My Personal Declaration!

1.       I, Thomas G. Bedell, do hereby declare to all peace-loving Liberians and my detractors as well as enemies of peace that in my BEDELL SPEAKS online publication, I shall continue to pursue the process of truth, genuine peace, reconciliation and full human understanding via scholarship!

2.       I shall speak fearlessly to Truth and express my opinion on matters of relevance to the process of community development in the Diaspora and at home in Liberia with no malice, prejudice and provocation to/for or against anyone!

3.       In so doing, I promise never to hide under the cover of darkness with fake email name (s) as others do to harm the reputation of innocent Liberians who may not agree with their ideologies and/or philosophical assumptions. I condemn, with all I can command from the roof of my tongue, those who engage in such unhealthy intellectual exercise representing accomplices of the worse grade; I shall remain visible as I have always done from time immemorial, in advancing my ideas, philosophy and opinions under my legal name for the BEDELL SPEAKS online publication and/or any of my authorships!

4.       I declare, I shall always take full responsibility of my authorship! Any disagreement with anyone shall be clearly, fearlessly and respectfully expressed in a personal, private and/or public manner!

5.       By so doing, I vow never to accuse any man or woman falsely and if, in the event I do, I shall seek amends as a devout unorthodox Christian!

6.       So my promise to serve my community, organization and people is on my honor as a true social justice advocate base on the Principles of Christianity - Love For Humanity!

7.       I shall therefore maintain every support for peace & reconciliatory efforts by Liberians everywhere, including The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA)! My support in this regard is unflinching and unshakable!

8.       Thus, I’m indebted to every generation of leader of the Country dependent on policies and programs!

9.       My promise to practice community development with full human tolerance and acceptance for all is uncompromising!

10.   With this conviction and understanding, I unequivocally and without mixing words, condemn violence inflicted through fake email addresses with intent to terrorize our community and provoke chaos! I do so with all I can command from the roof of my tongue!

11.   Individuals who engaged in such acts of intimidation and terrorism MUST desist from such unwholesome acts!

12.   I’m grateful to those who author their differences, opinions, philosophical assumptions and ideologies under their legal names whether or not everyone agrees with their opinions. It indicates they have clear intent and wish to enhance intellectual discourse!

13.   Indeed, I encourage every author to pen his or her legal name to any document intended for public & civil consumption! I discourage the use of fake email names with intent to harm innocent Liberians.

Finally, I call upon all Liberians whose wish it is to see a flourishing nation under our academic education and true civilization to fall in line. We cannot continue to deceive ourselves into believing we can go on living a lie and then point fingers to “wrongdoers” while expecting strangers to solve our national problems! The solutions of our problems lie with us! Either we solve it or it will swallow us permanently!

Godspeed! Thomas G. Bedell/BEDELL SPEAKS 

Monuments of decay in Maryland (Liberia)

(March 5, 2010)

I haven’t traveled all through Liberia. But one thing I know for sure, all the areas or say counties in Liberia are not developed on the same level.

Since I was born, reared and during my current visit from the US to Liberia, I spent most of my working time in Maryland. As such, I can confidently and authoritatively say I have a greater power over scientific analysis and logical conclusions on matters on the ground in Maryland.

Being born and being reared in the county gives me a reference point when I review issues of today using the past as a backdrop. I know what Maryland looked like at the time, what is there now and what could be there if we all work feverishly hard together to achieving it.

In other words, I have a reference point. 

Most, if not all, of the monuments of decay today in Maryland were established during my upcoming days or a short time prior to my coming into being.

1.       Water Tower

2.       Concrete Streets

For example, the pipe-borne quarter million dollars water facility built by the German government in the 70s supplied the whole of Harper City. It served the Harper community with ease. It had a purifying station that we visited as students. The huge tower now towers over the Harper City Hall. It can be seen miles and miles away. Today, it doesn’t function at all. It is another monument of decay.

