Indicted MD Parker Entered Non Guilty Plea

MONROVIA—Both the indicted former Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) Matilda Wokie Parker and Comptroller Christina Kpabar Paelay threw out a challenge to state prosecutor on Thursday when they denied all charges against them. Parker dressed in yellow African attire with black spot and a black head-tie while Paelay in white suit worn since the trial begun on November 10, 2015 stood before the court with right hands up while the clerk read the volume of indictment against them.

Following the reading of the indictment by the clerk and ascertained their plea both responded in the negative but in a loud voice where everyone witnessing the case could hear from every corner of the court. “You have listened to the reading of the indictment are you guilty or not? Both of the defendants looking straight into the eyes of the middle-aged clerk replied “we are not guilty hereby entering issue with the state.

Speaker Alex Tyler’s Blind Presidential Quest

Hawa Wesseh

This month, having served as house speaker for almost a decade, Alex J. Tyler resigned from the ruling Unity Party [UP], perhaps sensing the party has spent it political capital with Johnson Sirleaf calling the shots since 2005, or sensing he will not get his party nomination. But whatever recognized public perception there might be, with the ruling UP running up to 2017, there is no way Alex Tyler can extricate himself from the record already laid. Tyler, reports say is contemplating forming his own party to run for the Liberian presidency instead! Tyler’s perceive ambitions to a larger extend is a microcosm of the typical Liberian politician that gallivants from one party to another no matter the circumstance to hold a ‘Government job.”

Liberia A Country In Search Of Answers

By: Hawa Wesseh

Judging by the euphoria which recently greeted Liberia 3-1 win against Guinea Bissau, you would think the country must have just won the African cup of nations, or that it went to the world cup, played in the finals and did lost to a worthy opponent, this wasn’t even the Nigerian Super Eagles, or the Lions of Cameroon or the Black Stars of Ghana, this was my people after all a win against a team that calls itself the African Wild Dogs, one of the continent lowly seated teams on the fifa billboard, and this was after all what sent ripples of celebration across the country especially Monrovia. The near silliness with which the celebration took on a fiesta, with some Monrovia newspapers running editorials to declare a new dawn not just for football but sports in general, says Liberia is a country in search of answers.

John H. T. Stewart goes to Probate Court

Former TRC Commissioner John H.T.Stewart

Am facing, Probate Court Judge Vinton Holder on Monday to answer charges of fraud. To make a long story short, I filed before the Civil Law Court an Action of Ejectment against Samir Abdul Wahab and Samir Kashouh

Liberia: Baptizing Liberia Into A “Christian Nation!”

By Josephus Moses Gray

This article deals with one of the most important issues that arose from the recent gathering in Gbarnga, Bong County – the proposition to amend the 1984 Constitution of the Republic, declaring Liberia, a nation with diverse religious beliefs and cultural practices, as a “Christian State”. The intent of this account is not to pass a verdict, instead to provide an in-depth analysis of the potential clashes of constitutional and fundamental rights under the 1984 Liberian constitution and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Besides, this article deals with the ongoing debate concerning the “Christian nation” concept. First, I will look at the historical background of this case. I will then examine the Christian nation” project itself, with a particular emphasis on the recent Bong County gathering for the amendment of certain provisions and articles in the 1984 Constitution.

What Happened to Red Rooster When a Visitor Came

B O O K R E V I E W

What Happened to Red Rooster
When a Visitor Came: A Delicious
Tale about the Importance of Self-
Awareness By Robtel Neajai Pailey

What Happened to Red Rooster When a Visitor Came is a parody about the dangers of inflated self-importance. While this moralizing tale may appear somewhat heavy, Stephanie Horton’s lyrical prose makes it a timeless classic.

Red Rooster begins with the sing song-like cadence of fables and fairy tales, drawing the reader in with each punctuated first line:

Liberia 2017: Is Kwame Clement Ready?

By Hawa Wesseh [analysis]

hwesseh@gmail.com

Talk about the upcoming 2017 Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections and names will start popping up! It is the perfect opportunity: Johnson Sirleaf will be leaving office after what has been a long twelve years of two consecutive presidential terms! Those who watched Liberian developments will tell you that two established political parties stand to gain the most, the Congress for Democratic Change [CDC], Liberia’s largest political opposition and the ruling Unity Party [UP]. The CDC and the UP will be looking to consolidate their ranks and gains by absorbing smaller parties to bolster their chances in an effort to bag the Executive Mansion—Liberia’s presidential palace! Liberia is never short of political candidates and especially the presidency, when general elections rolled around, but it remains to be seen if Kwame Clement whose name has been heard repeatedly, has what it takes to win this coveted seat. His name is mentioned almost instantaneously whenever 2017 comes up in public debates and discussions!

Liberia Must Keep It Borders Closed!

E D I T O R I A L

News this weekthat the Liberian government was lifting the curfew it imposed in the wake of the Ebola outbreak must be welcomed, but not so fast that it is lifting the border closure with Liberia’s  neighbors of Guinea, and Sierra Leone! This is bad policy and it is serious, and especially press reports that the borders are poorly manned! Liberia once the hotbed of the crisis has scored an enormous victory against ebola, although not wholly as few cases in the single digits still remain!

11 Questions: Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh, Publisher

                                   

Sungbeh is editor for The Liberian Dialogue, an Atlanta-based web publication that is establishing itself influentially as one of post-war Liberia’s sober media entities. Sungbeh’s ‘no holds barred’ approach to journalism and commentaries on developmental issues has established The Liberian Dialogue as a significant voice on major issues in the country. Sungbeh is passionate about the issues and recently was kind to grant the Liberian Listener this interview.

Mary Broh’s apology wasn’t about apology!

By ralph geeplay

The Lord Mayor of the City of Monrovia, Madame Mary Broh finally appeared before the Liberian Senate few days ago and delivered the apology they long sought. It seems the legislators have been begging for the apology as if some how to legalize and validate their importance, what else can I say. Incensed, that the Lord Mayor of Monrovia ignored several attempts to appear before the senate in a matter that had all to do with the judiciary and the courts, it threw to the window shamefully the republican form of government that oversees Liberia’s political governance when they declared a Vote of No Confidence in Madame Broh, as if Liberia has a parliamentary form of government, guys we're not!