Archive for October, 2012

"Let President Sirleaf understand that she must separate the Presidency from family"

Ex-Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives Edwin Snowe, held a press conference recently, and told the Liberian people and the world what most Liberians have expressed over the years about nepotism and corruption in the Sirleaf administration. Snowe went even further by revealing in brutal details the lack of transparency in the negotiation of oil deals, the influence of presidential son, Robert Sirleaf, who currently runs NOCAL, and also revealed what appears to be the hijacking of NOCAL by the Sirleaf clan.

Below is the full text of Rep. Snowe’s statement at the Tuesday news conference.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, Good Afternoon!

Today, in fulfillment of my obligation to my District and the Liberian people as well as in defense of my reputation, I’ve come to address this press conference regarding a range of National as well as personal issues.

Over the last few months, there have been claims and counter claims between the Legislative and Executive Branches of our Government with specific reference to the administration of the Oil and Gas Sector by the National Oil Company of Liberia, (NOCAL).

Of late, the Liberian people have read articles and listened to accusations and character assassination; in particular, a talk show aired on a radio station owned by the Vice President for Communications of NOCAL, against members of the National Legislature. Against this background, I’ve come today to defend and protect my character and to elevate the public debate surrounding activities at NOCAL.

About a year ago when I decided to support the reelection of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, I did not do it for personal benefit or greed, neither did I do it in exchange for oil block as been speculated in some quarters. I supported Madam Sirleaf based on my personal conviction in promoting democracy and stability in Liberia.

This is why I can proudly and publicly challenge anybody, be it Madam Sirleaf, Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf, the campaign team, or anyone associated with the campaign for the reelection of Madam Sirleaf, that a dime was given me to endorse or campaign for the President or even campaign for myself. I campaigned with the President in all fifteen (15) counties, at times, I even did so without the President, whilst at the same time campaigning for my reelection in my District. All this was done 100% at my own expense.

In May of 2011, I was approached by Gazprom (a giant Russian Oil and Gas Company) to explore the possibility of investing in the Liberian Oil and Gas Sector with specific reference to Block 13. Gazprom was one of the two preferred bidders recommended by Peppercoast, the owner of Block 13 on a mandated sale of the block by then CEO of NOCAL, Mr. Christopher Neyor.

Gazprom had made an offer of $100 million for the block where the Government of Liberia take would have been $27 million and $15 million to NOCAL as transaction fee but while it was obvious that Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited (COPL) did not meet the three qualification criteria set by NOCAL and Gazprom did, NOCAL delayed any approval as requested and required under the Peppercoast Petroleum Sharing Agreement. This was when Gazprom approached me to find out what was going on. Gazprom, which is also a major power producer, also offered to come in with expanded electricity for Monrovia within just few months.

I immediately proceeded to President Sirleaf and informed her about the request made to me by Gazprom. President Sirleaf in response, amongst other things, informed me that because of the location of block 13, being situated between blocks 12 and 14, which are owned by Chevron, a US company, it was impossible to have a Russian company situated between the two blocks.

After months of discussions, the President along with her Senior Advisor, Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf, who happens to be her son, agreed to meet with Gazprom. Thereafter, an invitation was extended to Gazprom to visit Liberia. The Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom flew to Liberia and a meeting was held at the residence of the president, notably in the absence of the then President/CEO of NOCAL, Mr. Christopher Neyor.

Upon our arrival at the residence of the president, we were met by Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf, who immediately proceeded with the guest into the residence of the president for closed door discussions while I was ushered a seat outside in the palava hut. That was when I realized that the Oil and Gas Sector of Liberia was at threat of being a family affair. I felt humiliated and was deeply saddened.

After learning that negotiations for block 13 were being held, and that only the President/CEO of NOCAL, Mr. Neyor and one member of the Board of NOCAL who again happened to be Mr. Robert Sirleaf along with his American lawyer, Mr. Jeff Woods were in the know at the level of NOCAL, I decided to question this process.

Why was Mr. Clemenceau Urey who was Chairman of the Board of NOCAL at the time not copied? Why is Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf the only member of the Board of NOCAL in the know of this transaction?

