9 percent in 2007. Roads and buildings are being rebuilt, health clinics and schools are re-opening and agricultural production is increasing. The Government is introducing a broad set of policies to foster peace, accelerate reconstruction and development, and build strong systems of governance. There is a long way to go, but Liberia has launched its recovery and is poised for rapid, inclusive and sustainable development in the years to come. On this course, we have embarked on the four pillars Poverty Reduction Strategy which addresses peace & security, Economic Revitalization, Strengthening Governance and Rule of Law, Rehabilitating Infrastructure and delivering basic Social Services. We are grateful for the all round support from our West African, American, European, and Asian nations; the United Nations and the entire international community. I now have the honor and pleasure to declare the conference open and wish you all fruitful and rewarding deliberations.

Thank you. God Bless you, God bless Liberia and God Bless West Africa.

Pres. Attah Mills Contributes US$10,000 to Clinic Projact in Liberia

Ghanaian Ambassador Ground for the $265, 000 Project

By: J. Baitermeayea Hilton II/
Cell 077219227

The Ghanaian community and Descendants Union in Liberia has broken grounds for the construction of an eighteen bedroom clinic in the Logan Town Community on the Bushrod Island.

The clinic, according to insiders, costs $265, 000 covering the inclusion of laboratory facilities, doctors’ quarter and other medical equipments. Already, the President John Attah Mills has contributed US$190,000 towards the project, the Ghanaian Community and Descendants Union in Liberia, Sam Ashley told the NEW VISION. He along With Ghanaians Ambassador to Liberia, Kenneth Asare Bosompem, has broken grounds for the construction of the clinic.

Mr. Ashley confirmed that the clinic, when constructed, would include a laboratory, doctors’ quarter and other modern medical facilities. The Ghanaian Community President said for the past four years the Ghanaian community have been planning to construct a modern health facility as a way of helping Liberia’s Health Sector, following years of civil unrest in Liberia which has damaged the Health infrastructures and development of the country.

Mr. Ashley pointed out that the clinic project is also intended to assist residents of Logan town and its surrounding communities who were gravely affected during the 14 years of civil conflict. Ashley said due to the lack of Health facility and medical supplies in the community, residents were taken in wheel barrows to the only government hospital near the area, the Redemption to seek medical attention, in the event of serious health attacks.

On their way to the hospital in some instances, Ashley said the sick people died on the way or give up the ghost upon arrival. Mr. Ashley told this paper on Saturday during the ground breaking ceremony program that the clinic will help to reduce the many health problems and the number of sicknesses in the community and amongst the vast majority of people living on the Bushrod Island.
He furthered that the initiative will also cement the long standing brotherly relations between the two countries, indicating that when the clinic is completed it will serve both Liberians and Ghanaian.

Performing the ground breaking ceremony, the Ghanaian Ambassador Kenneth Assure Bosomed praised the Ghanaian community for clinic project. Ambassador Bosompem described the initiative as important to the health and survival of the people on the entire Bushrod Island region. The Ghanaian envoy also promised his financial and moral supports, saying he is committed to seeing the clinic project’s start and final completion before his turner can expire in Liberia. The Ambassador said further said the decision to construct a community clinic is an attestation that the residents have valued their health, adding that Health is wealth.

Ambassador Bosompem lauded President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the level of friendship and cooperation subsisting between Liberia and Ghana, wishing that these friendly ties continue to flourish among peoples of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian Ambassador Bosompem made a contribution of 500 USD towards the project and admonished residents of Logan town and its environs to work towards the completion and success of the clinic project.

Also speaking at the program was the commissioner of the Township of Garworlohn on the Bushrof Island in Monrovia, Madam Willametta Gooding Carlos, who commended the Ghanaian community in Liberia for the bold step taken to build a community clinic in the area. The Commission reasoned that the clinic would help to alleviate the many health problems that the people of Liberia are faced with in the country. She said the project is a good move by the visionary people of Ghana resident in Liberia, who have the dream of the construction such the clinic.

Commissioner Carlos also urged the residents of the areas to take great interest in supporting the project with all their little resources for the construction of the US$265,000 clinic.

PYJ Starts to Campaign for Presidency

…As NEC Clears NDUP to Canvass for Members

Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has authorized the proposed National Democratic Union of Progress Party (NDUP) of Senator Prince Johnson to canvass for membership in Liberia.

