President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf recently dismissed some members of her administration to signal to the world her position on corruption. Despite the varying responses to President Sirleaf's action - applauded by many and questioned by a few, conditions in Liberia are still favorable for corruption.
Those dismissed recently by President Sirleaf for what her administration termed, ‘corrupt practices,’ are Deputy Minister and Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. S. Benson Barh; Assistant Minister for Commerce and Industry, Aaron Mathies and James Attoh, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport, by President Sirleaf. The Liberian leader also endorsed the dismissal of five Finance Ministry employees, including Jesse Mulbah, Sr. Economist/MFU and Stanley T, Beh, Supervisor/ Foreign Travel Section. Others whose dismissal were recently approved by President Sirleaf were the Customs officers previously assigned to the Ganta Collectorate, Joemagaria Teld, Sr. Collector; Joseph Gbollie, Deputy Collector for Operations; and Willie A. Kaibay, Deputy Collector for Administration.
In her campaign promises, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf vowed to fight corruption and to ensure fiscal accountability and transparency within various institutions in Liberia. The recent dismissal of government employees and the transfers of other employees are therefore seen as steps in fulfilling some of her campaign promises.
Like Liberia, several post conflict societies are faced with corruption and other ills that weakens and undermines development. Corruption in itself poses serious challenge to peace, stability and development in any society. Politically, corruption undermines democracy and good governance by flouting, or even subverting formal processes. Corruption also weakens economic development by generating considerable distortions and inefficiency.
Althought the recent dismissal of those she considered corrupt members of her administration is seen as a positive step, President Sirleaf needs to institute measures that will curb and remove some of the conditions that nurture and breed corruption within the Liberian society. The preventive measures against corruption must also be parallelly initiated, simultaneously in various public institutions; they must be accompanied by stern actions against those who flout regulations aimed at curbing corrupt practices.
Professors Dr. James Lebovic and Dr. John Volpe, political scientists and political economist respectively, in a series of separate discussions described conditions that are favorable for corruption as, adverse government structures, Information deficits, Opportunities and incentives, Social conditions, Deficits of law and Imperfect Electoral Processes, among others.
Most of the conditions described by the two, Dr. Lebovic and Dr. Volpe are prevalent in Liberia. For example, the issue of adverse government structure, constitutes concentration of power in decision makers who are not accountable to the people is evidently common practice in Liberia. It is public knowledge that over the years, and even now, most of the decision makers in Liberia have not been answerable, or responsible to the public or their constitutents.
Unlike practices in Ghana and other countries in the region, and other parts of the world where decision makers feel challenge by their constitutents, and where the ethics of responsibility towards the public is regarded as significant, in Liberia; such commitments are either partly practiced or lacking. In most societies where democracy is flourishing, members of the legislature regularly visit their constituents and interact with citizens within their constitutents. By interacting with members of their contituency, elected officials become aware of the needs of the people, and therefore can adequately represent the people and put forth their request.
In Ghana, the United States, Nigeria and other countries, when there is a disaster in a rural part of those countries, the parliamentarian or member of legislature in whose region the incident occurs immediately visits the affected area; that elected official becomes familiar with the situation and then begins advocating for assistance for victims of the disaster. The contrary has been in Liberia.
Poorly paid Officials
Information Deficit was listed by Volpe and Lebovic as one of the many factors that promotes corruption. Information Deficit is clearly one of the numerous widespread problems Liberia faces. Inconsistency in information, information discrepancy, and the scarcity of information are situations that have prevailed in Liberia for many years. From the onset of that country, governments and heads of various institutions calculatingly neglected the exercising of freedom of speech and the press and also discouraged the participation of citizens in decision-making. This lack of government transparencies usually is a result of poor financial and accounting practices, which the government believes is best concealed to avoid scrutiny of its practices. Unlike Liberia, other countries around the world are exhibiting the political will in bridging the information gap within their societies. Many observers attribute the wide information gap in Liberia , largely to the dictatorial rule that Liberia has experienced since its establishment. The Liberian society has been plaqued with limitation on freedom, including freedom of speech and of the press and and other vices that have become embedded in that society- regrettably, becoming an acceptable way of life.
Professor Volpe also elaborated on an additional condition that promotes corruption: Opportunities and Incentives. The Professor of International Economics said, ‘providing opportunities and incentives are essential conditions for curbing corruption in society.” Volpe described elements associated with Opportunities and Incentives as avoiding large investments of public capital, but adopt the policy of investing appropriate capital. He discussed some aspects of Opportunities and Incentives; factors that promote corruption that are also existing in Liberia; that is, poorly paid government officials. He said, '"once government officials are underpaid, they engage in corrupt practices, and once corruption begins to take place within institutions, corruption indirectly becomes institutionalized."
As for the Professor for International Politics, Dr. Lebovic, he added two other conditions that promotes corruption. He said, 'Social Conditions and Deficits of Rule of Law' are two conditions, equally important, that can be used as yard sticks to determine the level of corrupt practices within a society. Lebovic described 'social conditions' as situations that includes the existence of a kind of ‘network' where certain self- interested persons continue to use their connections through this network to preserve their status without merit. A typical example of such networks in Liberia and the criminal network is "Taylor boys." Another network that falls under “social condition’ preserved by the old ruling class in Liberia is "Old School boys,” "The Freemasonry, " or "Members of the Masonic Temple." Another network that is continental is the "African Boys/chief Club." Members of these networks support one another loyally.
Lebovic said in a society where a larger majority of the people are illiterate, and or where there exist a larger ignorant population with little information on making political decision signifies "social conditions." Liberia is obviously a victim of "social condition." Liberia has more than 80% illiteracty rate. Moreover, most of the populace are not only without formal education, but they are also unaware of their their rights to make or participate in decision making processes.
'Imperfect Electoral Process'
"Discrepancy of law," is one more condition that encourages corruotion, Lebovic said. Discrepancy of law connotes break down of law and weak legal systems. Over the years, Liberia’s rule of law and its legal system have been severly corrupted, due to lack of democracy, ignorant populace, influence of the justice system by the few powerful ruling elites and manipulation of the legal system by the various social networks that continue to prevail in Liberia.
One last, but major condition, the political scientists illustrated as an added factor that influences corruption is "Imperfect electoral processes." A flawed electoral process encompasses costly political campaigns with expenses exceeding sources of political funding and the absence of adequate controls to prevent bribery, Lebovic said. He said, Imperfect electoral process can lead to ballot tampering, intimidation of voters, buying of votes and making poor electoral choices, among others situation. Putting Professor Lebovic's analysis of an imperfect electoral process into context indicates that almost all of the election processes that have taken place in Liberia have been imperfect.
Throughout Liberia's history, Liberia's elections have been marred by irregularities, malpractices, manipulation, violences and other misconducts and unprofessional practices that influenced the results of the electoral processes. A more recent example of an imperfect electoral process in Liberia was the 2005 elections. The first indicator that the 2005 electoral process would be imperfect was the participation of villians as candidates. Most of the villians are publicly known in Liberia and listed gobally as among those who have commited human rights violations abuses and economic crimes in Liberia and the West African sub-region have over the years used their networks and wealth to circumvent the laws, intimidate innocent civilians, and assaulted others they perceived as threats. It was therefore obvious that they would again use their wealth, power and networks to influence votes and the electoral process to become elected.
Another key factor that has also led to imperfect electoral processes in Liberia is the high illiteracy rate of the mass majority of the country's population. The illiterate and ignorant population were uneducated about the the electoral process, they were also unaware of their rights and responsibilities during campaigns and elections. This lack of information continues to hinder not only elections but also the democratic process in Liberia.
The Link: Elections and Corruption
Although elections does not determine democracy, it plays a key role in determining the level of corruption that could exist in a society. Elections can also be used as a yard stick to establish the level of freedom, if any, enjoyed by people, and also ascertain the advancement of people within society. Elections can therefore be seen as an echelon for several democratic tenets in a society. The link between Elections and Corruption is that, elections can be used to determine the conditions of corruption that are being established and fomented in a society; elections can also signal the determination of the people to do away with elements that promote corruption and underdevelopment within society.