Mr. Robert Sirleaf, who absolutely has no knowledge of how the international oil and gas sector operates, wanted to force NOCAL to give Block 13 to Chevron at half the amount offered by Gazprom even when Chevron had not participated in the bid for the block, it was the National Legislature with its budgetary and oversight power that mandated that Block 13 be disposed off with no less than $27 million to the government treasury. This is how ExxonMobil made a counter offer that may now bring $45 million to our government. Thanks to the National Legislature for its oversight.

Now let’s discuss what started last week into this week while I was away visiting family and friends. During my absence, some serious accusations were levied against the Honorable Speaker, the President Pro Temp of the Liberian Senate, several of my colleagues and I from the House of Representatives by Mr. Henry Costa (a local radio talk show host), all in an attempt to assassinate my character based on falsehood.

For the record, at no time have I met and/or discussed with President Sirleaf or her Senior Advisor who is also the Chairman of the Board of NOCAL nor have I asked anyone to request an oil block from the President or her son, Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf. I don’t know of any discussion with the President or her son regarding any oil block which would lead to blackmailing as printed by the “FrontPage Africa” newspaper. I hereby openly in this public manner challenge anyone to prove the contrary.

I am aware that Mr. Costa was issued a US visa through the instrumentality of the “Executive” and was expected to travel during the same time the President visited the US to address the UN General Assembly. Mr. Costa was instructed by his principals at NOCAL to delay his trip until early November and carry on their planned attack against members of the Legislature. Let me take this time to bid Mr. Costa farewell and a safe travel to the United States in the coming days having accomplished his mission.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, from where I am positioned, I am aware of plans by NOCAL to dish out thousands of United States dollars to SOME media institutions (both electronic and print) in a campaign to confuse the minds of the public by discrediting the Legislature, especially the House of Representatives who have been very vocal about reform at NOCAL. This campaign is also intended to further discredit credible documented evidence of Mr. Robert Sirleaf’s “so called pro bono” activities at the National Oil Company.

We have explicit confidence in the Liberian media and have confidence that you will remain resolute in exposing the ills in our society. We know that no attempt will make you bury the truth.

Fellow Liberians, the issue at NOCAL is of grave concern and must be addressed immediately. Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf, son of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Liberia, So Called “Pro Bono Executive Chairman” of the Board of Directors of NOCAL and a taxpaying citizen of the United States of America with US Passport number; 2181983813, issued June 7, 2006, receives thousands of US dollars representing per diem, first class air ticket, five star hotel bills inclusive of entertainment and incidental payments for each and every trip made in the name of NOCAL. Attached are a few supporting documents for your review.

Most of these payments are not determined by any set policy at NOCAL. After these trips, Mr. Sirleaf gives instructions that reimbursement payments for his “pro bono services” be made to his Wells Fargo account number; 4000823640, in the United States.

As far as I know, board Chairpersons in Liberia are not paid anyway, so why call your services “pro bono” when you are receiving everything other board chairs are receiving, plus more? Why would Mr. Sirleaf try to play on the intelligence of the Liberian people?

Mr. Robert Sirleaf, is also in violation of the Aliens and Nationality Law of the Republic of Liberia. The Liberian Codes Revised, VOL. II: Chapter 22; Page 193. Loss of Citizenship; 22.1. Acts Causing Loss of Citizenship.
From and after the effective date of this title, a person who is a citizen of Liberia whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his citizenship by;

(a) Obtaining naturalization in a foreign state upon his own application, upon the application of a duly authorized agent, or through the naturalization of a parent having legal custody of such person; provided that citizenship shall not be lost by any person under this section as the result of the naturalization of a parent or parents while such person is under the age of 21 years, unless such person shall fail to enter Liberia to establish a permanent residence prior to his twenty-third birthday.

Mr. Sirleaf holds a Liberian Diplomatic Passport number; D 000189. Issued December 2, 2009, which puts him in a dual citizen capacity. The laws of Liberia do not grant dual citizenship.

I am therefore calling on President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to immediately discharge Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf from all activities of the Government of Liberia and have him turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.

