Liberia's own Spiderman
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
TREASURER OF KONOLA ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MISAPPLIES $50,000, MEMBERS CRY
What will be known, as classic textbook case of how not to run an alumni association has been uncovered in the Konola Alumni Association. It has been learned that its treasurer who was voted into the position in 1990 and held the position until the last convention in September of 2006 defrauded the Konola Alumni Association of about $50,000 over a 17-year period.
According to sources in the hierarchy of the organization who explained the genesis of the story, the Treasurer was elected and has held the position of Treasurer for successive four-year terms due to his trustworthiness and his immaculate record keeping.
He was elected in 1990.
One may wonder as to how such a fraud could have been perpetrated amongst a group of people as learned as the composition of Alumni of Konola? The group has doctors, lawyers, teachers and a wide range of other professionals.
The source in a telephone interview stated that the Treasurer kept complete records, but what the body never asked for were bank statements.
How did the body finally get to know? Besides small projects of chairs, yard maintenance equipment to send to their school, the association had never undertaken a large project as the $12,000 truck they bought, serviced and paid freight for in 2005.
The truck caused $7500.00, servicing was $250.00 and shipment and licensing was about $4500.00. As far as the body was concerned at the time, the treasury had up to $30000.00 plus, so when the treasurer was asked to provide the money for the quick shipment, and he took three months to come up with the amount, it was then that the rumor mill started.
People were quite skeptical about out rightly accusing the treasurer, The President of the Organization flew in to Minnesota to meet the State’s representative and together they asked for a meeting with the Treasurer, unfortunately that meeting never was held.
Several other incidents pointed to the fraud, but it was all about whom to bell the cat. Meanwhile, the treasurer went about his normal duties day by day.
The final straw came during the convention when the report was about to be made and the Treasurer called the Board of Directors and other members of the finance committee in. He proceeded to ask their forgiveness and tell them that the money, about $18,000 had been lent out to a Pastor whom he did not want to name.
In the main time, his wife was asked to keep quiet several times as she just went on explaining much to the annoyance of the members. When quizzed further, the Treasurer broke down and confessed to misappropriating the funds.
The Board then decided to cover up the fraud. While the body waited for the report, the caucus members came out and told the body that the Treasurer’s report was not forthcoming and that it would be made and mailed out to all the members.
Some members were mad, but the trust for the Treasurer won out and the convention proceeded without incident.
To make sure that the amount given by the Treasurer was accurate, the Board went to the bank to request five years of statements.
When the statement was received and reviewed, some members broke down and cried.
The CD was broken and emptied of the $11,000.00. Monies from conventions, year in and year out were systematically deposited cleared and then withdrawn, sometimes up to $1500.00 a day for days. The organization paid so many fees for being below the limit that it amounted to hundreds of dollars.
When a forensic audit of the statements was made for the five years, it showed that the Treasurer used up to approximately $50000.00 from the Association.
The organization is currently in the process of waiting for the Treasurer to refund the money, which he says, will be done in two months as of September.
Other members are afraid that if nothing’s done about this gross abuse of public trust, the viable organization would surely crumble. Others yet are concerned as to how this could have been perpetrated for so long without anybody stopping to check.
The organization after the audit had only $379.00 balance in its account. The organization is planning legal action if the Treasurer does not pay the amount. This one insider says is to shore up the organization and keep the morale up.
PRESS UNION OF LIBERIA PAYS TRIBUTE TO STANTON PEABODY ON ITS 42ND ANNIVERSARY
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) will observe its 42nd anniversary with an early morning parade of newsmen through the streets of Monrovia, ending up at the campus of the University of Liberia where the United States Ambassador Donald Booth and the former President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, Mr. Mohammed Kamara, are expected to address the anniversary edition of the Edward Blyden Forum on the theme: 'MEDIA, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.'
Since its founding, the PUL has grown into a vibrant pro-democracy group in the Liberian society championing not only media matters and free speech, or improving journalists' role in the society, but also affecting issues on democratic governance human rights, rule of law, gender development and transparency in government.
In a Statement, the PUL says, "On the 42nd anniversary the Press Union will pay special tribute to the bravery of veteran journalist Stanton Peabody, whose jailing by the Legislature on September 29, 1964, gave birth to the PUL."
Where is Stanton Peabody now?
Mr. Peabody continues to practice journalism in Monrovia as Editorial Consultant of the Daily Observer - a paper he edited in the eighties before the civil conflict. He is also a Journalism Instructor at the AME University on Camp Johnson Road, Monrovia, Liberia.
HEATED EXCHANGES AT FINAL DEBATES
Every two years members of the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA) come together to decide who leads the Organization for the next two years. With this year being an elections year for the Union, after listening to the various candidates in Minnesota few weeks ago, delegate and well-wishers on September 22, 2006 jam packed the International House located in the part of Philadelphia popularly known as the University City to listen to the various candidates for the last time before elections.
CROSS SECTION OF DELEGATES
Though the debate was well attended as compared to the Minnesota debate, it failed to start on time. During an exchange before the start of the program, Hon. Gbai M. Gbala, a prominent Liberian, Mr. Arthur Watson, out going president of the union, and Mr. Kesselly, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Union all expressed their disappointment with the issue of Liberian disrespect for time. "Liberians can never change regardless of where they are, we can never start anything on time," said Gbala.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Elections Commissions, Mr Benoni T. Grimes praised the turn out of delegates. He expressed his hope that the election will produce a President who will take the organization to the next level. He said at the end of the day, he trust that Liberians will turn out to vote the candidate of their choice who is capable of leading the Union .
WATSON, SETON AND KESSELLEY
Though the various candidates were present, the debate itself was mainly a re-echo of statements made in Minnesota . For the position of Secretary General, the two candidates re-affirmed their positions. For his part, Mr. Isaac Zawolo of the Wettee-Selli team, after lengthily outlining his educational achievements, emphasized his hope to work hard to improve the Union . Adding, over the time we've worked hard to improve the organization, we even improved the Union 's chapter by an addition of a new chapter. On the other hand, Mr.Adolphus Jacobs of the Toe-Norris Team promised to transform the Union . He said the Union needs to redefine its roles. He described the Union as a drowning organization that need changes. Adding, how can you be Drowning and want to save another person who is drowning?"
As the two Vice Presidential Candidates took on each other, the level of civility that is usually exhibited by female politicians was at its peak. Though the two candidates did not meet during the last debates in Minnesota due to the absence of Mrs. Georgia Selli from the Wettee-Selli camp, their level of maturity and respect for each other was well exhibited. In her usual soft spoken voice, Mrs Danlette Norris of the Toe-Norris camp, said, "I come not with all the knowledge but to partner with you." On the question of how independent are the two candidates outside of their respective heads, Mrs. Norris said, "I do not subscribe to things I do not believed." For her part, Mrs. Selli said she has always worked independently and hope to continue doing so. "I will never be a rubber stamp, she said.
OLD HANDS FLOMO AND BROWN
The Presidential debates, though not much was different form the promises/statements made in Minnesota , saw some heated exchanges. Interestingly, the debate was mainly fired up due to what many described as the "home angle" because of important questions asked by a Panelist, Mr. Wesseh, the Managing Editor of the Inquirer News Paper in . Wesseh, who just traveled from Liberia to attend some Training in Virginia said while the Liberian population in Liberia views the Union as a serious force in the social, political and economic development of Liberia, the Union has been silent on many issues for months. He raised a question about the Candidates position on the issues of Liberian Citizens only being people of Negro Decent, to which both candidate took refuge in the constitutions.