The former leader of the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) threw his bid into the ring of the 2011 presidential contest of Liberia after President Ellen Johnson announced a second term during the State of the Nation address to the National Legislature on the second working Monday of January.

In a letter, NEC mandated the proposed National Democratic Union of Progress to seek 500 members each in six of the country’s 15 counties. The authorization is part of a requirement to ensure the registration of Senator Johnson’s party as a full fledged political institution in Liberia.

At a mass rally Saturday, Senator Johnson told his followers, the authorization marked the beginning of a victory battle for his party will win. He urged his followers not to be deterred by the misrepresentations of his character, declaring he is the Jacob Zuma of Liberia.

The Nimba Senator said his decision to contest the 2011 Presidency is to rescue Liberians from the ‘bondage of political and economic prison’.

Meanwhile, an executive member of Senator Prince Johnson’s proposed National Democratic Union of Progress Party has reported an attack on his home.

Former Nimba County lawmaker Benedict Bartuah said 15 men armed with AK-47 riffles broke into his house early Monday morning and raped his daughter. Mr. Bartuah said the men told his nineteen year old daughter to take responsibility for whatever they had planned to do to her father.

Mr. Batuah said he had gone to a relative’s house on the Old Road after an interaction with Senator Prince Johnson on Sunday when the men attacked. He believes the armed men had gone to his house for what he called political assassination.

Mr. Bartuah who claims to also be the Chairman of the Nimba Branch of the proposed NDUP said all attempts to contact the police or UN security failed. Although he claims to have nearly thirty-two years of military experience, Mr. Bartuah said he was still nervous and called on the government for protection.

Despite Massive International Support: Problem Sighted for 2011

Fromoyan Sees Threshold Passage A Prerequisite to Elections

The Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. James Fromayan says the prerequisite to the conduct of the 2011 elections is the passage of the Threshold Bill which is still languishing at the National Legislature; reports Bill K. Jarkloh.

The NEC boss indicated that his commission is mindful of the challenges facing the commission. “Some of these challenges include constituency delimitation; a comprehensive voter registration and the conduct of the 2011 presidential and Legislative Elections,” he told the audience that has gathered at the turning over ceremony of a new headquarters of the NEC in Sinkor, Monrovia.

“It is a pity that close to two years now we are still at square one with respect to the Threshold bill, I honestly do not see how the NEC can be expected to conduct a national referendum to address key constitutional issues under severe time constraint.” Mr. Fromayan, indicated further.

He said election requires massive planning and time is an essential factor noting that the commission cannot perform miracle. The construction of the NEC headquarters is a result of a US$2 million grant provided to the commission by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The modern building will provide offices for NEC staff, foreign observers and the media. It is the first time since 1847 that the NEC has its own headquarters in which to operate. USAID-IFES Announce New Support to NEC

In essence, Mr. Fromoyan has been contending on a referendum before 2011 polling possibility. At the end of last year, the NEC Chairman released a statement in said earlier plans by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct a national referendum, before running into the 2011 general and presidential elections, has been thwarted.

NEC had intended to hold the referendum to make some "important changes" in the Liberian Constitution, indented to make the electioneering process less burdensome, which would eventually cut down an astronomical overhanging cost.

The National Political officer of NEC, Joseph A. Yarsiah at the time told the Truth FM, a popular radio station in Monrovia, Tuesday morning that the Commission can no longer hold the planned referendum due to the "unwarranted delay" in the passage of the threshold bill by the National Legislature.

The threshold and other electoral bills have been before the National Legislature for nearly two years, but they have failed to pass it, despite incessant local and diplomatic calls. NEC has repeatedly warned that failure of the Legislature to pass the threshold bill on time will seriously hamper the conduct of pending elections-considered all-Liberian-affair elections.

Article 80 (d) of the Liberian Constitution mandates the National Legislature to set a new threshold (number of persons that constitutes an electoral constituency) immediately after the conduct of a national census provided that the total number of constituencies in the republic does not exceed 100.

"We thought by now constituencies would have been set in place, voter's registration on course, and probably a national referendum..., but all of these are held by the unwarranted delay of the thresholds bill by the National Legislature," Mr. Yarsiah sounded frustrated yesterday.

