May 16, 2008 - Just For Laughs
Growing up as a boy in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County,
life was so amazing and exciting! We walked to school every morning with
friends, talking about stuff we did at home, some times doing
chic-to-chic,
and about what the school day would be like. We were conscious about not
being late as that would lead to discipline from Mr. Massaquoi, Fanquoi
Rogers or Uncle Prince. Even when we were late for school, we tried to avoid
being beaten by sneaking into the line of students; that was also difficult
as teachers roamed around the line. We had to take the five lashes in our
hands – sooo
ahhhhh!!!!
Mammy put-the-peppeh
was greatly anticipated for recess; five cents would give you five little
balls of kallah
(donuts) with well seasoned
tinapur
(salmon) gravy on top. But that was not for one person –
bah gay me
– was the chorus from a group of friends. At times you had to hold your
kallah
tight to avoid
bu-fang-ground-hol-it! Other times you just had to stuff
everything in your mouth and run away, but there was a consequence to that
because you did not have five cents or twenty-five cents everyday, so it was
better to share.
At the end
of the school day it was time to tease Joseph Buzzy (cheh-kpeh).
“Spirit of God,” was the line that agitated him and there we went, Kaway,
Aja and Alieu running away in laughs from Joseph Buzzy. Getting home was
anticipated hoping that the food will be ready only to meet the “switch”
waiting for me as someone had told my grandmother about what I had done to
Joseph Buzzy. Even after the beaten you would think there would be something
to eat, but we had to now put the pot on the fire to begin cooking. The plum
trees or guava trees was next on the agenda. If only we can bring those days
back; but we can think about them and share them with our kids and relieve
some of the stress that life brings!!! Enjoy the weekend and think about
your days growing up be it in Pleebo, Tapita, Kakata, Buchanan or Zorzor –
those were memorable times!!
May 6, 2008 - Another Plan
Recently, the Government of Liberia published a Poverty
Reduction Strategy which spells out its aim of reducing the burden and
hardship our compatriots endure as a result of grinding poverty. Not only is
poverty pervasive in Liberia, but it tentacles stretches across third world
countries and thus has led to crises and fueled conflicts in many such
countries, Liberia included. Certainly, reducing poverty is a major
undertaking that is front and center of any government, especially in
Liberia, where our society has been devastated by war.
This administration must be
commended for developing another plan. That we have such plan is a first
step, but how we implement same is where all of the efforts are needed. This
is so because Liberia has had a number of plans! Fingers, toes, limbs would
not be able to count the number of plans that have been hatched to move the
country from stagnancy to progress and to address the endemic burden of
poverty - Remember Vision 2024 hatched in 2002; The Grain Revolution, etc.?
Having a plan to reduce poverty must be accompanied by
tangible actions that demonstrate a commitment to its implementation. One
such action would be upgrading JFK Medical Center and improving its
standards that the President of Liberia does not have to come to the US for
a medical/physical checkup! In this case the President can use her physical
at JFK to send a message to all Liberians of the important of having a
yearly physical exam – that’s a step towards reducing poverty. With this
Liberians can begin having longer life span and would be able to prevent
some life threatening illnesses. Savvy?
May 1, 2008 - KPARGON
For more than three months, it seemed “The Last Word” column
had reached its Rubicon, and I have received calls and emails from the
readership that this column had generated asking about its status.
Certainly, the dormancy has not been intentional but the result of a number
of mitigating factors. That we have not been consistently involved in the
public discussion with points of view relevant to transforming Liberia, is a
disservice to all who took interests in this column and for this I am
sorry!
To
demonstrate this, I have sought to get this apology published on the first
day of May, 2008, as a starting point for a deep involvement in the Liberian
public forum. There will be regular updates on issues as they arise that are
relevant to the Liberian circumstance, and we will ensure that they are
balanced. Our commitment this time is firm and our readers can be assured
that “The Last Word” will not be precipitous in its approach to arising
developments, but thought through analyses meant to offer a second opinion
or in some cases analogous to the prevailing views.
Growing up
as a boy in the beautiful Oceanside city of Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount
County, there were times when things did not go well with my friends and
acquaintances, but that did not end those relationships. They got even more
strengthened when we realized the need to forgive and forget what had
transpired, which was preceded by an unforgettable Vai phrase “kolo,
e ma bweyah” (sorry, don’t get vex), and as we also say in
Bassa “kpargon”
(sorry). And so I say to you “KPARGON”!
