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The
Liberian Daily ranks amongst leading online news magazines.
While this magazine is not politically motivated and does not seek to
involve itself with party politics, we remain committed to providing
educational analysis on key issues that will help our readers understand the
world around them.
Staffed by dedicated professionals with its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, Liberian Daily relies on a team of professionals to bring you news
analysis and educational materials. Our team also include scholars of
diverse backgrounds, who will be contacted regularly to discuss key topics.
The site is updated regularly.
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Nyenpan Tarpehdoe
Executive Director The Liberian Group, Ltd.
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EDWIN SNOWE THREATENS TO QUIT LEGISLATURE IF LINKED WITH TAYLOR
From J. Cholo Brooks/Liberia
One of the newly elected legislators who was recently
denied leaving Liberia for a parliamentary training workshop in Ghana says
he is prepared to quit if there's evidence he has links with exiled
former President Charles Taylor.
Speaking recently with reporters at his multi-million US
dollars residence in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Mr. Edwin Snowe said
he was prepared to be investigated regarding his role with Taylor, "I am
prepared to leave the Legislature if found that I have links with Mr.
Taylor", he boastfully stressed.
Mr. Snowe currently the Managing Director of the Liberia
Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) was also former son-in-law of the former
President. He has in recent time come under pressure of being corrupt by
the Center for Democratic Empowerment, a local human rights advocacy
group.
Snowe is also vying for the position of speaker-ship of
the House of Representatives, but critics say as a travel ban victim and
some one who has been accused of human rights record, he should not be
elected to that post.
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Inauguration
Nyenpan Tarpehdoe
January 9, 2006, Boston, Mass: - Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who
served as the head of the Liberian Council of Good Governance will be
inducted into office as Liberia's 24th president on the 16th of January
2006. The City of Monrovia which lies in ruins as a result of the civil war
lasting over 13 years will be the attraction of that week by the
international community. Representatives of world leaders, as well as head
of states, and other dignitaries will converge upon Monrovia to celebrate
with the Liberian leader.
However, Monrovia remains dilapidated for the world to see
during the inauguration of Johnson-Sirleaf with the hope it would raise
sympathy from the international community for immediate assistance. There
are sporadic electricity and street lights in certain sectors of Monrovia,
but the larger part of the city remains in darkness and deprived of pipe
borne water. The roadways and city streets are in disrepair; government
buildings and other infrastructures are evidence of a deserted city by
former leaders.
Successive governments following the collapse of the Samuel
Doe's administration have done nothing except to undermine the economic and
social development of the nation leading to a fail state, deserted by the
international community, and the demise of its social structure. Liberia
today remains worse than it was ever known. Charles Taylor along with some
international hustlers swindled the nation's wealth. Gudith Bryant,
succeeding Taylor through a special arrangement concocted in Ghana did no
better in protecting Liberian economic resources; his administration is
credited with having the most public official engaged with corruption.
Although for decades, some of the officials selected to
serve this country had practiced widespread corruption, fleecing the
economy, and stealing the nation's wealth was the order of the day. Now, the
rush for personal aggrandizement and roguish behavior has never been so
prevalent in the Liberian society since the election of Johnson-Sirleaf and
previous administrations headed by Bryant, Taylor, and Doe. Therefore, the
larger question is; how can Johnson-Sirleaf protect the nation's wealth when
she has been a player in the Bryant's government? Published reports say when
she served as head of good governance she once called for an audit of the
Bryant's administration but nothing happened. The report from the audit
conducted by a team of auditors from the United States was never made
public.
Corruption has been institutionalized in Liberia for
decades. Now as a way of life from public officials to store keepers,
nothing is achieved by an investor in the country without greasing the palms
of service providers. What is Johnson-Sirleaf record for protecting the
nation's wealth. Yes, I do understand the role she played when she served as
Deputy Finance Minister in Liberia when she leaked to the Liberian Press as
well as other organizations in the country that a floating casino hotel
during the Tolbert held OAU celebration in Monrovia would serve no interest
to the Liberian economy. But what has been her stance since then? We know
too well that she fought a civil war against the Liberian people for 14
years to prove that Doe was corrupt or simply a tyrant, or someone who kept
her imprisoned for months. With such blood stained hands, Liberian elected
Johnson-Sirleaf as their president perhaps of some qualities found in her.
Maybe Ellen has asked God's forgiveness for the role she
played during the civil war which killed scores of Liberians. With blood on
her hands, she will lead Liberia to greatness or further demise but with
positivism it's definitely cannot be the latter.
The challenge is on; pineapple must produce its juice and so
it is with Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. She is on record for having stated to the
effect during the war she helped financed, destroy Monrovia, when we get
there we will rebuild it. Every dog has its day, now its hers.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Congratulations
Nyenpan
Tarpehdoe
November 25, 2005, Boston, Mass: -
You are the first elected woman president in the Republic of Liberia; some
say you are the first woman to be elected president in Africa,
congratulations. Least to say you have your work cut out for you. Your task
is monumental, and it should not be yours alone. It's crucial that your
government and administration be reflective of Liberia; in simple terms let
your government look like the country.
As you are aware, Liberians are very
forgiven. Regardless of what your instructions were during the heyday of
the Liberian civil war, you have ably explained the circumstances and
apologized to your people and they have reciprocated by electing you their
president to pull them out of the mess you help organized. I expect your
leadership to realize tremendous progress, and we stand ready to support
you. Liberia is the larger picture here, no individual is larger than the
country.
The rebuilding of Liberia requires the
support of everyone. You have worked hard to achieve the presidency of our
country; there is no easy road to success. Many have died along the struggle
for this great success. It is your responsibility to honor all those who
died by being steadfast in your belief that equality must abound for all
Liberians, and that justice must supersede injustice, that personal
aggrandizement must be deterred, that there should be no room for
complacency in your government as far as services, and motivation of the
people are concerned.
While it is true the task ahead will
be met by immense opposition, but the achievement of your goal to the
satisfaction of our people will be the ultimate accomplishment of your
administration. To realize this, your government must court the support of
the majority of our people.
You will accept assistance from all
faucets of support from around the world. Your foreign policy will be based
on friendship and peace while your domestic policy will focus on health
care, education, and economic development.
The security of your people will reign
supreme of all tasks in your administration. The protection of our borders
will also claim your immediate attention.
Rest assured there would be no
shortness of ideas and advice coming your way. But you must adhere to most
of these because within them you will find solutions to problems you may
face down the road.
Good luck.
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