He said a study by NEC found out that the 2005 voter's registration was to some extent non-inclusive, and NEC had designed programs to address this problem and many others before the 2011 polls, but these efforts are being frustrated.

The referendum, Yarsiah added, it requires at least one year (about 18 months) conducting a referendum, and with a year left to go, it has become impossible to hold a referendum even if the bill was passed now. This is indicative that elections could be delayed beyond 2011 if corrective measures are not taken in the direction of the Threshold legislation.

The bill was passed on two occasions but was vetoed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The referendum is intended to change the constitutional provision of "absolute majority" to win an elective post.

Absolute majority means that a candidate must attain 50% +1 vote in any election to be declared winner, otherwise a runoff-as witnessed in the recent Montserrado County Senatorial by-election-is scheduled in two weeks.

Senate Pro Tempore Cletus S. Wotorson recently lashed at NEC and others who say the 2011 elections are tied to the threshold bill, describing the claim as "untrue". He said 'no one will pull the Legislature by its nose or force the august body to act or not to act on the controversial bill'.

Electoral officials and experts have opined that credible elections can not be held without a defined threshold, for doing so would render electoral result unconstitutional. At Present, Liberia’s current population of the country at 3.4 million, the threshold of stands 20,000 in spite of the population growth from 2.5 million to 3.4 million.

On the other hand, there is no provision and reason for special elections as was done in the past as was occasioned by the transition from war to peace, especially when the full force of the Constitution is being employed as of January 16, 2006 when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took office.

The National Legislature few months ago passed threshold bill, setting the threshold at 40,000, but with a condition that no county gets less that two seats. President Sirleaf vetoed the bill on grounds that it had "condition" attached, and recommended the Legislature to increase the threshold to at least 45,000. The House has since acted on the vetoed bill, removing the "condition", but keeping it at 40,000 with two representatives each county across the board, which was again vetoed by the Present.

The Threshold Bill is presently stranded before the National Legislature after the second veto, a situation which has influence the statement of the NEC chairman during the turning over of the new NEC Headquarters.

Prior to the turning over of the, Frank Vassallo, Director of the Liberian office of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), said there although there are steps to be taken regarding voters' registration, the transportation and delivery of ballot boxes, training, office space, equipment and other logistics amongst others but noted that the delay has not stopped the National Elections Commission from doing its planning; it has been plodding on and has done some excellent work.

Mr. Vassallo told a local outlet that already, there is a voter's registration expert in the country who has begun the groundwork for that part of the process. Liberians cannot ask anything more of this Commission.”

The head of IFES was addressing himself to questions raised about the smallness of offices built by his organization in southeastern Liberia, especially, those in Grand Kru, Zwedru, and River Gee, as compared to those they built in Lofa and Bopolo.

Most lacked a conference room, training space, storage (for ballot boxes, etc.) and bathroom facilities, among other things. Just back from a tour of the southeast, NEC Chairman James Fromoyan agreed that an earlier group of IFES operators might not have used the funds (provided by USAID) wisely in their bid to get that set of offices in place for an earlier election.

He hoped that something else could be done to correct the situation concerning the offices mentioned above as well as a few others with some special needs.
IFES, through Country Director Vassallo and his deputy Jared Hayes, pointed out that their mandate involves mainly logistics and technical support and are prevented from engaging in rebuilding or expanding structures. However, they promised to do all they could in mobilizing some extra funds from either UNDP or USAID to help expand or rebuild the offices mention, in time for the upcoming 2011 elections.

Recently, United States Aid for International Development (USAID and the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) have announced new support for Liberia's National Elections Commission.

USAID-Liberia has awarded a five-year US$17.5 million grant to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the conduct of the 2011 Liberian residential and general elections and beyond to 2014. The grant will support programs whose overall goal will be to build sustained election management capacity and operations in Liberia.

The programs will consist of multiple types of support to Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct complex election-related exercises such as setting constituency boundaries according to the 2008 population census, conducting referenda on constitutional and electoral laws, voter registration, and civic education over the next couple years leading up to 2011.

The new programs also include comprehensive capacity-building for all NEC officials in every department, including the 19 electoral magistrate offices throughout Liberia. This award affirms US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's announcement of support for the NEC during her recent visit to Liberia.

