Friday, September 3, 2010

Barnes Not Clear Why He Was Recalled

H. McCarey Marshall
Source: allafrica.com

Ambassador Barnes
When recalled Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States of America arrived home, those who followed developments regarding the manner in which the President took the decision briefed a sigh of relief that they would have gotten the true story and clarity that did not happened as the recalled Ambassador sounded on unclear on why the president humiliated him.
Addressing himself to the issue of his recalling by the president at a press conference held Wednesday, September1,2010, he heaped praises on President Sirleaf, indicating that he appreciated her gesture for allowing him served in her government in spite of the fact that he is an opposition figure.
For whatever reasons, Barnes noted, his recall has what he called “no bleak motives” as the president acted constitutionally upon her will and pleasure to appoint as well as dismiss whoever she wants to dismiss in her government.
But when he was recalled, news sprout that he violated the intend and purpose and protocols of his assignment as Ambassador of Liberia, a direct eye of the president in the country of assignment, by indulging into acts related to political campaigning during a July 26 party he held for Liberians residing in the US.
Without saying that that was the reasons behind his recall, Mr. Barnes, a former Presidential contender on the ticket of the Liberia Destiny Party, a party he formed and is funding, consented that indeed he had a party on July 26, 2010, but that it was far from what is being circulated in the media.
According to him, the party he had with Liberians and staffers of the Liberian Embassy in the US was not politically motivated, rather what he called was “a routine event carried out by the Embassy to celebrate the independence of the country.”
As if he has conceded to why he was recalled, the apparent former Ambassador, chose to play the political game of pledging support to whomever is named to succeed him as Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States, a very lucrative position that carries along with it great deal of respect.
He sounded rather too radical observers said when he said “I supposed that President Sirleaf choice of an ambassador is a person with ill- political links”, something he said he cannot compromise his political ambition for.
According to him, he has already negotiated with President Sirleaf to bring his family back to the country as soon as possible, something which he said was a demonstration of his love and commitment to serve his native land.
On the issue of his ambition for the presidency, Barnes said “I am presently making all necessary preparations to take the seat of the presidency come 2011 should I be re-elected as stander-bearer of my party during the convention which is expected soon”.
Meanwhile, Barnes said an audit of the Embassy in Washington has been approved and that the General Auditing Commission (GAC) is expected to begin the exercise next month.
Upon his recall, Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Badio said Mr. Barnes could be reassigned, dismissed, or retained, but according to Mr. Barnes, he is presently nowhere as it relates to his positions.

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Inside Liberia with Bernard Gbayee Goah

Everyone is a genius

Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – A Einstein

Drawing the line in Liberia

Crimes sponsored, committed, or masterminded by handful of individuals cannot be blamed upon an entire nationality. In this case, Liberians! The need for post-war justice is a step toward lasting peace, stability and prosperity for Liberia. Liberia needs a war crimes tribunal or some credible legal forum that is capable of dealing with atrocities perpetrated against defenseless men, women and children during the country's brutal war. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results. - Bernard Gbayee Goah



Men with unhealthy characters should not champion any noble cause

They pretend to advocate the cause of the people when their deeds in the dark mirror nothing else but EVIL!!
When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.

If Liberia must move forward ...

If Liberia must move forward in order to claim its place as a civilized nation amongst world community of nations, come 2017 elections, Liberians must critically review the events of the past with honesty and objectivity. They must make a new commitment to seek lasting solutions. The track records of those who are presenting themselves as candidates for the position of "President of the Republic of Liberia" must be well examined. Liberians must be fair to themselves because results from the 2011 elections will determine the future of Liberia’s unborn generations to come - Bernard Gbayee Goah

Liberia's greatest problem!

While it is true that an individual may be held responsible for corruption and mismanagement of funds in government, the lack of proper system to work with may as well impede the process of ethical, managerial, and financial accountability - Bernard Gbayee Goah

What do I think should be done?

The situation in Liberia is Compound Complex and cannot be fixed unless the entire system of government is reinvented.
Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Any attempt to institute the system mentioned above in the absence of rule of law is meaningless, and more detrimental to Liberia as a whole - Bernard Gbayee Goah

Liberia's Natural Resources
Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted.
Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah

Liberia needs a proper system
If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah

Solving problems in the absence of war talks

As political instability continues to increase in Africa, it has become abundantly clear that military intervention as a primary remedy to peace is not a durable solution. Such intervention only increases insecurity and massive economic hardship. An existing example which could be a valuable lesson for Liberia is Great Britain, and the US war on terror for the purpose of global security. The use of arms whether in peace keeping, occupation, or invasion as a primary means of solving problem has yield only little results. Military intervention by any country as the only solution to problem solving will result into massive military spending, economic hardship, more fear, and animosity as well as increase insecurity. The alternative is learning how to solve problems in the absence of war talks. The objective of such alternative must be to provide real sustainable human security which cannot be achieved through military arm intervention, or aggression. In order to achieve results that will make the peaceful coexistence of all mankind possible, there must be a common ground for the stories of all sides to be heard. I believe there are always three sides to every story: Their side of the story, Our side of the story, and The truth – Bernard Gbayee Goah

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