The Maryland Development Conference: Success & Failure – My Personal Opinion

In order to do hazard analysis on a particular job in Occupational Safety & Health, one needs to answer the following questions:

1. Who knows best the hazards and problems of a particular job other than the person who performs that job each and every day as a regular routine?

2. Who can better recommend possible solutions to a particular problem and/or hazards centered on a certain kind of job other than the one who works the job regularly from day-to-day?

The answer to these questions will help answer the questions emanating from the recently held Maryland Development Conference in Harper City.

Here are the questions:

Who best knows the problems of Maryland County? Is it those who live on the ground in Maryland, who feel the brunt of the problem living on the ground or those living in the Diaspora who have not been on the ground over fifty years or foreign visitors instructing and administering the affairs of The William V. S. Tubman University who come from different countries around the world and have not lived long enough in Maryland to know the origin and magnitude of the pressing problems?

Recently, a conference was convened in Harper City, the capital of Maryland under the Theme: “Maryland County Development Conference…” Most of the Conference attendees came from outside Maryland. And the actual planning of the Conference was done mostly by outsiders. As a result, the end of the conference continues to trouble the minds of many Marylanders including myself. Up to now, one can clearly say whether or not the conference was a success.

From what I have learned later on, The William V. S. Tubman University facilitated and/or sponsored the conference (whatever that means).

I also learned that the conference was geared towards finding possible solutions to the current problems of Maryland including but not limited to infrastructural, human resource development and reconciliation. But from what I know now, those who designed the Conference have limited or no knowledge of the problems on the ground that they intend to solve by virtue of the Conference.

From all things considered, it is true the Conference is seemingly one whose time has come. As such, identifying burning issues and problems in the County and adapting a solution-finding approach, is a fine idea which justifies the conference as one whose time has come. Except for one reason: it started on the wrong footing!

Several questions abound therefore:

Who defined, organized and executed such a conference and its agenda?

Is it the University staff which is composed of foreigners who have not lived in the County more than three years and have not developed any direct link and contact with the indigenes of the County and/or common people so as to know how the citizens and residents think and feel?

Or stakeholders referred to as Marylanders on the ground, especially those ones who have been involved and roasted in the crises over-and-over, again-and-again without any way out?

Or is it Diasporic Marylanders, some of whom have not been in Maryland on the ground over fifty years and have no clue what exactly Maryland County looks like in terms of the prevailing situation and/or conditions?

The answer to these salient questions set the basis to the conclusion whether or not the recently held conference was a success.

Let’s take this example:

One of the vice presidents of the University is from Singapore. And she has not lived in Maryland long enough to know the name of the major streets in Harper City. But she was given the responsibility to plan the conference as to the agenda, decide who to invite and what to talk about during the Conference.

THAT’S PROBLEM NUMBER 1

PROBLEM NUMBER 2: The chair of the planning committee was born and shortly lived in Maryland. Meaning that he knows a little bit about Maryland. But whatever he knows about Maryland is as old as Methuselah or as old as the Book of Chronicles. Meaning that, he lived in Maryland long ago. Since then, Maryland has dramatically changed. He holds a doctorate degree and is a former diplomat. Evidently, he’s been away too long. Therefore, he cannot but be totally detached from the current problems on the ground in Maryland from a practical standpoint. Academically, there’s no doubt in my mind, he can diagnose the problems in Maryland. But his approach will be impractical in terms of solutions in real life.

These concerns and analysis are just what they are. No one should read them negatively!

The issues raised about the Vice president from Singapore and the Chair of the Planning Committee is in no way to belittle their contributions and/or disrespect them in reference to the Conference. The truth is they cannot plan the future of Marylanders without Marylanders, especially the ones who will remain in the crises when the bull hit the fence and everyone else flees to his or country.

Just imagine this:

Someone from Pleebo (the commercial capital of Maryland, Liberia) goes to the US; he gets to town; here he is, he doesn’t even know the immigration office; but he begins to plan and host a conference on how to solve the American people’s problems. He calls the conference. And mind you, he doesn’t consult with the Americans who have the problems. But he sends them invitation to attend. The invitation tells them they are “guests.” Evidently, the “guests” will not partake in the solution-finding approach at the conference.

Can the American people not cry out loud against such an intended good that has the propensity to turned bad? I think they will cry out! But they will not cry out with bad minds for the visitors whose intent is to help! But for heaven’s sake, the Americans are the ones with problem; and so, it is the Americans that need to solve their problems. For only a people can liberate themselves. Nobody else can do so for them!

That’s the situation of the Maryland Development Conference.

Those who planned, executed and defined the Conference are more alien to the issues of Maryland than anyone can imagine. The issues that haunt Maryland have no significant impact on the planners. And this is because if the bull hit the fence, all of these foreigners will flee to their various lands leaving the common Marylanders on the ground to swallow the bitter pill. So who needs to find solution to the problems of Maryland? Is it not Marylanders?

I don’t know what you think; but if you ask me what I think; I think it is whacked and dumb for others who have no proverbial fish to fry in a certain situation to start shedding crocodile tears! Only Marylanders can liberate themselves! Nobody else can dod so!