Another Panelist, Mr. Abraham Massally continuously raised questions that were direct as he seemed to be well informed about the issues and concerns in the various chapters of the Union . However, when Massally could not properly frame a question intended for Mr. Toe, his supporters led by Rev. Samuel Reeves disrupted the debate and brought it to a standstill for about 13 minutes of protest. Some called on him to be replaced, however, that did not happen as Masselly later asked his question in a more defined faction.
Meanwhile, the official programs marking the 32nd Convention is expected to start today, September 23, 2006 at the same venue that give birth to the organization in 1974 ( The International House). The convention is expected to be presided over by the Union's out going president, Mr. Arthur Watson at 9 A.M. Delegates are also expected to walk next door to cast their votes while the convention is in process. Later in the evening, the Union will host delegates and well-wishers to a formal dinner/ball at which time the Elections Commissions is expected to announce the results of the Elections.
DELEGATES BEGIN TO DESCEND ON PHILLY
The 32nd National General Assembly of the Union Of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), opens with the arrival of delegates who are expected to arrive in the historic city of Philadelphia from the 20 Chapters of the organization in the Diaspora.
The Assembly that is expected to give the Presidential candidates the opportunity to debate for the second time before the elections, will officially open with an address from the organization's out going president, Mr. Arthur Watson. The program is expected to be held at the famous International House of Philadelphia located at 3701 Chestnut Street in the area widely referred to as the University City.
The delegates who are arriving by land and air are expected to jam the program hall to hear what Wettee and Toe will be telling them for the last time before the elections. When Bush Chicken spoke to some delegates who arrived in the city of brotherly love, they expressed their prepareness to vote for the right candidate who will take the organization to the next level in the Diaspora.
One female attending the debate from the host City of Philadelphia told Bush Chicken, "This is no Joke, it is time for all those who been playing around to get serious, we are about to make decisions that will affect the future of Liberians." She further said that ULAA has been an organization for the few who always used it to get Jobs in Liberian Governments, but that is about to change.
Meanwhile, the ULAA elections commission today released the delegates' voters' roll. Minnesota's delegates are:
1. MARTHA T. SINOE
2. WRITHERS NYENIE-WEA
3. ABDULLAH KIATAMBA
4. GEORGETTE GRAY
5. KAMATY DIAHN
6. EDWARD CARTER
7. MOSES G. VAH
8. CAROLINE GALIMAH
9. ROBERTS S. MORRIS
10. NATHANIEL SLEH
11. YASER TALO
12. MOMOLU SIRLEAF
13. MARY JOHNSON
14. KULAH PARKER
15. DAVID BARMON
ALTERNATES
1. DANIEL SAYDEE
2. AMOS GRAY
3. NATHANIEL NYANWLEH
4. STEVE NIMELY
5. TARLOH QUINWONKPA
6. J. SAMUEL REEVES
7. JESSE FAHNGON
8. KIRKPATRICK WEAH
9. Mailou Hayes
10.Ziahn Jerome Pour
11.Victoria Pour
12.Edwina Taye
KULAH PARKER SPEAK ON ISSUES
The elections for the presidency of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas are now only three days away and the landscape is getting more defined. In the past few days, Rev. Reeves, Rev. Wilson and other prominent Liberians have made their intentions known as to whom they support for the highest job within the Diaspora.
The endorsements are a way for the opinion leaders in the community to show whom they support and in the process help the candidates garner more votes.
It is expected that before September 23rd arrives, the political landscape will be so defined that it will be clear who stands behind whom.
It is within this vein that the BC got a call from a community member and leader, Mr. Kula A Parker. Mr. Parker served as the Internal Auditor of the George Wuo administration for two years and was also a presidential candidate for the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota in the just ended Minnesota elections. He later withdrew his candidacy.
In his interview with the BC, Mr. Parker noted that before the debates he was quite undecided about where he stood with regards to who was more equipped than the other to lead the Union. But, after listening to the debates he is now convinced that Mr. Wettee did not make a case for wanting the highest Liberian job in the Diaspora. He noted that Mr. Wettee still has a chance to make a stand in Philly on Friday otherwise Mr. Toe will win a landslide victory.
With regards to Mr. Toe’s debate issues, he states that they are clear, his immigration ideas, accountability promise and the transparency in the dealings of ULAA should be commended. If Mr. Wettee cannot successfully counter Mr. Toe during the second debate, the victory will be resounding.
Mr. Parker also stated that the Toe team seems to have a clear plan of how the Union should lead in the next two years. Stating further, “ I believe if elected, Mr. Toe will bring fresh ideas to the Union and strive for a permanent solution to the immigration problem”.
“We cannot continue marching and demonstrating from year to year, we should lobby congress and engage our politicians”.
With regards to the delegate issue, Mr. Parker stated that he raised the issue with Mr. Grimes and the leader of the OLM. He noted that the community needs to know who are the people that will be voting and putting in a new leader, they need to know the process. As it stands right now, community residents are completely ignorant to what the processes are in appointing delegates.
Asked if this is an endorsement of Mr. Toe, Mr. Parker noted that if the election was to be held today, his position is clear, he would be voting for Mr. Toe.
Finally, Mr. Parker averred that if this was not election season, probably no one would even care about ULAA, the disconnect with ULAA and the Chapter organizations are due mainly to the poor representation of ULAA at the chapter level.
He ended by admonishing the delegates to vote their conscience in Philadelphia and make sure they use their analytical judgments based on the discussions and records of the candidates.
In other news, it is reported that Mr. Karlton George has reportedly endorsed the candidacy of the Toe Norris team; the BC will bring an update as soon as more information is available.
PUT ULAA AND LIBERIA FIRST
By: Rev. J. Samuel Reeves, M. Div., M. A.
In few days, September 23-25, 2006 the historic city of Philadelphia will host the ULAA Convention and hopefully help ULAA reach a higher moral ground. The freedom tasted by the founding fathers of America in Philadelphia will hopefully inspire Liberians into a greater virtue of nationalism. I cherish the hope that what transpires in Philadelphia this weekend will help Liberians in the United States transcend manipulative and arm twisting politics that have seemingly made ULAA more of a spectator in the affairs of Liberians living in the United States and Liberians living in our beloved Republic of Liberia.
Delegates from the different states are certainly going to be faced with the choice of sanctimonious and uncritical advances to support a candidate that failed to share his brilliant ideas, outstanding knowledge and noble plans with the administration he currently serves as vice president. I believe that it is the height of hypocrisy for the vice president of ULAA to unveil transforming plans in a year of election when the Liberian people living in the US and Liberia could have been far better than we are. On the other hand, there is an agent of change, in the person of Emmanuel Toe, who in actuality has the idea, the substance, the fact and a realistic plan to make ULAA an active and positive player in the growth and development of our beloved country, Liberia.
Delegates from the states that converge on the city of brotherly love and the historic landmark of American freedom should not permit their independence, commitment to a better ULAA and love for Liberia to be overtaken by fancies, sentimentalities, imaginative and makeover politicking by ULAA and palaver hut politicians that major in wining elections, but minor in helping ULAA progress to the level that will benefit Liberians living in the United States and in the Republic of Liberia.
