The Old Cape Palmas High School Building

BEDELL SPEAKS & WORKS!

osygefo@hotmail.com, geesayfannokon@yahoo.com, http://thomasbedell.blogspot.com

CELL: +231.0886.920.151

 

September 10, 2013

 

 

It was on Saturday night or should I say, Sunday morning; because it was after 12am in Liberia when I placed a cell phone call to Cousin Joshua Bedell – an exceptionally and incredibly intelligent young man.

 

On a regular basis, I call Cousin Joshua once in a “blue moon.” When I say “blue moon,” it’s not that type of “blue moon” when it takes so long. The fact that it takes a little bit longer than it should for me to call a senior and well-informed cousin of mine makes it a “blue moon” to me.

 

Each time I place this call to Cousin Joshua it’s always at night. And that’s mainly to check on him. Because in my personal view, I owe it to him and other senior relatives of mine that I am closed to or I have a good rapport with.

 

Each time I made a call to Cousin Joshua, we usually talk on minor issues. When I say “minor,” I mean just chatting and laughing. This time, the call was of a different nature.  To add more to that, it was lengthy.

 

Let me help you set the driving force behind this recent call to cousin Joshua. And also help you know what made the call different from previous calls. After that, then I can move on to the real story prompting this post. So bear with me.

 

See, Liberia is quite an expensive place to live. If you don’t believe me, as Amara Konneh, the Minister of Finance!

 

Considering the work I do as a volunteer in the country and spending my own hard-won money to carry on this work of mine, I always find ways and means to cut cost. By this, I mean, I design strategies to take advantage of certain business Promos so as to make ends meet. By so doing, it allows me to do my work without feeling the severe financial pinch.

 

Having lived in Liberia for over five years, I realized the most competitive business industry in the country is the cell phone industry (MTN). That’s my opinion. This industry has so many offers so much so, the competition gets very stiff.

 

To date, there are four cell phone companies in Liberia: 1) LONESTAR, 2) CELLCOM, 3) NOVAPHONE & 4) LIBBERCELL. All of them are continually vying for subscribers. And so they all continue to launch ongoing Promos.

 

NOVAPHONE changed its name from COMUIM. COMIUM used to be competitive. But now it is drowning in the Sea of competition. To bounce back, it changed its name and threw a monkey wrench in the competition. It starts to offer great and affordable Promos. Truth be told, these are Promos no one can just reject . Because they are great!

 

If anyone thinks I am doing commercial for the cell phone companies in Liberia, then it will be because I’m saying a lot about the cell phone companies. Why? Because this is the only competitive industry that I know about in Liberia. If this view that I am doing commercial for the cell phone companies becomes the case, then bless my heart! In order to get to my story, I thought by bringing in how the story came about is also as important as the story.

 

Now, this cell phone Company in its wake like a “sleeping giant,” came face-to-face with another giant cell phone company by the name of CELLCOM.

 

CELLCOM has been in the business of stiffening the competition with largest cell phone company, LONESTAR. CELLCOM jumped right in the competition with full force. And then “boom!” the dynamics and variables changed. CELLCOM comes with offers that no one can reject; be he a common person or not.

 

LONESTAR was left in the proverbial cold in all this activity. And so, its marketing department threw its weight into the competition. And “boyo-boy!” as soon as LONESTAR enters, the Ocean of promos engulfed every inch of the country, especially Monrovia from where I author this post. LONESTAR is offering three different promos all at once. And no one really understands how the three promos can work with one company. But all the same, it’s good; that’s business in competition.

 

First, LONESTAR offers STARZONE which gives you discount up to 100% when you call ONLY LONESTAR customers! On that Promo, LONESTAR adds another Promo - after 3 minutes of talking time which you pay for, the rest of the talk time on the phone BECOMES FREE! Along with that, LONESTAR has another offer: you buy US$5 and you get 200% bonus. Which means, you spend US$5 and get additional US$10 added to the purchase. But there’s one catch: you have to use the FREE $10 that you get as Bonus by 12am. Otherwise, the Bonus will be returned to LONESTAR. Your account in this case becomes zero.

 

In other words, all these Promos give one the opportunity to call just almost everybody one knows just to use the available $10 bonus before it is midnight.

 

And that’s exactly what happened when I called Cousin Joshua that September 22 day. I wanted to use my Bonus. And so, I raised a lot of talking points.