As have been seen in many countries, including Liberia, Imperfect electoral processes leads to corruption. Corruption in elections and in legislative bodies reduces accountablility and distorts representation in policy making; corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of law, and corruption in public administration results in the unfair provision of services.
More generally, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of government as procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and public offices are bought and sold. At the same time, corruption undermines the legitimacy of government and such democratic values as trust and tolerance.
Successive Liberian governments have been susceptible to political corruption, including patronage, bribery, exhortion, influencing peddling, fraud, embezzlement and nepotism. The corrupt practices in Liberia particularly, during the administration of Charles Taylor encouraged drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal prosttitution and other criminal enterprise. It is therefore hoped that the government of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will institute measures to curb corrupt practices, and promote accountability and transparency, promote freedom of speech and the press; initiate sustainable development programs, so that Liberia can move away from a period of undervelopment to an era, where rule of law is upheld and a majority of its people can participate in decisions making processes.
Copyright © Musue N. Haddad
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Random Thoughts: Tuesday is 666 - Will the World End Tomorrow?
Dearest Mama,
Is tomorrow’s date: 6-6-6 just another inquisitive number, or could it mean that the end of time is here? What I am really asking is, will tomorrow be the end of the world, or just another regular day, Mama?
Tomorrow is June 6, 2006, which mathematically means, the sixth day of the sixth month and also the sixth year of this millennium. That is 666! But something about the number 666 brings out the anxiety, and the humor in people. The peculiarity of the number started in the Book of Revelation. 666 is commonly known as the Number of the Beast in the Book of Revelation chapter 13, versus 17 -18.
I heard that many people from the clan are already getting baptized; some wearing white robes waiting to meet tomorrow as new persons. I heard that some of the money people in the clan have already gotten people to start praying for them. These people paying for others to pray for them are the ones who believe that money can influence anything; they even believe that they can bribe or fool God. In the kwee people’s place, my neighbor started wearing a very large cross since last week, and reciting prayers that were given out by some persons on the street. My neighbor’s girl friend even told my neighbor that they should stop living in sin – two days ago, they hurriedly got married. What happens if tomorrow is uneventful? This is why the people who talk to people tell people not to marry because of something, because when that thing ceased to exist, then things begin to fall apart.
Mama, do you know whether the chief is aware that tomorrow is 6-6-6? Please find out from Mr. Karmu or MaNora if the chief is worried about the coming of 666 on tomorrow. I heard that the chief has one big church that she is an active member of and some other churches she attends once in a while. Will the chief make all the churches she attend come together so she can pray with all of them? Or the churches pray for her. Will the fear of tomorrow make the chief admit and apologize to people she has wronged?
What’s about some of the big people in our clan? What are some of their moods? Will Snow confess how he got elected? Will that other big man in our clan, Mr. Brown who was living in this kwee’s people place also confess how bad he was to his woman? That man now big man back home, used to treat his woman like some kind of trash; now he is big man and he thinks that he is above every misdeed he has committed. Why should such people without morality become big people, what examples do they show? Mama, people like that must realize that when someone is nice to you and you belittle them, it doesn’t matter what position you get, what money you get, a day of reckoning always come. That man now roaming around the world, meeting with dignitaries, thinks he is king, but that day when his conscious will prick him; the day when his deeds will catch up with him, I hope it is already catching up with him before tomorrow.
As for Pappay he has always been seen as a religious person. Will the # 666 make a difference in the kinds of prayer he will have tonight? One interesting thing about the guy is he does not distinguish anything, especially when it comes to religion. Pappay said he belonged to one religion, and he had many women who also proclaimed to be a member of that religion; but he had one wife and other women from other religions. He was also associated with other religious practices. I wonder what happens when all these religious practices knock heads. Will the coming of tomorrow have any impact on Pappay’s life? Will Pappay call on the spirit of Teah Faculty to forgive him for taking his wife after Faculty died in a car crash? Teah Faculty was really working hard for Pappay. When Faculty died, his woman was pregnant. Pappay asked Faculty woman to abort Faculty’s unborn child. Pappay told Julie that if she aborted Faculty’s child, he, Pappay would marry her. Faculty’s wife, Julie aborted her dead husband’s child. Pappay did not marry her. She got pregnant for Pappay and has his child. Will the coming of "666" make Julie to reflect on the abortion of her dead husband’s child? Mama, do you think she regrets her actions?
Will Pappay and his security guys think about all the persons they have killed - John Yomie, Nowei Flomo, May Myers and many others. I am sure the fear of death will make them reflect on the killings they have carried out; the cries of their victims, their victims plead for mercy.
Mama, I heard that this whole 666 business started long ago, not just in our clan and the kwee people place, but in this whole wide world: long before I was born and long before you were even born. As we grow, we have come to see how people relate to 666. You remembered that day when the market woman, MaAnnie was hysterical after realizing that her day’s earning was $666 and she even forced you to buy a $5.00 fish for $0.25? Another drama around 666 was when Oldman Marshall and his family ran out of their house in the middle of the night because their son came out with the # 666 while solving a math problem. They immediately started thinking that their son was a follower of the Antichrist. Poor boy, they beat him up so badly.
When I asked Teacher Moses to tell me how easy one can reach 666 when solving a mathematical problem, he used all kinds of terminology. I will just write what he said, maybe you will understand it better than me: The harmonic mean of the digits of 666 is an integer: 3/ (1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6) = 6.666 is the 54th number with this property.
I called one kwee person who teaches religion to ask about this 666 business. The man said that people should not worry about tomorrow. I asked him why, he said that generally, it is hard to take Tuesday as a day of reckoning. He said generally people hate Monday, while Wednesday is a day that people generally get together. He added, ‘Friday sometimes falls on the 13th which is considered a bad omen, but Tuesdays and Thursdays don’t look like days when bad things can happen.”
I was glad this man said this, but just as I was about to leave, this book man made my head swing again. He said although the book of Revelation is not prophesying a particular end of times but the day is about the struggle of good versus evil in outer space. When this man said this, I started thinking, “suppose that fighting leave outer space and reaches earth.” I put my hand under my chin and stare into space wondering what happens if this fighting falls from the sky. I started thinking when I will see you again, Mama. Could the fighting between good and evil in space mean the end or the beginning of when we will be together? While wrecking my brain on this outer spece fighting, I thought about something - anyone who fears 666 can stand on their head and the figure will become 999. I think I will try to stand on my head and be like that until midnight. This is our secret Mama.
Will you stand on your head too? Let me know what happens tomorrow, Mama.
Always,
musue
Is tomorrow’s date: 6-6-6 just another inquisitive number, or could it mean that the end of time is here? What I am really asking is, will tomorrow be the end of the world, or just another regular day, Mama?
Tomorrow is June 6, 2006, which mathematically means, the sixth day of the sixth month and also the sixth year of this millennium. That is 666! But something about the number 666 brings out the anxiety, and the humor in people. The peculiarity of the number started in the Book of Revelation. 666 is commonly known as the Number of the Beast in the Book of Revelation chapter 13, versus 17 -18.
I heard that many people from the clan are already getting baptized; some wearing white robes waiting to meet tomorrow as new persons. I heard that some of the money people in the clan have already gotten people to start praying for them. These people paying for others to pray for them are the ones who believe that money can influence anything; they even believe that they can bribe or fool God. In the kwee people’s place, my neighbor started wearing a very large cross since last week, and reciting prayers that were given out by some persons on the street. My neighbor’s girl friend even told my neighbor that they should stop living in sin – two days ago, they hurriedly got married. What happens if tomorrow is uneventful? This is why the people who talk to people tell people not to marry because of something, because when that thing ceased to exist, then things begin to fall apart.
Mama, do you know whether the chief is aware that tomorrow is 6-6-6? Please find out from Mr. Karmu or MaNora if the chief is worried about the coming of 666 on tomorrow. I heard that the chief has one big church that she is an active member of and some other churches she attends once in a while. Will the chief make all the churches she attend come together so she can pray with all of them? Or the churches pray for her. Will the fear of tomorrow make the chief admit and apologize to people she has wronged?
