The Analyst (Monrovia)
30 October 2008
Documents and reports obtained by The Analyst's investigative reporters suggest that Sinoe Country Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby may be at the epicenter of a major financial syndicate in Sinoe County.
[ See Article ]
Sinoe Citizens Unhappy Over Media Report 2008-11-03 By: Charles B. Yates A-cross section of citizens from Sinoe County has expressed dissatisfaction over recent media reports which allegedly linked the Superintendent to allege financial impropriety.
The citizens said since the inception of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government; the county has begun experiencing major development progress as compared to previous governments.
Speaking to this paper, the citizens observed that the current county officials are performing extremely well to improve the developmental image of the county and that they were surprised that some dishonest elements are bent on undermining the ongoing progress of the county.
The citizens said these unpatriotic citizens are trying to divert the attention of the people of Sinoe County.
“We are not going to undermine this administration and if anyone thinks he or she can stage a movement to undermine the superintendent and his progressive staff, that person will not succeed,” the citizens told the Inquirer.
The citizens said that latest media report of financial impropriety which linked Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby to be the private owner of the Sinoe Trust is far from the truth.
In an effort to establish the truth, the Inquirer launched an investigation over the week-end and it was discovered that the Sinoe Trust is the sole property of the Sinoe County.
According to our investigation, the Sinoe Trust was established with the endorsement of the Sinoe Legislative Caucus and agreed upon by the majority of the county senior citizens both in Liberia and in the United State.
The business license and Article of Incorporation also confirmed the legal ownership of the company as Sinoe County.
The Sinoe Trust is a company 100% owned by Sinoe County with all of the county legislative caucus being members on the board.
Our investigation also shows that all the commissioners and most of the prominent citizens of the county are also members of the trustee.
“If anyone from the caucus or the local government comes out to say that they are not signatory or aware of the Sinoe Trust, then that person should be considered a traitor,” the citizens said.
The citizens further clarified that the US$25,000 that was withdrawn from the county’s account was intended to invest in the county’s own company.
The Sinoe citizens noted that the amount was withdrawn from the account as a loan to facilitate other business plans of the county’s company and in return the profit would be added to the county’s budget for the development of the county.
The Inquirer’s investigation shows that some officials of the county are against the operation of the Sinoe Trust as a local newspaper over the weekend reportedly linked the Superintendent to a huge sum of US 25,000 impropriety.
According to the Sinoe citizens, since the seating of the UP-led government, major developments are taking place in the county and other counties across Liberia as compared to previous governments.
Sinoe Citizens Unhappy Over Media Report 2008-11-03 By: Charles B. Yates A-cross section of citizens from Sinoe County has expressed dissatisfaction over recent media reports which allegedly linked the Superintendent to allege financial impropriety.
The citizens said since the inception of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government; the county has begun experiencing major development progress as compared to previous governments.
Speaking to this paper, the citizens observed that the current county officials are performing extremely well to improve the developmental image of the county and that they were surprised that some dishonest elements are bent on undermining the ongoing progress of the county.
The citizens said these unpatriotic citizens are trying to divert the attention of the people of Sinoe County.
“We are not going to undermine this administration and if anyone thinks he or she can stage a movement to undermine the superintendent and his progressive staff, that person will not succeed,” the citizens told the Inquirer.
The citizens said that latest media report of financial impropriety which linked Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby to be the private owner of the Sinoe Trust is far from the truth.
In an effort to establish the truth, the Inquirer launched an investigation over the week-end and it was discovered that the Sinoe Trust is the sole property of the Sinoe County.
According to our investigation, the Sinoe Trust was established with the endorsement of the Sinoe Legislative Caucus and agreed upon by the majority of the county senior citizens both in Liberia and in the United State.
The business license and Article of Incorporation also confirmed the legal ownership of the company as Sinoe County.
The Sinoe Trust is a company 100% owned by Sinoe County with all of the county legislative caucus being members on the board.
Our investigation also shows that all the commissioners and most of the prominent citizens of the county are also members of the trustee.
“If anyone from the caucus or the local government comes out to say that they are not signatory or aware of the Sinoe Trust, then that person should be considered a traitor,” the citizens said.