 

See, Cousin Joshua is my senior. He lived in Maryland long before I did. And so he knows a lot about Maryland in his days then I do. So I wanted to get a history lesson from him. He did not hesitate; he provided the lesson to me free-of-charge. And truly, I am appreciative and grateful to him. I learned some things from cousin Joshua that I did not know. I’m sure there are others who are in my shoes until now.

 

Thanks to cousin Joshua.

 

To show my appreciation cousin Joshua, I wish to share the history lesson that I learned from him with anyone whose desire it is to learn what I did.

 

And this is how it went.

 

Our concentration was wholly and solely on Maryland County, our Hometown. We talked about the five Vice Presidents of Liberia who came from Maryland with focus on only two of them - J. J. Dossen and Allen N. Yancy. We talked about their burial grounds and their residences in Maryland.

 

During that time, a cross-section of issues was discussed including our family. Joshua’s paternal grandfather – Hon. Thomas Bedell was top of the page in this family discussion. It was during Hon. Bedell’s term of office as Representative of Harper District that the Capitol Building, a 21^st century state-of-the-art real estate property was built. I found this out when I visited the Capitol Building on one of my research missions. Cousin Joshua confirmed the info. And then he told me more about our family. I can’t discuss all we talked our family. Most of it is for the family not my readers herein.

 

Than we arrived at the schools in Cape. Each time I say “Cape,” I am making reference to the whole county of Maryland.

 

Cousin Joshua has an excellent sense of history and love thereof. Besides, he lived in Harper longer than I did. And so, his command over the history in the 40s and 60s is greater than mine when it comes to what was in Cape long before my time.

 

Besides talking about other schools, we ended on Cape Palmas High School. I learned a lot. And this is what I learned.

 

Cape Palmas High School, prior to building the new campus directly opposite the Museum on Maryland Avenue, used to be on Reevy Street directly opposite the old Library next to the residence of the late Cllr. James Shannon, former Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia. The Library was located right in the back of the residence of Hon. Theo Milton, former superintendent of Maryland County.

 

The old Cape Palmas High School building, Cousin Joshua tells me, is the building that housed the Arm Forces of Liberia personnel during my day. We used to cut through there and go pass by Teacher Viola Campbell’s house to get to Water Street.  This building had been there all these years and nobody told me it was the first Cape Palmas High School. I was shocked when Cousin Joshua told so. The building sits right on my proverbial nose and I did not know. And all my days in Harper from kindergarten to high school, nobody ever told me where the old Cape Palmas High School was located. My phone conversation with Cousin Joshua made me know all this.  

 

Cousin Joshua even pointed out to me that the late Cllr. Willie Neufville was the registrar at the time. He also told me Cousin Catherine Bedell Wood and others graduated from that old Cape Palmas High School building. “Boy!” would I have known all this had I not called Cousin Johsua? Probably not!

 

Cousin Joshua added something interesting to my history lesson. I didn’t know the late Cllr. Willie Neufville was a registrar at Cape Palmas High School and the late Joe Bush served as principal at that time. All this time all my thinking was that Cllr. Neufville only practiced Law. And I always thought the late Joe Bush became Principal of Cape Palmas High School in the mid-70s. Because I think Mr. Bush held on to this post on to the doorstep of the 80se relinquished it.

 

Until Cousin Joshua drilled me through this history lesson, I never knew all this about Cape Palmas High School, Cllr. Willie Neufville and Mr. Joe Bush. I’m sure I am not alone in this experience. There are other Marylanders and Liberians as well who were in my shoe until now.

 

Thanks to Cousin Joshua for the history lesson. We will indeed cherish it

 

I am Thomas G. Bedell, a volunteer worker; working and speaking on the ground in Liberia and a victim of police brutality

Jesus and the Legal Scholar: An Analogy To The Liberian Reality

June 10, 2010

I’ve been in Liberia for more than a year. Looking at what’s obtaining on the “ground” specifically regarding how Liberians treat each other, I cannot but relate this situation to Biblical passages. Simply put, we are Christians. And so we learn very well from Christian lessons.

The Biblical “Good Samaritan” analogy is more relevant to the Liberian case as far as dealing with each other.