Fellow Liberians, the danger in this situation, with Mr. Sirleaf, a US citizen, serving as Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Liberia, and so called pro bono Chairman of the Board of NOCAL is that, it is possible that in the event of any dubious or advert issue against the interest of the Republic (which is now emanating at NOCAL under Mr. Sirleaf’s chairmanship), the Government will lack the authority to prosecute Mr. Sirleaf because he will take off to his country of citizenship, the United States of America.

After single handedly appointing all of the members of the Board of NOCAL, Mr. Sirleaf now refers to himself as “Executive Chairman” of the Board of NOCAL which is in complete violation of the act that created NOCAL which calls for a “Chairman of the Board” and not an Executive Chairman. Moreover, there is not one person on the NOCAL Board of Directors as constituted by Mr. Sirleaf with any hydrocarbon or energy expertise as required by the Act creating NOCAL.

One of the issues raised in the Front Page Africa newspaper and on the Costa Show, was that of “PEP” (Politically Exposed Persons), a regulation found in Section 312 of the US Patriotic Act. What Front Page Africa and the Costa Show failed to tell the Liberian people is that after the passage of the PEP, another mechanism was put into place as a cover up for the PEPs, which is referred to as SPV/SPE (Special Purpose Vehicle/Special Purpose Entity) to protect the interest of such persons.

This Special Purpose Vehicle/Entity is intended to shield the commercial interest of those people by giving them the opportunity to establish foundations, trusts, funds, clubs etc. under the disguise of charity work. Take a look around here today, we have the “Robert A. Sirleaf Foundation”, Robert A. Sirleaf Barrack Youth Club, Robert A. Sirleaf Social Work Fund, and as expected, the Robert A. Sirleaf Young Boys Fund.

Most of the 10 million United States dollars from Chevron social funds was spent through those SPV’s. We hope that somewhere in Mr. Sirleaf social work; he will create avenues to assist the young girls of Liberia as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, we are aware that today there is a major conspiracy to remove the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. J. Alex Tyler, Sr., as was done with the Edwin Snowe leadership. We want to make it emphatically clear to the perpetrators to beware that this time around, their conspiracy could fall at their door steps. “A hint to the wise is quite sufficient.”

I want to call on members of the National Legislature, especially the members of the Honorable House of Representatives, to remain steadfast, unified and far sighted; to steer the course as we provide oversight of the Executive in the interest of the Liberian people. This is our responsibility and so let us not let our fellow citizens down.

Finally: In 2011 when the Liberian people went to the polls to vote for president, we voted for Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as President of the Republic of Liberia and not Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf. The involvement of Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf in running the day-to-day affairs of the state is a cancer that is creeping in as a threat to our hard-earned political dispensation.

Mr. Sirleaf masterminded the removal of two eminent Liberian citizens who are highly qualified (Dr. Foday Kromah and Mr. Christopher Neyor) from NOCAL because he could not push them around. We are informed of cases where Mr. Sirleaf told a certain Cabinet Minister during negotiations with Chevron that the Minister had his marching orders and that the minister should proceed in doing what he (Robert Sirleaf) wanted done against the professional advice of that Minister.

There have been other instances where Cabinet Ministers and other Senior Government officials have been subjected to thorough security searches as well as leaving their cellphones and pens outside before entering Mr. Sirleaf’s public office.

Mr. Sirleaf drives two bullet proof Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles with private plates and is escorted by armed EPS (SSS) personnel in an EPS (SSS) pilot vehicle. Other than the President, neither the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice nor the President Pro Temp of the Senate rides in a bullet proof vehicle. It leaves one to wonder if the safety or security of Mr. Sirleaf is more important then the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia and those others mentioned.

It is important for President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to retrospect the cases of Saddam Hussein and the involvement of his sons in running the affairs of Iraq; Col. Maummar Gaddafi and the involvement of his sons in running the affairs of Libya; Hussein Mubarak and sons in running the affairs of Egypt and our own next door neighbor of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade and his son in running the affairs of Senegal, to name a few.