The citizens further clarified that the US$25,000 that was withdrawn from the county’s account was intended to invest in the county’s own company.
The Sinoe citizens noted that the amount was withdrawn from the account as a loan to facilitate other business plans of the county’s company and in return the profit would be added to the county’s budget for the development of the county.
The Inquirer’s investigation shows that some officials of the county are against the operation of the Sinoe Trust as a local newspaper over the weekend reportedly linked the Superintendent to a huge sum of US 25,000 impropriety.
According to the Sinoe citizens, since the seating of the UP-led government, major developments are taking place in the county and other counties across Liberia as compared to previous governments.
PRESS STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR SYLVESTER M. GRIGSBY SUPERINTENDENT OF SINOE COUNTY October 31, 2008
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS:
I DO NOT MAKE IT A HABIT TO REACT TO PRESS REPORTS. I BELIEVE OUR WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONSIDERING THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH THIS COUNTRY IS EMERGING. ALSO, AS A FORMER PUBLISHER OF A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER I HOLD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND THE TRUTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE GROUND WILL ALWAYS RISE AGAIN.
I AM HOWEVER CONSTRAINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE PUBLICATION IN THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER TODAY AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET. THE ARTICLE DID NOT CARRY A BY-LINE NOR DID IT STICK TO STRAIGHT REPORTING. IT THEREFORE APPEARS TO REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE NEWSPAPER AND ONE CAN ASSUME IT WAS AN EDITORIAL.
I AM SURE DISCERNING READERS WILL NOTE FROM THE CHECK PRINTED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IT WAS ISSUED TO SINOETRUST WITH A MEMORANDUM FOR COUNTY INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.
SINOETRUST IS A 100% OWNED ENTITY OF SINOE COUNTY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY SO AS TO AVOID WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS THE SISYPHUS TRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU UNDERTAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAMS WITH VERY LIMITED AND SCARCE RESOURCES. BY THE TIME YOU REACH THE STAGE WHERE THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD HAVE IMPACT BENEFITS BECOME WIPED OUT AND THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE REHABILITATED AS IF THEY WERE BEING DONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO TAKE THE AMOUNT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. I TOOK THAT DECISION AS HEAD OF THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RICE FACILITY TO GUARANTEE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF RICE ON THE COUNTY MARKET AND ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO WILD SWINGS IN THE PRICE OF THIS VITAL COMMODITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WAS A DECISION TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF SINOE. I FELT EXTREMELY BAD DURING MY FIRST RAINY SEASON AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNTY THERE WAS A SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE FORMED LINES, WITH CUPS AND PANS, TO BUY RICE. ONE CUP OF RICE THAT YEAR SOLD FOR 50 LD. WE HAVE BAD ROADS IN THE SOUTHEAST. DURING THE RAINS ROADS CUT AND BRIDGES COLLAPSE. TRUCK DRIVERS REFUSE TO CARRY GOODS THERE. PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THEREFORE SKYROCKET OFTEN OUT OF THE REACH OF PEOPLE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN 2007 BECAUSE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER KING AKERELE NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNMIL VESSEL TO TRANSPORT MUCH OF THE RICE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE RAINS THAT YEAR. THIS YEAR, A VESSEL SANK AT THE PIER OF THE PORT OF GREENVILLE AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER VESSELS TO BERTH IN GREENVILLE.
THE PRESIDENT INTERVENED FOR THE MAJOR RICE DEALERS TO OPEN DEPOTS IN THE COUNTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER, THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT SENT BY FOUTA WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL THAT SANK AT THE PIER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RICE UNDER THE FACILITY STAYED IN THE BOAT IN MONROVIA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH HOPING THE PORT WOULD REOPEN. WE THEN HAD TO REVERT TO SENDING RICE BY ROAD IN SMALLER QUANTITIES WHICH PROVED QUITE EXPENSIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE LOAN ASPECT OF THE MONEY WITH DRAWN FROM THE CDF. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNGIBLE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE EXPECTED MONEY TO COME IN FOR THE TRUST. WE THEREFORE TOOK THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RECEIVE THE MONEY EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT A LOAN IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
ONE LAST POINT. THE TREASURER OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PMC) WAS ELECTED DURING THE SPECIAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN GREENVILLE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008; SO WERE ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PMC. THE TREASURER WAS NOT PUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS MY SISTER IN LAW. TO INSINUATE THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. MONDUBUE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN A COUNTY THAT IS LARGELY MALE DOMINATED.