There is The Martha Tubman Ball Park. Since the 70s when it was constructed, nothing significantly new has been added to it. Some part of it is sinking into the belly of the earth. It is another monument of decay.

Upcape is a piece of land between the Ocean and the Cape. There is another monument of decay in this little area. It is the Tubman million dollars Mansion. It was also built by the German government as a gift. To date, it is another monument of decay. Peasants have encamped there. Every part of it has been dramatically abused. Wood-cooking has produced so much fumes in every part of Building. The walls have been blackened by smoke. The one-time Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room and White Room for Presidential purposes have all disappeared into the oblivion. There’s no trace of any beautiful and colorful rooms. They have been turned into storage rooms for damages and useless vehicle parts and worthless wheel barrows.  

Cape Palmas High School is the oldest and first established public high school in Maryland. It was also constructed by the Germans. It has graduated some of Liberia’s best. To date, it has been reduced to a monument of decay. Although, efforts have been made to help remove it from the status of a monument of decay, not much has changed to remove it from that status.

The Merry-Go-Round. It was a 21^st century state-of-the-art real estate piece of playground for kids. I think it was constructed in the 60s. As I opine, it is another monument of decay. It has been reduced to shitting field. At night social degenerates use it to carry on their degenerates acts.

Roxy Cinema. It sits in the heart of Downtown Harper. It used to be one of the best movie theaters in the country. Currently, the roof has fallen. The walls have caved in.  It is source of asbestos pollution. It just stands in the middle of Downtown with no other meaning other than a monument of decay waiting to collapse. It is fair to say, it’s a death trap. Anything could wrong anytime soon.

Monuments of decay in Maryland (Liberia)

(March 5, 2010)

I haven’t traveled all through Liberia. But one thing I know for sure, all the areas or say counties in Liberia are not developed on the same level.

Since I was born, reared and during my current visit from the US to Liberia, I spent most of my working time in Maryland. As such, I can confidently and authoritatively say I have a greater power over scientific analysis and logical conclusions on matters on the ground in Maryland.

Being born and being reared in the county gives me a reference point when I review issues of today using the past as a backdrop. I know what Maryland looked like at the time, what is there now and what could be there if we all work feverishly hard together to achieving it.

In other words, I have a reference point. 

Most, if not all, of the monuments of decay today in Maryland were established during my upcoming days or a short time prior to my coming into being.

1.       Water Tower

2.       Concrete Streets

For example, the pipe-borne quarter million dollars water facility built by the German government in the 70s supplied the whole of Harper City. It served the Harper community with ease. It had a purifying station that we visited as students. The huge tower now towers over the Harper City Hall. It can be seen miles and miles away. Today, it doesn’t function at all. It is another monument of decay.

There is The Martha Tubman Ball Park. Since the 70s when it was constructed, nothing significantly new has been added to it. Some part of it is sinking into the belly of the earth. It is another monument of decay.

Upcape is a piece of land between the Ocean and the Cape. There is another monument of decay in this little area. It is the Tubman million dollars Mansion. It was also built by the German government as a gift. To date, it is another monument of decay. Peasants have encamped there. Every part of it has been dramatically abused. Wood-cooking has produced so much fumes in every part of Building. The walls have been blackened by smoke. The one-time Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room and White Room for Presidential purposes have all disappeared into the oblivion. There’s no trace of any beautiful and colorful rooms. They have been turned into storage rooms for damages and useless vehicle parts and worthless wheel barrows.  

Cape Palmas High School is the oldest and first established public high school in Maryland. It was also constructed by the Germans. It has graduated some of Liberia’s best. To date, it has been reduced to a monument of decay. Although, efforts have been made to help remove it from the status of a monument of decay, not much has changed to remove it from that status.

The Merry-Go-Round. It was a 21^st century state-of-the-art real estate piece of playground for kids. I think it was constructed in the 60s. As I opine, it is another monument of decay. It has been reduced to shitting field. At night social degenerates use it to carry on their degenerates acts.

