Laws not in the Interest
of Liberia People, Says Former Speaker
(Letter)
By Mambu James Kpargoi
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
October 30, 2003
Dear Mr. Editor:
Thanks for providing me this space to propound my views of issues affecting
the Liberian nation. I was totally disappointed but not surprised when the
former Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Taylor Government, Nyundueh
Monokomna said on Radio Veritas here that during the last days of the NPP
Government, the 51st Legislature repealed certain laws that were not in the
interest of the Liberian People. Mr. Monokomna named some of these laws as
the Act granting the Maritime Bureau 10% of the total revenues generated by
the Bureau and the Act granting the Liberia International Ship and Corporate
Registry (LISCR) the authority to manage the country's maritime program.
The former speaker also told reporters Monday that before that interview he
did not know LISCR to be managing the program. By these statements, the former
Speaker exposed the rubber stamp nature of the House under the NPP Government
and exposed his ignorance and sycophantic nature.
When did the former Speaker come to realize that the laws they enacted were
not in the interest of the Liberian People but indeed in the interest of Mr.
Taylor and few of his greedy cronies including Mr. Benoni W. Urey and his
relatives who managed the maritime program. Let the former Speaker realize
that the Liberian People know that he received monthly kickbacks from the
former corrupt Maritime Commissioner Urey.
Mr. Speaker you cannot make any excuse because history will judge you guilty.
You and others in that rubber stamp legislature did enact laws in the interest
of your NPP Party. You gave Mr. Taylor the right to impose the State of Emergency
with the sole aim of throwing his opponents into prison under the guise of
being rebel collaborators. You and your colleagues were indeed counterparts
of Taylor's suppressive regime and all was done by you to secure your economic
interest.
Don't pretend! LISCR was the making of you, your counterparts in the legislature,
Mr. Taylor, Mr. Urey and others. How can you tell the Liberian People that
you don't know this company. You will be judged. Mr. former Speaker your action
to repeal those laws was only an act to sabotage others in the Transitional
Government who were succeeding you. That is even a criminal act and I hold
it against you. When did you realize that the 10 % granted the Maritime Bureau
was intended to enrich Mr. Taylor and his cronies one of who are you. Did
you repeal it because you were no longer going to be Speaker and will not
be a beneficiary so others can benefit from it in a Liberia of accountability
that we all envisaged after your repressive regime? When did you also realize
that the partial monopoly granted certain businesses in the interest of Mr.
Taylor was not in the interest of the Liberian People? Your monopoly did cause
the Liberian People untold suffering and hardship and your mere absence from
power is bringing some sigh of relief to them. You and Mr. Taylor imposed
extra taxes on the prices of gasoline, our staple food rice and other essential
commodities for nothing more but your selfish ego: womanizing, riding flashy
cars and building mansions in the midst of abject poverty. You collaborated
to kill the Liberian People.
Mr. former Speaker you and your colleagues in that rubber stamp legislature
are as guilty of war and economic crimes as Mr. Taylor, his son Chucky, Benoni
Urey and all the others I can't mention.
Thanks Mr. Editor for providing me this space on your widely read web page.
Sincerely,
Mambu James Kpargoi
Monrovia, Liberia