PRESS STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR SYLVESTER M. GRIGSBY SUPERINTENDENT OF SINOE COUNTY October 31, 2008
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS:
I DO NOT MAKE IT A HABIT TO REACT TO PRESS REPORTS. I BELIEVE OUR WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONSIDERING THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH THIS COUNTRY IS EMERGING. ALSO, AS A FORMER PUBLISHER OF A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER I HOLD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND THE TRUTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE GROUND WILL ALWAYS RISE AGAIN.
I AM HOWEVER CONSTRAINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE PUBLICATION IN THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER TODAY AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET. THE ARTICLE DID NOT CARRY A BY-LINE NOR DID IT STICK TO STRAIGHT REPORTING. IT THEREFORE APPEARS TO REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE NEWSPAPER AND ONE CAN ASSUME IT WAS AN EDITORIAL.
I AM SURE DISCERNING READERS WILL NOTE FROM THE CHECK PRINTED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IT WAS ISSUED TO SINOETRUST WITH A MEMORANDUM FOR COUNTY INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.
SINOETRUST IS A 100% OWNED ENTITY OF SINOE COUNTY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY SO AS TO AVOID WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS THE SISYPHUS TRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU UNDERTAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAMS WITH VERY LIMITED AND SCARCE RESOURCES. BY THE TIME YOU REACH THE STAGE WHERE THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD HAVE IMPACT BENEFITS BECOME WIPED OUT AND THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE REHABILITATED AS IF THEY WERE BEING DONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO TAKE THE AMOUNT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. I TOOK THAT DECISION AS HEAD OF THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RICE FACILITY TO GUARANTEE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF RICE ON THE COUNTY MARKET AND ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO WILD SWINGS IN THE PRICE OF THIS VITAL COMMODITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WAS A DECISION TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF SINOE. I FELT EXTREMELY BAD DURING MY FIRST RAINY SEASON AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNTY THERE WAS A SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE FORMED LINES, WITH CUPS AND PANS, TO BUY RICE. ONE CUP OF RICE THAT YEAR SOLD FOR 50 LD. WE HAVE BAD ROADS IN THE SOUTHEAST. DURING THE RAINS ROADS CUT AND BRIDGES COLLAPSE. TRUCK DRIVERS REFUSE TO CARRY GOODS THERE. PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THEREFORE SKYROCKET OFTEN OUT OF THE REACH OF PEOPLE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN 2007 BECAUSE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER KING AKERELE NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNMIL VESSEL TO TRANSPORT MUCH OF THE RICE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE RAINS THAT YEAR. THIS YEAR, A VESSEL SANK AT THE PIER OF THE PORT OF GREENVILLE AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER VESSELS TO BERTH IN GREENVILLE.
THE PRESIDENT INTERVENED FOR THE MAJOR RICE DEALERS TO OPEN DEPOTS IN THE COUNTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER, THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT SENT BY FOUTA WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL THAT SANK AT THE PIER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RICE UNDER THE FACILITY STAYED IN THE BOAT IN MONROVIA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH HOPING THE PORT WOULD REOPEN. WE THEN HAD TO REVERT TO SENDING RICE BY ROAD IN SMALLER QUANTITIES WHICH PROVED QUITE EXPENSIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE LOAN ASPECT OF THE MONEY WITH DRAWN FROM THE CDF. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNGIBLE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE EXPECTED MONEY TO COME IN FOR THE TRUST. WE THEREFORE TOOK THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RECEIVE THE MONEY EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT A LOAN IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
ONE LAST POINT. THE TREASURER OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PMC) WAS ELECTED DURING THE SPECIAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN GREENVILLE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008; SO WERE ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PMC. THE TREASURER WAS NOT PUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS MY SISTER IN LAW. TO INSINUATE THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. MONDUBUE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN A COUNTY THAT IS LARGELY MALE DOMINATED.
