The National Executive chairman of the Patriotic Consciousness Association (PACA), Mr. Frederick Baye has apologized to the Management of The INQUIRER Newspaper for statements made by him regarding the arbitrary flogging of the paper's reporter Throble K. Suah, last December.

It can be recalled that following the unfortunate flogging of reporter Suah, an incident that made him to be admitted at the St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital, PACA's Chairman Baye made some remarks and raised issues that were detrimental to the security of the ailing reporter in particular, and the general staff of The INQUIRER.

Mr. Baye at that time, even called for the arrest and interrogation of the then bed-ridden reporter by the government.

The INQUIRER’s management took serious exception to the PACA boss’ remarks, noting that such statements could put the lives of its staff at serious security risk, especially at a time when the paper among several media institutions had allegedly been blacklisted by state security who were said to have termed media practitioners as trouble-makers.

Subsequently, the paper’s management placed an embargo on all stories emanating from PACA until Mr. Baye apologizes to it.

However when he walked into our offices yesterday, PACA’s Chairman Baye said, "we’ve come today to apologize. We don’t want to go back to the statement we made but we believe it never went down well with you, this is why we are apologizing today".

The apologetic PACA boss said he had been touched by God to make the move, adding "it is about time we mend our differences." He then expressed the hope that the strained relations between PACA and The INQUIRER will get back on a steady keel and work together in the promotion of democracy in Liberia.

In accepting Mr. Baye’s apology, Managing Editor Philip N. Wesseh expressed joy over the move by PACA, and recalled the old age saying that "to err is human".

"We hope that people will emulate your example, wherein they will gather the courage and sheer pride to admit to their wrongdoing and apologize. When we do this, Liberia will go forward," Mr. Wesseh averred.

Mr. Wesseh then used the occasion to lift the embargo placed on news stories emanating from PACA.