Delegates should put ULAA and Liberia first and make this ULAA election a mandate for change from the overwhelming weight under which ULAA continues to struggle for survival. Some of my dear friends have shared immense statements about integrity, honesty, ability and maturity, I respectfully disagree with the apportionment of these words, but they have the right to make choices as they feel. Personally, I feel that the delegates representing their respective states need to know that many of these well written statements by people on the other side have failed to articulate that these attributes are inseparable from the accomplishment, achievement, performance, execution and action of those that served at the helm of ULAA’s leadership in the past or who are currently serving ULAA in top positions.
Honesty is the embodiment of realistic change. When the opportunity to serve was given to the candidate on the other side, he took our votes for granted and failed to deliver the beef. Integrity is to look beyond self-aggrandizement. The candidate on the other side failed to look beyond election year politics. Hence, he did not fully invest in the administration he was elected to serve. Ability is to work tirelessly for the advancement of the ULAA one has sworn to protect and serve. There is no evidence that the candidate on the other side deserves promotion for his honor of service. Maturity is not the absence of vision, but the dream of farsighted giants who maximize their efforts to make ULAA practical and Liberia a resounding success. The candidate on the other side is in this to win and I have endorsed Mr. Emmanuel Toe and his team because I believe that they are in this to win, to lead and to transform ULAA into a service oriented entity.
I call on all Liberians, especially delegates that will be casting those crucial ballots to reflect soberly on ULAA’s past; become agents of change for a better ULAA and to consider the benefits their votes will bring to Liberia and all Liberians.
My fellow Liberians and friends of Liberia, In union strong success is sure, we cannot fail…With hearts and hands our country’s cause defending…With God above our rights to prove, not only that we will, but we must over all prevail. I thank you and may God bless the Republic of Liberia.
WETTEE SPEAKS OUT AFTER DEBATE, TOE REBUTS
Recently one of the presidential candidates for the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA), Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee had a telephone interview with the Managing Editor of the Bush Chicken Online Magazine, Ben Browne to dispel rumors that he lost the recent debate held in Minnesota to his opponent, Mr. Emmanuel Toe.
WETTEE SKIMS THROUGH HIS DOCUMENTS
Since the debate it has been alleged in some quarters that Mr. Wettee lost the first rounds due to his aggressiveness and demeanor during the debate while his opponent seemed calmed and composed. When asked about such allegations, he said, “Based on the low turn out, we did what we had to do but Philly will be a different ball game.”
During the interview, Mr. Wettee also blamed his debating style on the size of the venue and the Panelist. “What many consider my aggressive behavior was due to the fact that there were less then 35 people in the audience and there was no set rules by the Moderator from the beginning that prohibited me from walking up and down until I started,” he said. He also added that his microphone was close to his mouth so many thought he was shouting. “When you have less people in such a huge church there will be echo, I was not shouting, maybe my opponent was nervous that is why he stayed behind his podium,” he said. He also said he had to behave the way he did because he realized that the audience was sympathetic to Mr. Toe.
TOE STANDS HIS GROUND
On the question of why his Vice President and other Principle Deputies did not attend the debate, Mr. Wettee said though his Vice President had an emergency, it was decided that other members of his team needed to stay in their war (monitoring) room at home to monitor the debate. He said the Minnesota debate was intended to defend the image of ULAA not to promote him to the voting delegates. “I will be promoting myself in Philly. I came to defend ULAA, and I think I did it well,” he said.
When Mr. Wettee was quizzed further on if he considers the Minnesota debate less important as compared to Philly? He said, “Traditionally the last debate before elections is the most important of all.” Mr. Wettee, who spoke from his home state of Ohio, said he was disappointed that the host chapter and the rest of the four chapters of ULAA in the Mid-West were not properly involved in the debate. When he was asked why his home state of Ohio was not represented, he said it was due to the location of the debate. He also added that the people of Ohio will be going to Philly to vote soon and coming to Minnesota was a double task.
Mr. Wettee also expressed his disappointment at the people of Minnesota for not showing what he called “any serious reaction” when his opponent admitted that he has not been fully involved in the Immigration (TPS) debacle confronting thousands of Liberians in the Diaspora, adding Minnesota has one of the largest population of Liberian with TPS. “How can we have someone who has not really been involved in issues affecting the people become their leader?” he asked.
He also accused Mr. Toe of not generating any funds for the Union when he once served as Chairman on Ways and Means Committee. “This man did not put a penny in the Union’s Coffer, he openly admitted insulting the Chairman of the Board of Directors and now he wants to be president,” he said.
In another development, Mr. Wettee responding to a question about his long tenure in the Union and if he thinks his association with past leaders will cost him the presidency, used the opportunity to accuse some of Mr. Toe’s supporters of using ULAA to seek jobs in Liberia’s government. “We will be providing information during the debates in Philly that ties Mr. Toe to most of his supporters who’ve been seeking jobs in Liberia,” he said. He further charged that Mr. Toe and Mr. Mohammed Kromah (former president of ULAA) are business partners. “Mr. King, Jackson and Kromah who are now supporting and raising funds for Mr. Toe all went to Ghana during the Peace Talk to lobby for jobs,” he said. He went on that when Mr. Kromah was appointed Managing Director of the Free Zone in Liberia, he had to resign and his resignation brought Mrs. Roberta Rashide to power as Acting President. “All these people are supporting Mr. Toe, we do not want a ULAA that will be used as a spring board for job seekers in Liberia.
On the question of if he will concede defeat gracefully, he said if he doesn’t win he hope to continue working with his local chapter and providing services to ULAA and the Liberian people. Adding, “I have lived in the U.S. for 14 years, ten of those years have been devoted to ULAA, and it is the only Liberian Institution I know, I will continue to work for it.”
Meanwhile, in Bush Chicken’s effort to keep its core value of reporting both side of the stories at all times, the Managing Editor contacted the Toe-Norris to comment before going to press. Speaking from his home state of Michigan, Mr. Emmanuel Toe addressed some of the issues/allegations raised by Mr. Wettee.
On the allegation of Mr. Toe’s team member wanting to use ULAA as a springboard for jobs in Liberia, Mr. Toe said he does not know of any of his team member who is seeking or wanting to use ULAA to seek jobs in Liberia. “All my team members are here in the U.S. but on the contrary, it was Mr. Wettee Campaign manger, Mr. Kunney who went to Liberia masquerading as a security expert wanting to be Police Chief but was denied,” he said. However, Mr. Toe was quick to add that he is not against qualified Liberians seeking jobs to help their nation but he is against unqualified individuals who want to exploit the good name of ULAA.
Mr. Toe also said that on a personal note he has no plan to seek job from the Liberian government but to create jobs for the suffering masses of Liberia. “I am an employer, it is Mr. Wettee who is an employee. I am going to Liberia by December to start building a 50 room hotel in Buchanan to employ our people.” He also said when he takes over the leadership of ULAA he will encourage Liberians seek training in various disciplines that will enable them to make meaningful contributions to the development of Liberia.