PRESS STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR SYLVESTER M. GRIGSBY SUPERINTENDENT OF SINOE COUNTY October 31, 2008
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS:
I DO NOT MAKE IT A HABIT TO REACT TO PRESS REPORTS. I BELIEVE OUR WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONSIDERING THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH THIS COUNTRY IS EMERGING. ALSO, AS A FORMER PUBLISHER OF A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER I HOLD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND THE TRUTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE GROUND WILL ALWAYS RISE AGAIN.
I AM HOWEVER CONSTRAINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE PUBLICATION IN THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER TODAY AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET. THE ARTICLE DID NOT CARRY A BY-LINE NOR DID IT STICK TO STRAIGHT REPORTING. IT THEREFORE APPEARS TO REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE NEWSPAPER AND ONE CAN ASSUME IT WAS AN EDITORIAL.
I AM SURE DISCERNING READERS WILL NOTE FROM THE CHECK PRINTED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IT WAS ISSUED TO SINOETRUST WITH A MEMORANDUM FOR COUNTY INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.
SINOETRUST IS A 100% OWNED ENTITY OF SINOE COUNTY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY SO AS TO AVOID WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS THE SISYPHUS TRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU UNDERTAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAMS WITH VERY LIMITED AND SCARCE RESOURCES. BY THE TIME YOU REACH THE STAGE WHERE THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD HAVE IMPACT BENEFITS BECOME WIPED OUT AND THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE REHABILITATED AS IF THEY WERE BEING DONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO TAKE THE AMOUNT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. I TOOK THAT DECISION AS HEAD OF THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RICE FACILITY TO GUARANTEE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF RICE ON THE COUNTY MARKET AND ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO WILD SWINGS IN THE PRICE OF THIS VITAL COMMODITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WAS A DECISION TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF SINOE. I FELT EXTREMELY BAD DURING MY FIRST RAINY SEASON AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNTY THERE WAS A SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE FORMED LINES, WITH CUPS AND PANS, TO BUY RICE. ONE CUP OF RICE THAT YEAR SOLD FOR 50 LD. WE HAVE BAD ROADS IN THE SOUTHEAST. DURING THE RAINS ROADS CUT AND BRIDGES COLLAPSE. TRUCK DRIVERS REFUSE TO CARRY GOODS THERE. PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THEREFORE SKYROCKET OFTEN OUT OF THE REACH OF PEOPLE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN 2007 BECAUSE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER KING AKERELE NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNMIL VESSEL TO TRANSPORT MUCH OF THE RICE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE RAINS THAT YEAR. THIS YEAR, A VESSEL SANK AT THE PIER OF THE PORT OF GREENVILLE AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER VESSELS TO BERTH IN GREENVILLE.
THE PRESIDENT INTERVENED FOR THE MAJOR RICE DEALERS TO OPEN DEPOTS IN THE COUNTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER, THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT SENT BY FOUTA WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL THAT SANK AT THE PIER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RICE UNDER THE FACILITY STAYED IN THE BOAT IN MONROVIA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH HOPING THE PORT WOULD REOPEN. WE THEN HAD TO REVERT TO SENDING RICE BY ROAD IN SMALLER QUANTITIES WHICH PROVED QUITE EXPENSIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE LOAN ASPECT OF THE MONEY WITH DRAWN FROM THE CDF. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNGIBLE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE EXPECTED MONEY TO COME IN FOR THE TRUST. WE THEREFORE TOOK THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RECEIVE THE MONEY EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT A LOAN IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
ONE LAST POINT. THE TREASURER OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PMC) WAS ELECTED DURING THE SPECIAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN GREENVILLE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008; SO WERE ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PMC. THE TREASURER WAS NOT PUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS MY SISTER IN LAW. TO INSINUATE THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. MONDUBUE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN A COUNTY THAT IS LARGELY MALE DOMINATED.