In the Bible, a legal expert wanted to put Jesus to a test. In fact, he wanted to get Jesus into trouble with the Laws of Rome. And so he posed incriminating questions to Jesus. He wanted to know Jesus’ thoughts about the Laws of Rome. He expected Jesus to answer him directly. By so doing, Jesus would just ride in his trap to get Jesus into trouble with the Law.

This is the question he first asked Jesus. He said, “Mr. Jesus! how can I inherit eternal life?” Jesus being of Divine Spirit knew this man’s sole intent to get Him into trouble with the Laws of Rome. The scholar did not want Jesus to slip from his hands. Because he thought he had gotten Jesus. And so he posed his questions quickly and dexterously. Jesus being All-Knowing posed a question back to the scholar. But before doing so, Jesus paused for a minute. And that was the moment the scholar took a deep breath and started talking to himself.

This is what he said to himself on the inside: He said, “Why is Jesus not talking quickly in answering my question? Why is He pausing? Has He given up on my question or what?” At first he thought Jesus would give a quick reply. And since Jesus did not, the scholar thought he had finally entrapped Jesus.

Suddenly, Jesus bounced back and asked the scholar a question. Jesus asked, “What is written in the Law and how do you read it?”

The expert got choked. He kept quiet for a minute. And then he said to himself “Dammit! Why is Jesus asking me a question instead of answering my question?”

Now this is what the scholar thought.

He thought since he wanted to entrap Jesus, he needed to bombard him with more questions. And if he continued bombarding Jesus with more questions aggressively, Jesus would say something wrong and be accused of wrongdoing.

After going back-and-forth, the expert yielded to Jesus’ question. He began to read the Law that Jesus asked him to read. After the scholar read the Law, Jesus told him that his answer was correct. Jesus then recommended that the Scholar follow what that Law says and he would inherit "Eternal life."

The expert got upset. Because Jesus did not answer his question the way he wanted Jesus to answer him. He got furious. The scholar paused for a minute thinking what else to do. And then the scholar said to himself: “How can I do this to easily entrap this man?”

Soon, he thought he had figured something smart out. He came up with a new question. This time, he thought he could get Jesus to answer directly. This is what he asked Jesus:  “Mr. Jesus, who then is my neighbor?”

Instead of providing a direct answer again, Jesus began by saying, “A man was going…”

Then the expert listened for a minute and realized this was not a straight answer. So he got choked and started talking to himself. “Where is this man going with this story?”

The scholar couldn’t understand what Jesus was doing. So he jumped in Jesus’ throat while Jesus was talking. He aggressively re-emphasized his question. But this time vehemently. He said, “Mr. Jesus, I say, who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus went on to say, “The man was going from Jerusalem …”

As Jesus was going on with the parable, the expert got too uncomfortable and uneasy. He shouted,” I say, Mr. Jesus! Mr. Jesus! Mr. Jesus!”

The scholar shouted so much, Jesus stopped.

Then the expert caught his breathe. Then he calmly asked Jesus again. But this time he posed the question as if he was speaking to an 8-year old kid. “I say, who is my neighbor. That’s all I’m asking you. Where are you going with this story of a man? Just tell me who is my neighbor?”

Jesus continued on with the story.

Jesus said “There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho …” The expert clinched a fist and said to himself, “Where is this man going with this story? Why can’t He answer my question?” Not knowing what was obtaining, the scholar decided to keep quiet this time and listen to what Jesus was saying.

Jesus continued on.

“When robbers attacked, stripped him and beat him up leaving him half dead, it so happened that a priest was going down the road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling that way came upon the man and when he saw him his heart was filled with pity. He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn where he took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Take care of him and when I come back. I will pay you whatever else you spend on him.”

And Jesus concluded the parable and then asked the expert, “In your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbor towards the man attacked by robbers?”

The teacher of the Law and expert reluctantly answered Jesus by saying, “The one who was kind to the man who was in pain is the neighbor.”

Then Jesus replied to the scholar, “You go then and do the same.” The expert looked for minute and just kicked the dust and said, “Dammit! And the case closed on that. The scholar went his way and Jesus went His way.

MORAL: If we help one, indeed we help the nation

 

I am Thomas G. Bedell, a volunteer; working and speaking on the ground in Liberia, victim of police brutality and a candidate for citizenship repudiation

Senator H. Dan Morias Marylander of the Year 2012

 

The BEDELL SPEAKS & WORKS Internet Blog and SMS column has chosen Senator H. Dan Morias as our Marylander of the Year 2012.