Roxy Cinema. It sits in the heart of Downtown Harper. It used to be one of the best movie theaters in the country. Currently, the roof has fallen. The walls have caved in.  It is source of asbestos pollution. It just stands in the middle of Downtown with no other meaning other than a monument of decay waiting to collapse. It is fair to say, it’s a death trap. Anything could wrong anytime soon.

Maryland County, Liberia Issues: Did Hon. Cherue Lie?

The Wednesday, April 7, 2013 Analyst Newspaper, Vol. 14 No. 104 edition carried a story captioned, “Sen. Cherue Dissects Maryland Internal Conflict.”

When I saw the Newspaper, the moment I glanced at it, the caption captured my attention. And I decided to buy and read it.

I was deeply disturbed and yet relief while reading it!

The fact of the matter is the man making the claims against Maryland is a senator of RiverGee County. And RiverGee County was once a total part of Maryland County. Geographically, RiverGee was slashed from Maryland. Today, it is now a new County with its own Local and Legislative leadership. Therefore, it holds no more allegiance to Maryland.

But is it not true what Sen. Frederick Cherue of RiverGee said about Maryland?

This is what he said and I quote him verbatim: “The Pervasive lack of unity among Lawmakers and local authorities of Maryland is to Blame for labor tensions in the County.”   I read this in the Newspaper mentioned above.

The Senator made the observation when he was making a verbal report to members of the Liberian Senate.

He did not stop there.

During the verbal report, the Senator also observed, that unless members of the Legislative Caucus of Maryland embrace peace among themselves, the problems in Maryland will not have a peaceful solution.

Notice, the RiverGee County Senator is chair of the joint committee set up by the Liberian Senate to probe ongoing labor tensions in Maryland County.

Let’s examine the facts and the issue against the Senator’s observation.

The Cavalla Rubber Corporation is an extension of a multinational corporation: SIFCA. Having exploited and abused our people for quite some time, it added more insult to the injury by monopolizing the rubber and oil palm business in Maryland. It has The Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP) under its guise.

After several years of operation without a concession agreement, every labor strike was put down by the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of The Liberia National Police (LNP). Currently, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has joined in suppressing the workers’ right to protest bad labor practices.

The representative of The Pleebo/Sodokeh district, Hon. Dr. Bhofal Chambers has been sounding the clarion against the exploitation of the people of Pleebo/Sodokeh District in particular and the people of Maryland in general. This effort on the part of Dr. Chambers has ruffled feathers in the echelon of political power, especially in the Executive Mansion. Today, he’s at loggerhead with President Sirleaf.

The Maryland Legislative Caucus is split and swings on the hinges.

Senators Ballout and Morias have formed a team. They are walking together in every way possible to prevent the experience of the 52^nd Legislator from 2005 to 2011.

On the other hand, Representatives Dr. Bhofal Chambers and Rev. Dr. Isaac Roland are united in their goal to take their stance for or against anything in the Caucus.

As for Representative James Popee Biney, he doesn’t worth the salt he eats. He is a pathological liar and an incompetent man. He has no idea what is his duty in the Lower House. He is just sitting in the Lower House for nothing. There is a feeling he actually thinks he is representing himself and his concubines. He’s the “so say one so say all” type of guy. He sleeps through Sessions. When issues facing the county come up, he hides under his bed sheets. 

Detractors Are Nothing New

(May 10, 2014)

Profs. Morias, D. Twe, P. G. Wollo, Joseph Kwiah Elliott and Albert Porte had detractors; so do I!

 I did not see Prof. Morias personally. But my late dad talked about him a lot. Therefore, I heard of the learned professor. He was a great Liberian revolutionary, educator and politician as I was told.

I did not see Prof. D. Twe in person. My late dad told me about him too. So I heard of the learned professor too. I am told he was a great Liberian educator and revolutionary.

