Sadly, however, you would agree with me that since the October 11, 2011 elections, many of the defeated former candidates have decided to take the back seat and play the role of spectators. I think such attitude is counterproductive and must be corrected. The mere fact that these former candidates did not win does not diminish their significance as national leaders in fostering community development. Those who were destined to win have won, and now it is prudent that we move forward.
Let me close with these wise words from African-American historian Carter G. Woodson. “No people can go forward when the majority of those who should know better have chosen to go backward.”
Jahbulleh Cicero Dempster
3rd Street, Saye Town, Sinkor
Civil Service Agency Should Have Commission Status
Mr. Editor:
Recent assertions by Civil Service Director-General-designate, Dr. C. William Allen, and His Honor James Zotaa, Judge of Criminal Court “A”, have prompted me to publicly express my view with regard to two salient issues of national concern.
In a recent article entitled Regrets, Dreams and Opportunities, which appeared in the January 27, 2010 edition of this paper, I drew attention to the conspicuous absence of the teaching of the Constitution “in all institutions of learning in Liberia,” as provided for in Chapter II, Article 10 of that document. I postulated that if this provision had been adhered to, much of the chaos we endured as a nation for so many years could have been averted.
A couple of days ago, Judge James Zotaa, declaring the official opening of five Criminal Courts at the Temple of Justice, also emphasized the need for the principles and provisions of our organic laws to be taught and disseminated.
“I am sure that when we begin to teach our Constitution in all institutions of learning, we will encounter fewer problems in the future,” he hypothesized, in line with the proverbial ‘half-full glass,’ version of my postulation.
Chapter X, Article 89 of the Constitution, which came into force 27 years ago, declared the establishment of three autonomous public commissions – namely the Civil Service Commission, the Elections Commission, and the General Auditing Commission. It took 22 years for General Auditing Office (GAO) to become the autonomous General Auditing Commission (GAC), while the Civil Service Agency is still lagging behind. It is worth noting here that other commissions not mentioned in the Constitution have since been established and are all functioning smoothly.
Appearing recently before the Senate Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agencies, Dr. C. William Allen, Director General-designate of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), said he would work, in consonance with the Governance Commission and relevant senate committee, toward ensuring the transformation of the CSA into the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
I wish, in this public manner, to buttress Dr. Allen’s stated intention, and call on the 53rd Legislature to also give this constitutional provision the urgent attention it deserves.
Over the past six years, Dr. Allen, one of the finest public servants I know, has spearheaded the transformation of the Civil Service from a bloated and dysfunctional bureaucracy into a streamlined corps of dedicated professionals and other competent members of the merit-based cadre it was intended to be. Its metamorphosis into an autonomous commission, therefore, would go a long way toward the realization of functional efficiency throughout government without interference or encumbrances of any kind.
Spencer D. Browne, Sr.
Why Really Did Cllr. Warner Resign?
Mr. Editor,
Speaking at a news conference, Cllr. Warner says he resigned because “the management of LPRC had been less than candid and transparent about the Japanese Oil grant and other major contracts such as the PST Rehabilitation Contract with Motherwell.”
Wow! I’m certainly glad to hear Negee Warner talk like that! He’s the FIRST board chair of a public corporation (LPRC) to be in favor of transparency and candidness! (Re: “Why I Resigned as Chairman of LPRC Board of Directors”).
But according to unconfirmed reports, Counselor Warner resigned for a different reason. The public relations people at LPRC say he (Negee) was acting like spider – serving on 8 different boards of directors at the same time! Plus, he’s also the lead attorney for the unjust-imprisoned Nigerian Prince!
Hey, you’ve heard the story of greedy spider, right?
Just like greedy spider, Cllr. Warner called 8 of his sons and told each one of them to tie a loooooong rope around his (Warner’s) waist.
Then he said to them (his sons), “I want each one of you go in a different direction (8 different directions!). Once you see people chopping at the board meeting, pull the rope and I will come there right away!
Cllr. Warner’s mouth watered at the thought of being at ALL 8 board meetings to collect his fringe benefits! But he could’'t, because his sons were pulling him in 8 different directions ALL at the same time!
Um, excuse me, Counselor, in all seriousness, weren’t you LYING BY OMISSION when you told the LPRC Board that you were resigning because you were “serving on 8 boards and needed more time with your law practice” and you said NOTHING about how “the management of LPRC had been less than candid and transparent about the Japanese Oil grant and other major”... right?
Only to find out, weeks later, at your press conference that you resigned “because the management of LPRC had been less than candid and transparent about the Japanese Oil grant and other major...” Yeah, right.
Liar, lair, Counselor Warner’s pants on fire! Hanging from a telephone wire!
LPRC should make ALL its board of directors’ minutes, detailing all contracts, all arguments for and against a proposal, all final decisions, and the decision making process public, so the Liberian people can see who’s really “less than candid”.
It would behoove LPRC to expose Negee Warner as liar (by omission).
Martin Scott
Atlanta Georgia