On the allegation about being a business partner with Mr. Kromah, Mr. Toe denied it and challenged Mr. Wettee to provide proof. He therefore accused Mr. Wettee of spreading false information out of desperation and said such behavior is one of the reasons Mr. Wettee needs to step aside by retiring and allow people with a better vision for the Union to assume the leadership. “Mr. Wettee is ULAA, he breathes ULAA, he sleeps ULAA but ULAA is now dysfunctional which means Mr. Wettee is dysfunctional. We have a nice retirement package for him,” he said.
On the allegations about not being fully involved with TPS issues, Mr. Toe said for him Involvement means results. “Mr. Wettee claims to be involved with Liberian issues in the Diaspora, what has been the results?” he asked. Mr. Toe said he is prepared for the debates in Philly and ready to take ULAA in the right directions that will produce results not free talk and promises. He promised to fund every single program proposal that comes on his desk that makes sense.
DEFINING MOMENTS IN ULAA ELECTION DEBATES IN THE TWIN CITIES
By Ben T. Browne
Imagine yourself sitting on the Board of a struggling bank that is in the process of filing for bankruptcy. You are charged with the responsibility to find a new president who is expected to rescue the bank from total collapse. You are presented with two candidates for the position, one is said to be an experienced banker who has worked with many past leaders of the bank, some of whom contributed to the bank’s present situation. The other candidate, though not as experienced in serving past leaders like his opponent, is said to be talented in the systematic and hands-on approach to solving problems like the one presently at the bank.
On September 9th, two candidates contesting for the position of president of the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA), Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee and Emmanuel Toe met in the city of ten thousand Lakes to officially debate for the first time on issues. The candidates were present with some of their principal deputies and supporters. Though the debate started late mainly due to the late arrival of the sponsor, Old Timer Sports Association of Minnesota and one of the presidential candidates, Mr. Emmanuel Wettee, the general atmosphere of the program was cordial and respectful.
WETTI'S TEAM SNAPSHOT
However, one of the highlights of the entire program was the lateness and absence of key candidates. On the Wettee-Selli team, Mr. Wettee and his secretary, Mr. Isaac Zawolo came in about two hours late. Though Mr. Wettee blamed his lateness on the cancellation of his flight to Minnesota, his Vice Presidential Candidate, Mrs. Georgia Mason-Selli did not attend the debate, something Mr. Wettee blamed on family emergency. On the other hand, while the Toe-Norris team Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates were present and on time, the candidate for Regional Vice President for Northern Region, Mr. Emmanuel T. Davis came in late and was denied his allocated speaking time by the moderator, Mr. Al-Jerome Chede. After a verbal protest from an audience member; Mr. Chede, in consultation with other panelist reconsidered the decision and allotted four minutes towards the end of the program to allow Mr. Davis speak. Mr. Davis later blamed his lateness on a family emergency, asking, “If I cannot serve my family how can I serve ULAA?”
In a related development, the General Secretaries pledged their willingness to work to support their respective candidates for the good of ULAA and the Liberian people. For his part, Mr. Adolphus B. Jacobs said though as secretary he is expected to follow and implement the platform/agenda of his camp, he hopes to work hard to establish and maintain a functional ULAA press. “We cannot just wait for a month to election to have a news or press department that will send out flyers and articles,” he said. Mr. Jacobs also hopes to create a national database for professional Liberians in the Diaspora who are associated with ULAA so that their expertise can be used when needed. He said he also intend to decentralize ULAA and create a Liberian National Day in America. Mr. Zawolo, for his part promised to work hard when elected to change the popular mind set in the Liberian Communities that individuals only use the Union as a spring board to secure governmental positions in Liberia. Adding, “When I joined the Union we inherited the situation of people using the Union to find jobs in the Liberian government, that we will change.” Mr. Zawolo also used the occasion to praise himself for solving problems in various Liberian communities, skills he said his opponent lacks. “The only conflict my opponent ever tried to resolve ended up in court,” he said.
Meanwhile, since Mrs. Selli could not be present for the debate the moderator give the opportunity to Mrs. Danlette Norris to speak without challenge. Soft spoken and relaxed, she opened her statement by speaking to the audience in various Liberian dialects. She also quoted a famous African writer, who said, “The resiliency is not tested of an individual until he engages a person.” She said she hopes to engage the Liberian communities on how ULAA can be transformed. “I come today to say with a collective pronoun ‘we’ have come to engage you on how we can transform ULAA from its present state to an organization that will be viable to all Liberians,” she said. She also called on the audience to closely look at the track record of all the contestants and vote for a better ULAA that will represent all Liberians based on issues that are affecting Liberians in the Diaspora.
TOE AND NORRIS TEAM SNAPSHOT
Then came the moment that many in the audience were waiting for, when Mr. Toe and Wettee took to the podiums to say why the delegates should vote for their teams. With Toe's calm and mature but no smile demeanor and Wettee’s UL Palaver Hut style approach, the two candidates answered questions from the audience, panelists, and one another. At one point Mr. Wettee was told by the moderator to remain behind his podium and stop pacing up and down in an apparent mood to mobilize his supporters in the audience, something that is very popular on the campus of the University of Liberia (UL) during political debates.
On the burning issue of Liberian Immigration status (TPS) raised by Mr. Kulah Parker, a resident of Minnesota, the two candidates could not really provide a quick fix solution to the problem. For his part, Mr. Toe said he hopes to change the course by adopting the Rhode Island model that has helped introduce a bill in the U.S. congress. “If we can get the twenty states with ULAA chapters to adopt the RI model, and have their senators sign on, that will be a total of 40 senators. With the help of other senators the TPS issue will be over, the bill will pass.” On the other hand, Mr. Wettee hopes to re-enforce the present approach by consulting with leading senators to help. “When I am president, we will continue to engage senators and demonstrate and hopefully we will wake up one day and the TPS issue will be history. The picture in my hand shows me in consultation with other leaders in Congress discussing TPS issue,” he said.
On the issue of what the candidates hope to do in working with local chapters in alleviating the social issues that youth are faced with daily in the society raised by Mrs. Minerva Grant-Settro of Wisconsin, the candidates provided hopeful dialog but again not a quick fix solution. Mr. Toe said he hopes to work with local communities in identifying the problems and possible solution. “I am blessed to have as Vice President, Mrs. Norris who is very experienced in working with social issues on community levels, we will engage other people in finding the solution to our young peoples problems,” he added. For his part, Mr. Wettee lengthily discussed his achievement in helping young people in a College where he is an adjunct professor. He also used the time to point out his influence in getting the conjoined twins from Liberia to Ohio for surgery.
On the question of Using ULAA as a springboard for jobs in Liberian government raised by Al-Jerome Chede, both candidates said their aim now is to focus on ULAA and the Liberian communities in the Diaspora. Mr. Toe said as an entrepreneur, his hope is that at the end of his term in ULAA he can start to contribute to the rebuilding of Liberia by providing jobs not taking one. Mr. Wettee, with his hand raised in the air in a swearing position said he does not intend to take any job from the Liberian government.
On the question of what the candidates hope to achieve in the first six months of presidency raised by Momolu Sirleaf, Mr. Toe said he hopes to host an inauguration program that will help raise needed funds for the organization. “I will invite Oprah Winfrey, a Kpelle woman and other permanent Liberians to the occasion to help create awareness,” he said. He also said he hopes to work with various chapters leaders to identify vital issues in the community that help will Liberian in the United States. On the other hand, Mr. Wettee said he hopes to identify professional Liberians such as Doctors, Teachers and Engineers to go to Liberia to provide a month of free voluntary services.