What’s about some of the big people in our clan? What are some of their moods? Will Snow confess how he got elected? Will that other big man in our clan, Mr. Brown who was living in this kwee’s people place also confess how bad he was to his woman? That man now big man back home, used to treat his woman like some kind of trash; now he is big man and he thinks that he is above every misdeed he has committed. Why should such people without morality become big people, what examples do they show? Mama, people like that must realize that when someone is nice to you and you belittle them, it doesn’t matter what position you get, what money you get, a day of reckoning always come. That man now roaming around the world, meeting with dignitaries, thinks he is king, but that day when his conscious will prick him; the day when his deeds will catch up with him, I hope it is already catching up with him before tomorrow.
As for Pappay he has always been seen as a religious person. Will the # 666 make a difference in the kinds of prayer he will have tonight? One interesting thing about the guy is he does not distinguish anything, especially when it comes to religion. Pappay said he belonged to one religion, and he had many women who also proclaimed to be a member of that religion; but he had one wife and other women from other religions. He was also associated with other religious practices. I wonder what happens when all these religious practices knock heads. Will the coming of tomorrow have any impact on Pappay’s life? Will Pappay call on the spirit of Teah Faculty to forgive him for taking his wife after Faculty died in a car crash? Teah Faculty was really working hard for Pappay. When Faculty died, his woman was pregnant. Pappay asked Faculty woman to abort Faculty’s unborn child. Pappay told Julie that if she aborted Faculty’s child, he, Pappay would marry her. Faculty’s wife, Julie aborted her dead husband’s child. Pappay did not marry her. She got pregnant for Pappay and has his child. Will the coming of "666" make Julie to reflect on the abortion of her dead husband’s child? Mama, do you think she regrets her actions?
Will Pappay and his security guys think about all the persons they have killed - John Yomie, Nowei Flomo, May Myers and many others. I am sure the fear of death will make them reflect on the killings they have carried out; the cries of their victims, their victims plead for mercy.
Mama, I heard that this whole 666 business started long ago, not just in our clan and the kwee people place, but in this whole wide world: long before I was born and long before you were even born. As we grow, we have come to see how people relate to 666. You remembered that day when the market woman, MaAnnie was hysterical after realizing that her day’s earning was $666 and she even forced you to buy a $5.00 fish for $0.25? Another drama around 666 was when Oldman Marshall and his family ran out of their house in the middle of the night because their son came out with the # 666 while solving a math problem. They immediately started thinking that their son was a follower of the Antichrist. Poor boy, they beat him up so badly.
When I asked Teacher Moses to tell me how easy one can reach 666 when solving a mathematical problem, he used all kinds of terminology. I will just write what he said, maybe you will understand it better than me: The harmonic mean of the digits of 666 is an integer: 3/ (1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6) = 6.666 is the 54th number with this property.
I called one kwee person who teaches religion to ask about this 666 business. The man said that people should not worry about tomorrow. I asked him why, he said that generally, it is hard to take Tuesday as a day of reckoning. He said generally people hate Monday, while Wednesday is a day that people generally get together. He added, ‘Friday sometimes falls on the 13th which is considered a bad omen, but Tuesdays and Thursdays don’t look like days when bad things can happen.”
I was glad this man said this, but just as I was about to leave, this book man made my head swing again. He said although the book of Revelation is not prophesying a particular end of times but the day is about the struggle of good versus evil in outer space. When this man said this, I started thinking, “suppose that fighting leave outer space and reaches earth.” I put my hand under my chin and stare into space wondering what happens if this fighting falls from the sky. I started thinking when I will see you again, Mama. Could the fighting between good and evil in space mean the end or the beginning of when we will be together? While wrecking my brain on this outer spece fighting, I thought about something - anyone who fears 666 can stand on their head and the figure will become 999. I think I will try to stand on my head and be like that until midnight. This is our secret Mama.
Will you stand on your head too? Let me know what happens tomorrow, Mama.
Always,
musue
Random Thoughts: The People Are Sad, Hungry, Angry and Poor, Do not Silence Them!
Dearest Mama,
I want you to know that people are reading our letters and some of them are angry when ever we mention “Pappay” in our communications. My master called me the other day to tell me that I had some visitors outside. Ah, ah! Will you believe he did not tell me that they were screaming – some of them holding calabashes, old fish cans and mortar pestles. He said they had been writing on something he has at his office called, Blogs. My master is kwee. But here, they don't say kwee, they say "modern, sophisticated, updated," so he got kwee office and the Blog is a kwee people thing in his office, with some computers in the hall for people to use. He also did not tell that in their letters on his office Blogs, they were expressing anger about our letters: Dearest Mama. Apparently, the post office also called my master telling him that some people knock the head of the man who can bring the letters to the place I live. They thought he was the one writing you. I felt so sorry for the poor, innocent man but it was also funny – the man is bald, I mean the man got sarbu head, so you can imagine.
Let me tell you what happened when my master told me I had visitors standing against the office wall waiting for me. I did not go outside immediately, because I already had many things to complete- I was waiting for Toku to return my call about the palm oil and country beans. I also had to read and reply the many letters from the people in the yard you read my letter to, the post man was waiting for me. Ignorant me, after I did all that, I went to see the people waiting for me. Some of them got tired waiting and left messages in red paint on the walls; those still waiting were standing akimbo. I opened the door, but before could I run back inside, they grabbed me.
Someone knock my head with a old mashed up can, I heard the echo from the knock, another started pulling my hair, one person grabbed my leg and two persons tightened my hands and they slapped and punched, they also koncked my head Mama. Imagine, me, they slapped and punched my head- not one time, but so many times. I was trying to count the slapping and hitting but the guy with the bottle smelling with palm wine was about to bash my toes. When I saw the bottle coming, I gathered my thoughts, focused on what little strength I had to wriggle myself from those holding me. In that process of gathering my thoughts, I saw the lady with the mortar pestle. She had the pestle midway in the air, aimed for my head. I knew that my mind and my body had to work fast, faster than a comet, if I had to write you again. I jiggled with all my mind, my might and strength.The time span between when I waggled, setting my self free, and when the bottle and pestle landed where I was held, was less than a split second. The pestle shattered the bottle. Although the pestle broke, the pieces from the smashed bottle flew into the air and gashed those who attacked and assaulted me. I took advantage of the distraction caused by the shattered bottle; ran inside, bolted the gate, locked the door and hid behind the shelves inside the library.
I sat in there and got more angry and furious, not because of the slaps and hits, but that those people could actually be brave to knock my head. I remembered some of the things you said human beings should avoid doing and saying to others because, they are not only cruel, but they also humiliates and takes away the dignity of a person. Even if you hate someone, or was in the process of killing a person, every human being dignity should be protected and preserved, you always said. That is a really wise saying Mama. Over the years, and throughout the years I have been away from you, I have come to value more and more your counsel. I really do understand and believe that anyone who really strips a person of their dignity, also take away their own dignity - whether they realize it at that point or not, that is the truth. One of such things you warned against was, using the feet to kick a person in the buttock. You said such action indicates a total disregard; it signifies hatred and it is demeaning and more agonizing than being pierced with a sword. Although, you spoke against deliberately using set of fingers to hit someone on the head, you did not go indepth on that, as you did other issues, I feel it morally hurts than it does physically. That is why I was so angry when they folded few sets of fingers and hit me on the head with their knuckles.
Mama, the effects and implications of all of these things you told me about human dignity, and the importance of allowing others to live a simple dignified life are things I do value. Respect others is easy to say, but so difficult to maintain particularly during disagreements, angers and when the environment and air within which negatives vices are carried are becoming dominant. As I thought about all of the beautiful things you taught us, and remembered what had just occured outside, I felt my chest go up and down, and in such forceful manner. Thank God my master was far away. I would have probably … let me not say anything because he might also read this letter, or someone will tell him, but I was angry that he hid the emotions expressed by those who intercepted our communication, and did not find the content favorable.
Mama, I was sitting in that library perplexed by all the lies those people were saying about me while they punched me like a bag. Me, wanted Pappay to give me a ‘chance,” I laughed. It was so funny; it is almost like seeking punishment. Well, just as those people were making those false accusations, there were others defending me. Well, that is why the kwee people say, “Ignorance is a disease.” Some of those people are purely ignorant and when someone is ignorant, it is a tough one.