Stakeholders Want LFA Audited But

…As Incumbent LFA Veep Speaks of Accountability Problems

Incumbent Vice President for Administration, Pennoh Bestman, at the weekend said the Liberia Football Association lacks accounting principles. The statement came against the backdrop that stakeholders are yearning audit.

Addressing representatives of women football in the country, Pennoh said he had carved an accounting manual for use by the LFA, which was adapted by the executive committee, but added that Madam Wesley through the secretariat kept it in dustbin to date.

The regime of Madam Izeta Wesley, President of the Liberia Football Association and former cheering squad member, cum women youth chair of Invincible Eleven (IE), has been unable to to unite its staff and instill proper accounting.

The national league is poorly organized as winners at the end of the season are given post-dated cheques, while it is said that clubs operate in deficit, for what they earn at the end of the season cannot commensurate expenses just two matches, least to mention of the overall season’s expenses thereby dispiriting clubs and players alike and lowly motivating.

The clubs are unable to compete in international or CAF competitions after winning slots to represent the country. The national team is a celebrated minnow on the continent; in fact, the various national teams have since gone in slumber.

A well constructive program is lacking to take the game to the next level. The relationship between the LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) is normally acrimonious, thus affecting the growth and development of the game. Again, FA vice Pennoh Bestman who has quite close to Izetta, recently lauded the LFA needs one will break the lasting jinx between the MYS and LFA. He said Izetta has failed to breach that gap. “You stakeholders need to elect someone who will mend fences between the two entities if football is to go forward; I believe Musa Bility has got a platform good enough to not only scout sponsorship for the game unite all stakeholders”, Pennoh said.

As elections of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) draws near, the president of the Liberia Association, Cllr. Izetta Wesley, is reported to have snubbed audit which her critics say stakeholders have been yarning for.

The camp of serious rival in the ensuing LFA contest for leadership positions says the attitude on the part of the incumbent leadership of the association has the propensity to deny stakeholders of their right to financial report.

It can be recalled that stakeholders, through the congress last September, mandated the LFA to conduct a comprehensive audit of the financial records of the football house before the pending March elections. However, it is incomprehensible that Madam Wesley and her acting secretarial undermined the decision of congress by what was considered as the LFA administration’s refusal to cooperate with auditors.

Since her ascendancy to the LFA, it is said that the LFA has never presented stakeholders any finial report. There are indications that some stakeholders are planning to make the incumbent the leadership of Madam Wesley to account for every penny she handled at the LFA.

During her more than six years of leadership as president, Madam Wesley reportedly has gone bankrupt as the LFA’s coffers at the Ecobank are virtually empty in the face of an annual US$250,000.0 and US$ 100,000.00 from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) respectively.

As president, Madam Wesley is said to have been receiving such huge amounts, deciding how it is expended and approving its usage, without accountability - audit.

There is indeed hardship, which seem unending as long as the "iron lady" turned rubber lady remains at the apogee of such high profile football position. The future is therefore oblique, uninspiring and discouraging as there is no glamour of hope. Things have since gone haywire, hope have turned into despair, joys have turned into sorrow, success have turned into failure, the positives have become negatives, promotion have turned into retrogression and boom have turned into hardship.

With just few of the many problems catalogued, the critics of the Wesley administration say there is a need not to reelect the Izetta Wesley Administration on account of lack of accountability which has been impeding the country's football development.

The LFA head is said to be suffocating the growth of the game and is a serious embarrassment to the game's improvement and transformation that must be obliterated come at the post of the March 20, this year.

But attempts to get to Madam Wesley did not materialize; investigation continues

What Did Supt Bacon Tell House?

…Detained But Freed on Constitutional Ground

By: Bill K. Jarkloh
Email: billkjarkloh@gmail.com / jloplehdee@gmail.com
bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: + (231)-(0)77-544-286 / + (231)-(0)6-468-244
Weblogs: www.panwhanpen.com (panwhanpen.blogspot.com)
www.theperiscope.com /billkjarkloh.wordpress.com

Although detained with immediate effect in a common jail by the House of Representatives for an alleged chopping of development funds, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon denied squandering development funds when she faced the Lower House of Legislature, putting the total covering projects she executed including the administrative bank charges at for the period of seven months US$105,099.

Madam Bacon, who was ordered incarcerated along with Bomi County Superintendent Mohammed Massaley Tuesday insisted that she applied the funds on development projects added that what she referred to as administrative bank charges to US$11,020.