My comment has to do with the intention of Superintendent Grigsby when he withdrew the US $25,000.00 from the county's account. Perhaps, Grigsby intention was good, but he went about it the wrong way because corruption in Liberia is a serious threat to our security as a nation. If the goal was to generate additional fund for the county, why the superintendent didn't follow the required procedures that are already in place? Secondly, to have relatives who are signatory to a public account is not a good thing because of the kind of message it sends. For example, according to the news, the Superintendent and a close relative signed the check without the knowledge of the Development Superintendent. Do you see corruption here? Bong County Superintendent was just suspended for similar act which is being investigated.
My advice here is that public officials and ordinary Liberians must work to protect their own integrity because no one will protect it for you if you show lack of judgement by your action.
Based on recent plays with the treasury and other indicia of SOUPISM, I am now reasonably convinced that the territory of Liberia is a SOUPIST OCCUPIED ENTITY, a lemma of my theory of the territoriality of the African State.
Sir, writing is an act, an intentional act; as such, it requires judgmmnt/and judgement requires reflection/and reflection requires GROUNDS thereof: what then are the reflective grounds of your judgment that the soupist occupied territory of Liberia is a "nation"?
I await a reasoned, theoretical response, not a Websterian or lexica grounded response. To you Sir,
Kindest Felicitations.
Sinoe Citizens Unhappy Over Media Report 2008-11-03 By: Charles B. Yates A-cross section of citizens from Sinoe County has expressed dissatisfaction over recent media reports which allegedly linked the Superintendent to allege financial impropriety.
The citizens said since the inception of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government; the county has begun experiencing major development progress as compared to previous governments.
Speaking to this paper, the citizens observed that the current county officials are performing extremely well to improve the developmental image of the county and that they were surprised that some dishonest elements are bent on undermining the ongoing progress of the county.
The citizens said these unpatriotic citizens are trying to divert the attention of the people of Sinoe County.
“We are not going to undermine this administration and if anyone thinks he or she can stage a movement to undermine the superintendent and his progressive staff, that person will not succeed,” the citizens told the Inquirer.
The citizens said that latest media report of financial impropriety which linked Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby to be the private owner of the Sinoe Trust is far from the truth.
In an effort to establish the truth, the Inquirer launched an investigation over the week-end and it was discovered that the Sinoe Trust is the sole property of the Sinoe County.
According to our investigation, the Sinoe Trust was established with the endorsement of the Sinoe Legislative Caucus and agreed upon by the majority of the county senior citizens both in Liberia and in the United State.
The business license and Article of Incorporation also confirmed the legal ownership of the company as Sinoe County.
The Sinoe Trust is a company 100% owned by Sinoe County with all of the county legislative caucus being members on the board.
Our investigation also shows that all the commissioners and most of the prominent citizens of the county are also members of the trustee.
“If anyone from the caucus or the local government comes out to say that they are not signatory or aware of the Sinoe Trust, then that person should be considered a traitor,” the citizens said.
The citizens further clarified that the US$25,000 that was withdrawn from the county’s account was intended to invest in the county’s own company.
The Sinoe citizens noted that the amount was withdrawn from the account as a loan to facilitate other business plans of the county’s company and in return the profit would be added to the county’s budget for the development of the county.
The Inquirer’s investigation shows that some officials of the county are against the operation of the Sinoe Trust as a local newspaper over the weekend reportedly linked the Superintendent to a huge sum of US 25,000 impropriety.
According to the Sinoe citizens, since the seating of the UP-led government, major developments are taking place in the county and other counties across Liberia as compared to previous governments.
Glad that actions has been taken to address allege misappropriation of funds. I found the practice of individuals making use of public funds for their personal use not only selfish; but also irresponsible. i applaud the investigative reports of the anlysts newspaper and call on them to continue to bring to the open these shady deals that can only reaffirm our nation's place in the backwater. Last time Superintendent for Bong County was suspended on similar allegations; i call on the president to suspend superintendent Grisgby, to signify her zero tolerance policy on corruption