Sometimes I say I rather deal with a insane person than someone who is stupid. You can cure a crazy person, but it is a tough one trying to get a stupid person to be clever. There are also those who are just envious. As for those filled with sheer envy, you said that they are the worse enemies any human being can have. You do good for them, they envy you, you ignore them they pursue you. That's because, they are possessed by the demon of envy. “Stay free of those who envy you Musue,” I remembered you always pleaded with me. You also said that there was no cure to envy unless that person conscious pricks them. How do you determine whether that person's conscious has revived, is another question. Beside, they say that when someone has been possessed, there is always a possibility that they will revisit the land of evil. The problem is determining whether someone is consumed by envy, because such people hide their claws, but like Zobbarg said, “The red flag shoots out at certain times during your interaction with such people. Don’t ignore the red flag,” Zobbard always warned.
If our village doesn’t try to do something about the level of ignorance and the attitude of resentment within that society, we will always have this problem of confusion, assaults which are instigated by falsehoods, poverty, underdevelopment and almost all the ills that will continue to destroy us. It is for this same reason that many good people don’t want to go home to help build our clan. I saw Dr. Darkumu last week. The man knows book, and on top of that he knows so many of the kwee people who want to help our village, but Darkumu said he will not go back. He said that he has built his reputation and will not go to our village just for some people to destroy his credibility. Mama, I don't blame Darkum for refusing to return. Remember what you said, “When good name spoilt, it is hard to clean it.” Who really want to spoil their name when you know that it is your heart beat. After all the struggle, just to learn this kwee people book; I havn't had the time to "go outing," as they call dancing and other fun thing here, then in the name of trying to help my people, my name and my credibility will be pulled down the drain because I refused to give someone a cut in the budget for providing clean water, or the project to help the sick children. If I refuse to give the person what they want, I'll lose my job, if I give the person what they want, the projects for the people will not be completed, in addition, I mortage my integrity. No Way!
I remembered before I left the village, you called me, “Mamusue” I loved it when you called me that way or Mamus. You called me that day and said, “you are going to the world now, remember that you come from this village and we are walking with you’. I told you, “Mama, I am going out there, and with your blessings, the blessings of Poppa and the people of our village, I will bring honor and glory to your name and our people.” I am still holding on to that promise Mama, and I am praying that in whatever I do, I fulfill a part of that promise.
Mama, it is in fulfillment of a part of that promise that I am writing this letter for us to talk about all the important things in our village, all that have happened in our village; all that is happening in our village and to our people. So many of our people died, they were killed, but not just killed, they were humiliated, and then killed cruelly. We can not allow their spirits to be wandering in pain. We can help them to lie peacefully where ever they were buried; help them for their bones to rest, by knowing what really happened to them. So, I will still ask Pappay about some of those people. I will also ask Pappay if he in any way feels that he made some wrong choices and decisions. Moreover, I will also continue to look at some of the situations in our village, ask the old women and old men and the children about what they really want. I will let them talk about what is hurting them because they have to take out what is in their hearts if we can all live together as one people again. If these people, our people don’t express themselves, we will not be able to dance again like we used to before all this trouble started.
I heard that Old man Tonia took out his horn and his wife MaThelma came out with her salsa, they played for long hours walking around the village, hoping that people will come out to dance, but no one came out to dance like we used to do before. Instead people just stood at their doors and windows looking at Old man Tonia and MaThelma like they were strangers. The reason is people are sad, hungry, angry, poor, homeless and tired. We must allow them to talk, allow them to speak, if not, they will die again and again, and again, so many times before they actually inhale and exhale their last breath. My heart cries out for our people; people who were independent, but now they have to wait for handouts!
Write me soon Mama, and I am glad people are reading our letters because it gives them the opportunity to express themselves too, but it doesn't give them the right to not to knock my head.
always,
Musue
I want you to know that people are reading our letters and some of them are angry when ever we mention “Pappay” in our communications. My master called me the other day to tell me that I had some visitors outside. Ah, ah! Will you believe he did not tell me that they were screaming – some of them holding calabashes, old fish cans and mortar pestles. He said they had been writing on something he has at his office called, Blogs. My master is kwee. But here, they don't say kwee, they say "modern, sophisticated, updated," so he got kwee office and the Blog is a kwee people thing in his office, with some computers in the hall for people to use. He also did not tell that in their letters on his office Blogs, they were expressing anger about our letters: Dearest Mama. Apparently, the post office also called my master telling him that some people knock the head of the man who can bring the letters to the place I live. They thought he was the one writing you. I felt so sorry for the poor, innocent man but it was also funny – the man is bald, I mean the man got sarbu head, so you can imagine.
Let me tell you what happened when my master told me I had visitors standing against the office wall waiting for me. I did not go outside immediately, because I already had many things to complete- I was waiting for Toku to return my call about the palm oil and country beans. I also had to read and reply the many letters from the people in the yard you read my letter to, the post man was waiting for me. Ignorant me, after I did all that, I went to see the people waiting for me. Some of them got tired waiting and left messages in red paint on the walls; those still waiting were standing akimbo. I opened the door, but before could I run back inside, they grabbed me.
Someone knock my head with a old mashed up can, I heard the echo from the knock, another started pulling my hair, one person grabbed my leg and two persons tightened my hands and they slapped and punched, they also koncked my head Mama. Imagine, me, they slapped and punched my head- not one time, but so many times. I was trying to count the slapping and hitting but the guy with the bottle smelling with palm wine was about to bash my toes. When I saw the bottle coming, I gathered my thoughts, focused on what little strength I had to wriggle myself from those holding me. In that process of gathering my thoughts, I saw the lady with the mortar pestle. She had the pestle midway in the air, aimed for my head. I knew that my mind and my body had to work fast, faster than a comet, if I had to write you again. I jiggled with all my mind, my might and strength.The time span between when I waggled, setting my self free, and when the bottle and pestle landed where I was held, was less than a split second. The pestle shattered the bottle. Although the pestle broke, the pieces from the smashed bottle flew into the air and gashed those who attacked and assaulted me. I took advantage of the distraction caused by the shattered bottle; ran inside, bolted the gate, locked the door and hid behind the shelves inside the library.
I sat in there and got more angry and furious, not because of the slaps and hits, but that those people could actually be brave to knock my head. I remembered some of the things you said human beings should avoid doing and saying to others because, they are not only cruel, but they also humiliates and takes away the dignity of a person. Even if you hate someone, or was in the process of killing a person, every human being dignity should be protected and preserved, you always said. That is a really wise saying Mama. Over the years, and throughout the years I have been away from you, I have come to value more and more your counsel. I really do understand and believe that anyone who really strips a person of their dignity, also take away their own dignity - whether they realize it at that point or not, that is the truth. One of such things you warned against was, using the feet to kick a person in the buttock. You said such action indicates a total disregard; it signifies hatred and it is demeaning and more agonizing than being pierced with a sword. Although, you spoke against deliberately using set of fingers to hit someone on the head, you did not go indepth on that, as you did other issues, I feel it morally hurts than it does physically. That is why I was so angry when they folded few sets of fingers and hit me on the head with their knuckles.
Mama, the effects and implications of all of these things you told me about human dignity, and the importance of allowing others to live a simple dignified life are things I do value. Respect others is easy to say, but so difficult to maintain particularly during disagreements, angers and when the environment and air within which negatives vices are carried are becoming dominant. As I thought about all of the beautiful things you taught us, and remembered what had just occured outside, I felt my chest go up and down, and in such forceful manner. Thank God my master was far away. I would have probably … let me not say anything because he might also read this letter, or someone will tell him, but I was angry that he hid the emotions expressed by those who intercepted our communication, and did not find the content favorable.
Mama, I was sitting in that library perplexed by all the lies those people were saying about me while they punched me like a bag. Me, wanted Pappay to give me a ‘chance,” I laughed. It was so funny; it is almost like seeking punishment. Well, just as those people were making those false accusations, there were others defending me. Well, that is why the kwee people say, “Ignorance is a disease.” Some of those people are purely ignorant and when someone is ignorant, it is a tough one.