Let President Sirleaf understand that she must separate the Presidency from family. We saw official photos from Japan where the president and her son and another family member were at the head table at an official meeting whilst senior ministers of government were in the back. A few days later after it was noticed, the photo disappeared from the Front Page Africa website.

Liberia is not the newly formed monarchy in West Africa nor is Liberia the next Equatorial Guinea where the son of the president is also his vice president with oversight of the oil sector.

Ladies and gentleman of the press, I thank you for coming and I look forward to inviting you shortly to more press conferences as the debate continues. As we continue with Mr. Sirleaf’s role at NOCAL, we will also be looking at other handpicked executives at NOCAL with supporting documents of their stewardship.

Liberia needs a Library Board

By Nathan N. Mulbah

It is often said that food and exercise is to the body what reading is to the mind. A widely read individual is certainly a prepared figure ready to meet the challenges of life head-on. The concept of reading substantively is introduced to all students at an early stage in their academic sojourn. Literacy and numeracy are twin virtues that must be encoraged at all time by all right-thinking and well-meaning individuals keen on developing the human community.

Sadly, many of educational institutions, ranging from, nursery, primary and secondary to tertiary, do not have the necessary intellectual garages (libraries and laboratories) with the requisite materials and books that will help to broaden the horizon and sharpen the intelligent quotient of many sons and daughters of Liberia.

Even universities here do not have first- rate standardized libraries and laboratories. This lack of libraries and laboratories, has to a large extent, affected the development of the full potential of students and robbed them of the opportunities to be able to compete with their counterparts from other countries.

Towards this end, this article seeks to highlight the necessity and compelling need for the establishment of a National Library Board that will superintend the construction and maintenance libraries throughout the country. Reading is an essential component in the intellectual and human resource development of any nation from time in memorial. It was Dr. Seuss who said: “the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you will go.”

Hence, the need for well-equipped libraries at all schools and universities as well as every big towns and cities cannot be overemphasized. There must also be serious attempts at establishing libraries in all ministries and agencies of government at both national and provincial levels. To accomplish this fate, there is a need for the establishment of a substantive National Library Board that will essentially evolve programs which will ensure that libraries are constructed throughout the length and breadth of Liberia.

The conspicuous lack of these intellectual growth facilities across the country is an embarrassment to true academicians as it is to conscious Liberian society. The problem is colossal but yet surmountable if the right mechanism are put in vogue.

The Problem
A cursory inspection of schools and universities operating in the country will reveal the lacked of libraries and laboratories. As a matter of fact, we do not have a National Library even in Monrovia least to talk about libraries in the provincial capitals of our political sub-divisions.

The so-called libraries in our primary and secondary institutions are nothing to write home about. Most of what is paraded as libraries often passed as mere under-equipped reading room. Worst still, libraries at our tertiary institutions are not up to the task and do not, in most instances, represent a university library any way.

Moreover, besides the central university library, there are no departmental libraries. There is something about departmental library that we have not come to grasp in this country. A good departmental library has on shelve the relevant course books and materials that have got all the trappings of making students and researchers deeply conversant with the subject they are studying back to back.

It is an open secret that even where only central library exist, the materials on the shelve are, in most instances, archaic and outdated. Periodicals and encyclopedia are as well dust laden and reminiscent of 16th Century academic material. Most of the books found in those libraries cannot help the student specific needs. There are just not great books that one can leaf through and be real satisfied. It is an established fact that good books instill in students the love to read. And love for reading begins with books and ends with it. But we must cultivate the culture of reading by ensuring that we construct state own national libraries and one in every big towns and cities across Liberia.

In fact, in this 21st Century where information technology has become a catch phrase with on-line libraries, tweeting, face book utilization and general cyber and internet appreciation becoming cardinal to academic pursuit the world over.
Towards this end, I cannot agree the more with Darren Wilkins writing in the Daily Observer Science and Technology column, when he called on lawmakers to use some of their “HUGE” benefits and allotments to build Library Media Center in their Electoral Districts.

But if I can push it further, Yours Truly will posit that, we need to establish a National Library Board.