“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here; Out of that meeting, we also realize that we could not leave outstanding projects that were incomplete from previous period – outstanding and left undone, and so we were requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that all projects be completed.

She indicated accordingly, “and so we consulted with the Honorable Legislators from Montserrado County and elected to complete those projects from the County Development Funds,” the Montserrado County Superintendent told the House shortly after they were incarcerated.

But dissatisfied with her exposé highlighting her accounting for development funds, the House of Representatives ordered that the county officials remain in detention for forty-eight hours. The House of Representatives also ordered the Development Superintendents Momolu Bass of Montserrado and Rebecca Benson of Bomi detained along with their bosses.

Also ordered detained by the House of Representative is the Coordinator of the County Development Funds at the Internal Affairs Ministry, Mr. Michael George. The House ordered the detention of the officials after it found them guilty of grossly violating Section 8 of the Budget Law of Liberia, against the unilateral expenditure of the County Development Funds, and act the House held the five executive local government officials on.

The House voted sixteen for, seven against and two abstentions to have the officials detained at the Monrovia Central Prison after hours of interrogation. The hearing was triggered by two separate letters of complaint by Montserrado Representative Thomas Fallah and Bomi Representative Tarnue Cooper.

During the hearing, Superintendent Bacon insisted she had the authority to expend the development funds without the approval of the Legislative Caucus. Appearing before the House, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon insisted that the budget laws provided that she chair meeting as co-chairman in the absence of the Chairman to decide the development agenda of the county.

“According to the Budget Law, we are to convene a county Development/County Development Steering Council Meeting comprising of the traditional districts and communities of the County,” she pleaded her case, saying that the Montserrado Legislative Caucus should “…tell us the number of persons and then we plan the meeting together and convene it.”

However, Madam Bacon indicated, “From July August when the Budget was passed, we could not have the meeting into the busy schedule of the Legislator for Montserrado County; and as Superintendent and Co-Chairman according to the budget law, I saw it fit to chair in the absence of the Chairman or council.”

“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here,” she continued before the House of Representatives, she added

Accountability

Acting in the interest of the citizens of Montserrado County, she said her administration was able to construct a 10-compartment modern pit latrine in District No. 3 for US$7,000, a structure which she pronounced completed and was used by the community based on their demand before it was eventually demolished by the Special Presidential Taskforce.

Madam Bacon also said her administration has commenced and is continuing the development in the Borough of New Kru Town where the Town Hall Project costing US$20,000 is ongoing.

“We completed the Diggsville Town Hall Administration Building US$3,409 in District No.13; and in District 14- Todee District the Administration Building also was renovated and completed – we spent US$47670; in District N0. 5 in Rehab Community where we constructed four hand-pumps providing safe-drinking water for the people of that community in the tone of US$8,000 (project is 90 percent completed) except for the 5th remaining hand pump pending because of the lack of ideal space for its construction,” Superintendent further accounted.

She said a decision was reached through discussion and resolution to construct a clinic on the other side of the St. Paul River where we have no major public clinic covering from all the way Cheesemanburg to Virginia – so in the Town of Boduah there is a Public Clinic under Construction for US$37,000; In District No.4, the Catholic Hospital Community, we have a Hand Pump also constructed providing the safe-drinking water for the resident in that community for US$1,000.

“We also realized that having constructed administration buildings for townships and cities, it is important and useful to provide the requisite logistics for the offices for the building to be made functional; and as such we provided furniture and material for the City of Brewerville in District No. 13, the Township of Barnersville in District No. 8, Diggsville 13, Congo Town District Nos. 4 and 5, and New Georgia District No. 9.,” she maintained

The Montserrado County Superintendent stated further that she constructed a walkway connecting the side of the Administration Building in Bentol City US$2, 000; renovated two apartments to house and sheltered teachers that are to take assignment at renovated Frank Tolbert High School the costing US$5,500.

But members of the Montserrado Caucus who were in session contended that Superintendent Bacon delivered a document to the Plenary that is contrary to previous one she furnished the Caucus.

Beside, the Caucus also said Superintendent has tried to shift its argument which pointed to contradiction of the Budget Law Section 8 relating to the use of the County Development Funds.