Sometimes I say I rather deal with a insane person than someone who is stupid. You can cure a crazy person, but it is a tough one trying to get a stupid person to be clever. There are also those who are just envious. As for those filled with sheer envy, you said that they are the worse enemies any human being can have. You do good for them, they envy you, you ignore them they pursue you. That's because, they are possessed by the demon of envy. “Stay free of those who envy you Musue,” I remembered you always pleaded with me. You also said that there was no cure to envy unless that person conscious pricks them. How do you determine whether that person's conscious has revived, is another question. Beside, they say that when someone has been possessed, there is always a possibility that they will revisit the land of evil. The problem is determining whether someone is consumed by envy, because such people hide their claws, but like Zobbarg said, “The red flag shoots out at certain times during your interaction with such people. Don’t ignore the red flag,” Zobbard always warned.
If our village doesn’t try to do something about the level of ignorance and the attitude of resentment within that society, we will always have this problem of confusion, assaults which are instigated by falsehoods, poverty, underdevelopment and almost all the ills that will continue to destroy us. It is for this same reason that many good people don’t want to go home to help build our clan. I saw Dr. Darkumu last week. The man knows book, and on top of that he knows so many of the kwee people who want to help our village, but Darkumu said he will not go back. He said that he has built his reputation and will not go to our village just for some people to destroy his credibility. Mama, I don't blame Darkum for refusing to return. Remember what you said, “When good name spoilt, it is hard to clean it.” Who really want to spoil their name when you know that it is your heart beat. After all the struggle, just to learn this kwee people book; I havn't had the time to "go outing," as they call dancing and other fun thing here, then in the name of trying to help my people, my name and my credibility will be pulled down the drain because I refused to give someone a cut in the budget for providing clean water, or the project to help the sick children. If I refuse to give the person what they want, I'll lose my job, if I give the person what they want, the projects for the people will not be completed, in addition, I mortage my integrity. No Way!
I remembered before I left the village, you called me, “Mamusue” I loved it when you called me that way or Mamus. You called me that day and said, “you are going to the world now, remember that you come from this village and we are walking with you’. I told you, “Mama, I am going out there, and with your blessings, the blessings of Poppa and the people of our village, I will bring honor and glory to your name and our people.” I am still holding on to that promise Mama, and I am praying that in whatever I do, I fulfill a part of that promise.
Mama, it is in fulfillment of a part of that promise that I am writing this letter for us to talk about all the important things in our village, all that have happened in our village; all that is happening in our village and to our people. So many of our people died, they were killed, but not just killed, they were humiliated, and then killed cruelly. We can not allow their spirits to be wandering in pain. We can help them to lie peacefully where ever they were buried; help them for their bones to rest, by knowing what really happened to them. So, I will still ask Pappay about some of those people. I will also ask Pappay if he in any way feels that he made some wrong choices and decisions. Moreover, I will also continue to look at some of the situations in our village, ask the old women and old men and the children about what they really want. I will let them talk about what is hurting them because they have to take out what is in their hearts if we can all live together as one people again. If these people, our people don’t express themselves, we will not be able to dance again like we used to before all this trouble started.
I heard that Old man Tonia took out his horn and his wife MaThelma came out with her salsa, they played for long hours walking around the village, hoping that people will come out to dance, but no one came out to dance like we used to do before. Instead people just stood at their doors and windows looking at Old man Tonia and MaThelma like they were strangers. The reason is people are sad, hungry, angry, poor, homeless and tired. We must allow them to talk, allow them to speak, if not, they will die again and again, and again, so many times before they actually inhale and exhale their last breath. My heart cries out for our people; people who were independent, but now they have to wait for handouts!
Write me soon Mama, and I am glad people are reading our letters because it gives them the opportunity to express themselves too, but it doesn't give them the right to not to knock my head.
always,
Musue
Liberia’s Price of Poverty...Persecute the Homeless
Liberia’s Price of Poverty...Persecute the Homeless
Have you ever wondered why a family will sleep in a grave, or reside in a tomb? Do you believe that a family will, by choice make a grave a home? And if you found a family- mother and her children using a tom, or the cementery as shelter, how would you react?
The use of tombs and graves by families and individuals in Monrovia, and the reaction of the Liberia police have drawn sharp criticisms from policy analysts and advocates in Monrovia and social workers outside of Liberia. Social workers and human rights advocates protested the Liberian Police recently arrested, and the courts’ prosecution of more than two dozen persons including families, for residing in tombs at the Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
Social workers and human rights activists asked the inspector of police, "Did you try to find out why these poeple- the familes, including children are sleeping in an already used grave? Do you believe that the parents had other options, but opted to pull their children to sleep in an old grave and worn out tomb?"
Most advocates and experts on post conflict issues and, individuals concerned about the well-being and safety of families, find the action by the Liberian government “inconceivable” particularly after a brutal war which led to widespread destruction of homes, rural towns and villages. “A mother will never want to put her child or children in such predicament, except where there is no alternative, ” one mother and social worker, Louise Dennis, said after reading about the detention of the homeless families by the Liberian law enforcement agencies.
“I am hurt and truly sad. The government is aware that several homes were destroyed during the war and should begin considering short-term measures and long-term programs to help families that are homeless rather than scold them,” Ms. Dennis said.
E. Saymendy Lloyd, chairperson, Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and also Founder and President of Women’s Wing Organization, based in Washington, D.C expressed surprised by the action taken by the government against the homeless persons.
“Those people should be released immediately. The issue is not criminal, but a matter of poverty,” Ms. Lloyd told FrontPageAfrica, during an interview. The two organizations Ms. Lloyd heads; Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization focus on assisting disadvantaged women, children, and the elderly within the D.C metro areas.
She said although her organization has not fully began operation in Liberia, she is taken aback by the action of the new Police Director, Col. Beatrice Munah Sieh and also the government for remanding and not assisting the families. “What happens to the families in jail,” she wondered.
“The President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should call for the immediate release of those families who have been remanded for sleeping in tombs. The president should also find a better shelter for those people,” Ms. Lloyd said.
The Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization work with government and policy makers. She said the organizations envision a society not just in the United States, but also in Liberia, where families, communities, government, social service institutions and businesses can work together to provide healthy, safe environments in which, children and families can live and work.
Several other advocates and services providers for families expressed concern, that given the post war situation in Liberia, the two most recent actions by government was untimely - first the demolition of market stalls without ensuring that alternative sites were available for sellers, and now the imprisonment of homeless families who used tombs in the grave yards as shelter.
Northwest Medical Teams, a U.S based organization, during one of its visits to Liberia estimated that “one of Thousands of the estimated 350,000 Liberian refugees in neighboring countries was attempting to return to their homeland. The Team said that, because of widespread destruction of rural towns and villages, “these families were joining the 500,000 Liberians subsisting in temporary shelters in make shift, ragged huts” near the capital city of Monrovia.
“There are huge needs in Liberia on every front,” says Bas Vanderzalm, president of Northwest Medical Teams. “Years of conflict have destroyed the healthcare system, the economy and even the basic right of secure housing for hundreds of thousands of families.”
When, Jonn D’Martin was appointed by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to serve as chairman of the Housing Authority early this year, he granted an interview with the Sacramento Observer in which he said, “Homelessness is a significant problem in Liberia.”
Martin is also quoted as saying, “The housing situation has really deteriorated over the last 14 years because of the war. Most of the homes were destroyed and government housing is almost nonexistent. There are some 300,000 to 400,000 Liberians living as refugees in neighboring countries like Sierra Leone and Ghana. We would like to have some of these people come back home, except we don’t have homes for them.”
“Our immediate concern will be to find a means of rehabilitating these people,” Martin said. He further discussed the idea of constructing lower income housing outside of Monrovia to have people begin to leave the cities and move into the outskirts of town.
“It’s not a quick fix, but I think she’s (Sirleaf) surrounding herself with very diligent, very capable people so I think with everyone’s heads in the right place, it’ll probably happen in a shorter period of time,” D'Martin said about the housing project he envisioned.
What has happened to Jonn D’Martin’s concerns for the homeless people; Martin’s lower income housing project to accommodate families whose homes were destroyed during the war?
It is apparent that Liberia’s homeless families are now faced with double jeopardy – homelessness because of the war and now imprisoned for being homeless. Once in prison, the families may also be further reprimanded for being poor and homeless and may have to sleep on the bare floor, and face the dilemma of no food or if, they are lucky, less food.
