Fifteen Reasons Why President Sirleaf Needs To Visit Maryland County and Hear The People’s Cry:

Fifteen Reasons Why President Sirleaf Needs To Visit Maryland County and Hear The People’s Cry:

1.       The West African Power Pool (WAPP) which is supposed to provide electricity to Maryland has failed and is exactly two years behind schedule as per its sponsors: EU & AfDB.

2.       Currently, a handful of individuals have received electricity. Majority, forming the larger commercial & private sector have been left out.

3.       More than 30 young men and women served as volunteers in three years planting light polls manually and doing the wiring.

4.       The planting of polls covers 75% and wiring covers 10% of Harper District. There are polls stretching to some parts of Pleebo/Sodokeh District. But there is little evidence these young men and women who gave us electricity will be hired.

5.       The volunteers are worried whether or not they will ever be employed having served in that capacity for three unbroken years without compensation. Could they hire friends and relatives?

6.       The Tubman University is an academic promise to Southeastern Liberia and the nation as a whole. It is growing. Is the allotment from Government also growing to support the University?

7.       All Maryland elected officials in The Liberian Congress are at loggerhead with President Sirleaf. This situation negatively impacts upon the growth & development of Maryland. What’s the cure?

8.       An estimated SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$600,000.00) was made available by the Liberian government as MONETARY REPARATION to Shipwreck victims. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) through its former head, Hon. Harrison Karwea, Superintendent J. Gble-Bo Brown (now Senator) former Senator John Akel Ballout and Senator H. Dahn Morias FULLY paid the victims. THERE’S A NEED FOR AN AUDIT!

9.       What’s about MEDICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL REPARATION for the victims? Will ever come?!

10.    Ritualistic killing is once more raising its ugly head. Each time one citizen dies, the entire nation is hit in the knee cap!

11.   The Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) and Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP) reached a point when violence is imminent. If nothing significant is done to pay redundant and current employees as well as landowners their rightful dues, no telling what could unfold.

12.    The Fishtown/Harper Highway Project is experiencing serious glitches: erstwhile and imminent demolitions on private property in the city of Pleebo reached a disquieting and catastrophic dimension. If nothing is done by the Liberian government, The African Development Bank (ADB) will pull the pluck on the Project and the road will never be paved again for decades to come.

13.   Did The Ministry of Public Works hands-in-gloves with some local officials in Maryland rob private landowners their Rights and Legal Dues thereby engaging in corrupt practices?

14.   What happened to the THIRTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS for Radio Harper? We want to know? Can an audit be conducted by The Liberia General Auditing Commission (GAC)?

15.    Why is it that International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs) are hiring outside of Maryland? You mean chauffeurs, cooks, security companies, &c.?

These and many other things need to be addressed when President Sirleaf arrives in Maryland. Otherwise the proverbial bell that tolls will do so for too much that could go wrong!

I am T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell; a volunteer worker, social justice advocate, speaking and working on the ground in Liberia and a victim of police brutality