At the end of the debates, both candidates were seen shaking hands. While most people who attended the debate thinks that Mr. Toe's demeanor, consistent and systematic answers to the various questions raised, put him in a comfortable lead, they also contend that Mr. Wettee’s Popularity based on his long services to ULAA may win him the position. However, it is really difficult at this point to say definitively which candidate will win on September 23 in Philly.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 9
“September 9th 1990 was a rather cool and cloudy day. The street from the city center heading towards Duola on Bushrod Island was thronged with hungry and displaced people looking for things to buy, sell and eat. The streets were dirty, broken glass bottles, empty cans and trash littered the streets across the bridge. Empty bullet casings made ringing noises as the car ploughed over them.
“As I drove Elizabeth Blunt from the Cape side of Monrovia known as Mamba Point, down across the Via town bridge towards the Freeport of Monrovia on Bushrod Island, she commented on the shot out buildings and cars, comments she always made whenever we passed through this area. Our first stop for the day was the Sierra Leone and Guinean refugee camp where an outbreak of cholera had been reported. We drove through the gates and the smell of the stench and filth overpowered us. We then decided to drive into the port area to see the ECOMOG Press Officer, Major Chris Otulani. We were flagged on through the gates by the troops standing guard at the port entrance. Elizabeth exchanged pleasantries as they all admired her and were eager to talk to her. We circumnavigated the serpentine alleys of the looted empty warehouses and containers. Garbage was everywhere, the trash littered the port and the stench of stagnant water permeated the air. When we finally reached the dock office, I decided to park directly opposite the entrance. Elizabeth then walked and presented her appointment card to the officer at the door and waited. I then proceeded to make small talk with one or two of the ECOMOG guards whom I had befriended on the several occasions I had visited the port. After a while I returned to the car.
I was feeling a bit tired and sat in the car waiting for Elizabeth to return. My watch registered two minutes after one in the afternoon; I looked through the rearview mirror and saw rolling in the SSS cars that usually accompany the President. The SSS guards hanged on the doors of the lead cars and shouted orders to one another. I wondered what was happening -- who was visiting the port. I saw the silver Mercedes with the presidential flag glide in from behind the warehouses on to the pier followed by another three or four cars of the security service. The Presidential Motorcade stopped and the President of Liberia, General Samuel Doe, still waving his golden scepter stood up through the roof of the Mercedes Benz. The President, in contrast to the lean and hungry citizens he had passed by on Bushrod Island, looked plump, bright and sharp and attired in battle camouflage and jungle boots. He stepped out of the car as guards stood alert. He walked across the car park and entered the dock office. He was then taken up to the office of the Force Commander, General Arnold Quinoo.
“The ECOMOG guards downstairs then began to take pictures of the car; they were awe-struck by its sleekness and beauty. I sat in the PRESS car and looked at the various faces of the loyal forces that came with the President. They took up defensive positions around the limousine, shouting orders and visibly confused and frightened. After all, they were in enemy territory. I later learned they had very short notice to come to the Freeport. In the absence of advanced notice, they lacked the benefit of intelligence report.
“Five minutes after the arrival of the President, the Chief of Staff of the Independent National Patriotic Front (INPFL), Prince Johnson’s rebel group, drove in with a squad of heavily armed rebels. The Chief of Staff walked briskly into the entrance area where some conversation went on and then he returned to his soldiers. Approximately, four to five minutes later, the self-styled Field Marshal, Prince Johnson, of the INPFL, arrived amidst a screech of tires and armed persons falling from his red sporting Cherokee jeep. Johnson leaped out of the car he was driving and hurried toward the entrance of the Dock Office. Fighters, who had accompanied him, rushed about using expletive phrases as they took up strategic positions at the port. It was clear that trouble was in the wind. While hastening towards the entrance of the Dock Office,
something happened between Prince Johnson and one of Doe’s security guards. He turned around fiercely and asked, “What did you say?” At this point I decided to abandon the coziness of the PRESS car for some safer area from where I could view the events I was sure was safe.
“I took refuge among some Peacekeeping soldiers behind an ECOMOG armored tank and watched frighteningly. The SSS Guard had angered Prince Johnson and he, in turn, had brandished an AK-47 ready to shoot. Col. Varney, his Chief of Staff, came in and pleaded for calm but not after the SSS Guard had been ordered to disarm and manhandled. Meanwhile, all around the car port soldiers and rebels were abusing and taunting each other. The atmosphere was tense and electrically charged.
After this brief preview of what to expect, the Field Marshall gravitated angrily towards the dock office entrance sporting his green face cap. Prince Johnson entered the building and disappeared from view. At this time I decided to move again to safer grounds in a warehouse office. I sat on the desk, but could still view the scene. I noticed then in disbelief that some of the SSS officers were taking off their uniforms and surrendering their guns to ECOMOG soldiers. Then I heard sporadic gunfire followed by the barking of the command, “Open Fire!” by Prince Johnson. At that moment I saw about 15 soldiers killed, shot in the back of the head. There was pandemonium as soldiers ran in all direction. A female soldier who I had earlier recognized was now buck naked in only her panties, she was rushing on board the ship for refuge. Because I was afraid to be caught in the crossfire, I rolled under the door of the warehouse and jumped into an ECOMOG truck. Still feeling unsafe, I spotted some Peacekeeping soldiers standing in another warehouse and I made for it. I reached there and they offered me safe place in a kitchen where I found some of the SSS persons hiding. I still did not feel safe as all around us bullets were flying, soldiers were barking orders and grenades were exploding. I thought, at one point that the Port would have sunken under the sea. I looked around wondering if rebels would come to hunt for deserting soldiers, I took another leap and buried myself in a stack of rice, flour and yam. There I remained until the shooting died down.
”I heard the roar of engines. It appeared someone was leaving. From where I lay buried I could hear the Mercedes passing driven by a rebel. All of a sudden everything was quiet. I gave my ID card to an ECOMOG soldier and asked him to find Miss Blunt for me. He found her on the ship and came back for me. She was very glad when she saw me, so was I, because I thought she was dead. On the ship I saw a lot of deserted soldiers and others who had escaped death. We sat down for a while and then Elizabeth was called for a short talk with the Force Commander. The most horrible scene was that of the dead bodies lying about -- more than 83 persons had been gunned down in the shoot out. Bodies were strewn everywhere. Among them was the body of a lady whom I had talked with on a previous visit to the port. She was Major Melish. It was sickening. The ECOMOG soldiers were visibly shaken. Elizabeth and I were granted escorts and we finally left the port. Before leaving I went to bid farewell to one of the men, a Sierra Leonean ECOMOG soldier. He had tears in his eyes: “These, your people,” he cried, “are dangerous. I have my wife and children in Freetown and when I leave from here, I am never going to come back to Liberia again.” Another one told me, “Do you mean I have come here to die for this Doe bastard?”
Stanford, in his narration, never said what happened to Doe. While he was hiding, Prince Johnson had found Doe hiding underneath a table in the office of the Force Commander. Johnson shot Doe in the legs, picked him up and threw him in the trunk of the car and drove off with him to his Caldwell base.