The fate of the women and girls will also be determined by prison guards, other prisoners and police officers – for being poor and homeless, the female prisoners may be face with the dilemma of either willingly becoming comforters or they may be rape mercilessly.
The vicious cycle of poverty continues.
Have you ever wondered why a family will sleep in a grave, or reside in a tomb? Do you believe that a family will, by choice make a grave a home? And if you found a family- mother and her children using a tom, or the cementery as shelter, how would you react?
The use of tombs and graves by families and individuals in Monrovia, and the reaction of the Liberia police have drawn sharp criticisms from policy analysts and advocates in Monrovia and social workers outside of Liberia. Social workers and human rights advocates protested the Liberian Police recently arrested, and the courts’ prosecution of more than two dozen persons including families, for residing in tombs at the Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
Social workers and human rights activists asked the inspector of police, "Did you try to find out why these poeple- the familes, including children are sleeping in an already used grave? Do you believe that the parents had other options, but opted to pull their children to sleep in an old grave and worn out tomb?"
Most advocates and experts on post conflict issues and, individuals concerned about the well-being and safety of families, find the action by the Liberian government “inconceivable” particularly after a brutal war which led to widespread destruction of homes, rural towns and villages. “A mother will never want to put her child or children in such predicament, except where there is no alternative, ” one mother and social worker, Louise Dennis, said after reading about the detention of the homeless families by the Liberian law enforcement agencies.
“I am hurt and truly sad. The government is aware that several homes were destroyed during the war and should begin considering short-term measures and long-term programs to help families that are homeless rather than scold them,” Ms. Dennis said.
E. Saymendy Lloyd, chairperson, Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and also Founder and President of Women’s Wing Organization, based in Washington, D.C expressed surprised by the action taken by the government against the homeless persons.
“Those people should be released immediately. The issue is not criminal, but a matter of poverty,” Ms. Lloyd told FrontPageAfrica, during an interview. The two organizations Ms. Lloyd heads; Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization focus on assisting disadvantaged women, children, and the elderly within the D.C metro areas.
She said although her organization has not fully began operation in Liberia, she is taken aback by the action of the new Police Director, Col. Beatrice Munah Sieh and also the government for remanding and not assisting the families. “What happens to the families in jail,” she wondered.
“The President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should call for the immediate release of those families who have been remanded for sleeping in tombs. The president should also find a better shelter for those people,” Ms. Lloyd said.
The Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization work with government and policy makers. She said the organizations envision a society not just in the United States, but also in Liberia, where families, communities, government, social service institutions and businesses can work together to provide healthy, safe environments in which, children and families can live and work.
Several other advocates and services providers for families expressed concern, that given the post war situation in Liberia, the two most recent actions by government was untimely - first the demolition of market stalls without ensuring that alternative sites were available for sellers, and now the imprisonment of homeless families who used tombs in the grave yards as shelter.
Northwest Medical Teams, a U.S based organization, during one of its visits to Liberia estimated that “one of Thousands of the estimated 350,000 Liberian refugees in neighboring countries was attempting to return to their homeland. The Team said that, because of widespread destruction of rural towns and villages, “these families were joining the 500,000 Liberians subsisting in temporary shelters in make shift, ragged huts” near the capital city of Monrovia.
“There are huge needs in Liberia on every front,” says Bas Vanderzalm, president of Northwest Medical Teams. “Years of conflict have destroyed the healthcare system, the economy and even the basic right of secure housing for hundreds of thousands of families.”
When, Jonn D’Martin was appointed by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to serve as chairman of the Housing Authority early this year, he granted an interview with the Sacramento Observer in which he said, “Homelessness is a significant problem in Liberia.”
Martin is also quoted as saying, “The housing situation has really deteriorated over the last 14 years because of the war. Most of the homes were destroyed and government housing is almost nonexistent. There are some 300,000 to 400,000 Liberians living as refugees in neighboring countries like Sierra Leone and Ghana. We would like to have some of these people come back home, except we don’t have homes for them.”
“Our immediate concern will be to find a means of rehabilitating these people,” Martin said. He further discussed the idea of constructing lower income housing outside of Monrovia to have people begin to leave the cities and move into the outskirts of town.
“It’s not a quick fix, but I think she’s (Sirleaf) surrounding herself with very diligent, very capable people so I think with everyone’s heads in the right place, it’ll probably happen in a shorter period of time,” D'Martin said about the housing project he envisioned.
What has happened to Jonn D’Martin’s concerns for the homeless people; Martin’s lower income housing project to accommodate families whose homes were destroyed during the war?
It is apparent that Liberia’s homeless families are now faced with double jeopardy – homelessness because of the war and now imprisoned for being homeless. Once in prison, the families may also be further reprimanded for being poor and homeless and may have to sleep on the bare floor, and face the dilemma of no food or if, they are lucky, less food.
The fate of the women and girls will also be determined by prison guards, other prisoners and police officers – for being poor and homeless, the female prisoners may be face with the dilemma of either willingly becoming comforters or they may be rape mercilessly.
The vicious cycle of poverty continues.
Liberia’s Price of Poverty...Persecute the Homeless
Have you ever wondered why a family will sleep in a grave or reside in a tomb? Do you believe that a family will, by choice make a grave a home? Or, is it now a crime to be poor and homeless?
These questions have become one of the key focuses of social workers, policy analysts and advocates of the homeless after the Liberian Police arrested, and the courts prosecuted and remanded more than two dozen persons including families, for residing in tombs at the Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
Most advocates and experts on post conflict issues and, individuals concerned about the well-being and safety of families, find the action by the Liberian government “inconceivable” particularly after a brutal war which led to widespread destruction of homes, rural towns and villages. “A mother will never want to put her child or children in such predicament, except where there is no alternative, ” one mother and social worker, Louise Dennis, said after reading about the detention of the homeless families by the Liberian law enforcement agencies.
“I am hurt and truly sad. The government is aware that several homes were destroyed during the war and should begin considering short-term measures and long-term programs to help families that are homeless rather than scold them,” Ms. Dennis said.
E. Saymendy Lloyd, chairperson, Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and also Founder and President of Women’s Wing Organization, based in Washington, D.C expressed surprised by the action taken by the government against the homeless persons.
“Those people should be released immediately. The issue is not criminal, but a matter of poverty,” Ms. Lloyd told FrontPageAfrica, during an interview. The two organizations Ms. Lloyd heads; Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization focus on assisting disadvantaged women, children, and the elderly within the D.C metro areas.
She said although her organization has not fully began operation in Liberia, she is taken aback by the action of the new Police Director, Col. Beatrice Munah Sieh and also the government for remanding and not assisting the families. “What happens to the families in jail,” she wondered.
“The President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should call for the immediate release of those families who have been remanded for sleeping in tombs. The president should also find a better shelter for those people,” Ms. Lloyd said.
The Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization work with government and policy makers. She said the organizations envision a society not just in the United States, but also in Liberia, where families, communities, government, social service institutions and businesses can work together to provide healthy, safe environments in which, children and families can live and work.
Several other advocates and services providers for families expressed concern, that given the post war situation in Liberia, the two most recent actions by government was untimely - first the demolition of market stalls without ensuring that alternative sites were available for sellers, and now the imprisonment of homeless families who used tombs in the grave yards as shelter.
Northwest Medical Teams, a U.S based organization, during one of its visits to Liberia estimated that “one of Thousands of the estimated 350,000 Liberian refugees in neighboring countries was attempting to return to their homeland. The Team said that, because of widespread destruction of rural towns and villages, “these families were joining the 500,000 Liberians subsisting in temporary shelters in make shift, ragged huts” near the capital city of Monrovia.
“There are huge needs in Liberia on every front,” says Bas Vanderzalm, president of Northwest Medical Teams. “Years of conflict have destroyed the healthcare system, the economy and even the basic right of secure housing for hundreds of thousands of families.”
When, Jonn D’Martin was appointed by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to serve as chairman of the Housing Authority early this year, he granted an interview with the Sacramento Observer in which he said, “Homelessness is a significant problem in Liberia.”
Martin is also quoted as saying, “The housing situation has really deteriorated over the last 14 years because of the war. Most of the homes were destroyed and government housing is almost nonexistent. There are some 300,000 to 400,000 Liberians living as refugees in neighboring countries like Sierra Leone and Ghana. We would like to have some of these people come back home, except we don’t have homes for them.”