Bomi Superintendent Massaley and his Assistant were held liable for expending the development funds without the involvement of the Legislative Caucus. The House has meanwhile asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the County development funds of Montserrado and Bomi Counties.

Bomi County Senator Lahai Lansanah says the House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally to order the detention of his Superintendent and deputy.

Senator Lansanah told reporters the House has no authority to detain the officials following a hearing on the alleged violation of the budget law. According to him, the House can only detain people if the function of the Legislature is impeded.

Senator Lansanah said the decision of the House is out of bounds and a making of Speaker Alex Tyler. But Speaker Tyler told reporters the House acted within the law. Also, another Bomi lawmaker, Tarnue Cooper, whose letter led to the detention of the Bomi raised similar contention supporting Speaker Tyler, while the affected Superintendents said the House acted harshly.

However, Representatives Thomas Fallah of Montserrado and Zoe Pennoh of Grand Gedeh said the decision of the House was Constitutional.
Representatives Fallah and Pennoh argued any official who violates the law must be punished.

What Did Supt Bacon Tell House?

…Detained But Freed on Constitutional Ground

By: Bill K. Jarkloh
Email: billkjarkloh@gmail.com / jloplehdee@gmail.com
bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: + (231)-(0)77-544-286 / + (231)-(0)6-468-244
Weblogs: www.panwhanpen.com (panwhanpen.blogspot.com)
www.theperiscope.com /billkjarkloh.wordpress.com

Although detained with immediate effect in a common jail by the House of Representatives for an alleged chopping of development funds, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon denied squandering development funds when she faced the Lower House of Legislature, putting the total covering projects she executed including the administrative bank charges at for the period of seven months US$105,099.

Madam Bacon, who was ordered incarcerated along with Bomi County Superintendent Mohammed Massaley Tuesday insisted that she applied the funds on development projects added that what she referred to as administrative bank charges to US$11,020.

“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here; Out of that meeting, we also realize that we could not leave outstanding projects that were incomplete from previous period – outstanding and left undone, and so we were requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that all projects be completed.

She indicated accordingly, “and so we consulted with the Honorable Legislators from Montserrado County and elected to complete those projects from the County Development Funds,” the Montserrado County Superintendent told the House shortly after they were incarcerated.

But dissatisfied with her exposé highlighting her accounting for development funds, the House of Representatives ordered that the county officials remain in detention for forty-eight hours. The House of Representatives also ordered the Development Superintendents Momolu Bass of Montserrado and Rebecca Benson of Bomi detained along with their bosses.

Also ordered detained by the House of Representative is the Coordinator of the County Development Funds at the Internal Affairs Ministry, Mr. Michael George. The House ordered the detention of the officials after it found them guilty of grossly violating Section 8 of the Budget Law of Liberia, against the unilateral expenditure of the County Development Funds, and act the House held the five executive local government officials on.

The House voted sixteen for, seven against and two abstentions to have the officials detained at the Monrovia Central Prison after hours of interrogation. The hearing was triggered by two separate letters of complaint by Montserrado Representative Thomas Fallah and Bomi Representative Tarnue Cooper.

During the hearing, Superintendent Bacon insisted she had the authority to expend the development funds without the approval of the Legislative Caucus. Appearing before the House, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon insisted that the budget laws provided that she chair meeting as co-chairman in the absence of the Chairman to decide the development agenda of the county.

“According to the Budget Law, we are to convene a county Development/County Development Steering Council Meeting comprising of the traditional districts and communities of the County,” she pleaded her case, saying that the Montserrado Legislative Caucus should “…tell us the number of persons and then we plan the meeting together and convene it.”

However, Madam Bacon indicated, “From July August when the Budget was passed, we could not have the meeting into the busy schedule of the Legislator for Montserrado County; and as Superintendent and Co-Chairman according to the budget law, I saw it fit to chair in the absence of the Chairman or council.”

“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here,” she continued before the House of Representatives, she added

Accountability

Acting in the interest of the citizens of Montserrado County, she said her administration was able to construct a 10-compartment modern pit latrine in District No. 3 for US$7,000, a structure which she pronounced completed and was used by the community based on their demand before it was eventually demolished by the Special Presidential Taskforce.

Madam Bacon also said her administration has commenced and is continuing the development in the Borough of New Kru Town where the Town Hall Project costing US$20,000 is ongoing.