 

In 2010 he was arbitrarily arrested, humiliated and detained twice on false charges of ritualistic killing. Several individuals in Government were suspected of politically masterminding this. In larger Liberian social and political circles, when people lie on others and they are disgraced and imprisoned and the victim is exonerated, he (the victim) sometimes keeps his distance from those suspected of masterminding his troubles for a long time. They call that “Keeping speech.”

 

That is not the case with Morias.

 

He was released because the Government had no case against him and others. In less than three months, he threw his hat in the race for the office of Junior Senator for Maryland – a position that is highly charged politically.

 

After all was said and done, he overwhelmingly won the seat. He received the highest votes over other contenders some of whom were accused for lying on him. This is something that is unheard of – a man just coming from jail on false criminal charges goes to the Polls and wins. Normally, people who go to prison for political reasons in most cases do come out swinging in political polls and elections. But to be falsely accused on criminal charges and come out victorious in a political race, is also unheard of in this day and age.  

 

Morais was in prison and most people thought the lies painted on him would have a negative impact on him if he went in the race. The opposite was true. He beat his political opponents. And becomes Junior Senator with no malice against any of those accused of lying and incarcerating him. Today, he’s working with everyone else for the betterment of Maryland County and its people. This is something that is remarkable and worth noting.

 

Morais has vision and intensity of conviction that gives him forward movement approach. With fervor, he has broad sympathy and imagination. He stands for the forward movement and upliftment of Maryland. He has faith in the people. By faith it doesn’t mean he believes in dogmas. But he believes in goodness, justice, and righteousness. He’s not contented with looking for what may be useful or pleasant for himself; he looks for what is honorable, just and good for Maryland and the people.

 

Mr. J.A. Froude, an English writer, once observed,

 

“When the air is heavy with impostors, and men live only to make money,… and the kingdom of heaven is bought and sold, and all that is high and pure in man is smothered by corruption, fire of the same kind bursts out in higher natures with a fierceness which cannot be controlled; and confident in truth and right, they call fearlessly on the seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal to rise and stand by them.”

 

“They do not ask whether those whom they address have wide knowledge of history or science or philosophy; they ask rather that they shall be honest, that they shall be brave.… They know well that conscience is no exceptional privilege of the great or the cultivated, that to be generous and unselfish is no prerogative of rank or intellect.”

 

The type of forgiveness being practiced by Senator Morais is one that this country craves for. 

What is natural to "the flesh" (the carnal nature) when we have been hurt or abused or insulted is to strike back, to plot revenge, or to simmer in bitterness. This is "only human". But God requires forgiveness, else He will NOT forgive us. If we are unwilling--or unable--to forgive, then there is no use asking God for what He has told us He will not give.

 

For believers, dealing with the sin of unforgiveness is first priority. And there’s where Sen. H. Dan Morias finds himself – in the realm of forgiveness!

 

H. Dan Morias is many things including a senator, revolutionary, sports lover, politician & diplomat.

 

Morais is a hero. Thomas Carlyle once observed "The history of the world is but the biography of great men” reflects his belief that heroes shape history through both their personal attributes and divine inspiration. In his book On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History, Carlyle set out how he saw history as having turned on the decisions of "heroes", giving detailed analysis of the influence of several such men (including Muhammad, Shakespeare, Luther, Rousseau, and Napoleon). Carlyle also felt that the study of great men was "profitable" to one's own heroic side; that by examining the lives led by such heroes, one could not help but uncover something about one's true nature.

 

Congratulations to Senator H. Dan Morais on his election to the Liberian Senate after false imprisonment and thanks for his mission for forgiveness!

 

He’s our Marylander of the Year 2012

ULAA: The Last Spark prompting my Travel to Liberia to serve

                                                                        August 20, 2013

I believe it was between 2004 and 2005 when Hon. Sam Mohammed Kromah was president of The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) when he and his leadership including the Board of Directors appointed others and me on its Humanitarian Commission to help our folks back home in Liberia after a 14-year generalized anarchy of violence. 

 

ULAA has been and is the largest and oldest Liberian Diasporic registered society.

 

When ULAA was functioning in its early days, I was a teenager in high school in Maryland County; deep in the southeastern keyhole of the Republic of Liberia.