KESSELLEY RAPS ON DELEGATE ISSUE
National Board of Directors
UNION OF LIBERIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN THE AMERICAS (ULAA)
6153 Harley Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19142
www.ulaaliberia.org
Office of the Chairman
Anthony V. Kesselly – Chairman
James N. Larsah -- First Vice Chairman
David K. Flomo -- Second Vice Chairman
Victor B. Smith -- Secretary
Mr. Stanford Peabody
Bush Chicken Website
Mr. Peabody,
I came across a posting from you captioned, “QUESTIONS ABOUND ABOUT ULAA’S DELEGATES SELECTION PROCESS” which was posted on the Bush Chicken Website on August 30, 2006..
While I appreciate the interest being generated in the ongoing ULAA elections process, I am also concerned that reports on operations of the Union are accurate. Unfortunately, I found your story wanting in many respects. I cannot readily conclude that the story was written with a questionable motive. But I certainly can say that it is quite uninformed as a result of the failure of the reporter to do just what he or she declared at the bottom of the story, vis, “We Bring You Both Sides of the Story, All Day and Everyday!!
The issue of ULAA elections guidelines falls in the domain of the ULAA National Elections Commission which in turn is under the oversight powers of the National Board of Directors. For a reporter to write extensively on the issue of the Elections Law and the delegation selection process without even getting the official side of neither the National Elections Commission nor the National Board of Directors is certainly a trigger for suspicion.
Be what it may, our interest here is to get the accurate story to your audience. There is a very long story on this issue of delegation selection than meets the eye at this point. We have come a long way from the days when ULAA elections were done by mass voting to the days when the decision was taken to utilize the delegate system. Even with the inception of the delegate system, we have come from the 10-delegate decision to the 15-delegate one which is currently in use. From the ULAA Board session on the ratification of the ULAA Elections Law in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 19, 2002 (which I attended) to the Board session on the revision which was adopted in Newark, New Jersey, on March 13, 2004 (over which I presided), ULAA has taken steps to visit this delegate selection process. And there are very strong reasons why the delegate election process envisaged in the March 13, 2004 revised edition did not go into effect and has not gone into effect to this day. You might recall we have even had an elections commission chairman resign over the matter.
There is a lot your audience can learn from this piece of enriching ULAA history. We are prepared to play our part in getting the story to them. We are prepared to take questions from you on this matter in order to get the accurate picture of the evolution of this delegation selection process so that you can be of better service to your reading audience. For this we place ourselves at your disposal.
We hope to hear from you so as to get the broader picture out there.
Sincerely yours,
Anthony V. Kesselly
CHAIRMAN
QUESTIONS ABOUND ABOUT ULAA'S DELEGATES SELECTION PROCESS
The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) will once again be holding its general elections this year. Over the years, this organization has been a stepping stone for many Liberian politicians in their quest to gain positions of trust amongst the Liberian populace, here in the US and in Liberia.
But have you wondered how the delegates for this all important convention are chosen? Have you wondered how presidential candidates are elected at a convention to a position that is believed to be so important for Liberia’s future? To get that information, a copy of ULAA’s elections guidelines was obtained from the Union’s website.
To compile this article, several functionaries of ULAA and other members of various Daispora communities were interviewed. One member reiterated that the selection of delegates may be a local policy issue and not connected with ULAA guidelines. It was also gathered that the process for accrediting delegates varied from chapter to chapter. One would think that the process would be uniform considering the age and importance of such an organization.
Now, just for the public to understand, there are completely two different procedures for determining who get to be a delegate in a state to attend ULAA’s elections. One procedure is stipulated in the guidelines on ULAA's website and not used, the other is based on local state politics with no set procedures. The latter is what has been used since time immemorial.
Going by the local politics route, no candidate should even campaign in states. They have no reason to seek votes by showing face or donating to some worthy endeavor. The reason is that states local policy allows the president to hand pick delegates who vote for the ULAA president, so once the states' president is on a side, the campaigning ULAA's president’s work is done. It is known that ULAA's campaigning presidents have called states' leaders to add certain delegates to lists.
Now just to educate the public on what this means, this article will cite paragraphs from the elections guidelines. The elections guidelines tell us exactly what should be done in the process of choosing who should serve as delegates during the ULAA general elections. And by all means, this document should be a document for all chapters.
Section 1 states, “In an election year, each chapter Elections Commission shall conduct primaries for the purpose of electing delegates who shall be accredited to vote in the Union’s general or special election. The ULAA Elections Commission shall publish election timetable for all chapter primaries.
The document goes further to say in Section 9:
Each local commission shall publish a special election guideline and election timetable in its chapter for the holding of chapter primaries at least two months prior to the holding of the primary. The guidelines shall establish registration requirements for candidates, how election will be conducted, when polls will be opened and closed, how to file and dispose of protest(s) and the grounds for disqualifying candidates and or nullifying an election result. Each local commission shall make reasonable efforts to distribute the election guidelines to chapter members and shall also make reasonable efforts to duly inform chapter members about the chapter primary.
Section 2 of the document, states, “Each chapter shall accredit voting delegates to vote in a Union’s general or special election proportional to that chapter’s membership strength. A chapter shall accredit one voting delegate for every ten members whose names are printed in the ULAA Voter’s roll for that chapter. Election of voting delegates for a chapter shall be determined by the votes received by each candidate. Only candidates with the highest votes won in the chapter primary shall be accredited by the chapter as voting delegates. All accredited delegates shall physically be present to cast ballots in a general or special election of the Union.
What does this mean, “Each chapter shall accredit voting delegates to vote in a Union’s general or special election proportional to that chapter’s membership strength? This means that if ULAA’s roster has 200 Liberians of which Liberians in Minnesota are about 20, then Minnesota should have a ten percent representation on the voter’s list, Ohio with 10 for example should have five percent and so forth and so on.
Considering what the document is saying, if there are going to be 100 delegates to the elections, Minnesota should have 10, and Ohio 5, etc. Please note that the numbers above are arbitrary.
Considering how it is done now, candidates should campaign directly to states’ leadership, since it is the presidents that appoint the fifteen delegates across the board that go to the convention to vote for the ULAA president. There is really no need for debates and around the country campaigning, the communites have been robbed of their say considering that the delegates are hand picked.
The Liberians in various states do not have a say in ULAA elections according to the current ad hoc selection process. The presidents of the organizations have that say. In conversations with ULAA election watchers, it has been this way in many states for a long time.
This is the process with which ULAA presidents have gotten states votes in the past and may be getting it come September.
What happens if the results of the ULAA elections are contested based on the above? The guidelines again are ambiguous, it says in Section 15, “The Union Election Commission shall have the right to nullify and declare void the election result of a voting delegate(s) or a proxy delegate(s) if the commission determines that said election was not held consistent with provisions of the Union’s Elections Law that relate to the holding of chapter primaries and or the guidelines published by that chapter’s Election Commission for that primary. Nullification of election result(s) by the commission shall be done within one week after the announcement of election results for a chapter primary. However, the commission shall only nullify and declare void an election result consistent with Article IX Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 of this election law and or if the commission determines that the chapter election guideline was grossly violated which resulted to the election of a candidate who would not have been elected. The chapter election Commission or the aggrieved candidate(s) shall have the right to appeal to the ULAA Electoral Panel within 48 hours after the commission shall have announced its determination regarding any aspect of each chapter primary. The electoral panel shall hear and dispose of all appeal within a one week period as of the date of receipt of the appeal.
