Who represents Liberians
in the Diaspora/America in the Assembly?
(Open Letter to Gyude Bryant)
By Saah Charles N’Tow
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
October 23, 2003
Hon. Gyude Bryant
Chairman/National Transitional Government of Liberia
Executive Mansion
Capitol Hill, Monrovia
Liberia
Dear Chairman Bryant
Please accept my congratulations for your selection as head of the new TRANSITIONAL
GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA. I am sure you aware of the enormity of the task ahead.
My prayer for you is that all Liberians (irrespective of where they are) would
consider doing everything in their power to make the next two years successful.
Sir, this is to inquire through your kind office about information, clarifications
and prompt action regarding the representation of Liberians in the Diaspora/America.
As we celebrate the commencing of final work towards durable peace, reconstruction
and rehabilitation of our country, many Liberians in the Diaspora have been
wondering when and how the slot allotted to Liberians in Diaspora was or is
been filled? We are concerned that we have not seen or heard of a process
for the selection/election of our representative to the National Transitional
Legislative Assembly, as per article XXIV of the Peace Agreement recently
signed in Ghana. Please consider this letter a call for your kind and prompt
intervention in resolving this issue.
Sir, ARTICLE XXIV of the recent peace agreement signed in Ghana provides for
the establishment a NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (NTLA), where
said assembly will reflect a broad spectrum of the Liberian society. In sub
sections 3 (a) and (b) of the same article, the document specifically defines
‘broad spectrum’ as:
“(a) Each of the 15 counties; (b) The present Government of Liberia,
the LURD, MODEL, the Political Parties, Civil Society and Interest Groups
including the National Bar Association, the Liberian Business Organizations,
Women Organizations, Trade Unions, Teachers Union, Refugees, the Liberians
in the Diaspora/America and the Youth.”
The process of finding representatives for the groups named above as witnessed
in other areas, has been a simple election or selection. On September 16,
2003, The Perspective Internet Magazine reported the following:
“In keeping with the recent Accra peace agreement
for parties to the Liberian conflict and other stakeholders including the
civil society and political parties to nominate their respective representatives
to the Transitional Legislative Assembly (TLA), the civil society and political
parties have begun the process.
Over the weekend, the Civil Society Movement of Liberia (CSML-L), which divided
itself into its constituent groupings for the exercise, began the process
of electing their representatives to fill the seven slots allotted to them.
The various trade unions overwhelmingly elected the president of the Tailors’
Union, Mr. Yiafia Vakpa, while the pro-democracy and human rights organizations
elected Mr. Conmany B. Wesseh of the Center for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE),
as their choice for the TLA. The remaining five CSM-L slots are expected to
be filled through the same process within the week.
On the political parties’ front, where each of the 18 parties have to
be represented by a representative, the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP)
elected its Chairman, Mr. David Kortie to fill their slot.”
Reports from Ghana confirmed that Mr. Alphonso Nimene was elected to represent
residents of the refugee camp in Buduburum, Ghana.
Sir, as a Liberian living in the Diaspora/America, I have followed the events
unfolding in our country very keenly. Unlike other positions in the government,
representation in the assembly requires an election/selection process. To
date, it remains unclear as to whether the thousands of Liberians in the Diaspora/America
have elected/selected a representative to NTLA. If one has been presented
for consideration, then I am concerned that thousands of Liberians in the
Diaspora/America may have been robbed of their right to participate in the
election/selection of their representative. On the other hand, if a selection/election
has not been made, I would like to know who would be responsible for guiding
the process.
Sir, if our ultimate goal is to build an indestructible system of governance
for future generations, then we must be provident in the decisions we make
today. Those who lead us must be honest, transparent and accountable, while
seeking to build an inclusive system. Liberians in the Diaspora are in great
numbers to be relegated to the role of mute bye-standers, expected only to
obediently endorse whatever is done or given on their behalf. I submit that
it would be a miscalculation to isolate the more than 450,000 Liberian Diasporas
in the Americas and elsewhere. The arduous task of rebuilding is one that
must be seen as a collective responsibility, with fair treatment and equal
access for all Liberians. If history has taught us something so far, it must
be that most of our trouble are started or escalated when large groups of
people are consistently marginalized and/or forced to live in squalor for
long.
Therefore, as I wait for your kind and prompt response, please be aware that
this letter was not my first attempt at trying to find answers to the questions
posed here. For the past few days, I along with several other Liberians, including
community leaders raised similar questions and concerns. To date, no one has
produced any answers. I am therefore hoping that your office will do all in
its power to provide us with answers.
Thanks
Yours respectively,
Saah Charles N’Tow
A Liberian living in the Diaspora
Cc:
Jacques Klien/UN Special Representative
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the ECOWAS Chief negotiator
Commander of UN FORCES
US Ambassador