 

Little did I know one day I would be opportune to serve this great Liberian organization in the Americas and that it would be the place where I would receive my last and most important spark towards national service.

 

I can recall after Hon. Kromah left the stage of leadership for ULAA, his vice president Hon. Madam Roberta Rashid took over along with Hon. Morris T. Koffa as her vice. They met us on the Commission and kept us working in the same direction.

 

The folks I worked with at the time were Dr. Carver, Saah N’tow, Martha Sinoe, Gail Farngalo, Dr. Mariah Seton and others.

 

Our term of reference was to solicit funding to help provide food and services for Liberians at home after the war and to help usher them back into the society. It was a humongous task. But we were measured up to it.

 

I recall, Hons. Kromah, Jackson (former board chairman) and Koffa traveled to Liberia to introduce our first project. During that trip, they distributed rice and other food items including educational materials and toys for kids from the Humanitarian Commission. That was the most successful and meaningful contribution of time. Liberians at home and abroad were very grateful.  

 

We continued our service to our country on the Commission until elections were held in ULAA. A new leadership was born. It appointed its own corps of Commissioners. And so we (the old commissioners) moved on to private life.

 

It was at that point my spark to go deeper into humanitarian work and national service gained momentum.

 

Even though I was no more on the ULAA Humanitarian Commission, but I could not have been so encouraged to get involved in such work that I do today in Liberia had ULAA not given me such opportunity to serve it. I am grateful to ULAA!

 

After my service on the ULAA Commission, I was so energized I began to reach out to friends and others with whom I worked on the Commission to begin this same kind of work in the same direction to help our people and country.

 

Some saw it the way I did; others did not.

 

Those who agreed with joined me to extend our work to Liberia. Some of them prefer not to be mentioned in public. So I will not mention their names herein. But thanks to them for the courage and support they have given. Some day in the future, I’m sure, they will receive their proper dues.

 

Even though service to my country did not just begin with ULLA’s boost, it was already there and sitting in me waiting for the right time. But ULAA made a significant difference on me.

 

I knew that someday after the war in Liberia, I would return to my country to help in the reconstruction effort.

 

2007 came and I was ready to move to Liberia temporarily to start my work. Family members and friends did not expect me to have done so that fast. But my passion wouldn’t allow me to wait any longer. Quickly I took off.

 

My dad had already trained me in community work. He also trained me to love my country. My Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, helped. The high school I graduated from, Bishop Ferguson High School, had its motto based on service: “Enter to learn, go out to serve.”

 

When you combine all of these factors and look through my work, there’s no reason why one cannot believe how addicted I am to national service.

 

In fact, when I graduated high school in 1980, the Government of Liberia granted me a scholarship  to travel and study in a sister African country, Ethiopia.

 

Upon my return from Ethiopia, I am one of the very few individuals among many who gave back to Liberia. I served the country for two unbroken years pro bono before returning to Ethiopia for studies on my own accord and risk.

 

I serve my country as supervisor of the adult education and literacy program in Lower Bong County. I was particularly assigned in the Faumah District. I ran the area of Zaweakomu Clan – from Bongtown, Zaweata, Hneyea (my spelling) straight through Mawah to Haindi. Every village and hamlet within this Clan saw my face and enjoyed my service. I walked distances that took me more than three hours. I left my living quarters at 7am and returned at 12am the next morning each time I went to work. I helped construct schools, centers and encouraged leaders, women and others of each community and village to learn how to read and write.

 

 I am proud to report, some of those young people who did not take education seriously prior to my assignment in the area, as a result of my help, some of them are successful today in Liberia academically. Some of them met me in Liberia and thanked me for the change in their lives.

 

Addition to ULAA boost, President Sirleaf traveled to the United States. She asked Liberians in the Diaspora to return home and help her government in its reconstruction drive. By then, I was already set and ready to go to work. I had already set up an NGO that established and registered in the US. The NGO was already functioning on the ground in Liberia. Community centers were operating; facilitators were receiving monthly Honorarium; educational materials were made available for the kids and elders who gained tremendously from the programs. We paid rent for structures and provided electric generators to provide lights for the environment and movies for the kids as part of our “Kids-After-School-Program.” 

 

In 2007 when I touched the soil in Liberia I already had work being done on the ground.