Interestingly, upon closer inspection, Article 9 has no sections 7-11. It stops at 7.
It is urgent upon the current ULAA leadership to take the guidelines down from their official website if it is not what is being used, it should be dispensed and a vigorous education or overhaul of it as a political document should be done.
It is scary that an organization as old as ULAA would have operated in this fashion for so long with gross disregard for its own election guidelines and its people. It is no wonder that administration after administration have had problems with leadership. If this is how business has been, then it is safe to say that many leaders of ULAA may not have been the choice of Diaspora Liberians after all.
You may review the ELECTIONS LAW OF THE UNION OF LIBERIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN THE AMERICAS at http://www.ulaaliberia.org/ELECT06LAWS.htm
WE ARE ALL LIBERIANS, LET’S LEAVE IT by Stanford Peabody
Uncle Jesse was a fixture at our house in Jallah Town. He was my father’s oldest brother. He had his own room in the house and though he didn’t pay any rent and ate off my father’s table, nobody really noticed or cared that he was a sponger.
Nobody also noticed that Uncle Jesse was a molester. I caught him trying to slip into Maryann’s room many times, can’t say how many times he did get to go in. Maryann was 15 years old and helped my mom take care of us kids. I was about 10.
I blew the horn on Uncle Jesse, not that I meant to do it, but he had been very mean to me and had at one time even told on me for some other issues for which I was punished. It was solemn; Maryann came forward and told about all the times Uncle Jesse had been doing this.
This is the same issue with Wally, who was a rogue in the community. Family members always rescued him when all indicators showed him to be the culprit of some theft. During the war he was shot while looting. Just maybe, If Wally had been reprimanded or some other drastic action taken, he would have changed his ways and thought twice about exposing himself to such risky action.
You may be wondering what happened to Uncle Jesse. Well, Cousin Mona, Ma Teetee, and all the other family members from Vai Town came and all they did was to say, let’s leave it, we’re all family. Then Ma Teetee, apparently appointed by the others, was the one sent to tell me that she did not want to hear this anywhere, anymore.
That was the end. Uncle Jesse maintained his little room, sponged on the pappy and continued in his ways and went on to rape or molest many other little girls.
That was until yesterday when sitting in New Jersey reading the Liberian news I heard that several Liberians were deported. Friends at home told me that my Uncle Jesse had been amongst those deported. I knew he was in Jail, but did not know that he was deported.
There are so many of such people and events that each of us can point to and say, this same thing happened, I know. We swept it under the rug all in the name of being “we are all Liberians, let’s leave it.
I hope there was a way to know the amount of issues that we as Liberians have swept under the rug all in the name of being Liberians.
When issues are swept under the rug or left inadequately addressed, they tend to linger and create further problems or issues. Let us remember Uncle Jesse today and pray that we tackle all our issues in the right way so that we do not leave them lingering and re-appearing like Uncle Jesse’s, which in the long run caused him to serve jail time and deportation, not to mention the victims who may have indelible scars on their minds, and maybe their bodies.
Do you know of a situation, which was swept under the rug?
TNJ REBUTS BUSHCHICKEN'S ARTICLES
The following is a direct response to the two articles published on Bush Chicken news site, titled (LONE CONTESTANT WINS MS LIBERIA MINNESOTA; A POST PAGEANT ANALYSIS by Ben Browne 17-07-2006 and WHO BENEFITS? OLM, LIBERIAN COMMUNITY OR T&J? 18-07-2006).
First of all, T and J Ethnic Marketing and Consulting would like to thank all of those who contributed, participated and or attended the pageant on Friday July 14, 2006, when T and J Marketing hosted the Miss Liberia Minnesota Beauty Pageant at Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park.
In both articles Mr. Ben Brown tried to discredit the hard work and efforts of the organizers of the pageant. We find it interesting that the motto of Bush Chicken is “we bring you both sides of the story”. However, Mr. Brown published a story without ever speaking with any member of our staff although he claimed that he made several attempts to contact us.
The comments and accusations made by Mr. Brown were without basis and unwarranted. We believe that it is important that honesty and integrity remain the standard by which a reputable community-based information site is operated. A journalist must be careful not to allow personal feelings to alter the facts of any story. Bush Chicken has become one of the primary sources of information in our community. It is important that it does not become just another gossip site or personal bully- pulpit. Therefore, we at T&J wish to tell” our story”.
T and J Ethnic Marketing & Consulting was formed in November of 2003 by two young Liberians who desire to establish a company, that would market much needed services of some mainstream businesses to the growing African immigrant community here in the Twin Cities. We relied upon relationships and contacts we had nurtured over the years to acquire potential clients.
We knew from the inception that this would be a daunting ordeal. However, we felt that if we invested enough time, energy, effort and resources in this idea, eventually it would take off. Countless phone calls, endless journeys and almost four years later, our humble venture has made some progress. Before going any further we would first like to clarify that T and J Ethnic Marketing & Consulting is indeed a for profit entity just as any other business, Liberian or otherwise. We have a staff of independent consultants of whom we most pay for their labor, as well as compensating ourselves for our efforts.
The following listed below are some answers to some of Mr. Brown’s questions in the articles mentioned above. One line which caught our attention was “Whatever such help is, it is not know to the public.” questioning our help to OLM and the community. Another line which caught our attention was “We cannot continue to allow people with questionable track record to head major functions of OLM”. We would appreciate it if Mr. Brown or anyone else with any evidence to substantiate this claim, could step forward.
Over the past three and a half years, T and J Ethnic Marketing & Consulting has been a major contributor not only to the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) and local churches, but also to the general Liberian Community here in Minnesota. Since the Wilfred Harris administration which began in January 2004 and ended in January 2006, followed by the current Martha Sinoe Leadership, our company (T and J) has raised or given an estimated Ten Thousand dollars ($10.000.00) for just OLM alone. Last year’s July 26, 2005 celebration guest speaker’s (Ambassador Minor) airline ticket was purchased by our company when it was brought to our attention, that the organization lacked the funds to provide a ticket for their guest speaker. We were later informed that OLM had a five hundred dollars ($500.00) debt with a local hotel due to one of its previous engagements and, if left unpaid the community organization would be faced with a law suit. In order to spare our community the embarrassment we paid the amount in full (this was in 2005 as well).
We have also been instrumental in fundraising and have donated several hundred dollars to community churches such as Garden of Gethsemane headed by Pastor Randal Cooper and Ebenezer Baptist Church headed by Pastor Tablor, to name a few. We’ve hosted health and immigration seminars for the common good of our community hoping to help educate our people on issues affecting their lives. In the spring of 2005, we produced a free community directory without charging any fee to Liberian own businesses to list their business.
Our belief as a company has always been, that through service to our clients, dedication to our community and hard work, the decent people amongst us will appreciate what we do. However, we are also aware that there are those in our midst who criticize simply because it is inherently within their nature. Nevertheless, it is also our belief that we do not need to discredit others to build our business. Thus we remain steadfast in service to our community and clients and will not stoop to maligning others or false accusation in the guise of “an analysis” to gain attention.