Admittedly though, there is a slow spiraling of private community libraries in some communities across the country. This is certainly a laudable venture, but capacity, materials and funding remain serious challenges. But we are certain that with the creation of a National Library Board, we can make significant inroad in building a huge human resource pool across the country.

Configuration of National Library Board
It pains me to hear every now and then Liberians making reference to development unfolding in other countries especially Ghana but failed to learn from those experiences. But for good reason we need to keep making reference to the Ghanaian experience. In Ghana for example, there is a National Library Board. That board is responsible essentially to establish libraries across that country and develop the mode of operation and maintenance.

After the configuration of the National Library Board, the board will firstly ensure establishment of a National Library in Monrovia and promote the culture of reading amongst students, scholars, and the public and then move on to the leeward counties. Remember, favorite reads organized in one place is an impetus to intellectual advancement.

When former American President George W. Bush visited Liberia in 2008, he consciously gave us US1 Million dollar worth of books. If we had national libraries around the country, we would have safely distributed said reading materials with ease.
The gift by Mr. Bush, in my mind, was intended to make us take reading seriously. It is good to talk at Haitayee shops and palava huts at the various universities but reading rigorously for long hours will certainly enrich our intellectuality. So let’s get reading folks.

We must encourage our students and the public to develop the culture of reading. For reading is to the mind what eating and exercise is to the body. In other to eloquently dialect on issues in a more responsible and appreciable manner we must read. Our intellectual landscape is now bubbling with many half way people and quacks who relied heavily on hearsay instead of reading but choose to present themselves as fine intellectual species.

Arguably folks, the establishment of a National Library Board is a national priority that must be taken seriously and put on our development agenda come what may. Sadly, this year’s fiscal budget does not address the issue of libraries construction in any community. May we reflect on this suggestion and see the need to establish a National Library Board.

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Drugs dehumanize and enslave human beings

By Clemente Ferrer

The Foundation Against Drug Addiction has launched an ad campaign, inter alia, under the following slogan: “Drugs do not only damage those who consume them”. “Everything has a price”. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the sinister presence of drugs within society. This creative initiative rests upon the idea that the most dangerous aspect of drugs is actually forgetting about what they really are.

Worldwide, the propensity of new AIDS infections has been reduced by 17 percent, due to the 15 percent regression of Sub Saharan Africa. About 77,000 people have died due to the AIDS virus, not to mention that about 7,000 children have been infected with the virus.

The remaining group where the virus continues to thrive is among sex professionals and drug consumers. It is estimated that about 29 percent of the 2 million Hispano Americans that consume injectable drugs is infected with the virus.

AIDS is a social disease that has a lot to do with groups of people who do not respect ethics, and tend to live rampantly. AIDS emerges as a warning, a warning to those who trespass an invisible barrier and lose humanity.

The good news is that the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment in Latin America is higher than the global average, which is 54% of those afflicted. However, although the risk groups are identifiable, few prevention programs aim to target them directly.

Drugs are hustled around within marginal environments of misfortune and poverty. There are more than one thousand huts that house those clans who vegetate in brittle situations.

In the suburbs of refugees, few are those who reach the fourth decade of existence. There are more than 2,000 clandestine huts and more or less 40,000 mortals of distinct nations. The weakness and fragility of these constructions, the lack of clean and safe water and lighting, as well as the meagerness of health conditions, in addition to the evident depauperation, are the routinely lived surroundings. It astonishes when one sees content, ragged and naked creatures being indifferent about their cruel reality and frolicking between the stocks of garbage piles.

The spectacle is so shocking that it makes one’s heart shudder. A separate humanity is what appears upon its worn out dwellings, who have resigned the battle for their comfort and well being. With the stigma that drugs provoke, i.e. a hollow firmness, hardly without even maintaining such firmness, addicts creep about to prepare used up needles. Doesn’t the emptiness of God lead to hopelessness? Hopelessness leads to dehumanization. The human being without God dehumanizes and becomes the enemy of his or her own self. (Translated by Gianna A. Sanchez Moretti).

Author and journalist Clemente Ferrer has led a distinguished career in Spain in the fields of publicity and press relations. He is currently President of the European Institute of Marketing.

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