Letters

Dear Mr. Editor:

Please allow me a space in your paper to say thumbs up to Professor Dew Mayson for the launch of his book “In the Cause of the People.” Although I have not read the book, the hints I gathered from the newspapers so far point towards highlighting the contributions of Professor Mayson and other “Progressives” to the struggle for democracy in Liberia.

Congratulations are in order, Ambassador Mayson. I look forward to reading your book. Magna opus!

Alston C. Armah
YMCA OF LIBERIA

Dismal Performance of Students

Dear Mr. Editor

I have read with interest the varying views on the issue of the dismal performance of students in the WAEC Exams and until now, had decided to reserve my comments.
Let it be told that the cause of such failure is wholly and solely the responsibility of the teachers who taught these students and the institutions that these teachers represent.

By presenting a student to the Ministry of Education as being ready for the WAEC Exams what a school is saying in effect is that this student has already attended said institution, been instructed in the curriculum given by WAEC by teachers of said institutions, successfully passed in similar Mock Examinations given by these institutions and thus deemed mentally fit and ready to tackle the WAEC Exams.

Give Veteran Gbanda Deserves His Flower Now!!

Dear Mr. Editor:

I am definitely unhappy about the cold-shoulder being given to the plight of the Liberia National Police (LNP), veteran Oldman Joseph Gbanda. This is precisely the fourth time in three (3) weeks that I have written on this issue. The reason is that I wish to see the LNP cater to this 80-year-old man while he is still alive. Giving him his flower when he is dead will be of no good.

Oldman Gbanda can barely walk and see and is suffering from stroke. He regrettably told me: “though my health is declining, I have not been to the hospital for treatment for more than 6 months now because I am penniless”. From what I have concluded, his relatives and friends have despised him because he dedicated 44 years of his life serving the LNP and accumulated nothing for himself.

The oldman started work at the LNP in 1962 and was retired in 2006 during the LNP restructuring exercises. He is presently on the LNP Pension Scheme earning L$1,500.00 (US$20.00) monthly which is insufficient to buy him bag of rice. Oldman Gbanda lamented that he is yet to receive his Social Security benefits, though he had been regular in his Social Security payments.

Congrats, President Johnson Sirleaf!!!

Dear Mr. Editor:

Firstly, I must sincerely admit that I almost forgot to pen this letter in your widely read newspaper to commend President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her selection by the famous 'Newsweek' magazine as one of the world's ten (10) best leaders. I felt a sense of pride as a Liberian when I read this story in the Monday, August 23, 2010 edition of the Daily Observer written by Jason McLure captioned “NEWS WEEK NAMES Ellen “ONE OF THE WORLD'S TEN (10) BEST LEADERS”.

Undoubtedly, this is indeed an exceptionally remarkable honor to be bestowed on a Liberian leader. This should send a clear signal to all Liberians irrespective to our ethnic, tribal, religious, social, political and economic status that President Sirleaf is unquestionably in the most unique position to lead this post-war nation of ours.

Of course, no rational Liberian can refute the fact that the President does have her short falls. She is certainly not at her best in the fight against corruption and wasteful spending in government; she is yet to formulate the necessary strategies aimed at establishing good relationship between her government and ordinary Liberians, especially the rural dwellers who think they are being economically marginalized.

Congratulations, Rev. Dr. Menjay

Dear Mr. Editor:

Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Olu Q. Menjay. You, again, have brought pride to the Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention in Liberia. Yea the world! After many years of fighting amongst ourselves, you have come to save us. Special thanks and appreciation to Rev. and Mrs. John Mark Carpenter, a Southern Baptist Missionary, who helped Rev. Dr. Olu Menjay to travel to America to earn higher education during the 1990 war. Dr. Menjay has come back to serve his people and country. I hope many Liberians out there will learn from him.

More grease to your elbow.

Albertha Porte Jones (Rev.)
Harbel, Firestone

A POEM FROM MR. FLAG TO CHILDREN OF MAMA LIBERIA

“I am Mr. Flag of Liberia”

I represent your mother, Mama Liberia.
Loving me means loving her
I was loved from the beginning by you
But now I'm very lonely and nearing to death.
Who will keep me away form death?
Your children should, but where are they?
I need to live on. I don't want to just be with
My sons or just my daughters alone, rather
I desire to be with all of you in
Different places at the same time, because
Each is dearest and unique to me.
Being worried and helpless where will I live?

Where should I live?

Firstly, I wish to live in your hearts, and then
In your homes, workplaces, worship centers,
Entertainment centers, market places, along
The streets, in vehicles, in public offices, etc.
Would you allow me live with you in these
Places? You and I will be truly liberated, if you
Sincerely Pay your allegiance and uphold my
Dignity. You will be the only Lone Star that will
Never be alone, rather you will be admired by
The whole world.

By: McCarthy G. Teayah,
Youth Federation For World Peace Liberia:
yfwpliberia@gmail.com/ 077774116

A Child Dies
By Matenneh-Rose L. Dunbar

A child dies every forty-seven minutes
A child left to fight the dreadful move
A child painfully manages the big force
A child attacked by the tiny shapeless thing
A child dies so often

Dr. Tipoteh, Please Leave President Sirleaf Alone

Dear Mr. Editor:

I register my thanks and appreciation to you and your staff for dedicating yourselves to the promotion of peace by disseminating accurate and balanced information for this nation and its people. Let me also highly appreciate the letters' column within your newspaper, which affords us the opportunity to discuss issues of relevance to our community and state as a whole, instead of personalities.