This is my opinion! What’s yours?

I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking and writing on the ground in Liberia

Senator John Akel Ballout Is Banned for insulting Dr. Russell?

On April 23 & 24, 2012, The William V. S. Tubman University in Maryland (Liberia) facilitated a “Maryland Development Conference.” 

By hearing and listening to the title of the conference one can agree it is or was in the sole interest of Maryland County. But if one delves into the implementation strategy, there’s so much blame to shift around. Even though shifting blame is not the best thing to do, understanding that every process has a problem to begin with from the onset, is one thing we need to concentrate on. That was the case with the conference. 

Put all of these together and one can conclude what happened prior to and during the Conference. All that took place prior to and during the Conference are nothing new to social scientists and the rest of us. People will disagree on issues, especially on strategy to resolving the issues. But they must have the capacity to disagree in order to agree.  

That’s the crux of this post - disagreeing to agree.

Before I got an invitation to attend the conference, I heard of the conference from individuals in the US. STRANGE!

I got my invitation one day prior to the conference. Whatever that means, is left with time and conditions to explain. 

The fact of the matter is I am the author of peace in the Glebo Peninsula between the two most troubled groups in the County: Numnoweh & Kudemoweh. 

Both Chiefdoms have been at logger head for over fifty years. Most recently, the conflict took the trend of armed hostilities when several citizens lost their precious lives. Land and boundary issues have been eating up their possibilities. And this sort of tendency spilled over in the county. As a result, the conflict had the entire County held hostage for a protracted period time.


The Carter Center and Charity Sisters of the Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas tried to usher in peace between the two peoples. But to no avail.


We got involved; When I say "We" I mean The KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. commonly referred to as "KNPIF." 


We began building on what Carter Center and The Charity Sisters left behind. We came in and applied the ASAP Concept; Meaning African Solutions to African Problems. Suddenly, all the bits and pieces began to fall in place. And therefore ushered in peace and reduced tension in the County.

By reducing tension and bringing both groups together in the County, it becomes common sense that anytime a process pertaining to peace is pursued in the county, we, (author of peace in the most troubled areas - KNPIF), need to be contacted. But in this case of the “Maryland Development Conference” we were left out until pressure mounted on the organizers from the outside.

But this is not the issue under consideration. So let's move on to what is the crux of the matter here.

The issue under consideration is about Sen. Ballout. Did he really insult Dr. Russell, President of The William V. S. Tubman University for which he’s been banned?

At the Conference it was announced that Sen. Ballout insulted Dr. Russell. I wasn’t there when this announcement was made. But in the last day and last minute of the Conference, Richelieu Archie Williams realized that the fact that we (KNPIF, author of peace in the Glebo Peninsula) were left out of the Conference’s main focus and giving the fact that he worked with us to achieve considerable peace between the Numoweh and Kudemoweh people, he felt compelled to draw us in. And so he delivered a powerful speech at the Conference calling for our participation. The Conference was compelled to cell phone me asking for us to attend final part of the Conference. As peacemakers, we did not hesitate. And so I showed up at the Harper City Hall where it was full to overflow. But I showed up as an individual not an organization. I wanted to know exactly what is it they wanted from me. And I found out.

At the Conference the Ballout issue came up. 

A question was posed if what Ballout did (insulting Dr. Russell) was right or wrong. The Conference attendees said it was "wrong." 

Whether or not it is true Ballout insulted the Professor, no one from Ballout’s office was there to defend him. Consequently, a declaration was made to ban Sen. Ballout from all Special Maryland County meetings until he apologizes to the Professor. Those in favor stood up and raised their hands. That was the "Majority." And the rest was history.

Now, Ballout seems to be fighting back. But I’m thinking that it's too late.

Those who attended the conference and made that decision to ban him had all left the Hall and the City. They all have returned to their various locales throughout the County.  

How Ballout makes his case will depend on how he wields power as a senator. Otherwise, the damage is done! This will be the first in my lifetime and in history of Maryland County that a Maryland Senator has been banned by his people from attending very important meetings.

I am Thomas G. Bedell working and speaking from on the ground in Liberia.

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) 2012 Observed in Maryland (Liberia)

On April 20 to the 22nd, I was entirely engaged with Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). This global event is observed once a year in April around the world.

In 2008, I helped register Liberia after the Event had been observed around the world for over 22 years without Liberia’s participation. 

In 2008 we observed it in Monrovia. Thirty to fifty thousand young people took part. In Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, it was mainly observed in Gardnersville and West Point. 

The following year (2009), we observed it again. But like the previous year, it was observed in Monrovia again. This time, learning from previous mistakes, we made headway. 

2010 and 2011, I wasn’t in Monrovia. I was in Maryland dealing with other sociopolitical and economic matters centered on peacemaking and justice. And so, GYSD wasn’t observed in Monrovia through my influence and participation. Previous to that, there were criticisms that GYSD was only being observed in Monrovia. our critics suggested that the Event be observed throughout the country. And we agreed with our critics. But the funding to do so has not been available to stretch our work outside of Monrovia. As such, Monrovia is the only place where it would celebrated until funding is made available.

