Thursday September 02, 2010
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Letters

Thumbs up, Professor Mayson

Thumbs up, Professor Mayson

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.

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Give Veteran Gbanda Deserves His Flower Now!!

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.

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Congrats, President Johnson Sirleaf!!!

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.

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Congratulations, Rev. Dr. Menjay

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

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A POEM FROM MR. FLAG TO CHILDREN OF MAMA LIBERIA

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

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Dr. Tipoteh, Please Leave President Sirleaf Alone

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.”

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