I did not put my eyes on Prof. Wollo. But my late dad made it his duty to tell me about him. So I heard of the professor too. I learned he was a learned man, the first Liberian, if not the first African and/or Black man, to graduate Harvard University. He was also a great revolutionary, poet and educator, I was told.

Truth be told, I did not understand anything much about these great men when my late dad was telling me about them. Some of them came and passed on long before my birth. I only saw two (Prof. Joseph Kwia Elliot & Albert Porte) with my naked eyes. Thanks to The Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) for widening my knowledge and opening my eyes wider about these martyrs.

Besides not seeing the three other heroes (Morias, D. Twe & Wollo) of our country as mentioned above, I was blessed to personally see and interact with the Great Albert Porte and Prof. Joseph Kwia Elliott. I saw and spoke with them personally. But at the time when I met and spoke with them, I was too young to comprehend much of what they had to say to me till now.

The Great Porte, (that’s how I refer to him) was a true Liberian social justice advocate. He reached the highest height of human achievement. But because of the common good of the greatest number of Liberians who suffered injustice and yearned for liberation and a voice, he denied himself all the good things his education and personal success made available to him.

Prof. Joseph Kwia Elliott was more spiritual, an educator, prophet and a revolutionary. He singlehandedly took the revolution by the horn and led it to liberate his people.

Convincingly, I suppose, all of these great martyrs of ours, had their own brand of enemies and/ detractors who tried to stand in their way to halt their progress. Unmistakably, I have mine. These detractors and/or enemies did all they could, as they do to me, to distract Profs. Twe, Morias, Elliott, Wollo and Porte. But they failed to achieve their evil intents as is in my case.

I believe these martyrs I’m writing about, during their days of the struggle, spent a good bit of time trying to explain their actions in certain cases and ideas to their detractors to enable them (detractors) to comprehend their methodology in the struggle. Or when the detractors could not allow themselves to learn new ways and adjust to the wind of change, I’m sure the martyrs probably just let them perish in their own complacency and idleness, just as I am doing.

 Some of those detractors and/or enemies of our martyrs had a sole intent. And that was to demoralize the martyrs and then try to destroy them physically. Whatever good work the martyrs performed during their hard days of struggle, was rated “no good” by their detractors. And so the detractors undermined the martyrs. Soon, God called both the martyrs and detractors home. 

They all are gone now. Today is a new day. And we have new detractors and enemies; some call them critics; I call them confused-minded folks! They will find fault with everything a true revolutionary of today does. But they will never be able to perform 0.1% of the tasks of these great men in the Liberian society.

All things considered, it seems like we (Liberians) might all go around the same circle as was in the early days of Profs. Morias, Wollo, D. Twe, Elliott and Porte. And it appears we will all leave this world knowing we all did what we were brought on earth by God to do, except in a different way.

I know who and what my detractors are what they are engaged in. And I know having detractors and trying to educate them is nothing new! They initially give an impression I am not performing my historic task and duty to my country as per my claim. As so they will undermine my work. But notice they are sitting on their hands and are doing nothing to help the country.

I’m not mad at them. It’s all good to have detractors and sometime enemies. But sometimes it is not a good thing to pay attention to them especially, when they are petty and childish. More so, when they can’t do anything that can be measured up to your work.

Channing Pollock once observed, “A critic is a legless man who teaches running.” 

Goldstein, Moritz adds to that by saying: “We can easily reduce our detractors to absurdity and show them their hostility is groundless. But what does this prove? That their hatred is REAL. When every slander has been rebutted, every misconception cleared up, every false opinion about us overcome, intolerance itself will remain finally irrefutable.”   

 The fact that police brutalized and psychologically torture me in Liberia, while serving as a volunteer giving back to my country, is something for detractors to consider as "necessary," then let the chips fall where they may! The police will come for the Jews, Catholics and communists tomorrow!

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.

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

In Occupational Safety & Health practice, to do hazard analysis on a particular job, one needs to answer the following specific 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?