On Friday, August 6, 2010, I tuned my radio to one of the local stations to catch the evening news but then something diverted my attention from the entire news. And guess what it was? The newscaster quoted a perpetual politician, and a two-time defeated presidential candidate, in the 1997, and 2005 presidential races, Dr. Togbah Nah Tipoteh, as saying that President Sirleaf violated the Liberian Constitution by allegedly campaigning while she was in Nimba County during the 163rd Independence Day celebration.

As learned as Dr. Tipoteh is, he could not state which part of the Constitution President Sirleaf violated. Did President Sirleaf campaign? The answer is a big “No.”

Tribute to Frank Cooper

Dear Mr. Editor:

My heart missed few beats when I read in the Monday, August 23, 2010 edition of the Daily Observer, the story announcing the death of our fellow artist, Nugent Francis Cooper, commonly known as “Frank Cooper.”

I immediately suspended penning my article entitled “The Empowerment of the Liberian Youth” and began to text some of my friends who knew Frank Cooper.

In this little West African nation known as Liberia, where most people of the higher socioeconomic status have little or no regard for the commoners, Frank Cooper was there to make the difference. He did not choose amongst his friends, whether you were rich or poor, a member of the elite or a grass rooter, old or young. Frank Cooper would easily associate himself with you.

It is worth mentioning that Frank Cooper was not only a noted musician but also a famed Liberian contemporary painter. He will be remembered for his numerous abstract paintings which baffled the minds of all who saw them during arts exhibitions hosted by the Liberia Painters Association (LPA) in the decade of the eighties.

Frank Cooper often visited me in the mid-1990s when I tried unsuccessfully to form the Professor Dempster Arts Gallery. During this period, we would talk lengthily and heartily about how Liberian arts and artists have been subjugated over the years.

George Barpeen Must Account for US$100,000

Dear Mr. Editor:

I have written to ascertain the facts regarding the whereabouts of the US$100,000.00 given to the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) by the Sirleaf administration to assist in the implementation of the PUL headquarters construction project. It may be recalled that that money was donated in 2008 to the then PUL president, George Barpeen, by President Sirleaf.

Quite frankly, the delay in the construction of the PUL headquarters could definitely discourage the Sirleaf administration from providing similar assistance to other non-governmental institutions which are in dire need of such assistance.

I strongly suggest that drastic actions be instituted against all of those who stole this fund; if at all the funds were stolen, to serve as a deterrent to other would-be thieves of public or private funds. George Barpeen must be compelled to give full account of the US$100,000.00, or face the full weigh of the law.

Remember, our social values will deteriorate further if we tolerate compromises.

Jahbulleh Cicero Dempster
3rd Street, Saye Town, Sinkor

LNP Must Give Oldman Gbanda His Due Benefits

Dear Mr. Editor:

Let the Legislature Separate Culture and Tourism from Information

Dear Mr. Editor:

If the Liberian people attach importance to reviving Liberia's rich cultural heritage and promoting the tourism industry, then the time is ripe to petition the Legislature to pass a legislation separating the Ministry of Culture and Tourism from the Ministry of Information.

Unfortunately, culture and tourism in Liberia have been relegated to the dustbin by many former Ministers of Information Culture and Tourism. Scholarships and other benefits intended to promote culture and tourism were often diverted to other purposes by these former ministers who adopted more interest in ably serving as spokesperson for the government, and nothing else.

Unquestionably, Liberia has the potential for ascending to the list of the world's top tourist attraction nations if emphasis is placed on promoting culture and tourism in Liberia. And the first prudent step is for the Liberian people to petition their Legislators to pass legislation separating the Ministry of Culture and tourism from the Ministry of Information.

It is hoped that Liberia would take cue from African nations like Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana which are making substantial gains from culture and tourism.

Jahbulleh Cicero Dempster
3rd Street, Saye Town, Sinkor

LNP Veteran Writes Police Chief

Dear Mr. Editor:

Notably, in my letter published in the Monday, August 9, 2010 edition of the Daily Observer, I appealed for food assistance from the Liberian National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) and other humanitarian institutions and individuals for the fire victims of the January 31, 2010 fire disaster which gutted about 14 houses in Saye Town. Particular mention was made of the 80-years old Joseph Gbando who faithfully served the Liberia National Police (LNP) for 44 consecutive years, beginning in 1962 and ending 2006 when he was redundant to give room for the LNP restructuring exercises.

Note worthily, I visited this LNP former veteran few days ago and became extremely disturbed by the alarming rate at which his health is depreciating. The old man has written to the Inspector General of LNP, Marc Amblard, requesting for some building materials to construct his burnt house. He also indicated “I am always hungry and sleep on a tiny dilapidated porch where my body has become a prey to cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes and other harmful insects”. (Herein attached is a copy of the oldman's letter.)

In Oldman Gbanda's letter to the LNP Inspector General, he also emphatically stated that he wants to be taken off the LNP Pension Scheme that gives him L$1,500.00 (approximately US$20.00) monthly, to be given a pay off in order to gain a sustainable life for himself.

Letters

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