In what is becoming the norm, Stanford Peabody, the Bushchicken is becoming the new punching bag for several organizational and community leaders about his efforts in reporting directly the activities of the Liberian Community in Minnesota.The latest in this affront is a letter written late during the night of March 8, 2006 by Benoni Tarr Grimes, which blasted Mr. Peabody for not contacting him regarding a report made about the Board meeting of the OLM and the activities emanating there from.This expose is designed to outline these persistent and unwarranted attacks by these people. The first case is Mr. Kamaty Diahn who was very furious over the reporting of the Grand Gedeh Association in Minnesota actions against him. The association invited the Bushchicken to report. Because the report was made and not swept under the rug, Mr. Diahn went on a crusade to discredit the reporter for his own selfish gains.The Treasurer of the OLM, Mrs. Annie Yonly, stood at the podium of the Town Hall and mentioned the $8000.00 her husband reported as opposed to Grimes $4000.00. At a gathering, she proceeded to lambaste the Bushchicken for not inquiring about the report. What was there to inquire about? That was her slip and it was newsworthy and the reporter gets the public dressing down. As for Mr. Grimes, all Liberians who were available to attend the last Town Hall were able to get all the current information about the activities about the OLM. The direct report of the Treasurer mentioned the proceeds from the just ended elections of the OLM. The proceeds as reported were approximately $4000.00. The Treasurer in a side comment also mentioned that the last OLM elections commissioner reported more than $8000.00. A revelation that brought issues in a subsequent Board meeting. The outcome of this meeting was summarized and made into a direct report to the community, by the Bushchicken.The Bushchicken even got calls about the report giving details about expenditures of $900 for photocopies and other issues that were not used, since the report was only a result of the Town Hall forum and not intended to be an investigative piece. The OLM in the Town Hall meeting also clarified issues about the List Serve and the audit of the elections commission, which was also reported.The last report, which Mr. Grimes outlined in his deluge on the Internet, is self-explanatory. Mrs. Hayes may not have wanted a confrontation with Mr. Grimes and so did not want to directly say that he had flat out refused. The logic in that is understandable giving that Mrs. Hayes was very diplomatic in her conversation and considering Mr. Grime’s post of ten of the same emails to stress his point on the List Serve.Needless to say, Mr. Grimes have been contacted several times for his take on several issues regarding the list serve, the pending audit and the elections funds, but each time he has disregarded to answer and instead allowed the choral group on his phone to entertain the caller. Mr. Grimes never answered any of the numerous calls placed to him.Mr. Grimes must note that he is a community leader and his actions and his leadership have been brought into question in many circles. The discrepancy with the elections funds, the pending audit and the bad leadership of the List Serve during the elections when he allowed the creation of fake names to attack members of the community, are just a few of the issues that have a cloud hanging over his future political ambition. It is also known, that Mr. Grimes is not in good standing in the ULAA circles. The OLM must act to make sure that the audit be held, and Mr. Grimes or the previous administration, which Mr. Grimes insist must be a part, clear their names through this process and not use the usual Liberian way of sweeping things under the rug.Mr. Grimes should note that the Liberian community here in Minnesota might be the strangers to whom he is. Stanford Peabody is not. The Commissioner is well known from back home. His activities in public life in Liberia are an open book that he may also want to keep closed.Stanford Peabody will not be anybody punching bag anymore. Any action or words emanating from anywhere with intent to defame or discredit will be met with overwhelming force. For all those who are always bent on claiming lack of journalistic skills or whatever demeaning words they may want to use, I will come up with my profile of experiences and accomplishments so that they can peruse at their convenience and understand that I am not just their usual Tom and Dick.
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