1.       Is it those who live on the ground in Maryland feeling the brunt of the problem on the ground or

2.       Is it those living in the Diaspora who have not been on the ground over fifty years or

3.       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 influential Conference attendees came from outside Maryland. They came from Monrovia and outside the Country. And the actual planning of the Conference was done mostly by these persons referred to as outsiders. As a result, the end and result of the conference continue to trouble the minds of many Marylanders including myself. Up to now, no one can clearly say whether or not the conference was a success.

From what I have learned later, 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 those who designed the Conference definitively have limited or no knowledge of the problems on the ground in Maryland.

All things considered, the conference seemingly is one whose time had come - identifying burning issues and problems in the County and adapting a solution-finding approach is rather a fine idea. And this Idea justified the essence of the conference. Except for one reason: it started on the wrong footing!

Several questions abound therefore:

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

Is it the University staff which is composed of foreign nationals 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 visible solution?

Or

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

The answer to these salient and unanswered 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 the Philippines. And she has not lived in Maryland long enough to know the name of the major streets. But she was given the responsibility to plan the conference and its agenda and then decide whom to invite and what to discuss.  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 his long departure and recent arrival, Maryland has dramatically evolved. 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 from a practical standpoint. Academically, there’s no doubt in my mind, this brother can diagnose the problems in Maryland. But his approach will be unequivocally impractical in terms of solutions.

These concerns and analysis are just what they are.

The issues raised about the Vice president from Philippines and the Chair of the Planning Committee is in no way to belittle their contributions and/or disrespect them in reference to the Conference. This concern should not be read negatively. It is positive! The truth is, both individuals cannot plan the future of Marylanders without Marylanders participating and/or taking the lead, especially those Marylanders who will remain in the crises when the proverbial bull hits the fence and everyone flees to his or country far-far away.   

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 a conference. And mind you, he doesn’t consult with the Americans who have the problems that he’s attempting to solve. But he sends them invitation to attend. The invitation tells them they are “guests.” Evidently, the “guests” will not actively partake in the solution-finding approach during 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 I’m sure they will NOT cry out in bad faith and bad minds for the visitor! But for heaven’s sake, they are the ones with the problem; and so, they are the ones who 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 and the possible problems of Maryland are more alien to the issues of Maryland than anyone can imagine. The issues that haunt Maryland have no significant impact on these individuals who planned the Conference. And this is because, as I said earlier, when the proverbial bull hits the fence, all of these individuals from far-away lands will flee to their various lands leaving the common Marylanders on the ground to swallow the bitter pill of the situation.

So who needs to find solutions to the problems of Maryland? Is it not Marylanders?

I don’t know what you think and what your answers will be; 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! It is as wrong as it can be!

This is my opinion! What’s yours?

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

Maryland County, Liberia: A Brief Account of Seven Shipwrecks

On May 31, 2010, news broke that another ship had wrecked right off the shores of Harper City, Maryland County in Liberia. Women, men and children died.

From 2004 to May 31, 2010, record shows seven (7) ships wrecked with Marylanders on board.

All of the doomed ships were either heading to Maryland or departing the port of Harper in Maryland with business women carrying their investments.

Out of the seven wrecked ships, the first wrecked along the Bong Mines Pier in Monrovia. Because it did not go far from the Pier, from information received, lives were saved and some goods and personal belongings rescued.

The second ship wrecked right behind the Executive Mansion in Monrovia.

Essentially, two ships wrecked in the Monrovia area. Out of the two ships that wrecked in the Monrovia area, no fatality reported. But goods, investments and personal belongings got destroyed; remnants currently sit in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean as we opine.

The third wreck occurred in Greenville, Sinoe County. Although no one died, an elderly woman lost three of her middle fingers. They were chopped off. To date, she has two fingers on her right hand.