“We completed the Diggsville Town Hall Administration Building US$3,409 in District No.13; and in District 14- Todee District the Administration Building also was renovated and completed – we spent US$47670; in District N0. 5 in Rehab Community where we constructed four hand-pumps providing safe-drinking water for the people of that community in the tone of US$8,000 (project is 90 percent completed) except for the 5th remaining hand pump pending because of the lack of ideal space for its construction,” Superintendent further accounted.

She said a decision was reached through discussion and resolution to construct a clinic on the other side of the St. Paul River where we have no major public clinic covering from all the way Cheesemanburg to Virginia – so in the Town of Boduah there is a Public Clinic under Construction for US$37,000; In District No.4, the Catholic Hospital Community, we have a Hand Pump also constructed providing the safe-drinking water for the resident in that community for US$1,000.

“We also realized that having constructed administration buildings for townships and cities, it is important and useful to provide the requisite logistics for the offices for the building to be made functional; and as such we provided furniture and material for the City of Brewerville in District No. 13, the Township of Barnersville in District No. 8, Diggsville 13, Congo Town District Nos. 4 and 5, and New Georgia District No. 9.,” she maintained

The Montserrado County Superintendent stated further that she constructed a walkway connecting the side of the Administration Building in Bentol City US$2, 000; renovated two apartments to house and sheltered teachers that are to take assignment at renovated Frank Tolbert High School the costing US$5,500.

But members of the Montserrado Caucus who were in session contended that Superintendent Bacon delivered a document to the Plenary that is contrary to previous one she furnished the Caucus.

Beside, the Caucus also said Superintendent has tried to shift its argument which pointed to contradiction of the Budget Law Section 8 relating to the use of the County Development Funds.

Bomi Superintendent Massaley and his Assistant were held liable for expending the development funds without the involvement of the Legislative Caucus. The House has meanwhile asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the County development funds of Montserrado and Bomi Counties.

Bomi County Senator Lahai Lansanah says the House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally to order the detention of his Superintendent and deputy.

Senator Lansanah told reporters the House has no authority to detain the officials following a hearing on the alleged violation of the budget law. According to him, the House can only detain people if the function of the Legislature is impeded.

Senator Lansanah said the decision of the House is out of bounds and a making of Speaker Alex Tyler. But Speaker Tyler told reporters the House acted within the law. Also, another Bomi lawmaker, Tarnue Cooper, whose letter led to the detention of the Bomi raised similar contention supporting Speaker Tyler, while the affected Superintendents said the House acted harshly.

However, Representatives Thomas Fallah of Montserrado and Zoe Pennoh of Grand Gedeh said the decision of the House was Constitutional.
Representatives Fallah and Pennoh argued any official who violates the law must be punished.

China Union 2nd Amendment Gets First Reading

In more legislative business during this week, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has recommended to the National Legislatures what is considered a second amendment of the China Union Concession Agreement, for ratification, imploring the House to act on it.

In the amendment which has had its first reading g recently, the President wrote the National Legislature through the House of Representatives that Second Amendment of the Mineral Development Agreement, the MDA is between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and China Union Hong Kong Mining Company Limited and China Union Investment Liberia Bong Mines Company Limited dated January 19, 2009.

The President further said it is the government’s concern to introduce the China-Africa Development Fund (CAD) directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries of the shareholders of 85 percent of the outstanding shares of the concessionaires under the Mineral Development Agreement, the MDA, between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and China Union Investment Liberia.

The parties agree that the Mineral Development Agreement, President Sirleaf said in the communication, remain in full force and effect provided that the performance of the of the obligations of all parties under the agreement are hereby deemed to be suspended from the execution of the MDA and the first amendment respectively until the effective date of this second amendment except for the payment of the first installment of the off front payment.

According to the communication, this Second Amendment made to concession agreement has not substantially or materially change the agreement as to the risks allocated by the body.

“All legal issues made in the original agreement are being preserved. I wish to inform the Honorable Legislature that when this second amendment is ratified, concessionaire will rehabilitate infrastructure and operational facilities at Bong Mines including the Port, the Railroad, the Kataka – Bong Mines highway and will also create jobs and other economic and social benefits for our people, especially in the mid western region of our country,” she said.

She therefore urged your assistance in having this second amendment to the agreement ratified to accelerate the operation of the concessionaire through our nation’s recovery process.