Since I am in Maryland County, this year (2012) I thought to introduce GYSD and observe it with the Youth of Maryland. I designed the Concept Paper; presented it to the youth and other stakeholders. After review, the Concept Paper was accepted. And work began. Even though the time was short, we still embark upon prepping the Event. The reason why we thought we needed to continue in the face of the fact that time was against us is that Maryland youth needed to feel GYSD on their own just like the youth of Monrovia and parts adjacent. We got in contact with some INGO and NGOs for help. Some yielded and gave help. Others did not. Those who helped us include, UNCHR, Right-To-Play, DRC (Danish Refugee Council), IBIS, Visions in Action & Oxfam Liberia.

Initially, we intended to involve the entire County. In other words, we wanted to spread the Event to all youths across the County. But as time drew closer, we realized it was impossible for lack of funding. Then we cut it down to Harper District. That too proved impossible, giving the short time and limited funding. In the end, we cut it down to Harper City. And things began to fall right into place. Few schools were invited including, A. Dash Wilson Junior High School and E. Othello Gongar Junior High. All the surrounding communities in Harper were invited. They all took part. They are, Easytown, Bishop Hill, J. Lamark Cox, Lake Shepherd, Tobbyville Township (New Krutown Barrobo Community, Hance Street), Green Street, Bassa Community, Central Harper and the Refugee Central Command. They all took part and made the Event a total success.

GYSD is a 3-day event. 

It is hosted every April of each year around the world. Every youth group has to decide its project for the Event. We chose to embark upon a 2-day Cleanup Campaign throughout the entire Harper City. It started from Friday, April 20 and ended Saturday, April 21. By the time we were done with the cleaning of the City, Harper looked as if a Head of State came to visit the City. All the streets are spic and span. Vegetation along the streets are cleared out. Mud, sand and debris sitting and flying all along the roads were reduced to a level that gives a sense of good atmosphere and healthy environment.

The Third Day, which was the final day, was Sunday, April 22. Hon. Mary T. Broh, Lord Mayor of Monrovia was expected to deliver the Keynote Address. But she was not allowed to travel to Harper on board the UNMIL flights. She really wanted to drive to Harper to address the youth of Maryland, but she had just arrived from the US on a conference and time was against her to travel on a 24-hour nonstop driving time to Harper.

On the last day of the Event, parade and sporting events took place. All the games took place in the Martha Tubman Ball Park. The Refugees Ball Club won the Championship. Food and refreshment were served.

After all was done, GYSD was over and concluded on April 22. 

The next Event is in April, 2013. We hope to observe it again in Maryland. This time, it is our ardent desire to incorporate all youths across the County. 

Somewhere in the future, we might take GYSD across the Southeastern Region including, Sinoe, RiverGee, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh. Little-by-little GYSD may be observed around the entire country before 2030.

We thank Hon. Alfred T. Thompson, Harper District Commissioner, whose office collaborated with the us - KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. (KNPIF).

Thanks also to Hon. Mary Broh who was willing to travel this far to speak to our youth but could not because UNMIL flights denied her the opportunity.

Thanks to all of our sponsors, UNCHR, Right-To-Play, DRC (Danish Refugee Council), IBIS, Visions in Action & Oxfam Liberia. They made a significant difference.

Our special thanks to the Superintendent of Maryland County, Hon. J. Gblebo Brown.

Thanks to Sen. H. Dan Morais and Rep. Dr. Bhofal Chambers. They helped us all along the way. They are the only two members of the Maryland Legislative Caucus that assisted us.

Special thanks to Eva Flomo of UNMIL Radio. She lifted our voice. Had it been for Eva’s Talk Show (Coffee Break), our voice would have been locked down. In Maryland there’s only one radio station. And it is located in Pleebo City. It covers Pleebo alone. We wish Eva Godspeed.

Messrs. Archie Williams and Minister Eugene Nagbe did not receive a Concept Paper or invitation for the Event from us. But in the final analysis when the proverbial rubber hit the ground and we got stuck for help, Archie rose to our help, as usual.

The Event was large. But we received a total amount of $200 United States dollars with a huge quantity of materials including rice, whitewash paint, water, soft drinks, cutlasses, files to sharpen the cutlasses, whitewash paint brushes, footballs, volleyballs, volleyball nets, Frisbees, jumping ropes, buckets, and other needed materials. This made our job much easier. More so, we practiced “Marginal Utility.”

Essentially, the Event was a resounding success taking into consideration the short time prep, and implementation, coupled with planners’ inexperience and short notice to our sponsors. Truth be told, we have learned a lot from the Event and how our sponsors think about these sorts of programs. That means, if we begin the planning process of GYSD 2013 very early, no doubt in my mind, it will succeed more than GYSD 2012.

The Event was graced with the presence in the county of Messrs. Eli Budu Tubman, Phil Merriam and Anthony Reggio. Phil and Anthony came to attend the Maryland Development Conference. Budu Tubman came to bury his mother. All of them were giving the opportunity to see Maryland again after a protracted period of time outside. We are grateful to all of them!

I am Thomas G. Bedell working and speaking on the ground in Liberia.