The fourth shipwreck took place in Harper City. It happened few yards away from the port of Harper. The ship, we are told, was departing the port of Harper when it experienced a leak. The wreck was so fast the vessel began to nosedive. All the passengers were left in a limbo. Luckily, the vessel had not gone too far. So the fishermen boats were there on time.  A total number of fifty passengers were rescued. But their investments, personal belongings and everything else went down along with the vessel deep into the belly of the Atlantic Ocean.

The fifth shipwrecked happened in Little Bassa, Grand Bassa County. Whatever the case must have been, people saw the ship leaning sideways. The next thing they realized, the vessel began to fall apart at every point. The passengers began to run for safety but had nowhere to run. Some of the passengers jumped into the Ocean and others grabbed onto mattresses to keep afloat.

A little girl by the name of Princes Merriam, aged 13, was crushed to death by one of the hanging cranes on the vessel. Her mother survived. According to her mother, Little Princes was sitting closed to her along with her three-year old son when the crane came tumbling down on Princes. She (the mother) legs were trapped under another container. So she could do nothing to help her 13-year old daughter and three-year old son.

Little Princes died. As record holds, she is the only casualty. The Captain and crew of the vessel have never admitted how many passengers were truly on board. That means, if there were any other humans on board, they must have perished into the Ocean and cannot be accounted for. All the investments of the citizens and residents to date sit in the belly of the Atlantic Ocean.

The seventh ship wrecked in Harper City.

Again, the passengers were lucky; for lack of a better expression. The vessel had just departed the Port when it began to leak. As soon as it was discovered that the vessel was leaking, most part of it was already heading towards the bottom of the Atlantic. This time, no one died. Fishermen were closer. They rescued the passengers except their goods, investments and personal belongings.

The eighth ship that wrecked was the last. It wrecked on May 31, 2010. It was the last straw!

From what I know, it wrecked right off the shores of Harper. All indications are, it did arrive in Harper waters. Understandably, the Captain decided not to dock at the Port. I am told he wanted to dock the next morning. And so, he stationed several yards away from the Port.

How I know this?

The President of the Maryland Women, Inc. Madam Clara Ayo Cole-Nyema was on board. And she made series of cell phone calls before the ship went down. She called her nephew. And she called me too. She said the vessel was already in Harper. And she could see one of the Anderson’s big buildings from where they were docaked. But she said the captain told them he was docking on the Port in the morning. By this time it was about 10pm. She told her nephew she was hungry and was craving for ‘Pepper-soup.” She sounded very relaxed on the phone. So she asked him to make available some money to one of her friends to cook the soup for her. So that as soon as she got home she would drink the soup. The nephew did. And the lady cooked the soup. Later on Ayo called again. This time she was sounding pushy. She complained the ship was leaning sideways. She asked her nephew to find the Fanti fishermen for rescue mission. While talking, the phone cut off. Apparently, it was network problem.

Few minutes later Ayo called again. This time on a different number. She was pleading for immediate help. Her nephew and husband got scarred. They hopped on a motor bike and moved towards the Port. I joined them too. We all stopped on the over-path near the Tubman Mansion up the Cape. From there we saw the lights of the ship. On the phone, we told her we were looking at the ship’s lights. That’s when she got upset and raised her voice, “I did not call you to see the ship’s lights. I say call for help.” Suddenly the nephew and husband hopped on their motor bike and off they went to Old Krutown.

Their negotiation with the Fanti yielded no fruits. Ayo kept alarming on the phone until the husband and nephew got confused. They ran back to the location where they could see the ship. And what they saw actually killed their spirits: the lights had disappeared. Where did the lights go? To ascertain that information, they called Ayo back on her cell. All the numbers she called on were all off. All attempts by her husband and nephew to keep calling paid no dividend. The result was evident. The ship wrecked and sank in no time. Ayo was assumed dead.

These stories are a stark reminder of the continue plaque of Maryland County for want of good roads and leadership.       

I am Thomas G. Bedell; I write, work and speak from on the “ground’ in Liberia