 

People who did not understand why I came to Liberia are now convinced of my work. Some of them thought my decision to come to Liberia was a “stupid” one. They thought Liberia was/is not the place for me to come and work. Some discouraged me.

 

As a result, some of the people surmised that my coming to Liberia was because I was “deported.” Others said I came to search for “big” jobs and other political greener pastures.

 

Today, there are some who claim I work for the CIA. Otherwise, they don’t understand why I am refusing to accept government’s offer for jobs. And why I am refusing to accept petitions from those who are convinced of my sacrificial work to my country for me to take elective positions.

 

All in all, I believe in not too-distant future, my critics and detractors will agree my stories are true and my work has won me significant scores.

 

 

 

I am Thomas G. Bedell, a volunteer worker; working and speaking on the ground in Liberia, a victim of police brutality and candidate for citizenship repudiation.

 

 

 

I Don’t Want A War in Liberia; But I See It Coming; And it Can Be Averted!

August 25, 2013

 

The Bible tells us that each time God wants to destroy a town city, people and/or nation, He first sends signs to call the people’s attention for them to repent from their wicked ways.

 

If the signs do not call the attention of the people, for God so love His children, He sends prophets. These prophets will preach God’s intent for His children to change from their foolish ways and return to Him.

 

THAT’S AN OFFER FOR REDEMPTION!

 

The Bible tells us, in some cases, if not most, a people who are doomed to be destroyed by the vengeance of God, normally dislike God’s prophets. They will condemn the prophets and pay no heed to them. An example is Jeremiah who preached in the Syrian Desert where more listened but none paid heed.

 

In our modern day, the police will brutalize the prophets and the leaders of the land will imprison and try to kill the prophets. Such an act of pugnaciousness provokes God’s anger against the leaders. And He surely will hit with His rod!

 

THAT’S REVOLUTION!

 

In the Bible and Koran we are told God punishes the “Watchman” when he fails to inform the leaders of an incoming war. But if the “Watchman” does and the leaders fail to act, God punishes the leaders.

 

We made our calls then and we are making them NOW! May the leaders pay heed. Or else…

 

1979 is a historic lesson taught! For whatever reasons, the call was made for the leaders to change their selfish and wicked ways or the God of David, Abraham would pour His vengeance on the Republic, they did not.

 

There were deaf ears to the Final Call. As a result, the Liberian nation went nose-diving and blood spilled across the country. Women and children wept while men gnashed their teeth.

 

In 1985 another clarion was blown.

 

God was tired with the disrespect to His House and His children. A call was made for His children to be left alone. The Government paid no heed. It continued to bludgeon women, men and children.

 

God had no other choice. So He swung His rod as He asked Moses to do in parting the Red Sea.

 

Consequently, the Republic again did not just go nose-diving this time, it fell flat on its face as tens and tens of thousands of God’s children were thrown in desolate places to seek food.

 

Soon churches were bombed; hearts boomed; and businesses that people worked for all their lives were also bombed. So there were bombed hearts, bombed churches, bombed businesses and bombed hopes. The nation would never ever be the same again after fourteen years of generalized anarchy of violence.

 

In 1995, the message came again.

 

Usually, when God sends His signs and prophets, they come in different forms. But the message remains the same: REPENTANCE!

 

For some unknown reasons, the leaders of the country refused to listen to the prophets. So God’s vengeance engulfed the entire nation and the leaders ended up in foreign lands for adjudication; for the Lord said He who will not listen to me, would be FULLY disgraced! I will send him or her to foreign lands where they will be mocked and belittled until they REPENT!

 

Today, the same message resounds in every corridor of the Republic: ‘REPENT or FACE the WRATH of GOD!”

 

There’s so much police brutality in the land, extrajudicial killings, rapes of little boys and girls, corruption, nepotism, misuse of power, arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention, lies, lack of law and order and the list goes on.

 

The God of our people has sent His signs of what lies ahead. Now His prophets have spoken.

 

1.       1, Get rid of the practice of CAMPAIGN of SILENCE & STONEWALLING

2.       2, Bring POLICE BRUTALITY & ENTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS to an IMMEDIATE END

3.       3. Adjudicate all cases before the courts and RELEASE the INNONCENT PEOPLE IMPRISONED

4.      4 INDICT& PROSECUTE ALL CURRENT GOVERNMENT and FORMER GOVERNMENT  OFFICIALS accused of CORRUPTION NOW!

