Thursday, August 26, 2010

LIBERIA’S RUSSIAN ROULETTES: Tolbert, Tyler Must Explain ‘Motives’ for Russia Trip

Source: FrontPage Africa


- FPA EDITORIAL


DEMANDING ANSWERS: IF TOLBERT’S explanation that he was in Russia attending an investment forum and Speaker Tyler was coincidentally attending a parliamentarian forum, then the people of Liberia must be told the name of the forum and the duration of how long it lasted, what was discussed? Was it beneficial to Liberia? What are some of the benefits and why are they needed at this time?
 

Monrovia -


THE HEAD of the National Investment Commission, Richard Tolbert and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Alex Tyler, both recently paid a mysterious visit to Russia but the purpose of the visit to this day remains unknown.

THE VISIT COMES amid concerns that Tolbert, has been using his position as head of the NIC to influence a number of concession agreements. Tolbert, responding to a FrontPageAfrica inquiry recently acknowledged that he has ties to Putu but explained that he had recused himself from all dealings regarding the Mano deal in Liberia. “I should as a Liberian have a share but I do not have any now but I still maintain relations with the company. Tolbert said in keeping with the charter of the NIC he disclosed his ties to Mano before he took on the post. “I have recused myself from the proceedings. Advisor to the company, I had options.” Tolbert said he was very proud that to be associated with Mano and Putu and was instrumental in keeping them in Liberia even after war and destruction.

SAID TOLBERT: “They’re not only involved in minerals but also gold and I feel very proud to have a multi-million dollar company doing business in Grand Gedeh which will help to bring jobs and other benefits to Liberia.” Tolbert added that he will work to make sure that Liberia reaps all of the financial benefits deserves from the Mano-Putu operations.”

AS GOVERNMETN OFFICIALS paid by taxpayers, it is incumbent upon Mr. Tolbert and Speaker Tyler to notify or at least inform the Liberian people about their visit to Russia.

IF TOLBERT’S explanation that he was in Russia attending an investment forum and Speaker Tyler was coincidentally attending a parliamentarian forum, then the people of Liberia must be told the name of the forum and the duration of how long it lasted, what was discussed? Was it beneficial to Liberia? What are some of the benefits and why are they needed at this time?

THESE QUESTIONS ARE crucial amid reports that both Speaker Alex Tyler and Tolbert have been heavily involved in pushing the interests and ratification of the Putu mining deal.

THE COINCIDENTAL TRIP to Russia has also drawn interests from senior administration officials, particularly concerned about the coincidence of the trip, coming at the same time Speaker Tyler was there. Interestingly, Tolbert did not state the name of the parliamentarian or investment conference he and Tyler attended when FPA sought inquiries recently.

FRONTPAGEAFRICA HAS learned that Speaker Tyler and the Bomi Caucus have ties to Elenilto Minerals and Mining Corporation, a company recently granted the Western Cluster Iron Ore Deposits. It was while both Tyler and Tolbert were in Russia, when the company sought to present a Russian bank guarantee as a security for the 25 million dollar signature bonus which was roundly rejected by international lawyers advising the President.

ACCORDING TO government sources, the Russian bank guarantee did not have a prime money center bank as a backer. Elenilto, incidentally has been requested by Government of Liberia negotiators to provide a financial and technical guarantee on its ability to make the 2.5 billion dollars investment in the Western Cluster. Experts say a two year old company with no assets, no financial statement and certainly no experience in the iron ore industry must be required to prove that it can bring a major partner to the table. But sources told FrontPageAfrica that the industry is abuzz with questions on how a company such as Elenilto, with no record of success anywhere on the globe could capture the coveted Western Cluster Iron ore deposits in a process overseen by Mr. Richard Tolbert, as head of the Inter Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC).

RICHARD TOLBERT and Speaker Tyler’s next task is simple: Offer a clear and precise explanation to the people of Liberia regarding your recent trip to Russia. For the sake of transparency, accountability and the rule of law, Liberians demand that Mr. Tolbert and the honorable speaker set the record straight about their Russian connection.

WHILE WE AWAIT the explanations of Mr. Tolbert and Speaker Tyler, it will be helpful if they explain to Liberia and the people of Liberia whether their trip was financed by taxpayers’ dollars or their alleged business and investment interests in Russia.

FOR THE SAKE of transparency and accountability, we await an explanation.

News Headline

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

DISCLAIMER

Statements and opinions expressed in articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of information on this website/blog, and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, I cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. Inside Liberia with Bernard Gbayee Goah will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this website/blog. The content of any organizations websites which you link to from this website/blog are entirely out of the control of Inside Liberia With Bernard Gbayee Goah, and you proceed at your own risk. These links are provided purely for your convenience. They do not imply Inside Liberia With Bernard Gbayee Goah's endorsement of or association with any products, services, content, information or materials offered by or accessible to you at said organizations site.