A few days after we hosted the Miss Liberia Minnesota beauty pageant, we received several phone calls from well wishers who attended the pageant and expressed their appreciation for our efforts or offered some “constructive criticism”.
One of the calls we received was from someone who had attended both 2005 and 2006 pageants and was outraged about the two articles on Bush Chicken by Mr. Brown. The caller observed hat Mr. Brown made no mention of the newly formed T and J Foundation which will provide scholarships for young Liberian students and of the funds for bereaved families in the community nor was there any mention of other aspects of the Foundation or the pageant.
One question raised was”Why isn’t OLM the host of the pageant as opposed to T and J”? We wish to explain that none of the Miss Liberia pageants held here in America, to the best of our knowledge, is hosted by the community organization, not even the national pageant which is held in Philadelphia. Even the Miss America USA pageant is hosted by a private company owned by real estate mogul Donald Trump. The pageant is simply a ceremonial event to empower young women and to help them feel more confident about themselves and their ability to contribute to their community. In closing, we hope that moving forward any story concerning anyone or any organization within the community will meet the highest standard of journalism ethics.
Regards,
T&J Management
SIERRA LEONEANS HOST THE FIRST MS SIERRA LEONE-MINNESOTA BEAUTY PAGEANT
On August 18, 2006, eight young women in the Sierra Leone community in Minnesota appeared on stage to compete for a crown and cash prices. The show which was cancelled from its original date two weeks ago due to what organizers called, “A serious electrical black out,” started two hours and 40 minutes pass its original start time of 7 pm. The host of the show ascribed the lateness due to technical problems.
FA
Though the show started with minor hitches and half empty auditorium, the audience got entertained by young African artists like, FA, Georgee B, Heart of Africa, GAB, African Queen, and Soda Boyz who kept the audience screaming with joy and often standing to dance along with the performances.
Cross Section of the Crowd
FA’s fabulous performance of a love ballad caused the girls to scream and rush on stage. A trio of girls performed an African Dance piece with complicated moves and waist breaking turns much to the delight of the audience.
The Soda Boyz also performed one of their hit rap songs which featured young ladies cat walking while they sang.
Prancing Beauty from Soda Boyz
The contestants, who ranged from ages 17 to 21, were high school graduates to juniors in college. The contestants included, Isatu Sesay, Marion Kamara, Khadia Conteh, Fanta Sarjoh, Hawa Kondeh, Emah Kamara, Fanta Kamara, and Mindia Fillie.
The contestants showcased their African, sport, formal and swim suit attires. The crowd went wild as the girls went in and out on the stage.
Mr. Christian Chuku Taylor, head of Chuku Entertainment (host of the show), who spoke to Bush Chicken right before the start of the show, said the eight young contestants were some of the best the community could offer. “They were chosen based on their beauty, intelligence, and social standing in the community,” he said.
Ms. Liberia Minnesota was in attendance
According to Mr. Taylor, the show is the first of its kind in the Sierra Leone community but is expected to go national next year. “Thank you all for being a part of the show, we will take it to another state next year.”
Like many competitions, people in the audience had their own winners in mind but at the end of the show the five Judge panel made the final decision. Hawa Kondeh was crowned Miss Sierra Leone-Minnesota 2006-07 and Mindia Fillie and Khadia Conteh, first and second runner-up.
Some audience members and contestants who spoke to Bush Chicken said they were slightly disappointed by the decision but willing to move on. It can be recalled that, Sierra Leone another West African nation like Liberia, suffered barbaric civil war over the years that displaced many of its citizen, some of whom presently live in Minnesota.
During the show, an overhead display by one of the contestants, Mindia Fillie during her talent piece showed amputated kids sitting on deserted streets of Freetown brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience.
To view the action, click the video clips at Google videos link below:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1073593278756477745
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3721630423166900214
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7776811420739530058
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-544723771816663455
TNJ AND BUSHCHICKEN SMOKE PEACE PIPE
Yesterday, the 20th of August, the TNJ Entertainment and the BC held a consultative meeting geared towards enhancing their collaboration in providing services to the Liberian community in Minnesota.
The convener of the meeting, Mr. Patrick Sawyer and facilitator Mr. Wynfred Russell were instrumental in bringing the two consortiums together after a misunderstanding between the two groups surfaced due to a report about the Liberian Beauty Pageant which, was hosted by the TNJ Enterprises.
The meeting which saw several heated exchanges between the parties ended on a good note as the two parties came to a common understanding about their roles in the community.
Kesselly, Zakama, Sawyer, Russell, Morgan and Dwamina
Several personalities were also in attendance. Those present were, Wayne Doe, Charles Dwamina, Patrick Sawyer, Ben Browne, Arthur Zakama, Theo Morgan, Jallah Kesselly and the host Mr. Wynfred Russell.
Recently, the Bush Chicken Magazine published two stories: Who Benefits, OLM, the Community or T&J? And, Lone Contestant Wins Beauty Pageant in Minnesota as the Host becomes the Manager.
In these two stories, Bush Chicken looked at some of the basic on going discussions in the community about hosting the Ms Liberia Pageant. Bush Chicken also critically discussed some of the concerns raised by an audience member who attended the beauty pageant on July 14, 2006.
Six weeks after the publication, T&J Entertainment, the host of the show for the past few years decided to write a rebuttal to Bush Chicken. After examining the rebuttal, the management of Bush Chicken decided that the rebuttal could not be published in its entirety because there were paragraphs in it that would have generated rebuttals from other sectors in the community. The refusal of Bush Chicken to publish the rebuttal in its entirety angered Mr. Morgan and Kesselley; this some observers viewed as a situation that may have escalated into a serious beef.
It was against this back ground that Mr. Patrick O Sawyer and Mr. Wynfred Russell took on the role of peace makers to help resolve the misunderstanding through open discussions.
The discussions were fruitful and the two entities broke bread together in a cordial atmosphere. The meeting lasted about 4 hours.
READ BISHOP WARNER'S SPEECH DELIVERED IN MINNESOTA
Since the death of the late president William R Tolbert of Liberia in 1980, which brought to end the rule of freed slaves from the United State to Africa, many who are believed to be descendents of those freed slaves and members of the ruling class have remained silent on issues in the country for years. Though some were alleged to have supported the turmoil that brought Liberia to its present stage, never before have Liberians had the opportunity to hear directly from the only surviving Vice President from such era.
Former Liberian VP Bennie Warner, Miss Black USA, President Sinoe and Chairman Hayes
On July 29, 2006, The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) under the leadership of Mrs. Martha T Sinoe had as keynote speaker, former Vice President Bennie D Warner at the celebration of Liberia 159th Independence. Though the speech was mostly entertaining and delivered to a much smaller audience, it has sparked debate in various Liberian political and social quarters.
Since the speech, many have argued that, the speech was mostly divisive. However, there are those who argued that the former Vice President provided a historical account that Liberians and historians need to take into consideration. The debate is expected to continue as Liberians quest to find the truth and unity moves on.
Like in the words of Mr. Kamaty Diahn, Chairman of the July 26 celebrations, "The former Vice President has provided Liberians the opportunity to know his stand on issues in Liberia."
Due to the nature of the debate, Bush Chicken obtained an unedited copy of the speech and decided to publish it.
Please read and make your comments on the forum.
Do you have a burning forum question about this story? Say it now at http://www.bushchicken.com/forum.php
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