5.      5.  HANDS OFF THE PRESS

6.       6. Return the PEOPLE’S LAND & NATURAL ENDOWMENT TO THEM NOW!

 

The leaders of this nation MUST pay heed NOW! For those who FAIL to LEARN from the RELICS of HISTORY are DOOMED to RELIVE IT!

 

 

 

I am Thomas G. Bedell, a volunteer worker; working and speaking on the ground in Liberia, a victim of police brutality and a candidate for citizenship repudiation

 

Maryland County: Latest Shipwreck – What I know!

June 2, 2010

 

I am still in Harper. I came ahead of President Sirleaf. I wanted to help make her visit a memorable one. Together with others wed did! I also wanted the Shipwreck Victims that I advocate for to meet with the President to discuss possible restitution to damages they incurred during several shipwrecks. The President left after she completed our work. But remain behind. And I’m still here. Each time I make a move to return to Monrovia, something new happens and it captures my mind. So I have to stick around to help in the best way I can. First it’s the case of ritualistic killing. There were arbitrary arrests. So I joined other social justice advocates and Human Rights organizations and groups to put a halt to the arbitrary arrests. Because arbitrary arrests on a jujuman “mojo” violates our Constitution which is our Supreme Law. The Case is dragging on. So I plan to leave. Then comes the aggrieved workers' case of The Tubman University. I’m asked to contact and negotiate with the University. So I speak with Dr. Collins. He doesn’t work with the University anymore. But he plays a key role in this matter. Then I speak with Dr. Dioh. He’s now a significant part of the Staff. From what he tells me, I have to speak with Dr. Russell, President of the University. So my next step is to see President Russell. Then another ship wrecks few yards off the port of Harper. See, I’m advocating for shipwreck victims. So, this recent wreck captures my attention. I have to stick around again to help the situation. Because the vessel wrecks right off the port of Harper and several citizens left in the water, the case becomes critical then the rest. If what I hear is correct, the vessel wrecked few hundred yards away from the port of Harper. Just like the second wreck that took place almost the same distance from town; chaos fill the City. Now I am pissed. Because this is not the first wreck. It is not the second wreck. It is not the third wreck. It is not the fourth shipwreck. It is not the fifth wreck. It is not the sixth wreck. It is the seventh wreck. And 90% of the passengers are Marylanders. In the name of the mother of God, I ask myself what the heck is going on here. Is Maryland cursed or is she suffering from bad leadership or the lack thereof? Whatever the answer may be, too many of our women and mothers are suffering and dying. Each time a vessel wrecks, there is a great loss. And the victims are mostly women. This time the loss is greatest – besides the investments, the leader of all Maryland County Women died in the wreck. She was on her way back from Monrovia to get a loan for the women. She also went to shop for goods to sell. Because like all others, that’s her source of income and her responsibility to the women group. The vessel (MV Havea) arrived in Harper. But it harbored few hundred yards from the Port. And then it began to go side-way taking in water on deck. Soon, it nosedived. Next thing we know, it goes deep into the belly of the Ocean. And there’s where it sits today.

 

It was on Tuesday, June 1. I was asleep. At 10pm a young man knocked on my door. I opened the door. Then he asked me if I knew what was going on in the City. I said, “No!” Then he started to explain. He said the vessel had arrived in Harper. But cell phone calls were coming in. There’s a young man we used to call “Wicked” Joe. Now this generation calls him “J5.” He’s married to a lady. I know this lady from way back. A very beautiful lady. Her name was Ayo Cole. She became Clara Nyema when she got married. She was the daughter of Mr. Achala (my spelling) Cole. Mr. Cole used to live on Marsh Street near the Glebo Church (Ascension Day). Clara is now dead in the Tuesday, June 1 shipwreck  (that is if the information we are receiving is correct). Clara was a big-time businesswoman. In fact, she was the chair of all the Maryland County Women. She was very energetic and hardworking. I know this because I worked with her more than twice on community projects. Bishop Dalieh has high regards for this lady. Because Clara, Bishop and I worked together.