February 8, 2008 - Let Justice Be Done To
All Men
Recently President Sirleaf directed the Justice
Ministry to file a motion of nolle prosequoi in the treason cause
brought by the Government of Liberia against George Koukou, a former
lawmaker from Nimba County during the regime of Charles Taylor. This was in
line with the pardon of Koukou, declared by President Sirleaf in her annual
message on the state of the republic. Also indicted on similar charges were
Charles Julue and Andrew Dobor both former military officers during the
reign of Samuel Doe and both hailing from Grand Gedeh County.
Interestingly, the GOL deemed it expedient to
split the trial thus having Julue and Dorbor tried together and Koukou
later! As the trial of Julue and Dorbor progressed, many pundits were
convinced that the evidence brought against these individual contained so
much holes in them that this was turning out to be an embarrassment for the
Government of Liberia. Video recordings were so blurry or did not even
reveal anything at all; witnesses could not corroborate their stories; nor
could they validate alibis placing these Liberians at the timelines that the
GOL had presented; etcetera. In the end there seemed to be a clear mistrial
or confusion over the verdict reached by the jury, with the judge
questioning the authenticity and independence of the jury, and accusing them
of taking bribes from government prosecutors!
But what is even striking is the decision of
this president to pardon one of the alleged plotters without taking into
consideration the ethnic and divisive implications it would have on her and
the country, as well as the excuse given by the Solicitor-General of
Liberia, also a citizen from Nimba County, on why Koukou could be pardoned
and not the rest. His argument being that the President did not want to
interfere in the judicial proceedings since the trial of Julue and Dorbor
was on going! To say the least, this is mind-boggling and like a Colin
Powell moment for the Solicitor-General, which has now placed his reputation
on the line. In fact, by directing the Justice Ministry to file that motion
in favor of Koukou, after the court has indicted him on such charge is
tantamount to interference and the good solicitor-general knows that. Bush
did not pardon Libby during the trial or even after he was indicted, but
after a verdict was reached and sentencing was set – that is
non-interference, Madam President and Mr. Solicitor-General!
What is also important is that those accusations
still remain over Koukou who, even if he were innocent, did not have his day
in court to clear his name. Liberians still see him as one who was involved
in a “treasonous act” and that stigma will remain with him although he was
pardoned. Were those emails true, did he actually connive with Julue and the
rest, did he speak with Woewiyou regarding peanuts or farming, etc., all
still linger and have not been proven to be true or false. Although one is
presumed innocent before proven guilty; in Liberia it is the other way
around especially in public opinion and Koukou was denied this. Yes everyone
wants freedom, but with freedom comes truth and government cannot be allowed
to bring botched-up charges against its citizens, tarnish their reputations
and later pardon them without these individuals having their day in court.
The condition of Koukou’s pardon is evident in the motion: simply stated,
although we have evidence against you, we will not prosecute you. Whether
this evidence is factual or not remains to be seen, but bears heavily on
Koukou – that he has been involved in such practice and could be an easy
target for any subversive action that may be orchestrated or planned by
others, without his knowledge, inclination or involvement. For example, if a
theft was committed and there is no evidence of the thief, the first suspect
is one.
who had some running with the law in this
regard. Unless there can be a clear exoneration of Koukou, he still remains
in the limelight on these accusations.
One can recall the many times opposition members
were accused of treason during the Doe era, only because they had been
accused and were pardoned without clearing their names in court. This is
why one must concur with the student association of Nimba to have the GOL
apologize to Koukou for his imprisonment since they have no reason to
prosecute him, or have him challenge the charges levied against him in
court!
Madam President, the people
of Liberia elected you to be fair, even-handed and just. Whatever occurred
in the past is gone and there should be no reason for being vindictive to
individuals or groups who you or any member in your kitchen cabinet believes
were responsible for the struggles and difficulties encountered in the past.
The implications of your pardon for Koukou alone runs rough in Tchien,
Zwedru or Tuzon, and is a slap in the face of the people of Grand Gedeh, as
two of their sons are languishing in prison by your government for an allege
crime that, according to your government’s count, was being planned and
orchestrated by Koukou, Julue and Dorbor! “Let justice be done to all men”,
is the inscription on the Temple of Justice and this should have been your
course – to have all of these individuals tried and if convicted and
sentenced, you would out of magnanimity, peace and reconciliation, have all
of them pardoned. Your action, madam President was completely out of touch
with what the people of Liberia expected. As the leader, you cannot be the
one who sows the first seed of division, which this pardon is. Now it is
time to free Julue and Dorbor and reverse the negativity that your action
has began to generate, for what is good for the goose is good for the
gander!!!
Click here for past issues in 2007
Click here for past issues in 2006
