Ms. Lauramae Gabbidon

Of course during our conversation, I respected Ms. Gabbidon's careful approach not to address details of her case. She was trying to avoid making the case difficult for her lawyers.

Her primary concern during our chat, was how her trouble could and should bring a fragile Liberian community together. She hoped that her situation will re-energize Liberians in Georgia and other parts of the United States to be there for each other, work towards a common goal and refrain from witch hunting.

Lauramae, it is said, has won lots of hearts with the tremendous assistance she has given to home buyers over the years, and in recent months and weeks, her tireless effort in trying to bring together a community that currently suffers its own share of differences.

But all the community can now hope for is that, Lauramae is clearly and convincingly innocent of the charges brought against her because if she is found guilty, the law will take its course and our very own Lauramae could be put away from us for a while.

For questions and comments, email us at:  editor@runningafrica.com

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Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various processes and improve operational excellence at all levels. 

Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various processes and improve operational excellence at all levels. 

Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various

 

Posted July 5,  2006

A post-Detention Chat With Lauramae Gabbidon
Let the Liberian community unite


By Gabriel Gworlekaju

I heard a well relaxed, sober, calm, but yet cautious voice at the remote end of my telephone when I talked to Lauramae Gabbidon on the night of July 1, 2006.

She had been released 24 hours earlier, on Friday June 30, from the Gwinnett County Sheriff detention center on a $25, 000 bond after spending a week there on charges of mortgage and identity fraud. She was happy to be out and optimistic that she will prevail in the end. No arraignment date has been set for the 45 year-old Mortgage broker who has been a resident of Georgia for many years and a native of Liberia.

News of her arrest and detention soared like a flying eagle within the Liberian community, in the local dailies and the internet.

Because of Lauramae's high profile within the Liberian community, the news of her alleged crime triggered a huge sympathy amongst the community people, men and women alike; even when it is still not known whether or not she is guilty.

But what makes her situation so unique and significant to the Liberian community in Georgia, is the way it rallied the community people to her cause. They did not care whether or not she was guilty. They wanted to show support and send the signal that it was necessary for all to rise up when a community member is in trouble. They truly did by their overwhelming presence in the Gwinnett County courtroom on Thursday, June 29, 2006. the judge, at least from facial expression, was shocked and overwhelmed. Tears filled the eyes of her sympathizers as lawyers and court officials work the routine of  bond hearing to have her released.

When I talked to Lauramae on last Saturday, she was being careful not to say anything that will hurt her case. But she was grateful to the many Liberians and sympathizers who showed up to see her released, and those who have been holding meetings and raising funds in her defense. "Gabriel, this kind of support is very common when someone dies. But I was overwhelmed to still be alive and see people turn out for me the way they did", she said. One sympathizer told me that Lauramae was brought outside of her jail cell briefly during the bond hearing and returned to wait for her release. She is reported to have remarked, "After seeing all those people who had come out for me, going back into my jail cell did not mean a thing to me because I felt so good about the turn-out".

It has been rumored that Lauramae Gabbidon is perhaps the victim of a family betrayal. Well, if it was a family betrayal, then one will be constraint to ask what was the betrayal about? And if it was actually done by a family member, why shouldn't anyone think that there is some truth to the story?

 

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