“Our immediate concern will be to find a means of rehabilitating these people,” Martin said. He further discussed the idea of constructing lower income housing outside of Monrovia to have people begin to leave the cities and move into the outskirts of town.
“It’s not a quick fix, but I think she’s (Sirleaf) surrounding herself with very diligent, very capable people so I think with everyone’s heads in the right place, it’ll probably happen in a shorter period of time,” D'Martin said about the housing project he envisioned.
What has happened to Jonn D’Martin’s concerns for the homeless people; Martin’s lower income housing project to accommodate families whose homes were destroyed during the war?
It is apparent that Liberia’s homeless families are now faced with double jeopardy – homelessness because of the war and now imprisoned for being homeless. Once in prison, the families may also be further reprimanded for being poor and homeless and may have to sleep on the bare floor, and face the dilemma of no food or if, they are lucky, less food.
The fate of the women and girls will also be determined by prison guards, other prisoners and police officers – for being poor and homeless, the female prisoners may be face with the dilemma of either willingly becoming comforters or they may be rape mercilessly.
A catch-22 situation and the vicious circle continues.
Copyright © Musue N. Haddad
These questions have become one of the key focuses of social workers, policy analysts and advocates of the homeless after the Liberian Police arrested, and the courts prosecuted and remanded more than two dozen persons including families, for residing in tombs at the Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
Most advocates and experts on post conflict issues and, individuals concerned about the well-being and safety of families, find the action by the Liberian government “inconceivable” particularly after a brutal war which led to widespread destruction of homes, rural towns and villages. “A mother will never want to put her child or children in such predicament, except where there is no alternative, ” one mother and social worker, Louise Dennis, said after reading about the detention of the homeless families by the Liberian law enforcement agencies.
“I am hurt and truly sad. The government is aware that several homes were destroyed during the war and should begin considering short-term measures and long-term programs to help families that are homeless rather than scold them,” Ms. Dennis said.
E. Saymendy Lloyd, chairperson, Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and also Founder and President of Women’s Wing Organization, based in Washington, D.C expressed surprised by the action taken by the government against the homeless persons.
“Those people should be released immediately. The issue is not criminal, but a matter of poverty,” Ms. Lloyd told FrontPageAfrica, during an interview. The two organizations Ms. Lloyd heads; Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization focus on assisting disadvantaged women, children, and the elderly within the D.C metro areas.
She said although her organization has not fully began operation in Liberia, she is taken aback by the action of the new Police Director, Col. Beatrice Munah Sieh and also the government for remanding and not assisting the families. “What happens to the families in jail,” she wondered.
“The President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should call for the immediate release of those families who have been remanded for sleeping in tombs. The president should also find a better shelter for those people,” Ms. Lloyd said.
The Coalition of Concerned Neighbors and Women’s Wing Organization work with government and policy makers. She said the organizations envision a society not just in the United States, but also in Liberia, where families, communities, government, social service institutions and businesses can work together to provide healthy, safe environments in which, children and families can live and work.
Several other advocates and services providers for families expressed concern, that given the post war situation in Liberia, the two most recent actions by government was untimely - first the demolition of market stalls without ensuring that alternative sites were available for sellers, and now the imprisonment of homeless families who used tombs in the grave yards as shelter.
Northwest Medical Teams, a U.S based organization, during one of its visits to Liberia estimated that “one of Thousands of the estimated 350,000 Liberian refugees in neighboring countries was attempting to return to their homeland. The Team said that, because of widespread destruction of rural towns and villages, “these families were joining the 500,000 Liberians subsisting in temporary shelters in make shift, ragged huts” near the capital city of Monrovia.
“There are huge needs in Liberia on every front,” says Bas Vanderzalm, president of Northwest Medical Teams. “Years of conflict have destroyed the healthcare system, the economy and even the basic right of secure housing for hundreds of thousands of families.”
When, Jonn D’Martin was appointed by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to serve as chairman of the Housing Authority early this year, he granted an interview with the Sacramento Observer in which he said, “Homelessness is a significant problem in Liberia.”
Martin is also quoted as saying, “The housing situation has really deteriorated over the last 14 years because of the war. Most of the homes were destroyed and government housing is almost nonexistent. There are some 300,000 to 400,000 Liberians living as refugees in neighboring countries like Sierra Leone and Ghana. We would like to have some of these people come back home, except we don’t have homes for them.”
“Our immediate concern will be to find a means of rehabilitating these people,” Martin said. He further discussed the idea of constructing lower income housing outside of Monrovia to have people begin to leave the cities and move into the outskirts of town.
“It’s not a quick fix, but I think she’s (Sirleaf) surrounding herself with very diligent, very capable people so I think with everyone’s heads in the right place, it’ll probably happen in a shorter period of time,” D'Martin said about the housing project he envisioned.
What has happened to Jonn D’Martin’s concerns for the homeless people; Martin’s lower income housing project to accommodate families whose homes were destroyed during the war?
It is apparent that Liberia’s homeless families are now faced with double jeopardy – homelessness because of the war and now imprisoned for being homeless. Once in prison, the families may also be further reprimanded for being poor and homeless and may have to sleep on the bare floor, and face the dilemma of no food or if, they are lucky, less food.
The fate of the women and girls will also be determined by prison guards, other prisoners and police officers – for being poor and homeless, the female prisoners may be face with the dilemma of either willingly becoming comforters or they may be rape mercilessly.
A catch-22 situation and the vicious circle continues.
Copyright © Musue N. Haddad
Ghost of Liberia's Vice President Visits; Wants Justice
Dearest Mama,
It has been quite a long time. I received some of your communications, but have been unable to respond due to circumstances beyond my control.Thanks for your patience and support. Well, Mama, before I can briefly discuss the visit of the late Vice President, Enoch Dogolea on U.S Memorial day, let us briefly look at the U.S holiday; this reflection may hopefully explain why a Ghost from our part of the world will choose this day to speak on an incident that occurred few years ago.
In the U.S, Memorial Day for the kwee people is a holiday similar to what we call Decoration Day back home. Like Decoration Day in our home, Memorial Day here is a day of remembrance for those who died while servicing their country. In our clan, our people also remember family members on Decoration Day.
Mama, let me explain some of the similarities I have observed between Memorial Day in the Kwee people’s place, and Decoration Day in our clan. Did you know that U.S Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, and freed blacks are said to have been among the first to celebrate it as a way of honoring the Union dead after the Civil War? So it is possible that the freed slaves, who settled in our country long ago, took with them this traditional practice of remembering the dead.
Memorial Day, (formerly Decoration Day), a federal holiday is observed on the last Monday of May; in Liberia, Decoration Day is held the 2nd Wednesday in March.
Today, the kwee president, George W. Bush laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns - which contains the unidentified remains of members of the U.S. military killed in major conflicts. He was accompanied by several families of the fallen. At the cemetery here, the Arlington National Cemetery in the capital city of this country, thousands of motorcycle riders from across this big country came to this place to pay their annual tribute to military veterans. The Arlington Cemetery is very large, with over 300,000 graves of members of the military services from conflicts dating back nearly 150 years. President John F. Kennedy is among the prominent Americans also buried at the Arlington Cemetery. Recently, a new section of the cemetery was included to hold the nearly 350 men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Memorial Day here is almost solemn: the obscure weather – not sunny, and not cloudy, adds some flavors to the occasion today. At the graves, people are busy laying flowers on graves of beloved ones in a somewhat formal and earnest manner.
Mama, while I watched live broadcasts of some of the Memorial Day activities, I fell asleep. It is while I was sleeping that the ghost of the late Vice President Enoch Dogolea visited. Unlike the visit from the late Police Director where I almost hit the ceiling of my apartment, I was not very frightened when Dogolea appeared. The ghost of late Vice President Dogolea was wrapped in a carpet. Except his head and neck, the carpet covered Dogolea’s feet and his entire body.
Dogolea was deputy to Charles Taylor during the civil war. Following Taylor's election as president, Dogolea served as Vice President from 1997 until he died abruptly after a short illness in 2000. Many believed that Dogolea death was a result of foul play.