 

During the wreck, I’m told Clara called her husband and told him the vessel was sinking. At that time, I’m told the vessel was leaning sideway. The next time she called, all they could hear from her was, “Oh, Lord, we are dying!” And she kept crying out loud for help until her voice disappeared from the cell phone. Every call that was made back to her cell phone in response to her many SOS calls delivered a busy or no tone. Something was evident. But nobody wanted to say it. Because hope was still alive! From 10pm up to 10am, there was no answer from her phone again. Whatever the case must have been, the husband got terrified. By morning hours, some boats engaged the waters. Some headed towards Fishtown and others towards Ivory  Coast. The ones that returned brought no good news.

 

By 11am, I joined others to the Ivory Coast by way of the Border towns. We got to a certain Border town in Ivory Coast. From that town, news circulated of a possible rescue mission. When we got there, the news was correct. We picked up seventeen passengers according to my conservative record. All of those we picked up, besides two, the rest were looking good and in good spirit. From what I observed, two were in pain. And they showed it. There is a lady with severe burns. She said it occurred from a gas container that she floated on. The other young man had a three inch metal broken in his ankle. He kept crying. The Medical Doctor at the J. J. Dossen Hospital was there. So those that were rescued were taken to the J. J. Dossen Hospital for treatment. It rain so hard we could not continue the search. In fact, we could not continue anymore because it was getting darker by the minute. And the Authority in Ivory Coast would not allow us in their country after 6pm at which time the Border closes for operation. So we left the town and returned to Harper.

 

I am very impressed with the Joint Security except the Immigration. The Maryland County Police Chief, Vat Williams was measured up to the task. A young man graduated high school with me in 1980. He’s  now in the National Security Force. His name is Wea Natt. He too was great and sharp in his performances. The former Superintendent of Maryland, G. WahMle Elliott, was at his best. He paved the way for us to enter the Ivory Coast. Diplomacy and bureaucracy was tight. But he broke through! Acting Superintendent, Hon. Regina Sampson, kept her administrative eyes working. I saw her at the Border. Everything was working well on her watch! I am very proud of the emergency leadership and camaraderie that I saw when we got to Ivory Coast! I wish this will continue!    

 

I am Thomas G. Bedell, a volunteer, I write, work and speak from the “ground” in Liberia!

A Tribute To Ayo Cole Nyema et al In The Maryland Shipwreck

April 2010

I join the whole Republic of Liberia today as we mourn the death and celebrate the fantastic life of legendary Clara Ayo Cole-Nyema, a diligent businesswoman a great community leader. Clara was about as close to a perfect human being as one could find. She was kind, honest, friendly, genuine, professional, and multi-talented. Clara was a beautiful and gentlewoman in every sense of the word. She was devoted to her God, her husband, family, friends and colleagues. It seems that she always had time for everyone. This was one of her many qualities that endeared her to Maryland.

Without going into an entire summary of Clara’s career and life, please allow me to share a few special personal recollections.

Like so many of us, I have strong and fond memories of sitting in the back of a community development meeting with others listening to Clara speaking on the things that affect the lives of our women and the community as a whole. I wondered how she knew we were waiting for her in the office of Bishop Nyema Dalieh to begin discussion on the process and formality of a reunion approach to the problems of Maryland County. As soon as she walked in, she bowed to us and apologized for the long wait. Then it hit me this lady was civilized and accommodating.

The stark memory of Ayo goes back when we were kids on Marsh Street (the last street moving parallel to Maryland Avenue) Harper City. There we came to know each other innocently. She was very young. And so was I.  

We snuck up to the Ascension Day Church which was used as a school building. It was few yards away from Ayo’s dad’s house. As for me, it was more than hundreds of yards away from my Aunt’s residence. But I was always there to catch up with the fun time. We waited for Ayo to come out of the Church. When she came out, she would look at us and say, "Hello friends! Do have names. And I would always be the first to say, “My name is Thomas!” And everybody would join me and say, “Wow! what a beautiful girl!" And we would run in different directions. She’s shy and we are shy too!

When on May 31, 2010 Havea (the vessel on which Ayo was riding) wrecked and I heard she was the first to call people on shore as to what was obtaining and I heard the sorrowful comments she was making before she perished along with others, I knew right away, such is life and such is the condition. Ayo was bidding us farewell forever. If there was something I could do, I would have bowed to her feet and give my life to save her. But it happened so fast. It caught every human person unaware.

May Ayo’s soul and the others on board with her who also lost their precious lives rest in perfect peace and light perpetual shine upon her.

 

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