Mama, when Dogolea’s Ghost visited , I was reading a book by Catherine Ponders. In reality, I am reading one of Catherine Ponder’s books. So that aspect of the dream adds some reality to the dream.
The late Vice President stood before me quietly. When I look up, he asked, “Do you still have some of my pictures?” I responded, “Yes,” and added, “I also have some pictures of you when you were in the casket.” Even though I was not in Liberia when Dogolea died, the man did not ask me how I succeeded in acquiring pictures of his corpse. Rather, he tilted his head and shifted before looking at me again. “Aren’t you going to ask why I am rolled up in a carpet?” My response, “I guess the carpet has something to do with your death.” The Ghost looked at my book shelve and saw the series of albums, “You have some of my pictures in those albums – pictures of me in the coffin, pictures of me with President Taylor at the Executive Mansion, etc.” His words sounded more like a confirmation, so I just said, “Of course, I have a lot of pictures including some from the 1997 inauguration.”
Dogolea then said that he was very disappointed that the truth about his death has not been told. He said, “I really want to get rid of this carpet. It makes it difficult for me to move around, but I can not remove the carpet until the truth about my death is unraveled. This carpet has something to do with the night I was abruptly rushed to the hospital, the night that led to my death,” Dogolea said to me while tears welled his eyes. “I am so tired of carrying this heavy carpet around,” the ghost of the VP said leaving me in almost tears.
I then mustered the courage to ask why he chose to visit on U.S Memorial day and not our Clan’s decoration day. The late Dogolea looked me with such hard stare that I almost melted in the sofa. He said, “You call Liberia the clan. I will follow suit to explain myself. In our clan, people have forgotten to voluntarily and informally observe the moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to the dead. All of us who died want to communicate but we are not given the opportunity – too much noise, people brandishing the skulls of human beings on Decoration Day.”
Dogolea added, “Look at what happened this Decoration day in our clan, people danced on graves and tombs to ear-splitting music, while others were tipping back bottles of beer and other liquor.”
I felt the man’s concerns and wonder what I would do if I saw someone desecrating any of my family’s graves. Well, let me not dwell on that. I am only writing to illustrate an encounter with the Ghost of the late Vice President, Enoch Dogolea.
I was about to ask Dogolea what specific message I could use to persuade people about his message when I heard instrumental music-Beethoven to be specific. I shuddered and jolted. My companion was playing one of our favorite music used for meditation. My eyes fluttered, and I immediately reached for my laptop to send this message to you.
Mama, I hope the message is clear in this letter. I hope that people will be reminded about the true meaning of Decoration Day. I guess the moment of remembrance upon which Decoration Day was establish is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day where people will reflect and honor those who have given their service to their people, their country and friends and families.
Regarding circumstances surrounding Dogolea's death, do you know what the status of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is so far.
Glad to be writing you again, Mama
always,
musue
Copyright © Musue N. Haddad
It has been quite a long time. I received some of your communications, but have been unable to respond due to circumstances beyond my control.Thanks for your patience and support. Well, Mama, before I can briefly discuss the visit of the late Vice President, Enoch Dogolea on U.S Memorial day, let us briefly look at the U.S holiday; this reflection may hopefully explain why a Ghost from our part of the world will choose this day to speak on an incident that occurred few years ago.
In the U.S, Memorial Day for the kwee people is a holiday similar to what we call Decoration Day back home. Like Decoration Day in our home, Memorial Day here is a day of remembrance for those who died while servicing their country. In our clan, our people also remember family members on Decoration Day.
Mama, let me explain some of the similarities I have observed between Memorial Day in the Kwee people’s place, and Decoration Day in our clan. Did you know that U.S Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, and freed blacks are said to have been among the first to celebrate it as a way of honoring the Union dead after the Civil War? So it is possible that the freed slaves, who settled in our country long ago, took with them this traditional practice of remembering the dead.
Memorial Day, (formerly Decoration Day), a federal holiday is observed on the last Monday of May; in Liberia, Decoration Day is held the 2nd Wednesday in March.
Today, the kwee president, George W. Bush laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns - which contains the unidentified remains of members of the U.S. military killed in major conflicts. He was accompanied by several families of the fallen. At the cemetery here, the Arlington National Cemetery in the capital city of this country, thousands of motorcycle riders from across this big country came to this place to pay their annual tribute to military veterans. The Arlington Cemetery is very large, with over 300,000 graves of members of the military services from conflicts dating back nearly 150 years. President John F. Kennedy is among the prominent Americans also buried at the Arlington Cemetery. Recently, a new section of the cemetery was included to hold the nearly 350 men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Memorial Day here is almost solemn: the obscure weather – not sunny, and not cloudy, adds some flavors to the occasion today. At the graves, people are busy laying flowers on graves of beloved ones in a somewhat formal and earnest manner.
Mama, while I watched live broadcasts of some of the Memorial Day activities, I fell asleep. It is while I was sleeping that the ghost of the late Vice President Enoch Dogolea visited. Unlike the visit from the late Police Director where I almost hit the ceiling of my apartment, I was not very frightened when Dogolea appeared. The ghost of late Vice President Dogolea was wrapped in a carpet. Except his head and neck, the carpet covered Dogolea’s feet and his entire body.
Dogolea was deputy to Charles Taylor during the civil war. Following Taylor's election as president, Dogolea served as Vice President from 1997 until he died abruptly after a short illness in 2000. Many believed that Dogolea death was a result of foul play.
Mama, when Dogolea’s Ghost visited , I was reading a book by Catherine Ponders. In reality, I am reading one of Catherine Ponder’s books. So that aspect of the dream adds some reality to the dream.
The late Vice President stood before me quietly. When I look up, he asked, “Do you still have some of my pictures?” I responded, “Yes,” and added, “I also have some pictures of you when you were in the casket.” Even though I was not in Liberia when Dogolea died, the man did not ask me how I succeeded in acquiring pictures of his corpse. Rather, he tilted his head and shifted before looking at me again. “Aren’t you going to ask why I am rolled up in a carpet?” My response, “I guess the carpet has something to do with your death.” The Ghost looked at my book shelve and saw the series of albums, “You have some of my pictures in those albums – pictures of me in the coffin, pictures of me with President Taylor at the Executive Mansion, etc.” His words sounded more like a confirmation, so I just said, “Of course, I have a lot of pictures including some from the 1997 inauguration.”
Dogolea then said that he was very disappointed that the truth about his death has not been told. He said, “I really want to get rid of this carpet. It makes it difficult for me to move around, but I can not remove the carpet until the truth about my death is unraveled. This carpet has something to do with the night I was abruptly rushed to the hospital, the night that led to my death,” Dogolea said to me while tears welled his eyes. “I am so tired of carrying this heavy carpet around,” the ghost of the VP said leaving me in almost tears.
I then mustered the courage to ask why he chose to visit on U.S Memorial day and not our Clan’s decoration day. The late Dogolea looked me with such hard stare that I almost melted in the sofa. He said, “You call Liberia the clan. I will follow suit to explain myself. In our clan, people have forgotten to voluntarily and informally observe the moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to the dead. All of us who died want to communicate but we are not given the opportunity – too much noise, people brandishing the skulls of human beings on Decoration Day.”
Dogolea added, “Look at what happened this Decoration day in our clan, people danced on graves and tombs to ear-splitting music, while others were tipping back bottles of beer and other liquor.”
I felt the man’s concerns and wonder what I would do if I saw someone desecrating any of my family’s graves. Well, let me not dwell on that. I am only writing to illustrate an encounter with the Ghost of the late Vice President, Enoch Dogolea.
I was about to ask Dogolea what specific message I could use to persuade people about his message when I heard instrumental music-Beethoven to be specific. I shuddered and jolted. My companion was playing one of our favorite music used for meditation. My eyes fluttered, and I immediately reached for my laptop to send this message to you.
Mama, I hope the message is clear in this letter. I hope that people will be reminded about the true meaning of Decoration Day. I guess the moment of remembrance upon which Decoration Day was establish is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day where people will reflect and honor those who have given their service to their people, their country and friends and families.
Regarding circumstances surrounding Dogolea's death, do you know what the status of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is so far.
Glad to be writing you again, Mama
always,
musue
Copyright © Musue N. Haddad
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